History & Culture Guide

Edinburgh boasts a variety of galleries and art festivals so below are just some we would recommend you take the time to visit. What’s more the city itself offers an abundance of scenic spots for you to take your sketch book and simply sit, draw and capture the beauty around you.

Scottish National Gallery

Home to Scotland’s national collection of fine art, the Scottish National Gallery is top of Edinburgh’s must visit list of free attractions, displaying iconic pieces from the Renaissance to the 19th century. You will have the chance to see incredible works from masters such as: Monet, Cézanne, Raphael and Van Gogh. Not to mention the opportunity to appreciate local painters such as: Wilkie, Ramsay, Raeburn and McTaggart.

Dovecot Studios

This once public swimming baths, is now a famous tapestry studio. Weavers simply removed the water and now use the beautiful well-lit space to display their magnificent works. See masterpieces such as the Stairwell Weave-In and the Glass Onion Tapestry and learn just how they were created by taking a trip up to the elegant viewing gallery to watch the weavers at work below. End your visit with a coffee and a scrumptious slice of cake in the Dovecot Café.

Urbane Art Gallery

If your tastes are a little more modern, then look no further than the Urbane Art Gallery, located in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town. Here you will find a bold and diverse collection of exhibitions from international award-winning artists. See celebrated works from resident artists, such as O’Neil and Charlton, as well as other illustrators from around the globe, including Wagner, Dirar and Spagno.