Art Space 2
Our drop-in picnic and play space can be found on Level 2 in Modern One. You can help yourself to art books, big blocks and plenty of materials to make your own masterpieces – or just take a moment to chill out and eat your snacks.
Open daily, 10am–5pm
25 & 26 December: Closed
1 January: Open 12noon–5pm
Free admission | Charges for some exhibitions
73 & 75 Belford Road, Edinburgh, EH4 3DR
The gallery
One site, two sculpture parks, two galleries and lots for you to discover.
Take a leap forward at the Modern. You will find the many artworks on display to be playful, thought provoking and compelling. Weave your way through two exciting gallery spaces featuring leading artists' works which define the Modern era. Brace yourself for a sensory rollercoaster.
Modern One
Home to all things contemporary. Discover displays, shows and installations from the leading artists of today. Get ready for captivating, light-hearted and all-encompassing experiences. On arrival at Modern One you will be in awe of the striking land feature in front of the gallery designed by landscape architect Charles Jencks. Explore the grounds and discover further sculptural works by other major artists. Once you are done delving into the art on display both outdoors and in, you can re-energise at the wonderful Cafe Modern One, famous for its legendary scones.
Modern Two
The wacky and the wonderful. Modern Two’s collection of intriguing artworks shows the departure from traditional styles, in search of new forms and expressions emerging in the late 19th and early 20th century. Take a journey through experimentation, abstraction, and mind-bending creative explorations. Modern Two is located across the road from Modern One and sits atop its own expansive green space. The gallery building looks out over sculptural works by Dan Graham and Nathan Coley, which do more than just add to the stunning parkland scenery. Modern Two also benefits from housing restaurant Paolozzi’s Kitchen, named after the Scottish artist Eduardo Paolozzi. Dine beside Paolozzi’s gigantic Vulcan sculpture and treat yourself to fresh, seasonal Italian inspired dishes with a Scottish twist.
Modern One is housed in a neoclassical building, which was designed by William Burn in 1825. Modern Two was originally built in 1833 and in 1999 it was converted into a Gallery.
Read more about this history of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
Getting here
Getting here
The Modern is located 15 minutes’ walk from Princes Street. It includes two buildings, Modern One and Modern Two, set in a beautiful sculpture park.
Accessibility
Accessibility & facilities
Detailed information on accessibility at the National Galleries of Scotland
Parking for visitors is available at both Modern One and Modern Two. A donation is requested of £5 for up to 4 hours and £9 for 4-8 hours. Our payment meters have contactless capability. There is free accessible parking for blue badge holders.
Floor plan
Gallery floor plans
About your visit
Opening times
Modern One
Gallery Daily, 10am-5pm
Shop Daily, 10am-5pm
Café Modern One Daily, 10am-5pm (last orders 4.30pm)
Changing Places toilet Daily, 9.45am-5.30pm
Car park Daily, 9.45am-5.30pm
Grounds Daily, 6am-7pm
Modern Two
Gallery Daily, 10am-5pm
Shop Daily, 10am-5pm
Paolozzi's Kitchen Daily, 10am-5pm
Paolozzi's studio Daily, 10am-5pm
Research facilities Open by appointment
Car park Daily, 9.45am-5.30pm
Grounds Daily, 6am-7pm
Festive opening hours
Christmas Day (25 December): Closed
Boxing Day (26 December): Closed
New Year's Day (1 January): Open 12noon–5pm
Contact
For general enquiries regarding your visit or gallery services:
+44 (0)131 624 6200
[email protected]
Visitor information
Everything you need to know about your visit can be found in our frequently asked questions and our visitor guidelines.
Group visits
Schools and community groups of 10 or more can book free self-led visits to all our galleries.
Modern One BSL introduction
Presented by Trudi Collier, this short welcome film in British Sign Language (BSL) introduces the building and collections of Modern One.
Families
An outstanding collection of modern and contemporary art. Stomp around the sculpture garden and take a peek in Paolozzi's Studio. Have you ever shared a cup of tea with a giant Vulcan?
Free family trails
Pick up a special trail for all ages and stages - they'll get your family exploring the galleries, inside and out!
Take part!
Join one of our free, monthly workshops. At the Modern, Under 5s can take part in sculpture-hunting, art-stomping and feel-good making - while our older children can explore their own creativity with Your Art World Saturday morning workshops.
