Queen's Gallery, Edinburgh
The King's Gallery, previously known as The Queen鈥檚 Gallery, opened in 2002 to mark Queen Elizabeth II鈥檚 Golden Jubilee. This royal splash of culture in Edinburgh鈥攖ucked right beside the Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Park鈥攊s part of the Palace of Holyroodhouse and is set within the Palace Mews. But here's the twist: the gallery was built inside the shell of a Victorian church and school that once stood at the Palace gates. Talk about a second life鈥攐ne moment sermons, the next moment storage space, and now? Regal art on display...
Originally, this little building housed a church which once belonged to the Free Church of Scotland, and later the United Free Church, hosting worship until 1915. After that, it became more broom cupboard than cathedral鈥攔ight until Queen Elizabeth II herself cut the ribbon and gave it its current royal role.
Inside, the gallery rotates treasures from the Royal Collection, including paintings, jewels, furniture, and the occasional surprise object you didn鈥檛 even know you needed to see. The exhibitions change regularly, so even if you鈥檝e been here before, you鈥檒l likely spot something new the next time.
And it鈥檚 not just about looking, either. The gallery doubles as a classroom with workshops for kids and school groups鈥攊n portrait drawing, landscape sketching in the Palace gardens, even model-making. It鈥檚 art history all right, but hands-on and a little more fun than your average lecture.
And when the masterpieces have left you cross-eyed, there鈥檚 a caf茅 bar next door. Because nothing says 鈥渞oyal day out鈥� like a cup of tea after admiring a few centuries鈥� worth of crown-approved creativity...
Originally, this little building housed a church which once belonged to the Free Church of Scotland, and later the United Free Church, hosting worship until 1915. After that, it became more broom cupboard than cathedral鈥攔ight until Queen Elizabeth II herself cut the ribbon and gave it its current royal role.
Inside, the gallery rotates treasures from the Royal Collection, including paintings, jewels, furniture, and the occasional surprise object you didn鈥檛 even know you needed to see. The exhibitions change regularly, so even if you鈥檝e been here before, you鈥檒l likely spot something new the next time.
And it鈥檚 not just about looking, either. The gallery doubles as a classroom with workshops for kids and school groups鈥攊n portrait drawing, landscape sketching in the Palace gardens, even model-making. It鈥檚 art history all right, but hands-on and a little more fun than your average lecture.
And when the masterpieces have left you cross-eyed, there鈥檚 a caf茅 bar next door. Because nothing says 鈥渞oyal day out鈥� like a cup of tea after admiring a few centuries鈥� worth of crown-approved creativity...
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Edinburgh. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Queen's Gallery on Map
Sight Name: Queen's Gallery
Sight Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (See walking tours in Edinburgh)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (See walking tours in Edinburgh)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Edinburgh, Scotland
Create Your Own Walk in Edinburgh
Creating your own self-guided walk in Edinburgh is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Edinburgh Pub Crawl
Edinburgh is rich in pubs, both old and new, spoiling their patrons with the best in town drinks and food. Although most traditional pubs in the city are laid back, with a quiet and relaxing atmosphere, some have dance floors and double as nightclubs. This self-guided adventure takes you to several such spots, each with its own story to tell.
Our journey begins at the World's End Pub, a... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Our journey begins at the World's End Pub, a... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Literary Landmarks Tour
For centuries, Edinburgh has been home to numerous writers. The likes of Robert Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson, and JK Rowling, just to name a few, have given pride to this city. Fortunately, the tradition doesn't seem to die out any time soon, as Edinburgh keeps producing more and more authors and literary heroes in whose footsteps people still wish to tread.
Naturally, there is a wealth... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Naturally, there is a wealth... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Royal Mile Walking Tour
The Royal Mile, a steep thoroughfare in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town, is one of the city's busiest tourist destinations. It runs down a slope, from the famed Edinburgh Castle to Holyroodhouse Palace and the ruined Holyrood Abbey, for almost exactly a mile and thus got its name, coined in 1920. The succession of streets forming the Royal Mile is lined with numerous shops, pubs,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
New Town Walking Tour
Rightly regarded as the historic masterpiece of city planning, the New Town of Edinburgh has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. The area forms a significant part of the Scottish capital and is known for its elegant Georgian architecture, abundant shopping opportunities, and many other delights firmly associated with this city.
One of the prominent landmarks in the New Town is... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
One of the prominent landmarks in the New Town is... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Famous Squares and Streets Walking Tour
Being in Edinburgh, it is only natural to be curious about the avenues, boulevards, and streets leading to (or stemming from) the city's picturesque squares. There, you can find a copious amount of historic and religious sites, fashion stores, classy restaurants, and marketplaces, not to mention some hidden gems, exploring which is well worth the time spent.
One of Edinburgh's most... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
One of Edinburgh's most... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Edinburgh Introduction Walking Tour
If you like cities with a split personality, Edinburgh is definitely one such, featuring a striking mix of medieval and Georgian architecture. Indeed, here medieval grit meets Enlightenment wit, and every cobbled incline has a story to tell鈥攚hether your legs are ready for it or not. Perched (or more like wedged) across volcanic hills, the city has been Scotland鈥檚 capital since the 15th century... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
19 Best Pubs in New Town, Edinburgh
A guide to the pubs that make up the area that is called Edinburgh's New Town. A description about what you can expect from each of the locations in the directory. A fantastic directory if you are a tourist or even a...
Scottish Souvenirs: 15 Authentic Scottish Things to Buy in Edinburgh
The popularity of Scotland stretches far beyond its geographical borders, fueled, in large part, by Hollywood's interest in the Scottish theme - Sean Connery (as James Bond), "Braveheart", etc. Indeed, the cultural spectrum of this part of Britain is enormous and comprises great...
Top 12 Pubs On and Around Royal Mile in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a vibrant city with abundant nightlife and no shortage of places to go after dusk. The Royal Mile alone, in the very heart of Edinburgh, is laden with character spots craving to be discovered by the first time visitors to the city. This is the highlight of some of the most notable bars...