Doors Open Days this year will take place 26-27 September 2026. The University of Edinburgh is integral to the intellectual, cultural, social and economic fabric of the city and wider region. Our buildings play an important part in defining the character of our University and of Edinburgh. Explore more than 440 years of history and find out about how the University is influencing the world at family-friendly events, stalls and guided tours in our buildings during Doors Open Days 2026. Many of the buildings listed below are also open to the public throughout the year, whether through normal museum and gallery opening times, organised tours, or our extensive programme of part-time courses and public lectures. You can learn more about how the University of Edinburgh works with local community by visiting our Edinburgh Local website, and hear about future events by signing up to our newsletter. Edinburgh Local websiteEdinburgh Local newsletter Doors Open Days is a national event with venues taking part throughout Scotland. Explore the full list of buildings on the Doors Open Days website. National Doors Open Days website Doors Open Days at-a-glance Historic Buildings Visit some of our beautiful historic buildings during Doors Opens Days. Architectural History student volunteers will be on hand at Abden House and St Cecilia's Hall to share information and answer questions. Abden HouseSt Cecilia's HallMcEwan HallTalbot Rice Gallery (Old College)See below for details. Science tours and activities Learn about fascinating research and development in science and engineering from staff atEdinburgh BioQuarter (Usher Building and Institute for Regeneration and Repair)Western General Hospital (Institute of Genetics and Cancer)Bayes Centre and InspaceMcEwan Hall, featuring stalls from the Schools ofChemistryMathsPhysicsGeosciences...and others!See below for details. Child-friendly events We welcome children to all our participating Doors Open Days venues. Specific family-friendly events include:'Zebrafish! A Splash of Science and Art' workshop at Institute of Genetics and Cancer (ages 5-10, booking required)Family-friendly science activities at Institute of Genetics and Cancer (drop-in)Music concerts and demonstrations at St Cecilia's Hall (drop-in)Chinese calligraphy and language workshops at Abden House (drop-in)Family-friendly activities at various stalls in McEwan HallSee below for details. Accessibility We want to welcome as many people as possible to our Doors Open Days and will strive to make our venues and events accessible to all. The venue summaries below include accessibility information and further information can be found by clicking the links to the national Doors Open Days website. Our British Sign Language team will be in McEwan Hall on Sunday 27 10am to 4pm to welcome deaf visitors. If you have questions or concerns relating to accessibility, please email local@ed.ac.uk. Arts, Science and Architecture (Central Area) The University of Edinburgh was established by the Town Council in 1583 as Tounis College - the first in the English-speaking world to be established on a civic basis. The University's history and central location underline the symbiotic relationship between Edinburgh and the University which endures to the present day. McEwan Hall Open: Sunday 27, 10am to 4pm Bristo Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9AGMcEwan Hall was presented to the University in 1897 by William McEwan as a ceremonial hall for graduations and as a gift to the people of Edinburgh.This iconic Grade A listed building was designed by Sir Rowand Anderson, with lavish interiors by William Palin. Construction was completed in 1894, but it took another three years to complete the interior designs, the centrepiece being the 15 beautifully painted mural panels that make up the vast dome.A painstaking refurbishment has restored much of the intricacy to its original beauty and created a modern, superbly equipped space, with state-of-the-art audio visual equipment and accessible facilities.Explore the iconic structure and interiors of McEwan Hall. Visit stalls within the main auditorium where staff and research teams from the College of Science and Engineering, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Centre for Open Learning and many others invite you to engage with their work through conversation and hands-on activities.Participating stall include: British Sign Language Working GroupCentre for Open LearningCommunity TeamSchool of ChemistrySchool of GeoscienceSchool of MathematicsSchool of PhysicsBooking not requiredMcEwan Hall BSL spelling reads: Visit our BSL Stall St Cecilia's Hall Open: Saturday 26, 10am to 5pm (last tour starts 3:30pm, last entry 4:30pm)50 Niddry Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1LGSt Cecilia’s Hall is the oldest purpose-built concert hall in Scotland, dating from 1763. It has been many things over the years, including a Baptist chapel, a Freemasons’ Hall, the Bridges Bar and the Excelsior Ballroom, before it was acquired by The University of Edinburgh in 1959.Today it is home to the University’s Music Museum, displaying highlights from the world-famous Musical Instrument Collection. You can enjoy its grand entrance dating from the 2017 renovation, four galleries with an amazing range of instruments on display, the glass-fronted conservation studio and the Concert Room itself.Join us for an exciting programme of musical demonstrations