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History Events in Edinburgh in May 2025

Scroll down to view the events taking place in Edinburgh during May 2025, or use the filters to narrow down the results.

Events in Edinburgh

Curious About Edinburgh - Quirky Heritage Walks for the Curious!

1st January 2024 - 31st December 2025
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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Maps: Memories from the Second World War

9th March 2024 - 26th January 2026

Through personal stories, photography and memorabilia, this exhibition at the National War Museum charts the creation and use of maps during the Second World War.

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Cold War Scotland

13th July 2024 - 4th January 2026

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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Whisky Tasting and Tales

12th November 2024 - 12th November 2025

Taste 4 deliciously different whiskies while taking a journey into the history of whisky in Scotland and its profound importance within Scottish culture.

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Shining a Light: A History of Nursing Support Workers: Exhibition

20th November 2024 - 29th May 2025

Discover the fascinating history of nursing support work and celebrate the contribution that nursing support workers continue to make today.

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Monumental Treasure Hunt: West Princes Street Gardens

18th January 2025 - 27th November 2025

Welcome to the Monument-al Treasure Hunt in West Princes Street Gardens Edinburgh, a cultural & historical exploration for children & adults of all ages to enjoy.

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The Scottish Colourists: Radical Perspectives

7th February 2025 - 28th June 2025

Discover this groundbreaking exhibition in partnership with the Fleming Collection, which for the first time showcases the Scottish Colourists in the context of their European contemporaries.

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Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography

28th February 2025 - 7th September 2025

This exhibition at The Palace of Holyroodhouse, charts the evolution of royal portrait photography from the 1920s to the present day!

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Dr Arnott’s Sampling Sensation

Selected dates between 1st March 2025 - 28th December 2025

Uncover the secrets of 17th-century medicine with a hands-on workshop led by an expert from his time: Dr Arnott, who examined his patients’ health by analysing urine’s colour, smell & TASTE!

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Royal Portraits in the Press

2nd May 2025

Spanning portraits of Queen Victoria to King Charles III, this lecture taking place at the Abbey Strand Centre, discusses how iconic images are published and remembered.

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Scottish Bottle Show

3rd May 2025

The Scottish Bottle Show returns to the Queen Margaret Hall, Linlithgow on Saturday 3rd May.

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Fireside Stories: Herbal Histories

9th May 2025

Join artist and storyteller Amanda Edmiston for an evening of botanical storytelling inspired by the Physic Garden at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on 9th May!

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Ghosts - Tales of Terror at Lauriston Castle

Selected dates between 24th May 2025 - 27th September 2025

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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Sponsored Links

Children's Classic Concerts
Cancer Research UK
St Mary's Music School
Escape The Past

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 Course: Family History: Delving Deeper

Heritage Course: Family History: Delving Deeper

13th May 2025

This half day course is ideal for those who have completed Family History for Beginners, or who already have some experience in family history research but would like to learn more.

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Heritage Course: House History: Delving Deeper

Heritage Course: House History: Delving Deeper

13th May 2025

This half day course is ideal for those who have completed House History for Beginners, or who already have some experience in house history research but would like to learn more.

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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:

St Andrews Memories

St Andrews Memories

Selected dates between 4th February 2025 - 2nd December 2025

Drop in to The R&A World Golf Museum and have a chat whilst looking at photographs, objects and film footage from our collections!

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Classic Car Meet & Greet

Classic Car Meet & Greet

Selected dates between 13th April 2025 - 12th October 2025

Join Fife Classic Car Group for these monthly classic car meet and greet events at Fife Heritage Railway in Leven!

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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:

Historic Tours of Glasgow University

Historic Tours of Glasgow University

Selected dates between 7th January 2025 - 18th December 2025

Join a historic walking tour of the University of Glasgow the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world!

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Curious About Glasgow - Quirky Heritage Walks for the Curious!

Curious About Glasgow - Quirky Heritage Walks for the Curious!

1st January 2024 - 31st December 2025

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

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Glasgow Central Station Tours

Glasgow Central Station Tours

1st January 2024 - 31st December 2025

Glasgow Central Tours offer you the chance to explore behind the scenes of Glasgow's most iconic and busiest landmarks, Central Station!

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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:

Hamilton Mausoleum Tour

Hamilton Mausoleum Tour

Selected dates between 8th February 2025 - 22nd November 2025

Take a tour of one of the finest private tombs in the country and the town's most striking historic landmark, Hamilton Mausoleum.

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History Events in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde

History Events in Stirling

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

Talks at The Smith: Photography: A Victorian Sensation

Talks at The Smith: Photography: A Victorian Sensation

28th May 2025

Dr Morrison-Low will explore the nineteenth-century photographic collections held by the National Museums of Scotland and the impact photography had on the general public.

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Scotland’s National Hero

Scotland’s National Hero

8th February 2025 - 26th October 2025

Who was William Wallace? Listen as a costumed actor gives you an insight into the life of Scotland’s National Hero.

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Stirling Ghostwalk

Stirling Ghostwalk

3rd January 2025 - 27th December 2025

Take a tour of the strange tales and stranger characters of Stirling's Old Town on the Stirling Ghostwalk... comedy, drama, fact and fable - fun for boys & ghouls of all ages!

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Events in Other Areas

Highlight Talks

Highlight Talks

Selected dates between 11th September 2024 - 18th June 2025

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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Sponsored Links

Support The Makers
Fayre Play
ATG
Edinburgh Dungeon

Sponsored Links

Children's Classic Concerts
Cancer Research UK
St Mary's Music School
Escape The Past
Support The Makers
Fayre Play
ATG
Edinburgh Dungeon

Popular Events

The Lothians Model Railway Show
Join Pentland Model Railway Group for their 3rd annual model railway exhibition on 12th & 13th April in The Students Union, Heriot-Watt University!
Haunted Leith Ghost Walk
Join John and Kerrie of North Edinburgh Nightmares on a spooky stroll through the haunted streets of Leith, filled with chilling ghost stories and eerie encounters!
Disco Days Edinburgh
Scotland's beloved over 30s afternoon clubbing event Disco Days is back at Club Tropicana Edinburgh in 2025!
Ian Hamilton Finlay
The centenary of celebrated Scottish artist Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925-2006) will be marked by a new, free display of his work at the National Galleries of Scotland: Modern.
Edinbrick - A LEGO Model Show
Edinbrick is back for 2025! Edinburgh's biggest LEGO Model Show, will be held on the weekend of the 10th and 11th of May at Meadowbank Sports Centre.

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