Gardens & Horticulture

A formidable stronghold set atop cliffs on the Firth of Forth, Tantallon Castle was the seat of the Douglas Earls of Angus, one of the most powerful baronial families in Scotland. Tantallon served as a noble fortification for more than three centuries and endured frequent sieges. Visitors can enjoy wild flowers in season and touch the replica cannon. Refreshments are available in the visitor centre.

Arts, Crafts & Textiles

Described as the finest Georgian square in Europe, Charlotte Square was designed by master architect Robert Adam, and is the crowning glory of Edinburgh's New Town. No 7, is The Georgian House, a vivid re-creation of life in late 18th century Edinburgh. Experience a real taste of high society - and the 'below stairs' life of the servants.

You will be guided through the underground closes (very narrow streets) by one of the characters from the past whose life touched Mary King’s Close. Your guide will reveal dramatic episodes involving the “Witch Trials” of the 17th century and extraordinary apparitions from the past including ghost stories over 300 years old. Also visit the home of a grave-digger’s family to discover what REALLY happened during the plague epidemic of 1644 -1645.

Scotland's new Parliament sits at the foot of Edinburgh's famous Royal Mile in front of the spectacular Holyrood Park and Salisbury Crags. Constructed from a mixture of steel, oak, and granite, the complex building has been hailed as one of the most innovative designs in Britain today.

Drawing inspiration from the surrounding landscape, the flower paintings by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the upturned boats on the seashore, Enric Miralles, one of the world's premier architects, developed a design that he said was a building "growing out of the land".


Access to the building is free and you can:

explore at your leisure an exhibition about the Scottish Parliament
pick up information about the Parliament
visit the public galleries of the Chamber or Committee rooms to see Parliament in action on business days. On non-business days, the Chamber and Committee Room public galleries are open for visitors to see these remarkable spaces and staff are available to answer questions
watch proceedings on our Information Channel screens in the Main Hall
visit the shop and café.

Torness nuclear power station is located approximately 30 miles east of the city of Edinburgh at Torness Point near Dunbar in East Lothian, Scotland. It is a local landmark, highly visible from the main A1 road and East Coast Main Line railway. The station was designed by NNC, a company created from the gradual amalgamation of five consortia that were formed in the 1950s and 1960s to build the UK's commercial nuclear power stations.

'THE OLDEST INHABITED HOUSE IN SCOTLAND'. 18th century working brewery, museum and shops. Dating back to 1107 it was originally a hunting lodge for the kings and queens of Scotland. Later a refuge for Catholic priests in times of terror the Stuarts of Traquair supported Mary Queen of Scots and the Jacobite cause without counting the cost. Today Traquair is a unique piece of living history welcoming visitors from all over the world, providing a magical and romantic setting for weddings, hosting a wide range of summer events and a superb venue for corporate groups. You can even stay here in the luxurious Bed & Breakfast accommodation.
Visitors are invited to enjoy the house, extensive grounds, maze, craft workshops, 1745 Cottage Restaurant and the famous Traquair House Brewery housed in the eighteenth century wing and producing the world famous Traquair House Ales.

Dating back to 1107 it was originally a hunting lodge for the kings and queens of Scotland. Later a refuge for Catholic priests in times of terror the Stuarts of Traquair supported Mary Queen of Scots and the Jacobite cause without counting the cost.

Today Traquair is a unique piece of living history welcoming visitors from all over the world, providing a magical and romantic setting for weddings, hosting a wide range of summer events and a superb venue for corporate groups. You can even stay here in the luxurious Bed & Breakfast accommodation.

The complex of buildings known as the Chambers Institution was given to the townspeople of Peebles in 1859 for their social, moral and intellectual improvement by Dr. William Chambers, the publisher, who was born in Peebles in 1800. Tweeddale Museum, which is housed in the main building, aims to keep up this tradition of learning while presenting a series of lively displays based on the history of the district and the rich, somewhat exotic collection established by William Chambers. The Picture Gallery is an original Victorian gallery housed within the Chambers Institution. Today the space is used for a wide variety of temporary exhibitions and workshops.

Explore Edinburgh's hidden natural asset the Water of Leith, visit our fantastic interactive exhibition at the Visitor Centre and discover the river's wildlife and heritage.

The interactive exhibition has three zones:

The Video Zone engages you with a DVD projection of life on the river - The information panels surrounding the unique video well describe the Walkway, the rivers past, its bridges, its Industry, and its People

The Tall Panel Zone -reveals what 'we share the river with .......!!' Focusing on the wildlife that lives in the river's corridor find out what Birds, Mammals, Invertebrates, Fish and Plants share the river with us - you can even find out the problems we humans cause.

The Interactive Zone - is where the experience comes alive. Cause a flood, try to stop the giant waterwheel turning, control the sluices as you splash around these large stainless steel interactive models. On the unique 'Call of the Wild Wall' listen for the sights and sounds of the river bank. Finally get up close to the rivers creepy crawlies through the Video 'Bioscope'.

Lastly a 'Neon Map' of the river allows you to see how the river runs through the City of Edinburgh and identify major features along its length

Based in Edinburgh, the National Archives of Scotland (NAS) exists to select, preserve, and make available the national archives of Scotland in whatever medium, to the highest standards; to promote the growth and maintenance of proper archive provision throughout the country; and to lead the development of archival practice in Scotland.

The NAS also holds historical records created by businesses, landed estates, families, churches and other corporate bodies. Every year tens of thousands of people from all over the world use the NAS's services to carry out research, seek advice on record keeping, and enhance the learning and teaching of history.

West Register House (WRH) is situated in Charlotte Square, off the west end of Princes Street. The search room here is known as the West Search Room, where you can consult court and government records and maps and plans. Below is an outline of the main classes of records available at West Register House:

* modern government files: records of the Scottish Office and Scottish Government
* court records: Court of Session; High Court of Justiciary (after 1800); sheriff court records (excluding wills); divorces (to 1983)
* records of the former nationalised industries and transport: rail and canal systems, coal, gas, electricity and steel industries
* business records
* maps and plans

Arts, Crafts & Textiles

Situated in Lady Stair's House, built in 1622, The Writers' Museum is dedicated to the lives and work of Scotland's great literary figures, in particluar Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), Sir Walter Scott (1771 - 1832) and Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 - 1894).The rich collection of portraits, manuscripts and personal exhibits include Burns' writing desk, Scott's chessboard, dining table and the printing press on which his Waverley novels were produced. The Stevenson collection is the most significant in the United Kingdom. Other prominent Scottish writers, including contemporary authors, are featured in the museum's programme of temporary exhibitions.