Scottish National Gallery

Overview

The Scottish National Gallery is a neoclassical temple of art on the Mound, housing Scotland's finest collection of paintings from the Renaissance to Post-Impressionism. Admission is free and the collection is world-class.

Highlights

• Botticelli's The Virgin Adoring the Sleeping Christ Child: A luminous, intimate early Renaissance masterpiece, one of only a few Botticellis in Scotland.
• Raeburn's Reverend Robert Walker Skating: The iconic painting of a minister gliding across Duddingston Loch, widely considered the quintessential Scottish painting.
• The Impressionist Collection: Works by Monet, Cézanne, Degas, and Van Gogh in beautifully daylit galleries.

History

Designed by William Henry Playfair in a Greek Revival style, the gallery opened in 1859. It shares the Mound's summit with the Royal Scottish Academy, creating one of Edinburgh's most elegant architectural set pieces.

Visitor Tips

• Free Collection: The permanent collection is always free; special exhibitions may charge admission.
• Playfair Steps: Enter via the connecting Weston Link between the National Gallery and the Royal Scottish Academy for a dramatic approach.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.