Rosslyn Chapel: Escape city bustle this Christmas and discover history, candlelit tours, and family events

Rosslyn Chapel
This Christmas, you don’t need to travel far from the bustling busy shops and commercialism of Edinburgh’s city centre to embrace the true magic of the season in a beautiful historic setting.

Rosslyn Chapel is only seven miles from the heart of Edinburgh; yet it is a world away in atmosphere and history.

A hop in a car or on a bus can take about 40 minutes – and those minutes are rewarded with the discovery of centuries of history and architecture.

How many of us know of amazing places to visit on our doorstep - but somehow never take the leap and make it happen?

Put Rosslyn Chapel on your to-do list this Christmas and you’ll be rewarded beyond measure. destination. The Chapel and visitor centre are open daily (closed only on 24 and 25 December and 1 January) so avoid the summer crowds and visit over the coming weeks. Find out more about visits here.

Rosslyn Chapel

Here’s five events to enjoy at Rosslyn Chapel this Christmas time

Winter Tales – Storytelling for the Season: Join storyteller Dougie Mackay for a family afternoon of winter-themed stories in the magical setting of the Lady Chapel. Suitable for aged four and upwards. And there’s a warming cup of hot chocolate included in the price! Details here.

A Christmas Carol at Rosslyn Chapel: Immerse yourself in the traditional music of Christmas, while enjoying one of the most celebrated stories about Christmas. Captivate Theatre & Perfect Forth will perform an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol between December 3 and December 7. Details here.

Castle Chorus Winter Concert: Castle Chorus is a mixed voice community choir which has been singing together for almost 10 years. Join them on December 21 as they celebrate Christmas and the Winter Solstice with songs from all over the world. Details here.

Christmas Candlelit Visits: The beautiful chapel is lit up by atmospheric candlelight as you walk around and explore its history. Discover more with the help of a short talk from one of the chapel’s guides. Dates range from Tuesday December 10 to Thursday December 19, all at 7pm. Details here.

Roslin Community Choir, Festive Concert: The village of Roslin’s own community choir will perform a mixture of festive, folk, and popular music on December 28. Details here.

Rosslyn Chapel

Online shop and Christmas treats

If you can’t make it to the chapel, you can still plan for its extraordinary festive joy to come to you.

There’s a selection of cards and gifts available in Rosslyn Chapel’s online shop. From snow globes to an angel with bagpipes, there’s lots to discover and buy for your home (or others in your life).

And just as importantly, every purchase supports the work of the chapel’s trust.

Perhaps you’ve visited the chapel and would like others to have the same experience. In which case, a gift experience for two is a perfect solution. Find out more here.

The history of the chapel

The chapel was founded in 1446 as a family chapel, and then across the centuries it fell into disrepair. At one point Cromwell’s armies are said to have even stabled horses there. In 1862 it was rededicated and weekly services began again.

Its profile grew when it was featured in The Da Vinci Code, in 2003, and the subsequent film.

How to get there from Edinburgh

By car: The chapel is in the village of Roslin, off A701. Look out for the brown tourist signposts as you approach the village. For satnav, the postcode is EH25 9PU. There is a charging point for electric vehicles.

By bus: From the city centre, look for a Lothian Service 37; or from Musselburgh, Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg, Loanhead or Penicuik, the East Coast Buses Service 140.

For more travel details, and discover more about the chapel, go to the Rosslyn Chapel website.

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