History Events in Edinburgh in May 2025
Scroll down to view the events taking place in Edinburgh during May 2025, or use the filters to narrow down the results.
Events in Edinburgh
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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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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Cold War Scotland
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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Whisky Tasting and Tales
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
Discover the fascinating history of nursing support work and celebrate the contribution that nursing support workers continue to make today.
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Escape the Past: The Anatomist
Descend into a world of grave robbery, mystery and malpractice as you embark on a thrilling adventure into Edinburgh’s dark past.
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Escape the Past: The Deacon’s Cabinet
From Escape The Past comes a new escape room 'The Deacon’s Cabinet', a historical heist escape room which challenges you to outsmart the infamous Deacon Brodie!
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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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Monumental Treasure Hunt: West Princes Street Gardens
Welcome to the Monument-al Treasure Hunt in West Princes Street Gardens Edinburgh, a cultural & historical exploration for children & adults of all ages to enjoy.
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The Scottish Colourists: Radical Perspectives
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
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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Dr Arnott’s Sampling Sensation
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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Snapshots: Gallery Short Talks
Join us on Thursdays at The Palace of Holyroodhouse for a short talk on one of the fascinating photographs in our exhibition Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography!
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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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The World of King James VI and I
Marking the 400-year anniversary of King James’s death, this exhibition will chart his remarkable reign through stories of friendship, family, feuds and ambition.
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Arthur’s Amble
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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Some Kind of Tours: 5 million years of Edinburgh history in 90 minutes
Unearth the twisted tales of Greyfriars Kirkyard and uncover Scotland's sinister past on this unique, 90 minute walking tour of Edinburgh’s atmospheric Old Town.
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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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A Dram of History
Venture beneath the Royal Mile and raise a glass to Scotland’s most iconic drink with this exclusive experience at The Real Mary King’s Close.
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Yotties’ Week
Step aboard this Yotties’ Week, Monday 12th to Thursday 15th May, to see the former Royal Yachtsmen don their white overalls once again and return to their beloved Britannia.
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Underground Unlocked at The Real Mary King’s Close
For one night only on Thursday 15th May, step beneath the Royal Mile and experience The Real Mary King’s Close like never before!
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The Musical Instrument Collection through the Years
Join St Cecilia’s Hall Curator Dr Sarah Deters on 17th May for this free guided tour to celebrate International Museum Day!
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The Scottish Colourists: Curator Talk
Join James Knox, Director of the Fleming Collection, at Dovecot to discuss why the Scottish Colourists deserve wider recognition for their contribution to European art in the early 20th century.
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Gretna 110 Exhibition
Curated by the Royal Scots Regimental Museum, the exhibition is designed to raise awareness of the 110th anniversary of the Quintinshill Rail Disaster where 216 members of the 7th Battalion died.
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Ghosts - Tales of Terror at Lauriston Castle
Come along and see the sights of Lauriston Castle as never seen before – hear the history of the castle and ghostly tales of the city!
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Marie-Antoinette, the woman beyond the myth
Myths about Marie Antoinette abound. In this talk at the Institut français d'Ecosse, Catriona Seth will strip away some of the accumulated legends about to reveal a complex and engaging personality.
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From Toulouse to Saint-Tropez
Join Richard Thomson at the Institut français d'Ecosse on 29th May for his lecture on Toulouse to Saint-Tropez: the region’s painters and visiting painters, 1885-1905.
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Heavenly Sound: Music in Early Modern Paintings
Join art historian Lesley Fraser to explore the representation of music in early modern paintings on Thursday, 29th May at St Cecilia's Hall!
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The Port Road Railway: A Talk by Alan McLellan
Join Alan McLellan to walk the old Port Road railway line from Dumfries to Stranraer, with vintage film clips and photos illustrating his journey into the past at the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
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Anne Estelle Rice: An American Colourist?
Join art historian and journalist Susan Moore at Dovecot on 31st May for an enlightening talk on the artist Anne Estelle Rice!
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Laleh Sherkat: Photographing Iran, 1984–1993
Craigmillar Now is hosting a Photography Exhibition on Iran, 1984–1993 by Iranian photographer Laleh Sherkat, focusing on the lives of women in Iran following the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
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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 Talk: Digging Up East Renfrewshire’s Past
Join Susan Hunter to hear the highlights of her long journey into local archaeology at Eastwood House on Tuesday 20th May.
READ MOREHistory Events in Fife
Here's a selection of History Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Fife:
Classic Car Meet & Greet
Join Fife Classic Car Group for these monthly classic car meet and greet events at Fife Heritage Railway in Leven!
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There’s Been A Murder!
Leslie Heritage Group invite you to their May talk on Thursday 15th, given by Hugh Hoffman, who will regale us of tales of murders, murderers and executions from days gone by.
READ MOREHistory Events in Glasgow
Here's a selection of History Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Glasgow:
The Enigma of Sir John James Burnet
Niall Murphy, Director of Glasgow City Heritage Trust, discusses the career and buildings of Glasgow's third Architect, Sir John James Burnet.
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Denny Social
The Scottish Maritime Museum (Denny Tank) and members of Dumbarton community invite everyone to step into the world of William Denny & Brothers in this new immersive exhibition!
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Weekend Activities at Provan Hall
Come and explore 500 years of history at Provan Hall with their free weekend drop in activities for all the family to enjoy!
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Here's a selection of History Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Lanarkshire:
Leadhills Miners Library
Leadhills Miners Library is the oldest subscription library in the British Isles and is now a museum of literature and village life, open weekends May to September!
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Lamington Heritage Exhibition
This exhibition explores the history surrounding Lamington from early times through the regeneration of the village until the death of the 3rd Lord Lamington in 1951 and up to the present day.
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Hamilton Mausoleum Tour
Take a tour of one of the finest private tombs in the country and the town's most striking historic landmark, Hamilton Mausoleum.
READ MOREHistory Events in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
Here's a selection of History Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Renfrewshire:
World War II Talk and Artefacts
Paisley Heritage are joined by Pete Scally at Whitehaugh Barracks on Wednesday 28th May for a talk on World War II.
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Sma’ Shot Cottages
The Sma' Shot Cottages are a major attraction in the Renfrewshire area, providing visitors with an insight into two distinct periods of Paisley's weaving history!
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History Cafe: The Cotton Thread Mills Of Paisley
Join Renfrewshire Heritage in Blend Coffee Lounge at Paisley Arts Centre on Saturday 17th May for their in-person History Cafe discussing The Cotton Thread Mills Of Paisley.
READ MOREHistory Events in Stirling
Here's a selection of History Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Stirling:
Stirling Ghostwalk
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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Memories of our Fair Queens
As excitement builds for this year’s Fair, we invite you to join us for a special celebration of Bo’ness Fair Queens from the past 12 years – and even further back, on Tuesday 27th May!
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Talks at The Smith: Photography: A Victorian Sensation
Dr Morrison-Low will explore the nineteenth-century photographic collections held by the National Museums of Scotland and the impact photography had on the general public.
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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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