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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

Curious About Edinburgh - Quirky Heritage Walks for the Curious!

1st January 2024 - 31st December 2025
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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Maps: Memories from the Second World War

9th March 2024 - 26th January 2025

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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Treasures of the National Library of Scotland

30th March 2024 - 30th April 2025

The National Library of Scotland's permanent exhibition provides a unique insight into Scotland’s history, culture and people and its place in the world.

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Cold War Scotland

13th July 2024 - 26th January 2025

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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Conservation Hangar Talks

1st August 2024 - 30th March 2025

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

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Theravāda Buddhism

16th September 2024 - 12th January 2025

This thought-provoking exhibition charts the history and influence of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition across the world, including its role in Scotland today.

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Arthur’s Amble

Selected dates between 3rd November 2024 - 2nd March 2025

Come along for a gentle guided walk around Hunter’s Bog and St. Margaret’s Loch and learn more about Arthur’s Seat’s turbulent past, created by fire and ice!

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Daring Women of Edinburgh: Private Walking Tours

3rd November 2024 - 5th January 2025
Edinburgh Old Town

Join the lively women’s history guide Annabel on this private walking tour and gain a unique insight into some of the daring women in Edinburgh's history!

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Whisky Tasting and Tales

12th November 2024 - 12th November 2025

Taste 4 deliciously different whiskies while taking a journey into the history of whisky in Scotland and its profound importance within Scottish culture.

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Shining a Light: A History of Nursing Support Workers: Exhibition

20th November 2024 - 29th May 2025

Discover the fascinating history of nursing support work and celebrate the contribution that nursing support workers continue to make today.

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Daring Women of Edinburgh Night Tour

Selected dates between 7th December 2024 - 4th January 2025
Edinburgh Old Town

Are you ready to step into your daringness? Come on this night tour in the secret, dark alleys of old Edinburgh and listen to the tales of brave women in history!

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Exclusive Family Tour at the Palace of Holyroodhouse

14th December 2024

This Christmas, join us for a magical morning at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on our exclusive, guided Christmas family tour!

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Royal Christmas Traditions: BSL Interpreted Tour

14th December 2024

Join us in the beautiful surroundings of the Palace of Holyroodhouse for this guided festive tour, exploring Royal Christmas traditions!

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Fire and Light: A Candlelight Christmas at 7 Charlotte Square

15th December 2024

Step back in time and experience the magic of Christmas in 18th and early 19th century Edinburgh at The Georgian House on Sunday 15th December!

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Leith Theatre Festive Heritage Tour

19th December 2024

Step into the warmth of the season at the Thomas Morton Hall this December with our festive holiday Heritage Tour at Leith Theatre.

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Richard Wiseman: Edinburgh’s History of Magic

28th December 2024

Join magician, psychologist and writer Professor Richard Wiseman in a fascinating local history talk exploring the surprising and little-known magical history of Edinburgh.

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The Archaeology of the 1988 Glasgow Garden Festival

9th January 2025

In this lecture on 9th January at Augustine United Church, Dr Kenny Brophy BSc FSAScot will consider how archaeology (especially Roman) was represented at the Glasgow Garden Festival.

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Writing the Great Tapestry of Scotland with Alistair Moffat

18th January 2025

Celebrated historian, Dr Alistair Moffat MBE presents an enlightening overview of The Great Tapestry of Scotland along with a special book signing and entry to the exhibition Stitched!

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The Scottish Colourists: Radical Perspectives

7th February 2025 - 28th June 2025

Discover this groundbreaking exhibition in partnership with the Fleming Collection, which for the first time showcases the Scottish Colourists in the context of their European contemporaries.

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Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography

28th February 2025 - 7th September 2025

This exhibition at The Palace of Holyroodhouse, charts the evolution of royal portrait photography from the 1920s to the present day!

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Sponsored Links

Open Pass Scotland
Fayre Play
Escape The Past
Kevin Quantum
Renfrewshire Council
Leith Makers
Mowgli

History Events in East Renfrewshire

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

Heritage Course: Family History for Beginners

Heritage Course: Family History for Beginners

25th February 2025

This Family History Workshop, led by experienced genealogist Lorna Kinnaird, PGDip, ASGRA, FSA Scot, will give you the skills and knowledge you need to begin your family history research!

