Walk, Talk, Make Sculpture Trail
You and your family can find out about some artists, their artworks and follow prompts to make your own art with this trail.
The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is home to Scotland’s outstanding collection of modern and contemporary art. It comprises two galleries, Modern One and Modern Two. Modern Two is currently showing the critically acclaimed Ray Harryhausen: Titan of Cinema.
Open daily, 10am-5pm
Booking recommended
Admission free | Charges for some exhibitions
73 & 75 Belford Road, Edinburgh, EH4 3DR
Visiting the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
Welcome to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, home to Scotland’s outstanding collection of modern and contemporary art. Both Modern One and Modern Two are now open offering incredible art, a place to shop and two celebrated spaces to eat and drink. Come and also enjoy the grounds at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. With their world-class sculptures and a pop-up cafe, these beautiful green spaces are a breath of fresh air. You can also enjoy some of our family activities and self-led tours of our sculptures in the grounds.
Those visiting the Scottish National Gallery of Modern art will have their very own special experiences with the much-loved artworks of the nation's exceptional art collection, as we are limiting the number of visitors in each gallery at any one time. To manage this we've instituted a free, timed ticketing system. Admission is free, and tickets should be booked in advance to avoid disappointment.
Although it is not an entry requirement, in line with Scottish Government advice, we would encourage taking a lateral flow test prior to visiting us. Please see below for more information on the Covid safety measures we have already implemented.
We have signed up to the Good to Go scheme to show we are committed to meeting current Scottish Government health and safety standards for our buildings and staff.
Modern One
Modern Two
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
The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is located 15 minutes’ walk from Princes Street. It includes two buildings, Modern One and Modern Two, set in a beautiful sculpture park.
- Open daily, 10am-5pm<br> Booking recommended
- Open daily, 10am-5pm<br> Booking recommended
73 & 75 Belford Road, Edinburgh, EH4 3DR
Accessibility & facilities
A full accessibility guide is available at www.accessibilityguides.org for Modern One and Modern Two.
Parking for visitors is available at both Modern One and Modern Two. A donation is requested of £3 for up to 4 hours and £6 for 4-8 hours. Our payment meters have contactless capability.
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, 10am-5pm.
Car park Open daily, 9.45am-5.30pm.
Modern Two
Gallery Daily, 10am-5pm.
Shop Daily, 10am-5pm.
Paolozzi's Kitchen Daily, 10am-5pm (last orders 4.30pm)
Car park Daily, 9.45am-5.30pm.
Contact
For general enquiries regarding your visit or gallery services:
+44 (0)131 624 6200
[email protected]
Your safety
We've instituted a free, timed ticketing system. Admission is free, but we recommend you book a ticket in advance. Everything you need to know about your visit can be found in our Frequently Asked Questions.
Group visits
We are now welcoming schools and community groups of 10 or more to book free self-led visits to all our galleries.
Safety information
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Although it is not an entry requirement, in line with Scottish Government advice, we would encourage taking a lateral flow test prior to visiting us.
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We have signed up to Check In Scotland, a voluntary service which enables visitors to quickly and securely provide their contact details to asssist with COVID-19 contact tracing.
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We have signed up to the Good to Go scheme to show we are committed to meeting current Scottish Government health and safety standards for our buildings, staff and visitors.
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Admission is via a ticketed entry system. Booking is required at the National and Modern Two and recommended at our other galleries. If you have not pre-booked, entry may be available on the day. Ask a member of staff onsite for details.
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We have instituted a programme of deep cleaning of the Galleries and will have staff onsite cleaning all touch points throughout the day.
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We ask that you maintain physical distancing from others during your visit.
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We ask all visitors over the age of 12 to bring and wear a face covering. Our staff will be wearing face coverings.
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Hand sanitiser is available in key areas, along with increased cleaning regimes in toilets and other high use areas.
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We are admitting visitors coming into our galleries via hourly visitor slots at Portrait and Modern One and 15 minute slots at the National and Modern Two.
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If you or anyone you live with displays symptoms associated with COVID-19, please delay your visit until it is safe to do so.
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Download Smartify to access our highlights tour, large print labels and get more information about the artworks during your visit.
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When visiting us, please limit your group to three households or less.
Families
The grounds of Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art are perfect for exploring with your family. We have created some activities for you and your family to enjoy while stomping around the grounds.
Sensory Sculpture Stories
Stories to encourage you to use your senses to enjoy and experience the sculptures in our grounds.
In the grounds
Explore our grounds with these sculpture guides.
Smartify
Smartify
Download the app, scan the art, uncover the story.
Discover the stories behind the art with Smartify, the free informative art app. While our galleries are closed you can use the app to explore the artworks in the gallery and learn even more about the work and the artist.
Tour of Dada and Surrealism at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
Patrick Elliott, Curator at the National Galleries of Scotland, introduces our display Beyond Realism: Dada and Surrealism at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. This tour gives you an insight into some of the Dada and Surrealist collection highlights. Artworks introduced by Patrick include those by Man Ray, Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, René Magritte and Leonora Carrington.
Tour of Cubism at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
Cubist art emerged in Paris around 1907. The two main 'inventors' of Cubism were the French painter Georges Braque (1882–1963) and the Spaniard Pablo Picasso (1881–1973). The term 'Cubism' originated in a derogatory remark made by an art critic in 1908: he said that Braque reduced everything 'to geometric outlines, to cubes'. The term 'Cubism' soon came into widespread use, although in fact Cubist paintings rarely feature cubes.
Featured exhibitions and displays
Gallery visit
Exhibition
Closing Soon
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art visit | Modern One
Modern One
Open daily, 10am-5pm
Admission free
Must see
Exhibition
Closing Soon
Joan Eardley & Catterline
Modern One
Open daily, 10am-5pm
Admission free
Must see
Exhibition
Ray Harryhausen | Titan of Cinema
Modern Two
Until Sun 20 Feb 2022
Open daily, 10am-5pm
Must see
Exhibition
New Arrivals | From Salvador Dalí to Jenny Saville
Modern One
Open daily, 10am-5pm
Admission free
Cafés and shops
Café Modern One
Café Modern One has had a full makeover. 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
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
Our new restaurant in Modern Two serves Italian classics made with seasonal, Scottish ingredients. Plus delicious cakes and freshly baked scones, available all day, every day.
Shop onlineModern Two Shop
The shop at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art stocks Scottish gifts, books, limited edition prints, stationery, fashion, craft, design and exclusive products featuring well-loved images from Scottish artworks.
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.