and mini concerts every hour on the hour from 11:00 – 16:00.Curator- and volunteer- led tours taking place hourly at the half hour will highlight different musical instruments, makers and the history of our building. Tours begin at 10:30 with the last tour taking place at 15:30.Booking not requiredNational Doors Open Days websiteSt Cecilia's Hall Talbot Rice Gallery, Old College Open: Saturday 26 and Sunday 27, 10am to 5pm West College Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9YLTalbot Rice Gallery is the public contemporary art gallery of the University of Edinburgh located in the Old College. It comprises of two distinct gallery spaces: a contemporary white cube and a neoclassical 19th century former natural history museum designed by William Henry Playfair. Working with both international and local artists Talbot Rice hosts three-five major exhibitions per year, as well as a biennial student exhibition. Booking not requiredNational Doors Open Days websiteTalbot Rice Gallery Chapel of St Albert the Great Open: Saturday 26 and Sunday 27, 1pm to 5pmGeorge Square Lane, Edinburgh, EH8 9LDThe Catholic Chapel of St Albert the Great is located in the peaceful garden of a 1766 townhouse on the west side of George Square. It offers a place of worship, serving the spiritual needs of students and staff at the University of Edinburgh.The limited palate of materials – wood, glass, stone and corten steel – deliberately echo the simplicity of the chapel upstairs. Structural glass gives the illusion of an open space beyond the altar while the corten columns and masonry wall apertures create an appropriate balance between enclosure and openness for a space designed for liturgy, prayer and contemplation.The oak roof structure contains engineered timbers fabricated from timber waste products. A sedum-covered roof provides insulation, reduces water discharge and provides a new habitat for garden wildlife.Visitors are invited to experience the peace and contemplation of the Chapel and garden. An audio guide of the plants in the garden, each of which reference the stations of the cross, is accessed by a QR code in the garden.Please note the chapel is accessed from George Square Lane, as the Chapel is in the back gardens of 23 -24 George Square. It is important that you access the Chapel via the lane as you will not be able to access the Chapel from the front doors of 23 & 24 George Square.Booking not requiredNational Doors Open Days websiteChapel of St Albert the Great Confucius Institute, Abden House Open: Saturday 26 and Sunday 27, 11am to 3pm 1 Marchhall Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 5HPAbden House was built in 1855 for Thomas Nelson, founder of the Scottish publishers of that name. It was designed by civil engineer Thomas Davies and became property of the University of Edinburgh through a gift from Sir Donald Pollock. Built with three storeys in the Jacobean revivalist style of the 19th century, Abden faces a carriage circle with gates at the end of Marchhall Crescent. It is home to the Confucius Institute for Scotland in the University of Edinburgh.We invite visitors of all ages to Abden House to enjoy a range of Chinese language and cultural activities. You will have the opportunity to learn about the Confucius Institute and meet some of its teachers, learn some Chinese language, and participate in several cultural activities, all within the beautiful setting of Abden House and its surroundings.Booking not requiredNational Doors Open Days websiteConfucius Institute for Scotland Visitor Centre and Gift Shop Open: Saturday 26, 12pm to 5pm, and Sunday 27 September, 12pm to 4pm. 2 Charles Street, Edinburgh EH8 9ADOur Visitor Centre staff are on hand to offer support and advice with any queries you may have about the University and the surrounding area. You will find a range of literature including maps, undergraduate and postgraduate prospectuses and other publications with further information about the University. The Visitor Centre is also home to the University's official gift shop. Whether it is a reminder of your time here, a gift for family or friends, or a token of appreciation for an important guest, the centre offers something for everyone: from baseball caps, pens and mugs to pewter quaichs, crystal glasses and silver cufflinks.You can call in and see us at the Visitor Centre or order online. Enjoy a 10% discount on Doors Open Days weekend with the code DOORSOPEN10. Online gift shop Innovating Data, Design and Informatics (Central Area) We invite you to join us at The Bayes Centre and the Institute for Design Informatics to celebrate data and technological heritages. The Bayes Centre Open: Saturday 26, 10am to 2pmThe Bayes Centre, 47 Potterrow, Edinburgh, EH8 9BTThe Bayes Centre is the University of Edinburgh's Innovation Hub for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. The technical strengths brought together in the Bayes Centre build on world-leading academic excellence in the mathematical, computational, engineering, and natural sciences in the University of Edinburgh's College of Science and Engineering.The Centre offers a new kind of collaborative, multidisciplinary proving ground where we develop innovative technological solutions for the benefit of society. We have a community of over four hundred internationally recognised scientists, outstanding PhD students, leading industry experts and innovation support professionals, working