National Galleries of Scotland: Modern

Home to Scotland's outstanding national collection of modern and contemporary art, the National Galleries of Scotland includes two buildings, Modern One and Modern Two.

About National Galleries of Scotland: Modern

	73 & 75 Belford Road, Edinburgh West EH4 3DR
	01316246200
	National Galleries of Scotland: Modern Website
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Listed Under Attractions - Art Galleries / Attractions - Days Out

Modern One
Home to all things contemporary. Discover displays, shows and installations from the leading artists of today. Get ready for captivating, light-hearted and all-encompassing experiences.

On arrival at Modern One you will be in awe of the striking land feature in front of the gallery designed by landscape architect Charles Jencks. Explore the grounds and discover further sculptural works by other major artists.

Once you are done delving into the art on display both outdoors and in, you can re-energise at the wonderful Cafe Modern One, famous for its legendary scones.

Modern Two
The wacky and the wonderful. Modern Two’s collection of intriguing artworks shows the departure from traditional styles, in search of new forms and expressions emerging in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Take a journey through experimentation, abstraction, and mind-bending creative explorations. Modern Two is located across the road from Modern One and sits atop its own expansive green space. The gallery building looks out over sculptural works by Dan Graham and Nathan Coley, which do more than just add to the stunning parkland scenery.

Modern Two also benefits from housing restaurant Paolozzi’s Kitchen, named after the Scottish artist Eduardo Paolozzi. Dine beside Paolozzi’s gigantic Vulcan sculpture and treat yourself to fresh, seasonal Italian inspired dishes with a Scottish twist.

Outdoor Sculpture
Both Galleries are set in extensive parkland, where visitors can discover sculpture works by important artists like Ian Hamilton Finlay, Henry Moore, Rachel Whiteread, Richard Long and Nathan Coley. The lawn to the front of Modern One was re-landscaped in 2002 to a design by Charles Jencks. This dramatic work, or ‘landform', comprises a stepped, serpentine mound reflected in three crescent-shaped pools of water. The façade of Modern One is home to Martin’s Creed’s prescient work No. 975, Everything’s Going to be Alright.

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Upcoming Events at National Galleries of Scotland: Modern

Exhibitions

Resistance

21st June 2025 - 4th January 2026

National Galleries of Scotland: Modern, Edinburgh West

Resistance explores how acts of resistance have shaped life in the UK, and the powerful role of photography in documenting and driving change.

Exhibitions

ARTIST ROOMS

12th July 2025 - 31st July 2025

National Galleries of Scotland: Modern, Edinburgh West

Discover three of the biggest names in modern and contemporary art at Modern One this summer with a series of free ARTIST ROOMS displays in Edinburgh.

National Galleries of Scotland: National

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The Scottish National Gallery is one of Scotland's top free visitor attractions. It is made up of three interconnected buildings, right in the heart of Edinburgh!

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1 Queen Street, Edinburgh New Town EH2 1JD

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is one of Edinburgh's most remarkable buildings – a great red sandstone neo-gothic palace which sits proudly on the city's skyline!

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Upright Gallery is a small independent gallery run by graphic designer Ian Farmer.

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EMBASSY Gallery

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EMBASSY is an artist-led organisation based in Edinburgh. We programme exhibitions, performances, residencies, and events in our gallery space, online and off-site.

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Powderhall Bronze Editions

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Powderhall Bronze Editions is a contemporary fine art gallery situated in the Canonmills area of Edinburgh, near to the Royal Botanical Gardens.

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Alpha Art Gallery

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Alpha Art Gallery is an established contemporary art gallery based in the popular area of Stockbridge in Edinburgh which represents a wide variety of emerging and established artists.

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Colinton Arts

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Colinton Arts, established in 1981, is an Edinburgh-based, family run Gallery and Framer serving Edinburgh and the central belt of Scotland.

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Wasps Patriothall

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Natami

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Hill Street Design House

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A much needed creative addition to Edinburgh's historic New Town, Hill Street Design House provides eight grand studios, over four floors, resided by...

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Flamingosaurus Rex

22 Bruntsfield Place EH10 4HN, Edinburgh South EH10 4HN

A dynamic, multi-functional gallery, shop and art space, situated in Edinburgh’s Bruntsfield district.

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Out of the Blue Drill Hall

36 Dalmeny Street, Leith EH6 8RG

Out of the Blue supports artists by providing them with workspace and selling opportunities, enabling them to work as artists, and to connect to the local community to pass their skills onto others.

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