The Royal Scottish Academy

CONS: Went during a warm summer weekday in August and many of the more busy galleries were uncomfortably hot and long lines at the ladies rest room as well a regular people using the handicapped restroom to jump the line. If you need access to the lifts, be prepared to wait and it's segmented to multiple locations including getting into the museum from Great Russell. The lifts are small and if you have a wheelchair/stroller, it's a much longer day. One of the outdoor lifts broke while we were using it. One star less due to that. PROS: Able to reserve a wheelchair ahead of time and express line for accessibility. Highly recommended to go early and get tickets ahead of time for the special exhibits and timed entry galleries. Exhibit wise, incredible world class collection of historic and cultural artifacts. Overwhelmingly stunning and extensive collection of decorative arts including collections of coins/monies and clocks. There are items there not seen anywhere else in the world in one location. Worth while tolerating the above mention inconveniences.

The Scottish National Gallery, a jewel in Edinburgh's cultural crown, offers an enriching experience that beautifully complements a visit to the nearby Scott Monument. Its prime location is a major draw – nestled in the heart of the city, it's just a stone's throw from the monument and a pleasant stroll from Edinburgh University. What truly sets it apart, however, is not just its impressive collection but also its accessibility and surroundings. Entry to this magnificent gallery is completely free, making world-class art available to everyone. Inside, you'll discover a remarkable array of European art, spanning from the Renaissance to the late 19th century. Masterpieces by Botticelli, Raphael, Vermeer, Monet, and Gauguin are just a few of the treasures awaiting discovery. The layout is intuitive, allowing for a relaxed exploration of various artistic movements and styles. Even for those less familiar with art history, the sheer beauty and emotional power of the works are captivating. Beyond the art itself, the gallery's setting is incredibly appealing. It's flanked by the expansive Princes Street Gardens, providing a vast green oasis perfect for a post-gallery picnic or a leisurely stroll. The availability of such a large, open space right on its doorstep adds immense value to the visitor experience, especially on a sunny day. Furthermore, its central location means that after immersing yourself in art, you're merely a short walk from Edinburgh's bustling town centre, vibrant markets, and numerous other historical sites. This makes the Scottish National Gallery an ideal starting point or a delightful interlude in a day of exploring Scotland's captivating capital. It’s an essential visit for anyone seeking cultural enrichment and a moment of tranquility amidst the city's lively atmosphere.

The Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) stands as Scotland's prestigious national academy of art, dedicated to the cultivation and promotion of contemporary Scottish art. Established in 1826 by a visionary group of eleven artists who convened in the heart of Edinburgh, the Academy began its journey as the Scottish Academy. In recognition of its significance and contributions to the arts, it was granted a royal charter in 1838, thus acquiring the name Royal Scottish Academy. The RSA occupies a distinctive and revered position within the cultural landscape of Scotland. As an independently funded institution, it is guided by a collective of distinguished artists and architects. Their mission is to foster the creation, understanding, and enjoyment of visual arts throughout the country. The RSA achieves this through a dynamic array of exhibitions and engaging educational events, which serve to enrich the public's appreciation of art and stimulate vibrant discussions around contemporary artistic practices.

I visited the Andy Goldsworthy exhibition today and it was absolutely breathtaking! Each room, accompanied by a booklet, immersed you in his work and thought process. It was moving, grounding and it gifted you a great sense of being and connection to the art and artist! The works while emotional in some ways were equally whimsical in another and every work brought around different feelings from playful joy or quiet consideration. Simply incredible and a must see!!!

Went to see the Andy Goldsworthy exhibition. Staff were great, very helpful and made sure we didn't miss anything. I can't comment from an accessibility point of view, but it looked like there was a lift facility for anyone who couldn't use the stairs

Great setting for Andy Goldsworthy’s place based exhibit and really good disabled access

Went to the Grayson Perry Smash Hits exhibition which was excellent! Allow yourself plenty of time - we were in there for over 2 hours. So much to take in. We opted to read the info about each exhibit - you might want to go for the audio guide. Fascinating artist.

Bought tickets for the Printmaker's Art and was not disappointed. Exhibition was well organised with each room dedicated to a different style of printmaking. Some incredible pieces of art from 500 years of printmaking. There were short informative films explaining the different processes too. Excellent. Closes Feb 25th so if you haven't been then get yourself along there.

I've always known of this art gallery as the Royal Scottish Academy, and find the "friends" quite comical! Having read a little about it though, the words "friend" "benefactors" and "supporter" seem to be quite important to this academy, as it's privately funded. Location wise, it's not too far off the beaten track for well loved Edinburgh tourist (....) as it's just off Princes Street, at the Mound. The gallery houses all sorts of contemporary Scottish art, and if you've read any of my other gallery reviews, me saying I LOVE SCOTTISH ART will start sound quite repetitive, but I do. The Diploma Collection is pretty amazing, and the concept behind it (of it containing at least one piece by a member of the academy, approved by all other members) is quite simply, for a lack of better word.. freakin awesome! And a little bit cultish.

A lovely building as it's setting (my friend has worked as a stonemason here too, random facts and all!) this place is a clean, open maze of well curated work, and for a small gallery, quite a range, but without being uncontrolled. Excellently staffed by lovely people too, although quite a bit of the art wasn't to my taste, it definitely is for some, and certainly worth a look round.

The Royal Scottish Academy, apary from being a fabulous neo-classical building, is always worth a visit. The quality and diversity of its exhibitions is incredible, from the Monet exhibition of a few years ago to this summer's Warhol. There's also a great balance of contemporary and traditional exhibitions, Scottish and international.