It’s the annual chance to get a glimpse behind the scenes at a wide variety of buildings, from courts to theatres to mosques. Scores of places across Edinburgh are taking part in Doors Open Days next weekend, September 23-24, allowing people a sneak view of what is normally hidden from public sight.
One of the most popular Doors Open Day venues is always Lothian Buses’ Annandale Street garage, where people can have a nostalgic close-up look at some vintage buses and kids can enjoy a bus wash tour. And not far away, there are old fire engines to be admired at the Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage, run by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and attached to the McDonald Road community fire station.
Other places ready to share their secrets include Edinburgh University’s Bayes Centre, where top artificial intelligence experts are helping to shape the future; the Mansfield Traquair Centre, nicknamed Edinburgh’s Sistine Chapel; Leith Theatre, which is being restored to its full glory; and the Freemasons’ Hall in George Street.
For some of the venues, visitors must book in advance, often using Eventbrite. Some are open both Saturday and Sunday, others just on one of the days. All Doors Open Days events and activities are free.
We have already featured a range of the places taking part in the weekend. Here’s a look at some more of the buildings with fascinating stories to tell.
. Dar al-Arqam mosque, Lauriston Place
The Dar al-Arqam mosque at the Lauriston Place was built as a church, designed by Archibald Scott in Gothic style and completed in 1859 and originally used by the United Presbyterian Church. It later became disused and was purchased by the Muslim community in 1980. It was used primarily as a social club and suffered fire damage, but opened as a mosque 2012. It is named Dar al-Arqam, after the first building used by the early community of the Prophet Muhammad in Mecca as a place of teaching. Visitors will have the chance to see how the church has been converted into a mosque while maintaining the original beauty of the building. Open: Saturday, September 23, 1pm-4pm Photo: Scottish Civic Trust
. Eastern Cemetery, Leith
Eastern Cemetery in Drum Terrace was opened in 1883, and contains the graves of men and women from both world wars, and from all three services. There is a screen wall bearing the names of those whose 1914-18 graves are not marked by headstones. Open: Saturday, September 23, from 10am. Photo: Scottish Civic Trust
. Edinburgh Central Mosque, Potterow
Edinburgh Central Mosque in Potterow is an iconic building, completed in 1998, and the Capital's main mosque. Doors Open Day is an opportunity to explore the mosque and meet the Muslim community. Visitors will have the chance to view an Islamic exhibition and tours of the mosque will take place throughout the day. Open: Saturday, September 23 and Sunday, September 24, 11am - 5pm. Photo: Colin Hattersley
. Edinburgh Chess Club, West End
Edinburgh Chess Club is the oldest chess club in the UK and said to be the second oldest in the world. Its first meeting was at the North British Hotel in Princes Street - now the Balmoral - in November 1822. Now based at 1 Alva Street in the West End, it numbers grandmasters and Scottish chess champions among its members. Chess games and demonstrations will be taking place during the day. And on display will be chess sets, clocks, trophies and the historic library and archives as well as a number of collections of books and scorebooks. Open: Saturday, September 23 and Sunday September 24, 11am - 4pm. Photo: Image Source / Rex Features
. Edinburgh Napier University - Colinton campus
Standing at the heart of Napier University's Colinton campus at Colinton Road is the historic 15th century tower where John Napier, Scottish mathematician and philosopher, was born in 1550. The campus is home to creative, computing and engineering students and has a business incubator and a 500-seat computing centre open around the clock. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about John Napier, the man behind logarithms, whose eccentric behaviour led many within 16th century Scottish society to suspect him of being involved in the occult, witchcraft and necromancy. And they can also visit the tower and see a 17th-century plaster ceiling rediscovered during restoration work and a 16th century painted ceiling said to be the best surviving example of what was known as Antique Work and the earliest dated specimen in Scotland of painted Renaissance decoration. Open: Saturday, September 23, 10am-4pm. Photo: Scottish Civic Trust
. Edinburgh Open Workshop, Leith
