📌 New Town, City of Edinburgh
★★★★
The Scottish National Gallery occupies two enormous neoclassical buildings right in the middle of Edinburgh. It’s the most impressive part of the country’s art collection, covering fine art from Scotland and elsewhere from the Renaissance until the start of the 20th century; it benefitted from major refurbishment / expansion as of 2023 with a new floor and entrance from Princes Street Gardens. Whatever your interest in paintings, the extensive free galleries (in the building set furthest back from Princes Street) deserve a a wander through at the very least, and possibly a much longer visit. Scenes you’re likely to recognise include the famous Monarch of the Glen, Scottish landscapes and some paintings of the city itself, though Scotland makes up only a small part of the collection. Photography is permitted, so if you want you can take pictures of, well, pictures – and in at least one case, pictures of pictures of pictures. Exhibitions in the adjacent building change more frequently and often have an entry charge.
🌍 Location
📌 The Mound, Edinburgh (5-min walk west of Edinburgh Waverley station)
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 254737
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.950894,-3.195662
🚆 Edinburgh Waverley | 🚋 Princes Street | 🚌 Numerous local buses
🚗 Car parks / street parking nearby (both charge)
📝 Key info
⌚ Daily
🎫 Free – there may be a charge for specific exhibitions
