Must see
Exhibition
Closing Soon
Artists at Work 2
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Until Sun 12 Feb 2023
Open daily, 10am-5pm
Admission free
There's more to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery than meets the eye. Come face to face with Scotland, experience our audio guide, and enjoy our legendary café! Discover more below...
The gallery
Discover the stories within...
The Gallery
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is one of Edinburgh’s most remarkable buildings – a great red sandstone neo-gothic palace which sits proudly on the city’s skyline. The Gallery was designed by Sir Robert Rowand Anderson as a shrine for Scotland’s heroes and heroines. It opened to the public in 1889 as the world’s first purpose-built portrait gallery.
An elaborate decorative scheme, both inside and out, with its glittering friezes, evocative murals and extensive sculptural embellishment, make it a very special experience.
Learn more about the history and architecture of the building
Displays at the Gallery explore different aspects of the story of Scotland and its people, told through a wealth of imagery including portraits of famous historical figures such as Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Prince Charles Edward Stuart, through to more recent pioneers in science, sport and the arts including Emeli Sandé, Billy Connolly and Tilda Swinton.
Getting here
Getting here
Located in the city centre on Queen Street, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery is easy to access.
Venue map
- Open daily, 10am–5pm
1 Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1JD
About your visit
Opening times
Gallery Open daily, 10am-5pm
Café Portrait Open daily, 10am-5pm (last orders 4.30pm). No advance booking required
Gallery shop Open daily, 10am-5pm
Contact
For general enquiries regarding your visit or gallery services:
+44 (0)131 624 6200
[email protected]
Your safety
Everything you need to know about your visit can be found in our Frequently Asked Questions.
Families
Enhance your visit with wee ones with our Art Spot guide. You can pick up copies in the gallery or use our online resource. Who will you meet - and what will you spot?
Group visits
Schools and community groups of 10 or more can book free self-led visits to all our galleries.
Explore the gallery
Safety information
-
-
We ask that you respect physical distancing from others during your visit.
-
If you or anyone you live with displays symptoms associated with COVID-19, please delay your visit until it is safe to do so.
-
Download Smartify to access our highlights tour, large print labels and get more information about the artworks during your visit.
Scottish National Portrait Gallery BSL introduction
Presented by Trudi Collier, this short welcome film in British Sign Language (BSL) introduces the building and collections of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
Smartify
Smartify
Download the app, scan the art, uncover the story.
Discover the stories behind the art with Smartify, the free informative art app. Use the app to explore the artworks in the gallery and learn even more about the work and the artist.
Tour of The Great Hall at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Liz Louis, Curator of Portraiture introduces the Great Hall of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Liz gives us a tour of the elaborate decorative interior and examines the glittering frieze and mural decorations by William Brassey Hole. The Great Hall is a work of art in itself, and Liz explains how the decorative scheme relates to both the outside of the building, and the contents that it was purpose built to house.
Tour of The Visual Culture of the Jacobite Cause
Lucinda Lax, Curator of Portraiture (1700-1800) gives us a tour of the Jacobite display at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, home to the most extensive and significant collection of Jacobite visual material in the world. Lucinda gives us in insight into this fascinating display, focussing on the way Jacobites presented themselves in portraiture.
Featured exhibitions and displays
Display
James's People
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Open daily, 10am-5pm
Admission free
Display
Imagining Power | The Visual Culture of the Jacobite Cause
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Open daily, 10am-5pm
Admission free
Display
Heroes and Heroines | Idealism and Achievement in the Victorian Age
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Open daily, 10am-5pm
Admission free
Featured events
Course or workshop
SOLD OUT
Drawing Room | Modern Portrait
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Wed 8 Feb 2023
5:30 - 6:45pm
Free
Booking essential
Course or workshop
SOLD OUT
Play with Portraits
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Mon 13 - Fri 17 Feb 2023
2–4pm
Free
Booking essential
Course or workshop
SOLD OUT
Gallery Social (dementia-friendly) | Animals and portraits
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Fri 24 Feb 2023
10:30am - 12 noon
Free
Booking essential
Music concert
Special event | Andrew Wasylyk
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Thu 9 Mar 2023
6:30 - 7:30pm
£10
Booking essential
Restaurants
Café & shops
Café Portrait
After visiting the galleries head to Café Portrait, where you can relax and enjoy a delicious lunch or coffee and cake in impressive surroundings.
All our food is prepared from scratch in our kitchen, which is why it tastes so good. You can choose from a wide variety of gluten and dairy free dishes.
Book a tableGallery Shop
The shop at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery stocks works by a variety of Scottish and UK independent craftspeople and brands, as well as limited edition prints, books, stationery, food, fashion and a range of exclusive products from the Portrait Gallery collection.
Shop online
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.