EDINBURGH’S MUSEUMS AND MONUMENTS

Take a tour of Edinburgh’s past
Through the City of Edinburgh Council’s popular museums, visitors can experience Edinburgh’s incredible cultural heritage. Along the historic Royal Mile alone there are five museums. Visit these in a single day and capture a real flavour of the city’s past, from great literary figures to the history of our people. Many of our museums are free and are suitable for all ages.

On the Royal Mile, there is the Writers' Museum and Makars' Court, where visitors can learn about literary greats such as Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert Burns. The Museum of Childhood tells of childhood past and present while the Museum of Edinburgh is packed with historical artefacts.

The People's Story is about the lives of ordinary Edinburgh folk from the late 18th century to now and at the Edinburgh Brass Rubbing Centre (open April to October) you can make your own piece of medieval history.

Lauriston Castle is a beautiful 19th century mansion with formal gardens and extensive parkland close to the seafront and Queensferry Museum offers magnificent views over the River Forth bridges.

For more information go to www.edinburgh.gov.uk/museums or telephone:

• The Writers Museum 0131 529 4901
• The Museum of Childhood 0131 529 4142
• The Museum of Edinburgh 0131 529 4143
• The People’s Story 0131 529 4057
• Edinburgh Brass Rubbing Centre 0131 556 4364
• Lauriston Castle 0131 336 2060
• Queensferry Museum 0131 331 5545

Or to find out what education programmes are on during term time and in the holidays:

contact Margaret Findlay, Learning & Access Development Officer on 0131 529 3963.

A monumental trip around the city
Edinburgh’s monuments draw thousands of visitors throughout the year, each telling an incredible story about Edinburgh’s history. The City of Edinburgh Council’s monuments are among these major attractions. They include the Scott Monument in Princes Street, built to commemorate Sir Walter Scott, one of Scotland's greatest writers. Its city centre location makes it a favourite with visitors who want to climb the 287 steps to the top.

High on Calton Hill with its 360° viewing platform sits the Nelson Monument. It marks Admiral Lord Nelson’s victory and death at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The famous Edinburgh time ball, which ship captains used to set their chronometers by observing the dropping of the ball at one o’clock Greenwich Mean Time, is working again after restoration. It drops at exactly one o’clock every day.

Edinburgh has a variety of other monuments around the city including Greyfriars Bobby, the Ross Fountain, the Edinburgh Mercat Cross, the Manuscript of Monte Cassino * (the ‘Big Foot') and the National Monument.
* This is a three-piece sculpture outside St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral.

For more information go to www.edinburgh.gov.uk/monuments or telephone
Scott Monument 0131 529 4068

Nelson Monument 0131 529 3993
All other monuments 0131 556 9536