[June 2026] Next in Edinburgh, Scotland, we visited the National Gallery.
Looking back, I realised it had been a full eleven years since our last visit—not five, as I had thought.
It is a museum with a wonderful atmosphere, enhanced by the striking red walls.
The Impressionist gallery on the upper floor features blue walls.
It is a matter of personal taste, of course, but I particularly enjoyed the Impressionist room.
I have a special fondness for Degas‘s paintings.
We also took the time to explore the rooms dedicated to modern Scottish painters—areas we had skipped on our previous visit.
There were some truly memorable works there, making it a very rewarding experience.
Whenever I visit museums and galleries in the UK, I am impressed by the country’s generosity in making such incredible collections available to the public for free.
I looked into it and found that national museums and galleries were originally free based on the philosophy of “spreading culture to the entire nation.”
However, in the past, there were barriers—such as entry restrictions and dress code checks—meaning they were essentially facilities for the upper class and scholars.
It wasn’t until the Victorian era that they were opened up to the general public.
However, due to budget cuts under the Thatcher administration in the 1980s, some museums began charging admission fees.
This policy was later reviewed, and in 2001, all national museums became free to enter once again.
It seems that, even in this regard, Mrs. Thatcher was seen as an enemy of the ordinary citizen.
That evening, we visited a wine bar called “Le Petit Raisin,” which my husband had found online.
As the name suggests, it was a French- or Continental-style establishment serving wine alongside cheese, salami, and similar snacks.
Places like this are commonplace where we live in Italy, but they are relatively rare in the UK.
These kinds of spots are perfect when you want a light bite or simply want to relax without having a full meal.
It seemed this wine bar had been open for less than a year, so the service was a bit awkward, though the atmosphere was nice.
We ordered a platter of salami and cheese; the salami was spicy, and the accompanying jam had a sweet-and-spicy flavour.
That part was delicious, but unfortunately, the Rioja we ordered by the glass wasn’t very good.
The total came to £61.60 (around 71.70 euros).
Prices in the UK really are high, after all.
We both love Scotland, but it made us realise that we can’t visit all that often.
