
Scotland's premier art collection featuring masterpieces from the Renaissance to Post-Impressionism in a stunning neoclassical building on The Mound.
Free entry
Venue Type
Indoor
Typical visit duration
1-3 hours
Booking
Walk-in
Recommended ages
5 years – 14 years
Within 10 minutes walk
Free entry
Fresh Scottish food, breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea
We analysed 785 parent reviews from the past 12 months and distilled the key insights for you.
Updated 26 February 2026Join KiddyCompass™ Family to unlock 10 insight categories and age suitability data.
Become a Family MemberI was delighted to see the art of great masters — Monet, Van Gogh Seurat, Courbet, and Degas — beautifully and tastefully displayed at the National Gallery. The Gallery boasts vast collections that span centuries, from Renaissance masterpieces to modern / contemporary art. It is a world‑class destination for anyone who loves art and history. Art lovers, dedicate at least 3-4 hours to appreciate the works. Unfortunately , I only had about an hour during my visit!
This is one of the best galleries I've ever been to. The selection of art is extraordinary. The gallery isn't too big and you can comfortably walk through it in 1.5 hours. The museum store is fairly priced too.
Take enjoyed this gallery, they have a lot of famous artists on display, we spend a few hours here looking around. They have plenty of seats throughout the gallery, and foldout ones if you want to sit closer for a while, or sketch. The height of some pieces was fascinating, and you could stand in front of them for quite a while, figuring out the story. My favourites were those depicting scenes from A Midsummer night's dream, the statue of the 3 graces, and the tall embroidered pieces by Phoebe Anna Traquair. (See photos) We started off at the cafe on the 3rd level, then worked from the top down (old art student trick!) which worked very nicely and meant we ended up finishing at the shop, where I bought a LOT of postcards! Highly recommend coming here if you're an art lover ❤️
Free to enter, the artwork is absolutely incredible and transports you to different times and places. The gift shop also has amazing pieces, worth having a look in there too! Highly recommend visiting the galleries whilst in Edinburgh.
AMAZING art (paintings, sculptures) and space design! And the fact that is free was extraordinary to see! It sends a message ❤️ And like always, love the souvenir shop. It is huuuge and has a variety of things to choose from: cards, books, handmade mugs, scarves, games, notebooks, souvenirs 😍
Reviews last updated: 6 December 2025
Free entry
This venue was last updated on 4 December 2025
