Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh

The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is a comprehensive collection of more than 6,000 works of art from 1900 to the present and is housed in 2 buildings. The collection features paintings, prints, drawings and sculptures, but given its contemporary themes, you'll also find an array of video work and other installations that can only exist in light of modern technology.

Among the collection are works by world-famous artists, including some of the most iconic Scottish artists. Works by Picasso, Vuillard and Dix are located here, and you'll also see works from local masters like Redpath, Fergusson and Gilles. The gallery also hosts works by Richard Wright and Martin Creed, 2 Turner prize-winning artists. The gallery also features exhibitions that are constantly rotating, offering unique perspectives on contemporary pieces.

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh - one of the highlights of 12 Best Things to Do in Edinburgh and 12 Best Museums in Edinburgh (Read all about Edinburgh here)

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art highlights

The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is split into 2 distinct buildings. The main building is called Modern One, and it's home to the primary gallery, which houses the most iconic pieces. Paintings by Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso are located here, along with works by Scottish greats like Leslie Hunter and Francis Cadell. Post-war work includes pieces from Andy Warhol and Francis Bacon.

The second building, Modern Two, primarily consists of a changing programme of exhibitions, though there is a permanent collection as well. One of the most iconic pieces in its permanent collection is 'Vulcan', a 7-metre-tall sculpture of the Roman god of fire and metalworking equipped with a hammer.

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art history

The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art began in 1960 in the Inverleith House, located right in the middle of the Royal Botanic Garden. In 1984, the gallery moved to the John Watson's Institution, a massive neo-classical building from 1925 that was originally built as a school. This building became Modern One and remains as such to this day.

In 1999, Modern Two was added to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. This building was once the Dean Orphan Hospital, built in 1833. It was transformed into Modern Two after Terry Farrell and Partners took control and wanted to expand the gallery's offerings. In the subsequent years, a bit of the permanent collection was moved over to Modern Two, and the building became the venue for all temporary exhibits.

Good to know when visiting the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

Visiting the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is free, though there are occasionally charges for some of the special exhibitions hosted there. You can enjoy tasty treats at the cafes inside the gallery, as both Modern One and Modern Two have cafes with coffee, cake and ice cream.

You can reach both buildings just north of the Water of Leith, north of Coates. They are well within walking distance of each other, so you can travel back and forth easily as you see fit. If you have a disability and are a resident in Edinburgh and the Lothians, you can take advantage of Artlink, a travel service that takes disabled people to local art venues, including the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.

Location: 73 Belford Rd, Edinburgh EH4 3DS, UK

Open: Daily from 10 am to 5 pm

Phone: +44 (0)1316 246200

This article includes opinions of the Go Guides editorial team. Hotels.com compensates authors for their writings appearing on this site; such compensation may include travel and other costs.