Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
Caucasus - Geghard Monastery, Armenia
Armenia • 15 days, 14 nights
Caucasus Road Trip: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Nageshwar (Maharashtra)
Replicas of Jyotirlinga Temples
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
Silver Queen
Glenfiddich House
Loading...
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
Cely’s map is not only accurate, but captures the unique characteristics of Congaree’s trees and waterways.
How One Biologist Drew a Hyper-Accurate, Ranger-Approved Map of Congaree National Park

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom Scotland Edinburgh Talbot Rice Gallery

Talbot Rice Gallery

Once designed as a natural history museum, this building is now home to a massive art gallery.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Added By
linkogecko
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Exhibit by Samson Young at Talbot Rice Gallery.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
The ceiling on one of the Gallery’s halls.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
View of one of the halls.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Detail of the ceiling.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Walkway.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Spring 2024   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
The Accursed Share - Spring 2023   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
West College Street entrance   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Established in 1975, this gallery was named after one of the University of Edinburgh's most noted Professors of Fine Arts. David Talbot Rice was born in England, but taught in the Scottish capital until his death in 1972.

The gallery occupies several rooms at the University of Edinburgh's Old College, all housed in a grand neoclassical hall (originally constructed to be the home of the university's Museum of Natural History). The Old College itself was designed by Robert Adam and William Playfair, with construction beginning during the early 19th century. 

However, the building process was slow and intermittent, which resulted in the structure remaining under construction until 1827 under the sole supervision of Playfair. 

The neoclassical hall of the Talbot Rice Gallery is considered a sibling of sorts to the University’s Playfair Library (also designed by William Playfair). While the Library is only open to students and for special events, Talbot Rice Gallery is open to all and free to visit. Inside the gallery, both modern art and classical style share the same space. The gallery also hosts artist residencies and outreach programs.

Related Tags

Museums Art Universities

Know Before You Go

The gallery is regularly open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. It opens on Sundays and Mondays seasonally and times can be found on their website. Entrance is free.

The grassy quad adjacent to the eastern entrance to the gallery has several unique features. In the northeastern corner once housed the nefarious Dr. Knox's operating theatre. He was the physician responsible for funding the notorious killing spree by the infamous serial murders Burke and Hare.

Along the western wall are a set of steps and a balcony that leads up to one of the museum's entrances. It is at the top of this staircase that the actor James Mason, addressing a large enthusiastic crowd, gave a rallying speech at the end of the 1959 classic Jules Verne film, Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Scotland: Beyond the Haggis

Smoked seafood, single malt whisky, and warm hospitality.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

linkogecko

Edited By

SEANETTA, rbenn250

  • SEANETTA
  • rbenn250

Published

November 15, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Talbot Rice Gallery
South Bridge
The University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, Scotland, EH8 9YL
United Kingdom
55.947178, -3.187995
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Cramond Lioness

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Millennium Clock Tower

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Rooftop Terrace at the National Museum of Scotland

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Scotland

Places 184
Stories 7

Nearby Places

Cramond Lioness

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Millennium Clock Tower

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Rooftop Terrace at the National Museum of Scotland

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Scotland

Places 184
Stories 7

Related Places

  • Lund, Sweden

    Skissernas Museum

    The Lund University's former gym houses a museum focusing on the creative process of art.

  • “The Large Glass” on display at the museum.

    Tokyo, Japan

    Replica of Duchamp's 'The Large Glass'

    One of three official copies of Marcel Duchamp's enigmatic masterpiece is on display in an obscure Tokyo museum.

  • The water serpent carving.

    Winnebago, Nebraska

    Angel De Cora Museum and Research Center

    A Winnebago Tribe collection featuring arrowheads, artwork, and a mysterious rock carving.

  • Los informantes de Sahagún

    Mexico City, Mexico

    Laboratorio de Arte Alameda

    A 16th-century convent became a contemporary art museum.

  • Nara, Japan

    Shōsōin

    A raised Japanese building has preserved 8th-century artifacts for more than a millennium, earning this log cabin a reputation as the "world's oldest museum."

  • London, England

    Exhale: Bionic Chandelier

    A living lighting fixture.

  • Durham, England

    'Seek Knowledge Even as Far as China'

    A tile mosaic displaying a saying from the prophet Muhammad presents the mission of Durham University's Oriental Museum.

  • The Neoclassical palace is reason enough to visit.

    Corfu, Greece

    Corfu Museum of Asian Art

    A spectacular Neoclassical palace is home more than 15,000 artifacts and works of art.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.