History Events in Edinburgh in October 2025
Scroll down to view the events taking place in Edinburgh during October 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!
READ MORE
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.
READ MORE
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.
READ MORE
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.
READ MORE
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.
READ MORE
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!
READ MORE
Arthur’s Secrets
Come along on a guided walk to learn more about Arthur's Seat's turbulent past, created by fire and ice!
READ MORE
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.
READ MORE
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!
READ MORE
Conservation Hangar Talks
See behind the scenes of the work carried out in the museum’s Conservation hangar with these free talks.
READ MORE
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.
READ MORE
Innovations & Inventions Tour
Join The Lost Close for this Innovations & Inventions Tour and learn just how much Scotland has brought to the world!
READ MORE
Dear Library
To mark our 100th birthday, the National Library of Scotland presents a special exhibition, 'Dear Library'.
READ MORE
Resistance
Resistance explores how acts of resistance have shaped life in the UK, and the powerful role of photography in documenting and driving change.
READ MORE
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!
READ MORE
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!
READ MORE
Heiresses, Caribbean Slavery and Scotland
Join author Dr Miranda Kaufmann and Dr Désha Osborne (University of Edinburgh) to discuss Scottish women who made their wealth through the enslavement of African people in the Caribbean.
READ MORE
Slavery, Scotland and Inheritance
Join Alex Renton in conversation with Dr Cat Dunn about Slavery, Scotland and Inheritance what to do with that inheritance in Scotland today, at the City Art Centre on 3rd October!
READ MORE
Witchcraft in Edinburgh
Join historical witchcraft expert Cara Hamilton at The Georgian House on October 3rd for a night you will not forget.
READ MORE
Family Learning Festival at Museum on the Mound
Join us at the Museum on the Mound throughout the Family Learning Festival for fun, free family-friendly activities, trails and handling tables!
READ MORE
Whispers of the past
Join our guide for a journey through the grounds of this ancient site to explore the veiled past of Edinburgh Castle!
READ MORE
Visualising Resistance in Art and Black Power Across Britain
Dr Maryam Ohadi-Hamadani traces some networks of Black artists and activists extending across the 1960s-70s UK into Scotland and beyond at the City Art Centre on Friday 10th October.
READ MORE
Come for the Yacht, stay for the scones
Are you looking for something fun to do this October holidays in Edinburgh? Then bring the whole crew and follow in the footsteps of Royalty aboard The Royal Yacht Britannia!
READ MORE
Great Big Living History Week
Especially for the October Holidays sites all over Scotland will be hosting characters throughout history including Edinburgh Castle.
READ MORE
Mary Shelley’s Monster
Storm clouds gather over Edinburgh this autumn as Mary Shelley’s Monster rises at The Edinburgh Dungeon from 11th October - 2nd November!
READ MORE
Witches or Healers
Hear the story of Agnes Sampson, a woman accused of witchcraft and discover the scents of some of the herbs Agnes would have been familiar with as she worked as a local healer.
READ MORE
An Audience with Philippa Gregory
Join Philippa Gregory, as she takes you on a journey through the history you thought you knew, a fascinating evening of entertaining historical insight and unforgettable storytelling!
READ MORE
Explorers – The Age of Discovery with James May
From Ice Age migrations to space travel, the stories of famous, infamous and unknown explorers will come to life, presented by British television presenter and award-winning journalist James May!
READ MORE
The Return of Sudanese Cinema
Umloda Ibrahim, a James McCune Smith scholar, will explore the history of Sudan’s film industry on 17th October at the City Art Centre as part of Black History Month Scotland.
READ MORE
After Dark at 7 Charlotte Square
Step inside 7 Charlotte Square and uncover the dark history of the house and Edinburgh in the 18th and early 19th centuries - a night of murder, mourning, and macabre history!
READ MORE
An Evening with Mary Beard
Step into the world of Ancient Rome with renowned historian Mary Beard as she uncovers the stories that history forgot.