Edinburgh Open Workshop in Assembly Street, Leith, is a not-for-profit, social enterprise which offers members access to a fully-equipped wood, metal, paint, and textiles workshop on a pay-as-you-go basis. There are also art studios and a creative learning and outreach programme of classes and workshops. Visitors are invited to "discover all your making potential" in a 30-minute tour. People area asked to sign in at reception for tours starting at: 11am, noon, 1p, 2pm and 3pm. There is also a free 30-minute 'Make a Planter' walk-in -workshop on how to assemble a window planter box, suitable for children over 10 and adults. Workshops held at: 11.30pm, 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 2.30pm. Open: Saturday, September 23, 11am-4pm. Photo: Scottish Civic Trust
. Edinburgh Printmakers, Fountainbridge
Edinburgh Printmakers is a creative centre for printmaking and the visual arts at Castle Mills in Dundee Street, Fountainbridge. It has a large light-filled printmaking studio running courses and workshops, two galleries and a shop selling original fine art prints and handmade products. Established in 1967 as the first open-access studio in Britain, it moved in 2019 from its previous home in Union Street to Castle Mills, which has been a silk mill, a rubber factory and a brewery. Tours will be at 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm and can be booked in advance through the website Edinburgh Printmakers Tickets (red61.co.uk) or via email [email protected]. Open: Saturday, September 23 and Sunday, September 24, 10am - 6pm. Photo: Jim Stephenson
. Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Chambers Street
Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court is a modern building which opened to the public in September 1994. It is the largest of the courts within Lothian and Borders and the second busiest court in Scotland. It has 18 courtrooms, as well as a cell area and administrative offices. For Doors Open Day, there will be interactive events, tours of the courts and cell area, speed camera vehicles, exhibitions and mock trials. Open: Saturday, September 23, 9:30am - 4pm. Photo: Sottish Civic Trust
. Forth Bridges contact and education centre
The Forth Road Bridge is one of the world’s most significant long span suspension bridges, with a span of 1006 metres between the two main towers. The Forth Bridges exhibition at Transport Scotland’s Contact and Education Centre will be open to the public, featuring special exhibits and educational activities. Advance booking is not necessary for the exhibition, or to take a walk across the bridge. Everyone who attends either a bridge tour or the exhibition will have the chance to enter a charity prize draw for a once-in-a-lifetime trip for two to the top of the Queensferry Crossing’s main towers. Open: Saturday, September 23, 9am - 5pm. Photo: Scottish Civic Trust
1. Dar al-Arqam mosque, Lauriston Place
The Dar al-Arqam mosque at the Lauriston Place was built as a church, designed by Archibald Scott in Gothic style and completed in 1859 and originally used by the United Presbyterian Church. It later became disused and was purchased by the Muslim community in 1980. It was used primarily as a social club and suffered fire damage, but opened as a mosque 2012. It is named Dar al-Arqam, after the first building used by the early community of the Prophet Muhammad in Mecca as a place of teaching. Visitors will have the chance to see how the church has been converted into a mosque while maintaining the original beauty of the building. Open: Saturday, September 23, 1pm-4pm Photo: Scottish Civic Trust
2. Eastern Cemetery, Leith
Eastern Cemetery in Drum Terrace was opened in 1883, and contains the graves of men and women from both world wars, and from all three services. There is a screen wall bearing the names of those whose 1914-18 graves are not marked by headstones. Open: Saturday, September 23, from 10am. Photo: Scottish Civic Trust
3. Edinburgh Central Mosque, Potterow
Edinburgh Central Mosque in Potterow is an iconic building, completed in 1998, and the Capital's main mosque. Doors Open Day is an opportunity to explore the mosque and meet the Muslim community. Visitors will have the chance to view an Islamic exhibition and tours of the mosque will take place throughout the day. Open: Saturday, September 23 and Sunday, September 24, 11am - 5pm. Photo: Colin Hattersley
4. Edinburgh Chess Club, West End
Edinburgh Chess Club is the oldest chess club in the UK and said to be the second oldest in the world. Its first meeting was at the North British Hotel in Princes Street - now the Balmoral - in November 1822. Now based at 1 Alva Street in the West End, it numbers grandmasters and Scottish chess champions among its members. Chess games and demonstrations will be taking place during the day. And on display will be chess sets, clocks, trophies and the historic library and archives as well as a number of collections of books and scorebooks. Open: Saturday, September 23 and Sunday September 24, 11am - 4pm. Photo: Image Source / Rex Features