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Modern One's classical front beyond the curving grass and water of the landform.
Edinburgh

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

Two galleries and sculpture grounds on Belford Road, from Picasso to Tracey Emin, free to enter and open daily 10am to 5pm.

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Welcome

The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is one site with two galleries facing each other across Belford Road, set in grounds with more than twenty sculptures.

Modern One, a neo-classical building of 1825, shows modern and contemporary art for free, with Surrealist works by Dalí, Magritte, Ernst and Dorothea Tanning. In front of it, Charles Jencks's Landform Ueda rises as a stepped, serpentine mound with crescent-shaped pools.

Modern Two, across the road, has changing exhibitions, a recreation of Eduardo Paolozzi's studio and his sculpture Vulcan. Both galleries are open every day from 10am to 5pm, and entry is free, with a charge for some exhibitions. It is a fifteen minute walk from Princes Street, or you can come along the Water of Leith walkway to Modern One. Café Modern One has a sun terrace at the back, and you are welcome to bring a picnic into the grounds.

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Before you go

Both galleries are open every day and free, with a charge for some exhibitions.

There is parking at each, for a donation, and Modern One can be reached on foot along the Water of Leith walkway.

Where
Modern One is at 75 Belford Road and Modern Two at 73 Belford Road, Edinburgh EH4 3DR, directly across the road from each other.
Open
Both galleries daily, 10am to 5pm, with last admission at 4.45pm; the grounds are open daily 7am to 6pm, though from October to March the gates to the Water of Leith close at dusk. Closed on 25 and 26 December, and open from noon to 5pm on 1 January.
Price
Free; some exhibitions charge.
Booking
No booking is needed for a general visit. Paid exhibitions have timed tickets that can be booked in advance.
Getting there
A 15 minute walk from Princes Street or from Haymarket Station; the tram stops at Haymarket. Edinburgh Coach Lines service 13 also serves the galleries, and Modern One can be reached along the Water of Leith walkway.
Parking
At both galleries, a donation of £5 for up to 4 hours or £9 for 4 to 8 hours; the car parks are open 9.45am to 5.30pm. Parking is free for blue badge holders.
Dogs
Dogs are allowed in the grounds on a lead. Guide, hearing and assistance dogs are welcome in the galleries; other animals are not allowed in the buildings.
Access
Modern One's main entrance has a permanent ramp or 3 steps; Modern Two's has 5 steps, with a step-free entrance at the rear beside the accessible parking. There are lifts in the galleries, a Changing Places toilet at Modern One (open 9.45am to 5.30pm, with a radar key) and wheelchairs to borrow free of charge.
Food
Café Modern One is open daily 10am to 5pm, with last orders at 4.30pm, and has a terrace and garden at the back. You are welcome to picnic in the grounds.

Opening hours

Monday
10am–5pm
Tuesday
10am–5pm
Wednesday
10am–5pm
Thursday
10am–5pm
Friday
10am–5pm
Saturday
10am–5pm
Sunday
10am–5pm

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Where it is

On Belford Road, 15 minutes' walk from Princes Street, with Modern One and Modern Two facing each other across the road.

Close byThe Dean Village and the Water of Leith.
  1. Inside the Palmerston, a high-ceilinged former bank with bentwood chairs, a patterned tiled floor by the bar, globe lights and tall arched windows.The PalmerstonUnder a mile as the crow flies
  2. The dark green front of the Green Room on William Street, with lanterns, plants and tables on the steps.The Green RoomUnder a mile as the crow flies
  3. Dean VillageDean VillageA milling village of the 1100s on the Water of Leith, a few minutes' walk from the West End, now a quiet cluster of old stone houses by the river.Under a mile 5 min by road
  4. St Bernard's WellSt Bernard's WellA little Greek temple of 1789 by the painter Alexander Nasmyth over a mineral spring on the Water of Leith, with Hygieia, goddess of health, inside.1 mile 6 min by road
  5. The Georgian HouseThe Georgian HouseA Robert Adam townhouse at 7 Charlotte Square, restored by the National Trust for Scotland; closed for conservation work and planned to reopen in 2027.1 mile 6 min by road
  6. Water of Leith winding through Dean Village's stone tenements and old mill buildingsWater of LeithEdinburgh's river, followed by a 12-mile walkway from Balerno through Colinton, the Dean Village and Stockbridge to the sea at Leith.4 miles 14 min by road
Directions
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A wooden table at Dulse seen from above, laid with oysters on the half shell, grilled lobster, scallops in their shells and a pan of langoustines, with glasses of white wine.RestaurantsDulse0.7 miles
The counter at Jeannie's Bakery, with muffins, blueberry and cardamom buns and a glazed cinnamon bun on brown paper above their labels.CafeJeannie's Bakery0.7 miles
A large chalk drawing of a long dinner table across the wall of Le Di-Vin, the bar's name above it.BarsLe Di-Vin0.7 miles
Trays of gelato in the counter at Basement Gelato, each flavour labelled on a small blackboard.CafeBasement Gelato0.7 miles
A long red leather banquette and dark tables in the dining room at Lennox, below lit shelves of books, vases and ornaments in dark wood panelling.RestaurantsLennox0.7 miles
The Pompadour dining room in the Caledonian hotel, with white-clothed tables and turquoise chairs under an ornate plaster ceiling, painted wall panels and a gold-framed mirror.Restaurants1925 at The Pompadour0.8 miles
A Nepali thali at Mountain Momo: rice and dal with vegetable curries, a dumpling in sauce, pickles and salad on a steel tray.RestaurantsMountain Momo0.8 miles

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the Modern, and when each is next free.

West End Muse
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from the Modern
Check datesA round table and chairs stand before tall curtained windows looking onto stone buildings, a sofa and mounted television to the right.Moment George IV Bridge
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Edinburgh
  • A mile from the Modern
Check datesA hotel studio room with a beige fitted kitchen unit and stainless sink beside a bed dressed in white and teal cushions, a wall of black-framed pictures above a patterned headboard.Old Town Chambers
  • To stay
  • In Edinburgh
  • A mile from the Modern
Check datesA turreted sandstone building with conical spires catches the evening light above rooftops, a large pine tree standing beside it.The Scott Hotel
  • A hotel
  • In Edinburgh
  • 2 miles from the Modern
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in EdinburghAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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From the magazineA Guide to Arts & Culture in EdinburghArticleJanuary in EdinburghArticleFebruary in EdinburghCollectionScotland's Best Art Galleries
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