It’s an opportunity to see behind the scenes in buildings you might pass every day but have never ventured inside.
Doors Open Day - which has been going for the past 36 years - takes place on different weekends in different parts of the country. Buildings in Midlothian were opening their doors to the public this weekend, September 12 and 13 and West Lothian will be following suit next weekend, September 19 and 20.
Edinburgh’s turn comes on Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27. More than 100 sites in the Capital have signed up to take part.
Here’s a first instalment of 29 places you can visit in Edinburgh that weekend - look out for more to come.
1. Adam Smith's Panmure House
Panmure House, Lochend Close, is the final remaining home of Adam Smith, philosopher and 'father of modern economics.' It was originally built in 1691 and Smith lived there between 1778 and 1790, during which time he completed the final editions of his master works: The Theory of Moral Sentiments and The Wealth of Nations. In 2008, Edinburgh Business School & Heriot-Watt University undertook to rescue this historic building from dereliction and it was formally opened in 2018. Today it is a centre of excellence for the study of contemporary economics, a place of reflection on the legacy of Adam Smith, and a venue for social and economic debate. Address: 4 Lochend Close, EH8 8BL. Open Saturday and Sunday, 26 and 27 September, 10am-3pm. | Scottish Civic Trust
2. Advocates Library
The Advocates Library, founded in 1689, is widely regarded as the finest working law library in Scotland and one of the top law libraries in the British Isles. Located in Parliament House next to the Court of Session, near St Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile, it serves as the professional home of Scotland’s advocates. It is not usually open to the public and Doors Open provides a rare opportunity to visit. Guided 30-minute tours will run throughout the day. Address: Parliament House, Parliament Square, EH1 1RF. Open: Saturday 26 September, 10am-3.30pm | Scottish Civic Trust
3. Ashfield - Edinburgh Trades Fund building
Ashfield houses a collection of artfeacts telling the story of the ancient Incorporated Trades of Edinburgh, the craft and trade bodies invovled in the governance of the city and its development over centuries. For Doors Open Days there will be guided tours and information displays. Address: 61 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7HL. Open: Saturday and Sunday, 26 and 27 September, 10am-4pm | Google
4. Augustine United Church
Augustine United Church is a diverse, progressive Christian congregation of the United Reformed Church. Its striking four-storey building on George IV Bridge rises from Merchant Street, next to the Cowgate, towards an elaborate tower that earned the church the nickname of “the bridecake” when it was opened in 1861. The sanctuary will be available for viewing, together with the church's heritage exhibition and audio-visual resources. Address: 41 George IV Bridge, EH1 1EL. Open: Saturday, September 26, 10am-4pm and Sunday, September 27, 2-4pm. Photo: Danny Lawson