See & do · Galleries
National Gallery of Modern Art (Modern One & Two)
Opening hours
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Images provided by Google Places
Two grand neoclassical buildings set in sculpture parks, housing works by Picasso, Matisse, and prominent Scottish contemporary artists.
- Good to know
- Free admission. Connected to the city center by a scenic walk along the Water of Leith.
Reviews from Google
I've visited Modern on a number of occasions - usually to peruse a gallery show. On this occasion I went along with an artist friend to see the Joan Eardley exhibition. We were not disappointed; truly beautiful (if often cold landscapes). But they were so well rendered that you could actually feel the cold sweeps she set to canvas. The only disappointments on this visit were that the upper galleries were closed, and that it cost £4.75 for a fruit scone. But this is ably compensated by the fact that it was free to visit the gallery itself. Well done for Edinburgh council allowing art to be available to all.
The building that houses the Modern Two is architecturally interesting. You have to pay to enter this building. On the first Monday of every month you can choose how much you want to pay with a minimum starting amount of two pounds. There are a number of rooms that display the latest exhibits, in this case it was Resistance. This consists of photographs showing activism in the United Kingdom over the last century. It was quite interesting comparing the past to what is happening today. There are toilets, which were clean, a small gift shop and a cafe. There was also a car park. There are some sculptures outside the building which can be seen for free. Staff were welcoming and happy to chat. There is disabled access to all floors. You have to go to the rear of the building for step free access. There are disabled parking spaces in the carpark and there is a disabled toilet.
Its a lovely building which currently houses one exhibition over 6 rooms on two floors. Resistance by Steve McQueen ws excellent. A great cafe and small shop. Parking is onside and free.
It’s a little off the beaten track so tends to be quieter than some of the other National Galleries in the city. Modern Art 2 (The Dean) is smaller than its sibling just across the road so tends to be used for special exhibits. However it does house the more pleasant cafe. The cafe provides the opportunity to eat under the feet of Vulcan, a two story high sculpture by Edinburgh local Paolozzi. The one downside to the cafe is you need to go to the counter to see the cakes for the day and to order, yet you also need to have a table number for where you’re sitting. The amount of times I’ve gone to order and returned to my table to find other people had now sat there. It’s not a sensible system and I wish they’d change it
Wonderful neo-classical building housing numerous thought-provoking works of art over several floors. The artfully created concentric lawn, pond and sculpture are impressive. All kinds of medium are on display. There is a gift shop and a cafe in the ground floor with good offerings. Admission is free. A donation will be gratefully accepted. A path at the rear of the building leads to steep stairs and pathways along the ‘Water of Leith.’ I came away asking myself, ‘What is Art?’