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History events in Edinburgh

Scroll down to view the upcoming History events taking place throughout Edinburgh or use the filters to narrow down the results.

Events in Edinburgh

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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Curious About Edinburgh - Quirky Heritage Walks for the Curious!

1st January 2025 - 31st December 2026
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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Arthur’s Secrets

Selected dates between 14th January 2025 - 31st March 2026

Come along on a guided walk to learn more about Arthur's Seat's turbulent past, created by fire and ice!

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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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Conservation Hangar Talks

1st April 2025 - 29th March 2026

See behind the scenes of the work carried out in the museum’s Conservation hangar with these free talks.

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Out of Chaos: Post-War Scottish Art 1945-2000

17th May 2025 - 8th March 2026

Scheduled to complement John Bellany: A Life in Self-Portraiture, this survey exhibition examines the wider context of post-war Scottish art.

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Dear Library

20th June 2025 - 18th April 2026

To mark our 100th birthday, the National Library of Scotland presents a special exhibition, 'Dear Library'.

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Resistance

21st June 2025 - 4th January 2026

Resistance explores how acts of resistance have shaped life in the UK, and the powerful role of photography in documenting and driving change.

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Edinburgh Nuclear Bunker Tour

25th October 2025 - 27th December 2026

Don't miss an amazing opportunity to see part of Scotland's Cold War History on the Barnton Nuclear Bunker Tours every Saturday and Sunday!

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Christmas @ The Deacon’s Cabinet Escape Room

21st November 2025 - 4th January 2026

Looking for festive fun that's a little different? Then gather your team and head along to Edinburgh's historical escape room for The Deacon’s Cabinet!

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Fabulous Old Town Tour

1st December 2025 - 14th February 2026
Edinburgh Old Town

This free walking tour is fun and funny, performed by local independent tour guides, it will really help you to know the city and understand something about what life is all about!

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Drawing the Italian Renaissance: Curator’s Introduction

Selected dates between 5th December 2025 - 29th January 2026

Join exhibition curator Lauren Porter at The King's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse as she discusses works from Drawing the Italian Renaissance!

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A Victorian Christmas

Selected dates between 6th December 2025 - 28th December 2025

Step back in time for a festive experience like no other. Journey beneath the streets of Edinburgh and discover how the city’s Victorian residents celebrated the season.

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Edinburgh Street Historians LGBTQ Free Walking Tour

Selected dates between 12th December 2025 - 27th March 2026
Edinburgh Old Town

This walking tour of Edinburgh focuses on LGBTQ history from the battle of legalisation to the modern issues faced by the community in the current day!

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John Roy Stuart - Latha Chuilodair

17th January 2026

In this play, the ghost of John Roy Stuart, poet, partisan and Colonel of the Jacobite Edinburgh Regiment, returns to Scotland to recall his life, times and final battle.

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An Edinburgh Burns Night at The Real Mary King’s Close

23rd January 2026 - 25th January 2026

Join us at The Real Mary King's Close for a unique Burns Night experience filled with poetry, history, Scottish dishes and Scotch whisky!

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Parkaeology

25th January 2026

Join archaeologist Rachel Pickering on Sunday 25th January and hear about the history and archaeology of Holyrood Park!

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Showcase: Ripley Alchemical Scroll

28th January 2026

Join us at the Physicians’ Gallery on 28th January as we explore the Philosophers’ Stone and the secret to eternal life!

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Giants

31st January 2026 - 14th September 2026

Discover life-sized 3D sculptures, skeletons, and fossils in this immersive, family friendly exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland!

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Conservator Talk: Conserving the Campi Cartoon

6th February 2026

Victoria Button, Royal Collection Trust’s Head of Paper Conservation, discusses her work in preparing drawings for presentation in Drawing The Italian Renaissance, on display at The King's Gallery.

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Showcase: Banned Books

25th February 2026

Join us at the Physicians’ Gallery on Wednesday 25th February for this talk on the banning and censoring of scientific books, especially during the 1500s Catholic Inquisition!

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Curatorial Talk: The Patrons of the Renaissance

27th February 2026

Join Martin Clayton, Head of Prints and Drawings at Royal Collection Trust, for this lunchtime lecture as he discusses the vital role of patrons in the creation of Italian Renaissance art.

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The Women of Holyrood Park

6th March 2026 - 8th March 2026

Come along and hear about the women of the past who shaped the Holyrood Park of today, on these March guided walks!

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City Streets, Scottish Islands and Silhouetted Hills: Bet Low (1924-2007) Art and Life

17th March 2026

This talk on artist Bet Low complements the City Art Centre Exhibition Out of Chaos: Post-War Scottish Art 1945-2000.

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John Kay and the Golden Age

20th March 2026

This lecture given by Eric Melvin, an established and respected local historian, is to mark the Bicentenary of John Kay's Death.

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John Henry Lorimer: Capturing the Characters of Edinburgh

21st March 2026

In this Spring talk, the artist’s great great niece Charlotte Lorimer gives this talk to complement the City Art Centre Exhibition ‘Unmasked: Exploring Scottish Portraiture’!

