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.

  • Open daily, 10am-5pm
  • Free admission | Charge for some exhibitions

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.

Address: 75 Belford Road, Edinburgh, EH4 3DR

Galleries & grounds

The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is a must-see venue for modern and contemporary art. Modern One is housed in a neoclassical building, which was designed by William Burn in 1825. The lawn at the front of the building was landscaped to a design by Charles Jencks and is home to a fantastic sculpture park. Pig Rock Bothy is also on the Modern One grounds and was designed for a changing programme of performances, discussions, residencies and events.

Modern One 

Modern Two

Modern Two was originally built in 1833 was converted into a Gallery in order to show the Gallery of Modern Art’s extensive collection of Dada and Surrealist art and work by the sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi. 
Read more about this history of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

Sculpture Park Tour

Explore the sculpture in the grounds of Modern One and Two, with this audio tour.

Find out more

Paolozzi Studio

Scottish artist Eduardo Paolozzi worked in a variety of media drawing inspiration from the world around him. In this recreation of his studio at Modern Two you can discover more about the man and the source of his ideas.

Gabrielle Keiller Library

The Gabrielle Keiller Library at Modern Two was specially designed to house over 2,500 artist books covering the period from 1897 to present day.

Highlighted artworks

If you are coming as a group of 10 or more we offer a highlights tour of the collection. Book a group visit now

Some of the highlights currently on display at the Gallery

Rabbi with Cat Natalya Goncharova
Maternité [Maternity] Joan Miro
Master of the Universe Eduardo Paolozzi
The Music from the Balconies Ed Ruscha
La Leçon de peinture or La Séance de peinture [The Painting Lesson or The Painting Session] Henri Matisse
Figure Study I Francis Bacon
Wave Dame Barbara Hepworth
Le Miroir magique [The Magic Mirror] Rene Magritte
Composition with Double Line and Yellow, 1932 Piet Mondrian

Accessibility & facilities

  • Information desk
  • Wifi
  • Wheelchair access
  • Hearing loop
  • Accessible toilets
  • Wheelchairs available
  • Public toilets
  • On-site parking (£2)
  • Disabled parking
  • Lockers (£1/£2)
  • Baby changing facilities
  • Seating throughout
  • Bike rack

In order to protect our vulnerable works of art from any kind of accidental damage we kindly ask all visitors to either carry their rucksack/backpack by hand or place it in a locker.

Gallery floor plans

Below are the floor plans for both Modern One and Modern Two.

Research

Modern Two houses a collection of prints, archives, and books from the mid-twentieth century to the present day.

Modern art library

The modern art library covers the mid-nineteenth century to the present day.

Cafés & restaurants

Café Modern One

Opening times Monday-Friday: 9am-4.30pm
Sat-Sun: 10am-4.30am 0131 332 8600

Café Modern One is the perfect location for a spot of al fresco dining. Our garden terrace is a great place to enjoy one of our tasty salads, a deli filled sandwich or one of our delicious hot dishes. Join friends for a lazy lunch with a glass of wine or have a quick catch up with coffee.

Café Modern Two

Opening times Open daily from 10am-4.30pm 0131 624 6273

The more intimate Café Modern Two offers table service and a seasonally changing lunch menu which includes soups and light main meals, all cooked on the premises, as well as antipasti platters and filled focaccias and baguettes.

A luxurious afternoon tea for two at Café Modern Two costs only £30

Book a table

Shops

The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art has two shops, one at Modern One and one at Modern Two, each with a wonderful selection of art books, unusual gifts and a great range of postcards featuring works from the Collection. With contemporary homewares, limited edition jewellery, beautiful stationery and inspiring designs on everyday items, you’re guaranteed to find the perfect gift.

Online shop