Free Museums & Galleries

  WRITER'S MUSEUM

 
Writer's Museum: Lady Stairs Close Lawnmarket
Dedicated to Robert Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson and Walter Scott, this museum contains portraits, manuscripts and personal exhibits connected to all three historic writers.The house itself is worth a visit.

http://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/Venues/The-Writers--Museum.aspx

Museum of Childhood: 42 High Street
Opened in 1955 this was the first museum in the world to specialise in the history of childhood. There are toys and games of all types. Find out how children were brought up in the past.

http://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/Venues/Museum-of-Childhood.aspx

 
Brass Rubbing Centre: Trinity ApseChalmers Close Royal Mile
A collection of replicas moulded from ancient Pictish stones and medieval church brasses. All you need for brass rubbing but there is a charge to do this.

http://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/Venues/Brass-Rubbings-Centre.aspx

 
Museum of Edinburgh: 142 Canongate
Contains collections relating to Edinburgh from prehistoric times to today. See the real Greyfriar's Bobby collar and feeding bowl, also the 1638 National Covenant. There are glass and silver collections as well as displays relating to real historic events. Don't attempt to take photos without permission!

http://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/Venues/Museum-of-Edinburgh.aspx

  PEOPLE'S STORY

 
People's Story: Canongate Tolbooth 163 Canongate
Using oral history, reminiscence and written sources it tells the story of the lives, work and leisure of the people of Edinburgh from the 18th century until present day. There are sights, sounds and smells from the past and includes a prison cell, town crier, fishwife,1940s kitchen and a pub and tea room.

http://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/Venues/The-People-s-Story.aspx

 
Queensferry Museum: 53 High Street South Queensferry
Situated in the historic former royal burgh of Queensferry, the museum commands magnificent views of the two great bridges spanning the Forth. Its collections trace the history of the people of Queensferry and Dalmeny, the historic ferry passage to Fife, the building of the road and rail bridges, and the wildlife of the Forth estuary.

http://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/Venues/Queensferry-Museum.aspx

  
Royal Museum: Chambers Street
This houses international collections of decorative arts, science and industry, archaeology and the natural world. A large museum in a Victorian building with an extension from the 1990s. Also great views from the roof terrace. Well worth a visit.

http://www.nms.ac.uk/our_museums/national_museum.aspx

 
National Gallery Complex: The Mound
This is made up of 3 interconnected buildings. The building directly on Princes St is the Royal Scottish Academy and hosts international collections for which there is normally a fee. The National Gallery of Scotland sits behind and is home to a major part of Scotland's fine art. The newer Weston link connects the buildings and is an area for eating drinking and shopping.

http://www.nationalgalleries.org/

City Art Centre: 2 Market Street
Located in the heart of the capital, with six exhibition galleries, the City Art Centre is Scotland's emporium of the visual arts. It is both home of the City's collection of Scottish Art, and one the UK's leading temporary exhibition spaces. Since opening in 1980, the City Art Centre has mounted a huge range of exhibitions, from rare Egyptian antiquities to the most innovative contemporary art, from Michelangelo drawings to Star Trek. The scale and range of the programme has made the gallery one of Britain's most visited exhibition centres. The City's fine art collection consists of around 3,500 works of Scottish art: paintings, watercolours, drawings, prints, photographs, sculpture and tapestries, including works by McTaggart, Fergusson, Peploe and Eardley.

http://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/Venues/City-Art-Centre.aspx

 
Scottish National Portrait Gallery: Queen Street
This impressively ornate building holds portraits of those who shaped Scotlands history. This gallery is closed for refurbishment until late 2011

http://www.nationalgalleries.org/

 
Gallery Of Modern Art: 75 Belford Road
High up on the banks of the Water of Leith not far from Dean Village sits the Gallery of Modern Art. From Russian art to Cubist paintings and modern Scottish art set in attractive grounds it is well worth a visit.

http://www.nationalgalleries.org/

Dean Gallery
Just across the road from the Gallery of Modern Art the Dean Gallery contains a world class collection of Dada and Surrealism as well as special exhibitions on the top floor. Both galleries are served by a free bus service which will drop you at The Mound.

http://www.nationalgalleries.org/
 
Collective Gallery: 22 Cockburn Street
A small gallery funded by Edinburgh Council, national Lottery and Scottish Arts Council.

http://www.collectivegallery.net/

Fruitmarket Gallery: 45 Market Street
This art space has exhibitions, commissions, interpretation, education and publishing. It is a non profit organisation promoting the arts.

http://www.fruitmarket.co.uk/home/

Stills Gallery: 23 Cockburn Street
For the promotion of contemporary photography this small gallery is in Cockburn Street. There is a small exhibition space and also talks learning space and photographic facilities.

http://www.stills.org/aboutus.html