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Museums, art galleries and exhibitions in Edinburgh

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Looking for museums, exhibitions or art galleries in Edinburgh?

From the Scottish National Gallery to Jupiter Artland sculpture park, contemporary art at the Fruitmarket or the National Museum of Scotland, our guide will help you discover the best galleries and museums in Edinburgh.

Start planning the perfect day in Edinburgh by finding the right art gallery or museum for you.

Must-see Edinburgh museums

Places to visit in Edinburgh with your National Art Pass
Museum

National Galleries Scotland: M…

Edinburgh
Scotland
50% off exhibitions
Museum

Jupiter Artland

Art Fund Museum of the Year
Find out more
2016 finalist
Edinburgh
Scotland
50% off entry
Museum

National War Museum

Edinburgh
Scotland
Museum

National Galleries Scotland: P…

Edinburgh
Scotland
50% off exhibitions
Museum

Historic Environment Scotland

Edinburgh
Scotland
Museum

Talbot Rice Gallery

Edinburgh
Scotland
10% off in shop
Museum

City Art Centre

Edinburgh
Scotland
50% off exhibitions
Museum

National Library of Scotland

Edinburgh
Scotland
See all museums
Dalziel + Scullion, 'Unknown Pines (Digger)', 2007. © the artist
© the artist

Popular Edinburgh exhibitions

Visit these exhibitions in Edinburgh with your National Art Pass

Exhibition

Deep Rooted

18 November 2023 - 25 February 2024
City Art Centre
Edinburgh
Exhibition

Scottish Women Artists: 250 Ye…

28 July 2023 - 6 January 2024
Dovecot Studios
Edinburgh
50% off exhibitions
Exhibition

Lindsey Mendick: SH*TFACED

15 July - 1 October 2023
Jupiter Artland
Edinburgh
Last chance
50% off entry
Chris Leslie
Exhibition

Making Space | Photographs of…

7 October 2023 - 3 March 2024
National Galleries Scotland: Portrait
Edinburgh
Opening soon
See all exhibitions

Upcoming events

Make, play and learn at events in Edinburgh
Lates

Newtongrange Silver Band Conce…

30 September 2023
Join us for a fantastic evening of entertainment from the Newtongrange Silver Band!
National Mining Museum Scotland
Newtongrange
See all events

Get inspired

Recommendations for your next day out
Recommendations

The exhibitions you must see in 2023

Discover the story of the little black dress, Andy Warhol’s fascination with textiles, the legend of the Knossos minotaur, and fashion house Chanel...
Read More
19 Dec 2022
Hepworth Wakefield, Museum of the Year Winner, 2017. Photo: Marc Atkins / Art Fund 2017. MOTY 2017. CP0068
Recommendations

Explore the most iconic museums the UK has to offer

Whether you love cutting-edge art, classical painting or artefacts from around the world, you’ll be able to see all your favourite things at these...
Read More
30 Aug 2022
Recommendations

Discover somewhere new: Art and culture off the beaten track

In search of something out of the ordinary for your next museum visit? Here’s our pick of exciting, inspiring and unusual spaces to explore across...
Read More
1 Nov 2022
Bodleian Library
Recommendations

Read the room: Five great libraries to explore

From the largest library in the world to Jane Austen manuscripts in Oxford, we highlight five reading rooms that will keep bookworms happy for hours.
Read More
10 Oct 2017
Podcast

Brian Cox at the Scottish Nati…

14 Apr 2022
Actor Brian Cox shares some of his favourite works of art at the Scottish National Gallery…
National Galleries Scotland: National
Edinburgh
Listen now
Charles Jencks, Cells of Life
Long Reads

The story behind Jupiter Artland, Edinburgh's 100-acre sculpture park

Veronica Simpson talks to Nicky and Robert Wilson, the couple behind the 100-acre public sculpture park on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
Read More
26 Feb 2021
The café-bar at Chapter in Cardiff, with work by Magda Archer on the walls.
Recommendations

Our favourite museum and gallery cafés

Gallery hopping can be hungry work. Fuel your day of art at these excellent museum cafés – whether you’re looking for breakfast or brunch..
Read More
13 Dec 2021
Jupiter Artland, Ian Hamilton Finlay 'Xth Muse'
Recommendations

Museums and galleries for a perfect bank holiday weekend

Experience something new and take a culture trip this bank holiday weekend. Here’s a museum of every shape and size to inspire you.
Read More
23 Aug 2023
Recommendations

Top five contemporary art galleries in Scotland

The best places to discover cutting-edge contemporary art in Scotland.
Read More
4 Aug 2023
Recommendations

Ten Georgian houses

Palladian villas, Capability Brown gardens, the Gothic Revival: the Georgian era gave rise to some of Britain's most iconic architecture.
Read More
18 Feb 2016
Podcast

Special episode: highlights fr…

10 Aug 2023
In this special episode, we delve into the Meet Me at the Museum archive to pull out highl…
Listen now
Recommendations

Animal art to inspire your Wild Escape creations

We've found these creatures hiding in museums across the UK. Pick your favourite to draw, send it in to The Wild Escape, and watch it come to life!
Read More
18 Apr 2023
Recommendations

Your summer, sorted

Plan the perfect summer with our guide to some of the best museums, galleries and historic houses to visit on a sunny summer's day.
Read More
27 Jun 2023
Podcast

Jack Lowden at the National Mu…

7 Oct 2021
Actor Jack Lowden takes his friend and fellow actor Andrew Rothney to the National Museum…
National Museum of Scotland
Edinburgh
Listen now
Recommendations

Five of the best gallery bars

From cocktails to craft beers to a bite to eat. We take a look at some of the best places to refresh yourself after drinking in all that art.
Read More
7 Nov 2016
Recommendations

Five photography collections that are the 'pic' of the bunch

We live in an era of selfies and instant images, but how about visiting these places to develop your knowledge of the art and history of photography.
Read More
11 Feb 2016
Wangechi Mutu, Histology of the Different Classes of Uterine Tumors
Long Reads

Wangechi Mutu and the revelation of inequities

Marcus Field discovers a work at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art that raises questions about colonialism, race and gender.
Read More
7 Mar 2022
National Museum of Scotland
Recommendations

An insider's guide to Edinburgh

From the Scottish National Gallery to Dovecot Studios, explore the best museums to visit in Edinburgh, thanks to a city local.
Read More
21 Aug 2022
Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth
Recommendations

On the hunt for surprising objects in the nation’s museums and galleries

The UK's museums and galleries are home to a host of surprising artefacts. Travel writer Georgina Wilson-Powell explores some of the more unusual...
Read More
6 Mar 2018
Recommendations

Art and About: Exploring modern art in Edinburgh

Art Fund member and Edinburgh enthusiast Ildiko explores some of the city’s modern and contemporary art with her National Art Pass.
Read More
20 Feb 2020
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© Art Fund 2023. “Art Fund” is the operating name of the National Art Collections Fund, a charity registered in England and Wales (209174) and Scotland (SC038331)

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