Edinburgh Accommodation

National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh. One of Europe's most Acclaimed Art Galleries

An Edinburgh take on Warhol, Princes Street, Edinburgh Art

Edinburgh Fringe entertainment on the Mound, Edinburgh Festival

Art Exhibitions, Museums & Galleries in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is an art lovers dream - five acclaimed art galleries are here in Scotland's capital, including the renowned National Gallery of Scotland, acclaimed as one of the world's best collections of art and it's free to enter! The five Edinburgh art galleries taken together cover the full spectrum from Renaissance art through to the contemporary. Edinburgh Art galleries and exhibitions include the centrally placed National Gallery of Scotland and the recently refurbished Scottish Royal Academy (these two are connected by the Western Link with views of Princes Gardens). Also in central Edinburgh the Scottish National Portrait Gallery sits in the New Town area just north of the National Gallery and can be found on Queens Street.

For the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and the Dean Gallery, both are a focus for modern art, you'll need to move slightly West of Edinburgh city centre to Dean Village. A feast of huge artist names await you in Edinburgh, with the bulk of the art galleries offering free entrance, albeit extra charges for some specialist Edinburgh art exhibitions.

National Gallery of Scotland, The Royal Scottish Academy Building (RSA) & the Western Link

There's a choice of art galleries in Edinburgh. A good starting point is the splendid National Gallery of Scotland situated right in the heart of the city on the Mound off Princes Street. Twinned with the Royal Scottish Academy which was refurbished and reopened in 2003 (the two buildings are linked by the Western Link which is crammed with eateries and more), The National Gallery of Scotland holds one of the best collections of art worldwide. Its reputation is internationally renowned, and what's more it's free, although some charges may be made for special exhibitions.

There's some huge artist names in here - Van Gogh, Monet, Cezanne, Degas and Gauguin to mention a few, plus the best of Scottish art including work by Ramsay, Raeburn, Wilkie and McTaggart. Art on display here spans from the early Renaissance Period to the 19th century. Special art exhibitions tend to be on display in the new Scottish Royal Academy building which has two floors. The two buildings are connected by the Western Link, a rather innovative space in itself containing a restaurant, lecture theatre, cafe, IT gallery and information point. There are splendid views from the Western link out to Princes Gardens.

For more information, and the latest on special art exhibitions running at the National Gallery of Scotland, check the National Gallery of Scotland weblink right. You can expect to see an exceptional collection of art here (including Dutch artist Rembrant and Spanish artists Goya and Velazquez alongside English artists Turner, Hogarth, Constable and Gainsborough). All is chronologically ordered for ease. Look out for William Blake's 'God Writing Upon the Talbes of the Convenant' (c.1805), part of the William Blake display here at the National Gallery. Scottish art highlights are some of the best - Raeburn's 'Revd Dr Robert Walker Skating on Duddingston Loch which he painted around 1795 for example, and a good selection of the Scottish Colourists and the Glasgow Boys.

National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound, Edinburgh, EH2 2EL. Tel. 44 (0)131 624 6200.

Scottish National Portrait Gallery

Housed in a striking Gothic styled red sandstone building (built 1895) on Edinburgh's Queen Street, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery displays a choice collection of portraits including those of Mary Queen of Scots and other royalty alongside portraits of philosopher David Hume, poet Robert Burns and literary giant Sir Walter Scott. It's a journey through the history of Scotland through portraits if you like, and was the world's first purpose built portrait gallery.

Spot acclaimed portraits in here not just of politicians, kings and queens but of celebrity notables of the cinema and theatre including Sean Connery. Special exhibitions can be found usually on the ground floor and there's plenty of photography alongside painted portraits. Recent popular exhibitions have included 'The Naked Portrait', an exhibition exploring the genre of naked portraits with around 200 works from 1906 to 2006 on display.

Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1JD. See the Galleries of Scotland for more details on current special exhibitions and opening hours.

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art & the Dean Gallery

For the best of modern and contemporary art head for the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and the Dean Gallery, both of which are located just a 15 minute walk west of Princes Street. These Edinburgh art galleries are beautifully located in parkland and hold a breathtaking collection of modern art.

In the Gallery of Modern Art discover everything from Cubist paintings to contemporary favourites such as Tracey Emin and Gilbert & George. There's also an extensive collection of Scottish modern art here, alongside David Hockney, Andy Warhol and Freud.

The Dean Gallery holds a superb collection of Dada and Surrealist work with artists such as Dali, Miro and Picasso feature. For information on changing special art exhbiitions held in both the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and nearby Dean Gallery check the Scottish Galleries weblink right for details.

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and the Dean Gallery, 75 Belford Road, Edinburgh, EH4 3DR.

Click Search

Internet Links

National Galleries of Scotland

Home Top