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
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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Arthur’s Secrets
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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Conservation Hangar Talks
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
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
To mark our 100th birthday, the National Library of Scotland presents a special exhibition, 'Dear Library'.
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Edinburgh Nuclear Bunker Tour
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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Fabulous Old Town Tour
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
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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Edinburgh Street Historians LGBTQ Free Walking Tour
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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Curious About Edinburgh - Quirky Heritage Walks for the Curious!
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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Edinburgh Dunhuang Mineral Pigment Painting Workshop
Unleash your creativity, step into the world of ancient art and discover the beauty of Dunhuang cave paintings in this 2 hour workshop at POP Coffee on Thursday 15th January!
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John Roy Stuart - Latha Chuilodair
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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Edinburgh Forgotten Women
Join one of the Edinburgh Street Historians' highly skilled and experienced guides on an unforgettable walking tour all about the amazing women of our city's past 1000 years!
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An Edinburgh Burns Night at The Real Mary King’s Close
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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Blood and Guts: The Twists and Turns of Edinburgh’s Medical History - Walking Tour
Join Surgeons' Hall Museums on their 5* weekend walking tour through Edinburgh’s old town and hear tales of old Edinburgh, disease, dissection and curious methods of treatment!
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Parkaeology
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
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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Conservator Talk: Conserving the Campi Cartoon
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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Curator Talk : The Biba Story: 1964–1975
Join Head of Exhibitions at the Fashion and Textile Museum and co-curator of the The Biba Story: 1964–1975, Dennis Northdruft, for an exclusive opening day talk at Dovecot Studios!
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Map Festival
Ever wonder what secrets lie in a map? Or wanted to go behind the scenes of a major collection? Join the National Library of Scotland for the Map Festival, a day dedicated to all things cartographic!
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Jean Muir: Signature Style Since 1966
Join Georgina Ripley at Dovecot to explore the collections of the National Museums Scotland, focusing on the Jean Muir archive and her new research exploring British fashion in the 1960s and 1970s.
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Showcase: Banned Books
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
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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Pioneers in Practice: The Legacy of Women in Medicine
Join Surgeons Hall Museum for a captivating evening honouring the vision, skill, and perseverance of some of the women who transformed healthcare and medical science!
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The Women of Holyrood Park
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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Portraits & Patterns
Join artist Consuelo Rosa Servan for this practical workshop exploring portraiture, this hands-on session coincides with the closing of Surgeons' Hall Museum's exhibition Women in Surgery!
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City Streets, Scottish Islands and Silhouetted Hills: Bet Low (1924-2007) Art and Life
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
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
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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Lunch Time Talk: A Legacy in Pages -The History of the RCSEd Library
Join Steven Kerr and explore the history of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh's Library and Archive on Tuesday 24th March!
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Portraiture from the Fleming Collection
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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The Edwardians: Age of Elegance
The Edwardians: Age of Elegance explores the glitzy world of two of Britain's most fashionable royal couples – King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and King George V and Queen Mary!
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John Kay’s Edinburgh Street Characters and Visitors to the City
Eric Melvin, an established and respected local historian, gives the talk on artist and engraver John Kay (1742 – 1826).
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William Dalrymple - The Relentless Rise of the East India Company
Do not miss the remarkable story of India and empire as it has never been told before, when William Dalrymple comes to the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh on Tuesday 7th July!
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My Royal Life: An Audience with Lucy Worsley
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
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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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:
The Herring Year : Following the Fish, the Fleet and the Folk around the Coast
Every year the shoals of herring moved around the coasts of Britain and every year an army of workers followed them. This exhibition, by local artist Jake Brown, illustrates the routes they took.
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Gu’un the fish n’ that
Gu’un the fish n’ that is an immersive sound installation by East Anglian based artist Beverley Carruthers, celebrating the migrant worker and their importance to the fishing industry.
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Anster Nicht: Finding the Fairy Queen's Voice
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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Here's a selection of History Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Glasgow:
Shipyard Bards, Tall Tales and Dinner
Hear the folk songs and legends of Glasgow's famous shipyards with this storytelling session accompanied by live music and meal at Gael & Grain courtesy of Glasgow Music City Tours!
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Mary Beard - The Secret Histories of Ancient Rome
Renowned historian Mary Beard returns to the stage, stepping once more into the world of Ancient Rome — a civilisation whose stories still shape the way we see ourselves today.
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Glasgow Central Station Tours
Glasgow Central Tours offer you the chance to explore behind the scenes of Glasgow's most iconic and busiest landmarks, Central Station!
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History Events in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
History Events in Stirling
Here's a selection of History Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Stirling:
An Introduction to Ice Age Art
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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Portraits in Stone: The Great Cathedrals
This lecture by Mark Cottle, follows the evolution of cathedral building with particular reference to structural and aesthetic details together with the fascinating figures and events behind them.
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Celebrating International Womens Day
Come along to Stirling Castle this international women's day to meet some of Scotland's most influential, powerful women as they wander around the Castle.
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Highlight Talks
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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