Doors Open Days

An annual nation-wide festival which offers free access to over a thousand venues across Scotland, Doors Open Days aims to ensure that the country’s spaces and stories, both old and new, are made accessible to everyone to discover and enjoy.

Edinburgh’s programme takes place from 26 to 27 September 2026. Whether you want to peek inside an 18^th century farm steading, visit the oldest and largest law library in Scotland, walk around an operational bus garage, or take a tour of a working courtroom, this is a great way to see inside many of the city’s fascinating buildings, many of which are not normally open to the public.

Visitors will be able to take part in a range of events, including tours and workshops to celebrate the theme of this year’s programme: Heritage at Risk: Revive, Resist, Reimagine.

Some of the venues taking part in the Edinburgh 2026 programme include:

University of Edinburgh: McEwan Hall. This iconic Grade A listed building was presented to the University in 1897 by William McEwan as a ceremonial hall for graduations and as a gift to the people of Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Central Quaker Meeting House. Built in 1865, this building on Victoria Terrace has been the home of the Edinburgh Central Quaker Meeting House since 1987.
Out of the Blue Drill Hall. Learn all about the history and architecture of this Leith hall, which was designed by the renowned architect Sir Rowand Anderson, and built in 1901 for the Royal Scots Regiment.
Adam Smith’s Panmure House. This is a rare opportunity to see the Edinburgh home of Adam Smith, the Scottish economist and philosopher who was a key figure during the Scottish Enlightenment. Visitors will have the chance to explore the house at their own pace, and see a first edition of The Wealth of Nations.
Royal Observatory Edinburgh. This working site is where cutting-edge science takes place every day. Meet astronomers and engineers who work here, get hands-on with astronomy crafts, and handle meteorites.

An external shot of the central library in Edinburgh Scotland — Edinburgh Central Library

Blackford Hill Observatory — Edinburgh Central Library

Edinburgh Central Library. Since opening in 1890, this expansive library has been providing a valuable service to Edinburgh residents and visitors. Behind the scenes tours will offer an insight into this remarkable building.
National Galleries of Scotland, Granton Art Centre. Wall to wall with paintings, see where some of the National Galleries of Scotland’s magnificent collection is stored when it’s not on public display.
University of Edinburgh: The Bayes Centre & Inspace and Institute for Design Informatics. A place of innovation and technological advancement, the Bayes Centre is the University of Edinburgh’s Innovation Hub for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. Discover more on a guided tour.
Northern Lighthouse Board. This impressive building on George Street has been the headquarters of the Northern Lighthouse Board since 1832, distinguished by a miniature working lighthouse at the entrance. It is from here that the network of lights across Scotland and the Isle of Man are remotely monitored.