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History events in Edinburgh

Scroll down to view the upcoming History events taking place throughout Edinburgh or use the filters to narrow down the results.

Events in Edinburgh

Arthur’s Secrets

1st September 2023 - 26th March 2024

Come along on a guided walk to learn more about Arthur's Seat's turbulent past, created by fire and ice!

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Rosslyn Chapel & Scottish Antiquaries Exhibition

9th November 2023 - 1st October 2024

Historic Environment Scotland Archives acquired the Rosslyn Album in 2021 and this exhibition presents images from the archive collections relating to Rosslyn Chapel and the contents of the album.

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Past Meets Present: Recent Acquisitions Revealed

25th November 2023 - 8th April 2024

Past Meets Present: Recent Acquisitions Revealed unveils a selection of treasures that have joined the collection in the past five years.

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Daily Tours at St Giles’ Cathedral

10th December 2023 - 1st December 2024

Join a volunteer guide for a 45 min to 1 hour glimpse into the history, heraldry and life of our historic Cathedral and Thistle Chapel!

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Curious About Edinburgh - Quirky Heritage Walks for the Curious!

1st January 2024 - 31st December 2024
Various Locations Edinburgh

Have fun discovering Edinburgh on this award-winning, quirky, self-guided, heritage walk with a treasure hunt theme from Curious About!

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Quadrille Course Winter Term 2024

Selected dates between 9th January 2024 - 19th March 2024

Come and learn Quadrilles and Baroque Dance with Talitha MacKenzie, a teacher of Historical Dance & Dance Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

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Herstory Tours

1st March 2024 - 24th March 2024

The Real Mary King’s Close is bringing back the popular Herstory Tours to celebrate Women’s History Month this March.

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Abbey Strand Book Club

Selected dates between 8th March 2024 - 6th December 2024

Explore spaces and objects which have shaped history and inspired fiction at the Abbey Strand book club!

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Author talk: Bill Hare - Scottish Art and Artists in Historical and Contemporary Context

19th March 2024

Join author Bill Hare as he talks about his new volume which expands on his invaluable contribution to the cultural development of modern and contemporary Scotland!

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Sad Stories of the Death of Kings: The End of the Tudors

20th March 2024

In sickness and in death, the reality of Tudor monarchy emerges to dispel centuries of successful propaganda in talk given by Dr Jessica Sharkey on 20th March.

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From Botanists to Suffragists: A Women’s History Event

27th March 2024

To end women’s history month with a bang, we're opening The Georgian House after hours for an exclusive women's history experience!

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Hop aboard The Royal Yacht Britannia this Easter

29th March 2024 - 15th April 2024

Hop aboard The Royal Yacht Britannia for an egg-cellent day out this Easter holiday and experience the UK's Best Attraction!

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‘Heraldry in Chief’ - Welcome to the new world of Scottish Clan Chiefs

30th March 2024

Ross McEwen explains how the lore and legend of Scottish Clan Chiefs, and the modern Scottish legal framework, means global Scottish Clan culture is experiencing an enduring revival.

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Medical History Tours at The Real Mary King’s Close

Selected dates between 30th March 2024 - 13th April 2024

Delve into the darkest days of Edinburgh’s history, the Plague outbreak of 1645, and discover how the city confronted this devastating epidemic on this new tour at The Real Mary King’s Close!

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Lunch Time Talk: The Eye in Myth and Science

1st April 2024

Join Surgeons' Hall Museums Human Remains Conservator Cat Irving as she discusses the human eye in myth and science during this bite sized talk on 1st April.

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Sensory Friendly Quiet Evening

8th April 2024

Join us at the Surgeons Hall Museums for our sensory friendly quiet evening on Monday the 8th of April.

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Who was George Heriot? A tour behind the gates

8th April 2024 - 12th April 2024

For 5 days only this Spring, George Heriot’s will open its famous gates for a guided tour of the historic School building.

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In Shackleton’s Orbit

10th April 2024

Join Lindsey Gibb and Nicola Wright for a whirlwind tour of the life beyond the ice of the legendary polar explorer Ernest Shackleton at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on 10th April.

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What’s your poison?

11th April 2024

Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh on 11th April and discover the fascinating history of poisons.

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Panmure House Doors Open Day: A Celebration of Smith’s Library

12th April 2024 - 13th April 2024

Explore Panmure House this April as we celebrate Smith's first major published work, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, and invite you to explore our recently unveiled Smith Library Restoration.

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Robert Fergusson: the simmer o’ his life

1st May 2024

This tribute event at Scottish Poetry Library on 1st May presents poetry read by James Robertson, who will be in conversation with Professor Rhona Brown.

