Edinburgh’s Doors Open Days will return in September, offering the public the chance to explore some of the city’s historic sites and hidden places for free.
Operated by the Scottish Civic Trust and coordinated locally by conservation charity The Cockburn Association, the Doors Open Days will be running on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September.
The event first took place in 1991, and has since grown into Scotland’s largest free heritage festival, with more than 950 venues taking part last year.
The Doors Open Days enable free civic access to buildings normally closed to the public, and with this year’s theme running under the tagline Heritage at Risk: Revive, Resist, Reimagine, locals and tourists alike won’t have to pay a penny to see inside some of Edinburgh’s historic and cultural gems.
Some of the notable venues taking part offer spaces likely to catch the eye of history and literature nuts, architecture fans and even those just looking for a family day out.
Adam Smith’s Panmure House will be open on both the Saturday and Sunday. Built in 1690, it was home to the famous economist from 1778 until his death in 1790.
Normally closed to the public, it is where Smith completed the final editions of his magnum opus, The Wealth of Nations – a first edition of which will be visible on the day.
Elsewhere, the Advocates Library in Parliament House next to the Court of Session will be open on the Saturday. The library is used by Scotland’s advocates who use its collections and spaces to carry out research in support of their work promoting access to justice.
Guided 30-minute tours will run throughout the day, covering two floors and giving a rare gimplse into its historic spaces and collections.
For those looking to satisfy their architectural urges, the Barclay Viewforth Church from 1864 will be open on the Saturday, showing off its painted ceiling and heart-shaped interior.
The University of Edinburgh’s McEwan Hall will be open on Sunday 27 September, giving visitors the chance to appreciate the Grade A listed building’s murals, vast dome and general interior designs, which took three years alone to complete.
For families with kids, Bridgend Farmhouse on Old Dalkeith Road will be open from 10am until 3pm on Saturday 26 September, and plans to provide live music, games for children and guided tours.
The Burns Monument on the slopes of Calton Hill will also be open the entire weekend from 10am until 3pm, with songs, music and poems from Scotland’s most famous bard being performed throughout the two days.
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions at the top of the Royal Mile is also taking part in Doors Open Days across the entire weekend, but has already sold out of tickets, being one of Edinburgh’s most popular tourist attractions.
However, those with an EH postcode can still visit during September at a special discounted rate with the code RESIDENTRATE20 providing 20% off admission from Sunday to Friday.
For more information, please visit: https://www.doorsopendays.org.uk/regions/edinburgh
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