Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art occupies two grand neoclassical buildings, Modern One and Modern Two, facing each other across Belford Road on the western edge of Edinburgh's New Town. Together they hold the National Galleries of Scotland's outstanding collection of modern and contemporary art, ranging from early 20th century works by Picasso, Matisse, Bonnard and Magritte through to leading figures of post-war and contemporary practice including Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst.

Modern One is particularly strong on Surrealism and Dada, with major holdings from the personal collection of Sir Roland Penrose and Gabrielle Keiller. Modern Two, housed in a former orphanage, contains the celebrated reconstruction of the studio of Edinburgh-born sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi, alongside extensive holdings of his work. Scottish artists are well represented throughout, including pieces by the Scottish Colourists, Joan Eardley, Alison Watt and John Bellany.

The grounds are themselves a draw. Charles Jencks's vast landform sculpture 'Landform Ueda', a series of crescent-shaped pools and spiralling grass mounds, dominates the lawn in front of Modern One, while works by Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and Rachel Whiteread are dotted across the gardens. The galleries lie a short walk from the Water of Leith Walkway, linking easily on foot with the city centre, Dean Village and the Royal Botanic Garden.