Scottish National Portrait Gallery

If you love history as well as painting, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery lets you enjoy both in a very different kind of museum, with portraits of the most important Scottish figures through the centuries.

Part of the National Galleries of Scotland

Of all the art galleries in Edinburgh, the three most important are run by the same organisation, the National Galleries of Scotland: the Scottish National Gallery, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

To visit the Portrait Gallery, head to Queen Street, one of the main streets of the New Town. Our free Dean Village and New Town walking tour explores this part of the city.

Practical information

Opening hours

Daily

10am–5pm

Closed on 25 and 26 December.

Entry

Free. Some temporary exhibitions may require a ticket.

Portraits of famous Scots

The collection consists of hundreds of paintings and sculptures of notable Scottish people, not necessarily by Scottish artists.

The oldest painting is a portrait of King James IV, dating from 1507. Other royals include Mary Queen of Scots and James VI.

But it isn’t all royalty. You can learn the stories of Bonnie Prince Charlie and Flora MacDonald, who helped him escape from Scotland, discover figures of the Enlightenment such as David Hume and Adam Smith, and see the faces behind your favourite books, with portraits of Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns and Robert Louis Stevenson. You’ll also recognise contemporary figures such as Tilda Swinton, Billy Connolly and James McAvoy.

Among the most important artists whose work you can enjoy here are Wilkie, Ramsay and Raeburn.

The national photography collection

As well as historical portraits, the gallery is home to Scotland’s national photography collection, so the visit goes well beyond old portraits of famous people.

Photography offers a different way of looking at Scotland: landscapes, society, everyday life, contemporary culture, identity and social change. Depending on the exhibitions on during your visit, you may see temporary photography shows or selections from the permanent collection.

This part of the gallery is especially interesting if you love photography or are looking for a less traditional cultural visit. There are also events such as art classes, talks and tours, including options for visitors with visual or hearing impairments.

The building

As well as the portraits, take a moment to appreciate the building itself, a work of art in its own right. This red sandstone neo-Gothic building was built in the 1880s as the world’s first purpose-built portrait gallery.

Its interior is beautifully decorated, with friezes, murals and sculptures. Don’t miss the huge frieze in the Great Hall, depicting famous Scots from history in reverse chronological order.

It was refurbished in 2011 and is accessible for people with reduced mobility, with a café and a gift shop inside.

The gallery is especially interesting if you love art and history, but anyone can enjoy relaxing for a while among its varied collection of portraits. It is right in the centre and entry is free.

How long to spend at the gallery

For a general visit, allow an hour to an hour and a half. That’s enough time to see the building, the main rooms and some of the most important figures.

If you are very interested in Scottish history, photography or the temporary exhibitions and want to explore in depth, spend two hours or more.

If you are short of time, a quick 30–40 minute visit is possible: focus on the Great Hall, the building and a few rooms of historical portraits.

Is the Scottish National Portrait Gallery worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you are interested in Scottish history. It is a very different visit from the Scottish National Gallery or the National Museum of Scotland, because here the common thread is the people who shaped the country’s history.

It’s also an excellent choice if you are looking for a free, central and manageable museum. You don’t need half a day, and you can easily pop in during a walk around the New Town.

And the building alone makes it worth a visit: the Great Hall, the decoration and the architecture make it one of the most beautiful museums in Edinburgh.