Sensory Walks
Take some time out to explore the grounds, find our six creative prompts, scattered around the sculptures, and listen to a few stories - inspired by sculptures at the Modern.
In the grounds
Explore our grounds with these sculpture guides.
Sculpture park
The grounds of Modern One and Two are home to more than 20 sculptures. Use this map to find them all.
Audio Described Tour | Sculpture Park
Explore the sculpture in the grounds of Modern One and Two, with this audio tour.
Sensory sculpture trail
A series of six creative prompts, around the grounds, to help you experience the artworks with your body, breath, ears, eyes and mind.
Smartify
Smartify
Download the app, scan the art, uncover the story.
Discover the stories behind the art with Smartify, the free informative art app. You can use the app to explore the artworks in the gallery and learn even more about the work and the artist.
Featured exhibitions and displays
Must see
Exhibition
Alberta Whittle | create dangerously
Modern One
Until Sun 7 Jan 2024
Open daily, 10am–5pm
Admission free
Must see
Exhibition
Decades | The Art of Change 1900–1980
Modern Two
Until Sun 7 Jan 2024
Open daily, 10am–5pm
Admission free
Must see
Exhibition
Conversations with the Collection
Modern One
Open daily, 10am–5pm
Admission free
Display
Point / Pinch / Punch | The Surrealist Hand
Modern Two
Until Sun 7 Jan 2024
Open daily, 10am–5pm
Featured events
Course or workshop
Art Stomps | Winter
Modern One
Sat 9 Dec 2023
11am & 11:45am
Free
Booking essential
Course or workshop
SOLD OUT
Your Art World
Modern One
Sat 16 Dec 2023
11am - 12:30pm
Free
Booking essential
Course or workshop
SOLD OUT
The Drawing Room | Alberta Whittle
Modern One
Wed 10 Jan 2024
5:30 - 6:45pm
Free
Booking essential
Special event
Spring Sensory Storytelling (Profound disability-friendly)
Modern One
Sat 16 Mar 2024
2pm & 3pm
Free
Booking essential
Restaurants
Cafés and shops
Café Modern One
Open daily, 10am-5pm (last orders 4.30pm)
Pop in and enjoy the plush new decor or the beautiful terrace and garden to the rear of the gallery if it's a sunny day. Offering seasonal tasty salads, deli filled sandwiches, hearty soups, delicious hot dishes and artisanal baking all prepared from scratch on the premises.
Paolozzi's Kitchen
Open daily, 10am-5pm (last orders 4.30pm)
Located inside Modern Two and set around Paolozzi’s vast Vulcan sculpture, this is surely one of the more unusual backdrops to lunch, coffee, cake or anything in between! Inspired by the renowned Scottish artist and sculptor, Eduardo Paolozzi, this exciting new restaurant serves Italian classics made with seasonal and local Scottish ingredients. Come to our counter and try the delicious cakes and freshly baked homemade scones, available all day, every day.
Modern One Shop
The shops at the Modern stock gifts, books, limited edition prints, stationery, fashion, craft, design and exclusive products featuring well-loved images of artworks from the collection and beyond.
Shop onlineModern Two Shop
The shops at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art stock gifts, books, limited edition prints, stationery, fashion, craft, design and exclusive products featuring well-loved images of artworks from the collection and beyond.
Shop online
Research facilities
All visitors are welcome to use our research facilities, whether for pleasure or for academic study. Visits are free but must be pre-booked.
Prints and Drawings Study Room at Modern Two
Housing the international and Scottish collections of historic, modern and contemporary works of art on paper, the Prints and Drawings Study Room gives access to over 35,000 works of graphic art not on permanent display.
Reading Room at Modern Two
Home to our library, archive and special collections, the Reading Room is an outstanding resource on the history and theory of art from 1300 to the present. Visitors can access over 100,000 library items, 6,000 artists’ and special books and 140+ archival holdings.
Gabrielle Keiller Library
The Gabrielle Keiller Library was specially designed by the architect Terry Farrell to house two key collections of Dada and Surrealist books and papers acquired in the mid-1990s.
About us
The National Galleries of Scotland cares for, develops, researches and displays the national collection of Scottish and international art and, with a lively and innovative programme of activities, exhibitions, education and publications, aims to engage, inform and inspire the broadest possible public.