together across disciplines and sectors to advance data technology and apply it to real-world problems.Booking requiredBook a tourNational Doors Open Days websiteBayes Centre Inspace Open: Saturday 26, 10am to 2pmInspace, 1 Crichton Street, Edinburgh EH8 9ABInspace is a unique events and exhibition space, part of the Institute for Design Informatics (IDI), a joint institute between Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) and the School of Informatics, within the University of Edinburgh. It focuses on fusing design and creative methodologies with data, data science and data-driven technologies.This September, for Edinburgh Doors Open Day and marking European World Heritage Days 2026, we invite you to join us at The Bayes Centre and the Institute for Design Informatics to celebrate data and technological heritages.Located within the University of Edinburgh’s city centre campus, as part of Edinburgh Doors Open Day 2026 programme, ‘Heritage at Risk: Revive, Resist, Reimagine’, this event invites you to explore the buildings and spaces across these two locations, where researchers, students and businesses work across AI, data science, design and industry to develop impactful projects and solutions for the good of society.Learn about the cutting-edge facilities at Inspace, including interactive technologies and pioneering design features that inspire creativity and exploration through connecting art, design, research and technology. Venture behind the scenes to visit our studio and workshop where students and staff create prototypes and experiences that make real to people the ideas that underpin the data society, and engage with multimedia displays and hands-on activities that highlight a snippet of the Institutes research.Come along to experience guided tours, view pop-up displays and hear stories about The Bayes Centre and the Institute for Design Informatics over the years. Gain insights into a snapshot of current innovative projects that seek to use digital technologies for good, that encourage new ways of thinking and that reimagine their role to ensure positive societal impact while supporting current and future innovation.Booking requiredBook a tourNational Doors Open Days websiteInspace Events at Bayes Centre and Inspace Drop-inDrop-in visitors are welcome to visit displays, interactive activities and exhibitions across both venues. Please note that official tours have a maximum capacity and attendance without a ticket cannot be guaranteed.ToursBook a tour at Bayes/InspaceSchedule:10:15 [Bayes] / 10:35 [Inspace]11:00 [Bayes] / 11:20 [Inspace]11:45 [Bayes] / 12:05 [Inspace]12:30 [Bayes] / 12:50 [Inspace]13:15 [Bayes] / 13:35 [Inspace]The loop takes approximately 40min.Route: Starts at the main entrance to the Bayes Centre. Attendees are taken up to the Bayes Centre roof top and then will be guided back downstairs while being provided with a brief history of the Centre before arriving in the Atrium with the robotics lab. Attendees are then taken for a tour of Inspace, the Design Informatics studio and workshop. Attendees are welcome to stay in Inspace to view pop-up displays.Special requirementsPlease make us aware of any mobility requirements you may have prior to attending the event.We will do our best to meet any requirements that will allow you to fully participate in this event. Please let us know in advance if you have any special requirements such as religious or medical dietary needs, advance access to presentational materials or alternative presentational formats such as large print, or any access needs such as wheelchair access.MediaPlease note pictures will be taken at this event and shared via social media. If you are in attendance and do not wish to be in any pictures, please find a member of the Bayes or Inspace Staff and let them know. Events at Bayes and Inspace Edinburgh BioQuarter Edinburgh BioQuarter is a health innovation district where the University works in partnership with the NHS and Scottish Enterprise to create a leading location for healthcare delivery, groundbreaking medical research and health innovation. As part of the Edinburgh Medical School 300 events, the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine is opening its doors at both the BioQuarter and Western General campuses. Explore our family drop-in activities and learn about our research, with a focus on the patient and public involvement for research across the college. Usher Building Open: Saturday 10am to 4pm Usher Building, Edinburgh BioQuarter ‒ Gate 3, 5‒7 Little France Road, Edinburgh, EH16 4UXThe Usher Building is home to the Usher Institute and partners – working together with people, populations and data to understand and advance the health of individuals and populations through innovative collaborations in a global community. The building was opened officially by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in June 2025.There will be guided tours of the Usher Building throughout the day, starting from the reception desk of the Usher Building.Most activity is drop-in. Guided tours will operate as a sign up on the day at the Usher Building and be on a first come first serve basis.National Doors Open Days websiteUsher Building The Institute for Regeneration and Repair Open: Saturday 26 10am to 4pm Usher Building, Edinburgh BioQuarter ‒ Gate 3, 5‒7 Little France Road, Edinburgh, EH16 4UXThe Institute for Regeneration and Repair (IRR) is a multi-disciplinary