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Powder and Pomade

3rd May 2024

Join exhibition curator and Surveyor of The King's Pictures Anna Reynolds for a closer look at 18th-century hairstyles on 3rd May in The King's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse!

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Journey to the Isles - Part of Tradfest 2024

5th May 2024

A mesmerising glimpse into the landscapes, folktales and songs that inspired one of Scotland's great early collectors of traditional arts.

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Lunch Time Talk- Asbestos From Magic Mineral to Deathly Dust

6th May 2024

Join Surgeons' Hall Museums Research Fellow Professor Ken Donaldson as he discusses Asbestos in this bite sized talk on 6th May!

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Unicorn Activity Day

6th May 2024

The national animal of Scotland can be spotted all over the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Join us on 6th May for a day of activities celebrating the unicorn!

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A King’s Visit: George IV in Edinburgh

10th May 2024

Join Emma Stead, Curator at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, to learn about George IV’s visit to Edinburgh in 1822.

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Yotties’ Week

13th May 2024 - 16th May 2024

Step aboard this Yotties’ Week, Mon 13 May - Thurs 16 May, to see the former Royal Yachtsmen don their white overalls once again and return to their beloved Britannia.

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Ghosts - Tales of Terror at Lauriston Castle

Selected dates between 25th May 2024 - 28th September 2024

Come along and see the sights of Lauriston Castle as never seen before – hear the history of the castle and ghostly tales of the city!

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Dressing Children in the 18th century

21st June 2024

Join Assistant Curator Lucy Peter as she explores an important philosophical shift in attitudes towards childhood and children’s fashion in the 18th century!

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150 years of women writing medicine

26th June 2024

Join three specialists for a discussion on the writing of women doctors, past and present at Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh on 26th June!

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Hands On History

Selected dates between 8th July 2024 - 26th August 2024

Join us in the Family Room at The Palace of Holyroodhouse to get up close to some historical and replica objects.

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Midweek makes: Collage crowns

Selected dates between 10th July 2024 - 28th August 2024

Join us in the Family Room at The Palace of Holyroodhouse to discover the stories behind some special crowns. Get creative by decorating your own crown to wear as you visit the rest of the Palace.

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Cold War Scotland

13th July 2024 - 26th January 2025

Exploring Scotland’s critical position on the frontline of the Cold War, a new exhibition will tell the stories of the Scots at the centre of this global conflict.

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Recycled fashion: Family workshop

10th August 2024

Take part in a fun family workshop exploring fashion in Georgian Britain at The Palace of Holyroodhouse on 10th August!

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History Events in East Renfrewshire

Here's a selection of History Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On East Renfrewshire:

Heritage Walk - Eaglesham: Wee Burns & Big Dams

Heritage Walk - Eaglesham: Wee Burns & Big Dams

28th March 2024

Join local historian Stuart Nisbet on a detective trail, chasing the story of Eaglesham's cotton mills.

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Heritage Walk: Giffnock - Fire and Brimstone

Heritage Walk: Giffnock - Fire and Brimstone

2nd May 2024

Led by Dr. Stuart Nisbet as well as looking at Giffnock's Sandstone Quarries, this walk will tell the story of the hundreds of miners who worked coal from under much of Giffnock.

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Heritage Walk: Busby - Mill Wheels & Waterfalls

Heritage Walk: Busby - Mill Wheels & Waterfalls

21st March 2024

Join local historian Stuart Nisbet on a detective trail, chasing the story of Busby's pioneering mills and how they led to the growth of the village.

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History Events in Fife

Here's a selection of History Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Fife:

Arts Lecture - The Jacobites in Italy:  The End of a Dream by Dr Patricia Andrew

Arts Lecture - The Jacobites in Italy: The End of a Dream by Dr Patricia Andrew

9th April 2024

The Arts Society Fife's art lecture in April is given by Dr Patricia Andrew and looks at the Jacobite court in Italy!

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Reformers and Innovators, Stories from the Wardlaw Museum

Reformers and Innovators, Stories from the Wardlaw Museum

21st March 2024

In this talk, Eilidh Lawrence will share some of the ground-breaking discoveries, inventions and ideas that were developed in Fife and have had a lasting impact on Scotland.

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Arts Lecture - The Story of Jewellery in Scotland by Clare Blatherwick

Arts Lecture - The Story of Jewellery in Scotland by Clare Blatherwick

14th May 2024

The Arts Society Fife's art lecture on 14th May looks at the jewels of a nation and those in public and private collections, and in potrtais.

