National Galleries of Scotland: Portrait

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!

About National Galleries of Scotland: Portrait

	1 Queen Street, Edinburgh New Town EH2 1JD
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	National Galleries of Scotland: Portrait Website
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Listed Under Attractions - Art Galleries / Attractions - Days Out

A neo-Gothic palace dedicated to exploring various aspects of the Scottish story, this gallery is a hidden gem right at the heart of Edinburgh. The art tells you stories of the land and its people, through the medium of imagery.

Meet with friends in the welcoming Café Portrait. Find other familiar faces when you discover contemporary portraits of pop culture icons like Billy Connolly, Emeli Sandé and Tilda Swinton in the galleries above. You will spot recent pioneers in science, sport and the arts and sit alongside famous historical figures such as Mary Queen of Scots, Robert Burns and Charles Edward Stuart.

The gallery is decorated in elaborate murals and sculptural embellishments inside and out - really, take time to look up at the Zodiac ceiling in the world-famous Great Hall. Seriously, it is like 2,000 golden stars and 47 constellations! Bedazzling.

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Upcoming Events at National Galleries of Scotland: Portrait

Exhibitions

The World of King James VI and I

26th April 2025 - 14th September 2025

National Galleries of Scotland: Portrait, Edinburgh New Town

Marking the 400-year anniversary of King James’s death, this exhibition will chart his remarkable reign through stories of friendship, family, feuds and ambition.

National Galleries of Scotland: Modern

73 & 75 Belford Road, Edinburgh West EH4 3DR

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.

National Galleries of Scotland: National

Scottish National Gallery The Mound, Edinburgh Old Town EH2 2EL

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!

Art Galleries

Watson Gallery Edinburgh

39 Queen Street, Edinburgh New Town EH2 3NH

Edinburgh's premier high-quality contemporary and investment art gallery, located on Queen Street in the beautiful and historic city of Edinburgh.

Art Galleries

Natami

13 London Road , Edinburgh East EH7 5AP

natami art gallery opened in 2019. The gallery is at the centre of the artists hub known as The Colony of Artists.

Art Galleries

Edinburgh Printmakers

Castle Mills 1 Dundee Street , Edinburgh East EH3 9FP

Edinburgh Printmakers is a centre for printmaking and the visual arts in Fountainbridge.

Art Galleries

City Art Centre

2 Market Street, Edinburgh Old Town EH1 1DE

Enjoy a visit to the City Art Centre, a main Edinburgh art gallery with one of the best collections of Scottish art.

Art Galleries

Whitespace

76 East Crosscauseway , Edinburgh South EH8 9HQ

Whitespace is a gallery and venue in Edinburgh that provides space for exhibitions, event and classes, run by artist Leigh Chorlton.

Art Galleries

McNaughtans Bookshop and Gallery

3a & 4a Haddington Place, Edinburgh New Town EH7 4AE

McNaughtan's Bookshop, established in 1957, is a second-hand and antiquarian bookshop in central Edinburgh, probably the longest established business of its kind in Scotland.

Art Galleries

Stick Factory

69 Mayfield Road, Edinburgh South EH9 3AA

Stickfactory Creative is a multifaceted team of artists, designers and builders.

Art Galleries

Art and Vintage

3 Lyne Street, Edinburgh East EH7 5DN

Art and Vintage is a shop, cafe and art gallery selling original art works, crafts, good food and coffee and beautiful vintage items!

Art Galleries

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.

Art Galleries

Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop

21 Hawthornvale, Leith EH6 4JT

Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop is a centre for production, research and learning. We support artists in their careers and practice through the provision of space, funding and professional opportunities.

Art Galleries

Jupiter Artland

Jupiter Artland Bonnington House Steadings, Wilkieston EH27 8BB

Set within the picturesque 80 acre estate of Bonnington House, arts organisation Jupiter Artland is the brainchild of Nicky and Robert Wilson!

Art Galleries

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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