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Portraiture from the Fleming Collection

23rd April 2026

Director of the Fleming Collection, Theodore Albano, brings us on an exploration of four centuries of Scottish Portraiture in this talk at the Assembly Rooms.

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John Kay’s Edinburgh Street Characters and Visitors to the City

1st May 2026

Eric Melvin, an established and respected local historian, gives the talk on artist and engraver John Kay (1742 – 1826).

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My Royal Life: An Audience with Lucy Worsley

23rd October 2026

Prepare to be entertained, enlightened, and thoroughly charmed as Lucy Worsley reveals the secrets, stories, and splendours of Britain’s royal past.

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Uncovering Ancient Egypt with Bettany Hughes

8th November 2026

Step into the golden sands of Ancient Egypt with award-winning historian Bettany Hughes as she brings the land of the pharaohs vividly to life at the Assembly Rooms!

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Sponsored Links

Fayre Play
Escape The Past
Wonder & Co
Hilton Glasgow

History Events in East Renfrewshire

History Events in Fife

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

Anster Nicht: More Than Leeches? Weird and Wonderful New Discoveries in Medieval Medicine

Anster Nicht: More Than Leeches? Weird and Wonderful New Discoveries in Medieval Medicine

19th March 2026

Join Professor James Palmer from the University of St Andrews as he gives us an entertaining tour of new discoveries that have transformed what we know about medieval medicine!

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Anster Nicht: Finding the Fairy Queen's Voice

Anster Nicht: Finding the Fairy Queen's Voice

19th February 2026

For decades, an enigmatic figurehead, known as The Fairy Queen, has been displayed in the Scottish Fisheries Museum. But where did it come from, and what does it symbolise?

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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:

From Pit To Pitch: A Story Of Coal Seams & Football Dreams

From Pit To Pitch: A Story Of Coal Seams & Football Dreams

20th November 2024 - 31st December 2025

From Pit To Pitch: A Story Of Coal Seams & Football Dreams at the Scottish Football Museum explores the links between mining and football in Scotland.

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Get You in Panto Town Exhibition

Get You in Panto Town Exhibition

8th December 2025 - 24th December 2025

A special exhibition celebrating the rich history of Glaswegian and Scottish pantomime has officially opened at Glasgow City Chambers.

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Pollokshields Heritage Talk: Pollokshields and Glasgow from the Archive of Historic Environment Scotland

Pollokshields Heritage Talk: Pollokshields and Glasgow from the Archive of Historic Environment Scotland

20th January 2026

Pollokshields Heritage hosts a range of talks, which explore history and heritage as well as arts and culture. Join them on January 20th for 'Pollokshields and Glasgow from the Archive of HES'.

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History Events in Lanarkshire

History Events in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde

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

The Finale: A Night Inside Houston Kiltmakers

The Finale: A Night Inside Houston Kiltmakers

23rd December 2025

To close the 12 Talks of Christmas, Paisley Tours invites you to something truly special, an intimate evening inside Houston Kiltmakers, one of Paisley's oldest and most celebrated family businesses!

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History Events in Stirling

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

Stirling Ghostwalk

Stirling Ghostwalk

1st January 2025 - 31st December 2026

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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Burns an’ a’ that

Burns an’ a’ that

25th January 2026

Join us at Stirling Castle to celebrate burns an' a' that and why not have a go at addressing the haggis!

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An Introduction to Ice Age Art

An Introduction to Ice Age Art

15th January 2026

Paul Bahn gives this lecture on the main techniques employed, the pigments, the lighting methods and some of the reasons why this art corpus comprises some of the greatest imagery ever produced.

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Events in Other Areas

Highlight Talks

Highlight Talks

Selected dates between 8th October 2025 - 24th June 2026

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

The Chocolatarium
Local Motive Markets
ATG
Hostelworld
Edinburgh Dungeon

Sponsored Links

Fayre Play
Escape The Past
Wonder & Co
Hilton Glasgow
The Chocolatarium
Local Motive Markets
ATG
Hostelworld
Edinburgh Dungeon

Popular Events

Panto 2025: Jack and the Beanstalk
Join Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young for the GIANT of a pantomime we've all BEAN waiting for!
Castle Of Light
Make Castle of Light: Fire and Ice part of your festive plans and enjoy the largest annual projection show in the UK when it returns for its sixth year!
Edinburgh’s Christmas: The Polar Ice Bar
Take some time to ‘chill’ at the Polar Ice Bar, the coolest bar in the city, where your table, chairs and glasses are sculpted entirely from ice.
Gyle Winter Wonderland
This year, the Gyle Shopping Centre is pulling out all the stops for the biggest and brightest Christmas experience yet!
Edinburgh’s Christmas: Christmas Market
One of the most iconic Christmas Markets in Europe, Edinburgh's Christmas Market returns to East Princes Street Gardens showcasing the best in artisan festive products and goods from local makers!

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