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Heritage Talk: Slavery and the Local Area

Heritage Talk: Slavery and the Local Area

18th March 2025

Join local historian and author Stuart Nisbet for a heritage talk on Slavery and the Local Area at Eastwood House on Tuesday 18th March.

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Heritage Course: House History for Beginners

Heritage Course: House History for Beginners

25th February 2025

This course led by an experienced genealogist will get you started on carrying out a house history in Scotland and will get you accessing some pretty amazing records!

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History Events in Fife

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

Carving out Connections: Scotland’s Rock Art

Carving out Connections: Scotland’s Rock Art

5th October 2024 - 8th January 2025

Pre-historic Rock Art is one of Scotland's greatest mysteries, this exhibition drawn from Historic Environment Scotland's archives, looks to trace its connections through time and place.

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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:

Glasgow Music City Tours: Merchant City Music Walking Tour

Glasgow Music City Tours: Merchant City Music Walking Tour

Selected dates between 19th April 2025 - 27th September 2025

Get under the skin of Glasgow's vibrant music scene with this entertaining, guided walking tour of Merchant City and the East End from Glasgow Music City Tours!

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Behind The Scenes Tour of GMRC

Behind The Scenes Tour of GMRC

Selected dates between 15th January 2024 - 18th December 2024

Glasgow Museums Resource Centre is home to over a million treasures, come and see for yourself on one of their regular Behind the Scenes Tours!

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Public Talk: A Talk about the Past, Present, and Potential Futures of Sauchiehall Street with Norry Wilson of Lost Glasgow

Public Talk: A Talk about the Past, Present, and Potential Futures of Sauchiehall Street with Norry Wilson of Lost Glasgow

18th May 2025

In this talk event at Mackintosh at the Willow, Norry Wilson of Lost Glasgow will present an illustrated history of Sauchiehall Street, the 'alley of willows'.

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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:

Paisley Heritage Christmas Celebration

Paisley Heritage Christmas Celebration

20th December 2024

Join Paisley Heritage on Friday 20th December at The Wynd Centre for an enchanting evening of history, music, and community!

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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:

Talks at The Smith: Illuminating the Dark Ages: Old Kilmadock Pictish Cross Slab

Talks at The Smith: Illuminating the Dark Ages: Old Kilmadock Pictish Cross Slab

26th March 2025

Dr Murray Cook gives this talk on the medieval cross slab discovered near Doune in 2020.

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Talks at The Smith: Great Scottish Writers: Lavinia Derwent

Talks at The Smith: Great Scottish Writers: Lavinia Derwent

30th April 2025

Writer Adrian Ross gives this talk on children’s author and broadcaster Lavinia Derwent, who found huge success late in life, with memoirs about growing up on a farm in the Borders.

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Winter Talk: Scotland’s Railways at War – 1914-18

Winter Talk: Scotland’s Railways at War – 1914-18

8th February 2025

Colonel The Rev Gavin Douglas OBE will give this talk covering a snapshot of the Scottish Railway System during the 1914 - 1918 war.

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Events in Other Areas

Highlight Talks

Highlight Talks

Selected dates between 11th September 2024 - 18th June 2025

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

Kevin Quantum
St Mary's Music School
ATG
Edinburgh Dungeons
Kids Pass
Parkdean
Rabbies

Sponsored Links

Open Pass Scotland
Fayre Play
Escape The Past
Kevin Quantum
Renfrewshire Council
Leith Makers
Mowgli
Kevin Quantum
St Mary's Music School
ATG
Edinburgh Dungeons
Kids Pass
Parkdean
Rabbies

Popular Events

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.
Cinderella
Join returning panto favourites Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young with a new magical pantomime for all the family at the Festival Theatre!
Christmas at the Botanics
Explore the sights and sounds of Christmas in this magical after dark experience when it returns to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh!
Imelda May
Imelda May, one of the UK & Ireland’s most celebrated female artists, comes to The Queen's Hall, Edinburgh on Wednesday 9th April!
Edinburgh’s Christmas: Christmas Tree Maze
St Andrew Square holds one of the UK’s largest illuminated Christmas Tree trails so come along and get lost in the magic!

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