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History Events in Glasgow

Here's a selection of History Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Glasgow:

Vintage Vehicle Pop Up

Vintage Vehicle Pop Up

13th April 2024

After the success of last year's event, Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust are returning to the public space outside Langside Halls on Saturday 13th April for another Vintage Vehicle Pop Up!

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Glasgow Necropolis Walking Tours

Glasgow Necropolis Walking Tours

Selected dates between 6th January 2024 - 29th December 2024

The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis run regular friendly and informal walking tours of the Glasgow Necropolis!

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Behind The Scenes Tour of GMRC

Behind The Scenes Tour of GMRC

Selected dates between 15th January 2024 - 18th December 2024

Glasgow Museums Resource Centre is home to over a million treasures, come and see for yourself on one of their regular Behind the Scenes Tours!

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History Events in Lanarkshire

Here's a selection of History Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Lanarkshire:

Glitz and Glamour The Golden Age of Cinema in Scotland

Glitz and Glamour The Golden Age of Cinema in Scotland

25th May 2024 - 17th August 2024

This colourful exhibition at North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre showcases artefacts from Scotland's largest cinema collection!

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Music In The Museum: Strike! - An Evening of Poetry and Song Reflecting on the 1984 Miners’ Strike

Music In The Museum: Strike! - An Evening of Poetry and Song Reflecting on the 1984 Miners’ Strike

19th July 2024

Step into the heart of history and journey back 40 years to the tumultuous 1984 Miners' Strike at Summerlee Museum's Music In The Museum event!

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Curling - From Biggar To Olympic Gold

Curling - From Biggar To Olympic Gold

18th November 2023 - 24th March 2024

Curling - From Biggar To Olympic Gold is an exhibition commemorating the Olympic Gold Medal won by a British curling team in Chamonix in 1924!

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History Events in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde

Here's a selection of History Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Renfrewshire:

Sma’ Shot Cottages

Sma’ Shot Cottages

Selected dates between 1st April 2024 - 30th September 2024

The Sma' Shot Cottages are a major attraction in the Renfrewshire area, providing visitors with an insight into two distinct periods of Paisley's weaving history!

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History Events in Stirling

Here's a selection of History Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Stirling:

War and Diplomacy on Rome’s Northern Frontier

War and Diplomacy on Rome’s Northern Frontier

20th March 2024

This is the last talk of Gartmore Heritage Society's 23/24 season so come along and join them at the Black Bull Gartmore on 20th March!

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Stirling Ghostwalk

Stirling Ghostwalk

5th January 2024 - 21st December 2024

Join Stirling Old Town's most grumblesome Ghoul, the Happy Hangman, Jock Rankin, on a creepy, comic guided ghostwalk!

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Deep Roots Gathering

Deep Roots Gathering

19th April 2024 - 21st April 2024

Don't miss this immersive 3 days of (re)connecting with Gaelic culture, landbased roots, practices and ways of being at Cardross Estate from April 19th to 21st!

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Events in Other Areas

Highlight Talks

Highlight Talks

Selected dates between 13th September 2023 - 26th June 2024

On selected days throughout the year the team at Robert Burns Birthplace Museum and volunteers hold a Highlight Talk exploring the life and works of Robert Burns!

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History of Prestwick Airport Walking Tour

History of Prestwick Airport Walking Tour

28th December 2023 - 31st October 2024

Prestwick Airport, just 30 miles south west of Glasgow has had a colourful history since aviation activity was first recorded over 110 years ago in 1913, find out more on one of these walking tours!

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Popular Events

Hamilton
The multi award-winning cultural phenomenon 'Hamilton' is touring the UK for the very first time and is coming to the Festival Theatre for a 9 week season from 28th February 2024!
Mary Poppins
Direct from the West End, the classic multi award-winning musical Mary Poppins comes to the Festival Theatre from 12th January!
Sense of Loss
Visually Impaired Creators Scotland present Sense of Loss, exploring death through the lens of visual impairment at Assembly Roxy on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th April.
A Play, A Pie and A Pint
A popular feature of the Traverse programme, A Play, A Pie and A Pint, Òran Mór returns for 2024.
Easter Market at Greyfriars Hall
Support the Makers bring an Easter Market to Greyfriars Hall on Sunday 24th March, showcasing the very best of local handmade from artists, creative’s & makers!

Popular Listings

Corn Exchange Haddington Edinburgh Playhouse Festival Theatre Edinburgh Howden Park Centre Livingston Kings Theatre Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland O2 Academy Edinburgh The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Traverse Theatre Usher Hall