research institute. Our scientists and clinicians study tissue regeneration and repair to advance human health and reproductive outcomes. The Institute incorporates the Centre for Regenerative Medicine (CRM), Centre for Inflammation Research (CIR) and the Centre for Reproductive Health (CRH). It was opened officially by the Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh in January 2024.There will be guided tours of IRR throughout the day, starting from the reception desk of the Usher Building.Most activity is drop-in. Guided tours will operate as a sign up on the day at the Usher Building and be on a first come first serve basis.National Doors Open Days websiteThe Institute for Regeneration and Repair Western General Hospital The Western General is one of the main teaching hospitals affiliated to the University of Edinburgh’s Medical School. It is also the home to the Institute of Genetics and Cancer, whose mission is to improve the lives of people living with genetic disease and cancer through research. Institute of Genetics and Cancer Open: Saturday 26, 11am to 4pm South Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XUThe mission of the Institute of Genetics and Cancer (IGC) is to improve the lives of people living with genetic disease and cancer through research. We love opening our doors to the public for special events. You can find our full day’s programme of events here. The Institute sits within the School of Genetics and Cancer and constitutes an integral part of the University of Edinburgh. It brings together nearly 400 staff and 180 PhD students in a single, scientific endeavour, enabling exciting multi-disciplinary collaborations in biomedical research. IGC researchers tackle one of the greatest biomedical challenges of today – explaining how changes in our DNA lead to disease. Our multidisciplinary teams of world-class scientists and leading clinicians work together under one roof with access to cutting-edge facilities. Our researchers work across scale, from molecules to populations, and are paving the way to more targeted treatments and therapies for people living with genetic conditions and cancers, involving patients and the public every step of the way. As part of the Edinburgh Medical School (EMS) 300 events, the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine is opening its doors both at the BioQuarter and Western General campuses. Go behind the scenes at IGC - meet our researchers, tour our labs, and learn about the cutting-edge research we carry out. Drop in visitors welcome; booking required for events. Book events and toursNational Doors Open Days websiteInstitute of Genetics and Cancer Events at Institute of Genetics and Cancer We are offering a full programme of building tours, talks, videos, and drop-in activities 11am to 4pm. View the full program of events at IGC. Drop-in activitiesWe will have a programme of family-friendly drop-in activities running throughout the day:Explore our giant cellBuild your own double-stranded DNA braceletView cells down the microscope. ToursWe will have building tours and lab visits running throughout the day. Visitors will have a chance to view the labs and research facilities and learn about our work. Our researcher talks will highlight some of the research going on in the institute along with ways to get involved, showcase the work of our graduate students in flash talks, and discuss life as a scientist. A full programme of talks will be added soon. Tours last approximately 45 minutes and can be booked at reception on the day. To avoid having visitors miss out on a place due to no-shows, tour places cannot be booked in advance. If you have any concerns about tour accessibility or would like to request any specific accommodations for a tour, please email PublicEngagement@igc.ed.ac.uk.) WorkshopsWe will be running our workshop Zebrafish! A Splash of Science and Art, exploring the use and care of zebrafish in research. This workshop runs 11:30am to 12:30pm and is suitable for ages 5 to 10 years. It is free but requires advance booking.Book Zebrafish! A Splash of Science and Art workshop. TalksOur researcher talks will highlight some of the research going on in the institute along with ways to get involved, showcase the work of our graduate students in flash talks, and discuss life as a scientist. A full programme of talks can be found on our Eventbrite page. View and book IGC events on Eventbrite. A History of the Western GeneralAs part of EMS 300, we are delighted to host a talk on A History of the Western General Hospital site by local historian Jim Slaven. This year’s Doors Open Day theme is 'Heritage at Risk: Revive, Resist, Reimagine'. Jim will discuss the history of the Western General Hospital site, from its origins as a poorhouse in 1868, to a military hospital, to a site of both healthcare and patient-centred research. The IGC’s own story of biomedical research stretches back to the post-war period, with the facilities and remit of the Institute evolving in response to new scientific discoveries and population health needs. We are delighted to have Jim share the stories of the people within IGC and the local community who have shaped this history and our area. This talk will run 1:30pm to 2:30pm. It is free, but due to anticipated interested we are asking visitors to book a space in advance. Book A History of the Western General talk. This article was published on Friday 19 June 2026
