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The Georgian Gallery at Talbot Rice, a long skylit hall of columns and galleries.
Edinburgh

Talbot Rice Gallery

The University of Edinburgh's public gallery of contemporary art in Old College, with a white gallery and Playfair's Georgian Gallery, free to enter.

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Welcome

Through the great arch of the University's Old College on South Bridge, in a corner of the quadrangle, is the Talbot Rice Gallery, the university's public gallery of art.

It shows contemporary art, and it costs nothing to go in.

It has two very different rooms. The White Gallery is a clean, modern space for new work. The Georgian Gallery is a long, lofty hall inside William Henry Playfair's building, lit from above and lined with galleries and columns, and seeing modern installations set in it is part of the pleasure. The gallery puts on a few exhibitions a year, and runs a programme for artists in residence.

The gallery is open from Tuesday to Saturday, ten until five. Tickets are free and can be booked ahead, though visitors are welcome simply to walk in.

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Close byThe Banshee Labyrinth2 min by roadSee itThe Banshee Labyrinth
Before you go

Entry is free; tickets can be booked ahead or visitors can walk in.

The White Gallery has a lift; the Georgian Gallery's raised sections are harder to reach in a wheelchair.

Where
Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL.
Open
Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm.
Entry
Free.

Opening hours

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

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Where it is

In the corner of the University's Old College, on South Bridge.

Close byThe Southside and the museums.
  1. Edinburgh Castle seen from a rooftop terrace with a stone drainage holeAndy Goldsworthy's 'Hutton Roof'Four sandstone blocks by Andy Goldsworthy on the roof of the National Museum.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. Surgeons’ Hall MuseumsSurgeons’ Hall MuseumsThe Royal College of Surgeons' museums, in Playfair's hall of 1832.Under a mile 1 min by road
  3. Paper cup reading "The Black Medicine Coffee Co." under an espresso machine spoutBlack Medicine Coffee ShopA coffee house at the top of Nicolson Street, open every day since 1998.Under a mile 1 min by road
  4. Origin Coffee, South College StreetOrigin Coffee, South College StreetUnder a mile 1 min by road
  5. Arched glass roof spans an open studio filled with art and weaving loomsDovecot StudiosA weaving studio founded in 1912, in the old Infirmary Street Baths.Under a mile 1 min by road
  6. The Blair Street VaultsThe Blair Street VaultsThe vaults built into the arches of South Bridge in the 1780s.Under a mile 1 min by road
Directions
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Five of the Lewis chess pieces against a dark background, including two bishops and a crowned figure, carved in pale ivory.AttractionsThe Lewis Chess PiecesA step away
Taxidermy sheep displayed in a glass museum caseAttractionsDolly the SheepA step away
Plaited cheese buns and topped bagels on a copper tray behind the glass of the counter at Kungfu Bakery on Nicolson Square.CafeKungfu BakeryA step away
Two bowls of ramen at Ikigai on South Bridge: a creamy tonkotsu with pork belly and a soft egg, and a dark mushroom broth, by glasses of water with lemon.RestaurantsIkigaiA step away
The painted 'No Half Measures' sign on the pale green wall inside Half-Cut Coffee, above a rack of prints and cards.CafeHalf-Cut CoffeeA step away
The marble shopfront of Thomas J Walls on Forrest Road, its old opticians' lettering above wide windows and a bronze door.CafeThomas J Walls0.2 miles
A flight of whiskies and their bottles on a table in a stone vault at the Lost Close, a chandelier behind.AttractionsThe Lost Close0.2 miles

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Stay nearby

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

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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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