Whether you are looking to finally step inside somewhere you’ve walked past hundreds of times or are setting out to discover somewhere new, there are plenty of places opening their doors this weekend in Edinburgh.
With more than 100 buildings taking part in the 2025 Edinburgh Doors Open Days, visitors will be spoiled for choice when walking around the city on Saturday and Sunday.
From Barnton Bunker to the Northern Lighthouse Board on George Street, here are 12 buildings to explore during this year’s festival.
9. McEwan Hall
The University of Edinburgh's ceremonial hall for graduations, McEwan Hall will be open to the public to explore on Saturday. The Grade A-Listed building was painstakingly restored and reopened in 2017, with plenty of intricate details ready to be spotted by visitors without distractions. | Lisa Ferguson
10. Royal Observatory Edinburgh
Both a historic site and an operating observatory which is home to more than 200 staff and students as well as both the UK Astronomy Technology Centre and the Institute for Astronomy. There will be activities running during Edinburgh Doors Open Day 2025 including talks from astronomers and engineers, crafts and meteorite displays. The rooftop and Victorian telescope dome will be closed for this year's event due to repairs but there is plenty more still to discover. | Karol Kozłowski - stock.adobe.com
11. Edinburgh Sheriff and Justice of the Peace Court
Opened to the public in September 1994, the Edinburgh Sheriff and Justice of the Peace Court is the largest within the Lothian and Borders serving around 450,000 people. Spanning courtrooms, holding cells and offices, the building will be open for tours and events - including mock trials - on Saturday, between 10am and 4pm. | TSPL
12. Custom House
At the heart of the Shore in Leith, Custom House is an A-listed Georgian building which was completed in 1812. Now a creative hub and events space, after almost 35 years spent being closed to the public, visitors can step inside from 10am until 3pm on Saturday. | Google Maps