Scottish National Gallery Tours and Activities

The Scottish National Gallery covers the period from the Renaissance until the end of the 19th century, a fantastic time for art filled with some of the best and most celebrated painters in world history. The pieces are appropriately housed across three floors of an attractive Neoclassical building dating from the middle of the 1800s.Start your visit on the lower floor, which lovingly traces the history of Scottish painting. Many of the most famous Scottish pieces are held here, from painters such as McKay and Ramsey, Raeburn and Wilkie.Canvases from a whole range of the most shining names in Europe's artistic firmament are on display on the ground floor. Rembrandt's Self Portrait and The Virgin Adoring the Sleeping Christ Child by Botticelli are just a couple of the most prominent paintings on show here. Other masters such as Vincent Van Gogh, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet and Paul Cézanne are also well represented in this excellent gallery.Moving upstairs again, the upper level hosts a range of pieces centred around a religious theme, including many older paintings dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. Make sure to take in Bologna's The Adoration of the Magi while here.The Scottish National Gallery has moved with the times, offering cutting-edge technology to add further to your experience of its collection. Download the ArtHunter app onto your Android or iOS phone. When inside, take photos of the pieces to gain access to a range of videos, commentary on the context and significance of the work, and lots of other bonus features. If you're coming on a family visit, there are plenty of games that younger visitors will enjoy and that will aid in their learning.The adjoining Royal Scottish Academy has a restaurant and café where you can rest your feet after your visit, and a shop where you can pick up some souvenirs. The gallery is open daily – check the Scottish National Gallery website for opening hours.Situated in Princes Street Gardens, the gallery is in central Edinburgh, a short stroll from Princes Street. There are three pay car parks nearby, and the closest train station is Edinburgh Haymarket.