READ MORE
‘Engraved on Man’s Skin’: The Auld Alliance, Much More than a Military Alliance
This talk examines a series of important, but less well-studied, figures who shaped the Auld Alliance during the fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries.
READ MORE
The Aftermath of the Auld Alliance: Franco-Scottish attitudes from the Union of the Crowns to the age of romanticism
Clarisse Godard Desmarest, Professor of British Cultural Studies at the University of Picardie Jules Verne, presents this talk on The Aftermath of the Auld Alliance.
READ MORESponsored Links
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:
Going Underground: Giffnock and Clarkston
Local historian Dr. Stuart Nisbet has spent decades digging into the history of the ground beneath our feet, and this illustrated talk distils his experience gained over many years of walks and talks.
READ MORE
Hands On Heritage
Every month the team at East Renfrewshire Culture & Leisure's Heritage Collection will select some of their most interesting treasures and share the stories behind them at Hands On Heritage!
READ MORE
Heritage Talk: Witchcraft in the Shire of Renfrew
Join local historian Lorraine Murray to separate fact from fiction as she discusses Witchcraft in the Shire of Renfrew at Barrhead Foundry on Tuesday 28th October.
READ MOREHistory Events in Fife
Here's a selection of History Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Fife:
Castles and Towers Bike Ride
Come along to this leisurely bike ride, exploring local history! We will visit various Castles and Towers around Kirkcaldy,
READ MORE
St Andrews Memories
Drop in to The R&A World Golf Museum and have a chat whilst looking at photographs, objects and film footage from our collections!
READ MORE
Falkland Palace Ghost Tours 2025
Come along to Falkland Palace this September and October for an after-hours journey through its dark history and ghostly legends.
READ MOREHistory Events in Glasgow
Here's a selection of History Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Glasgow:
Moulsdale Foundation Museum Open Day
The Moulsdale Foundation are thrilled to announce their monthly Open Days at their classic and performance car and motorbike museum, home to Scotland's largest classic car and motorbike collection!
READ MORE
Love, Lust and Witchcraft: Mocktail Making Event
Kick off the spooky season with a comical and captivating talk on the history of Love, Lust, and Witchcraft at Provan Hall - complete with a hands-on session creating historically inspired mocktails!
READ MORE
Capturing the Moment: Glasgow Then and Now
To celebrate Glasgow's 850th anniversary, students from Shawlands Academy have teamed up with Glasgow Life Museums to celebrate by curating this touring exhibition!
READ MOREHistory Events in Lanarkshire
Here's a selection of History Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Lanarkshire:
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 MORE
Everything Flows: Music in North Lanarkshire
Come hear the memories of local musicians, see costumes, photos and records through the decades or even just come for a boogie at the Everything Flows: Music in North Lanarkshire exhibition!
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:
History Cafe: Views Of Renfrewshire
Join Renfrewshire Heritage in Blend Coffee Lounge at Paisley Arts Centre on Saturday 18th October for their in-person History Cafe discussing Views Of Renfrewshire.
READ MORE
Paisley Heritage Group Walking Tour: The Three Witch Trials Of Paisley
Join Gayle Pollock and Rachael Smith as they take you on a walking tour of Paisley exploring the history of the town's three witch trials.
READ MORE
Family History Cafe
Join Renfrewshire Ancestors, from The Urban Historian, for the Family History Cafe and talk about discovering ancestors in Paisley and Renfrewshire!
READ MOREHistory Events in Stirling
Here's a selection of History Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Stirling:
Remembered: 80 years since the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
In the 80th year since the bombing, the University of Stirling is hosting an exhibition from the Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims.
READ MORE
Public Lecture: Nagasaki and the Future of War in the 20th Century
Hear Professor Holger Nehring discuss the significance of the use of nuclear weapons on Nagasaki in this public lecture at the University of Stirling on 6th October.
READ MORE
Stirling: The Dark Side Walking Tour
Back for the fourth year, come and explore the dark history of Stirling this Halloween with Walking Tours In Stirling!
READ MOREEvents in Other Areas
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!
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links