Come face to face with the people who shaped Scotland’s past, present and future, from Mary, Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie, to contemporary figures such as Karen Gillan and Alan Cumming.
Explore the outstanding National Collection in its bespoke 19th century home, from the suite of grand, top-lit galleries to smaller, intimate rooms, and discover the Photography Gallery and the atmospheric Victorian Library. The building’s elaborate arts and crafts decorative scheme, its glittering friezes, evocative murals and extensive sculptural embellishment, all make for a very special visitor experience.
Round off your trip with a visit to the Café Portrait. Serving a delicious menu of fresh dishes and classic recipes, our team are passionate about sourcing the very best local ingredients and seasonal produce. A great place for lunch or even just a coffee break, our family-friendly venue is one of the best cafés in Edinburgh.
Admission is free. However we are limiting the number of visitors in each gallery at any one time. To manage this we’ve instituted a free, timed ticket system. Admission is free, but tickets much be booked in advance. We have also 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 visitors.
Opening hours
Open daily, 10am-5pm.
Closed 25 and 26 December and open from 12 noon 1 January.
Artlink runs a service enabling people with disabilities resident in Edinburgh and the Lothians to visit arts venues in the city. To register, telephone 0131 229 3555. Please note that there is a waiting list for this service.
