Reviews of Gladstone's Land. (Other) in Edinburgh (East Lothian).

Gladstone's Land

685 Reviews

346 Comments

Other

Tourist attraction

477B Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2NT, United Kingdom

Description

Information of Gladstone's Land, Other in Edinburgh (East Lothian)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.

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Open hours of Gladstone's Land

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Reviews of Gladstone's Land

M. M.

Wonderfully preserved historic home that’s worth a visit. The tour of the house starts on the third floor. It begins in the 20th century and works you back to the 16th. Staff were knowledgeable and friendly. Interactive as well, so they encourage you to get into everything. There’s a cafe on the ground floor is you fancy it.

A. W.

We had an amazing visit to Gladstones Land today, spread over 3 floors and a history that goes back to 1600s. The ladies and gentleman on each level were fantastic full of information and could answer our questions with ease, they're totally engaged and engaging in all aspects of the building. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

d.

Spread over 3 floors, this 17th century tenement was very interesting. A guide on each floor. The lower floor also includes a small cafe. Unfortunately wheelchair access is not available.

H. L.

An interesting way to know about our city. From Nobel's house to merchandising till the city decayed. The Trust had put great effort on restoration and demonstrates the way of living in the city back to the 16th century.

J.

Can’t not praise the curation and staff enough for our fantastic experience touring the building. Every room we walked into we were greeting promptly by the guide, told a story and then talked with each one for 20 minutes about all the cool artifacts and furniture. Everyone was so nice and knowledgeable. Highly recommend.

A. A.

National Trust property in the middle of Edinburgh says for itself. Very interesting house showing life of wealthy people. Pleasure to spend time here.

C. S.

Well worth a visit for coffee and a cake and/or a tour. All changed since our last visit with the new coffee shop and the rooms changed upstairs to show different times in the buildings history. On the tours you can open drawers/ windows and touch things. No really, you can!

i. p.

The Guided tour was very informative. And after the tour one can get delicious ice cream and cake in their cafe.

v. s.

We visited for the guided tour and had a bit of the ice cream too. Booking the guided tour is absolutely recommended, you learn about several historical periods and you are encouraged to touch and check out all the objects in the rooms. We were two adults and an 8 year old and we all enjoyed it very much and learned a lot.

K. G.

One of the best tours I've had in a while! See the building through the ages and get hands on with the items in the room! Also be sure to open the windows and wave to the curious tourists 😁 National Trust members go free!

I. G.

My wife found this place by accident, and it was the most memorable place we’ve seen in Scotland. The rooms are preserved and/or done to their times, so you can see how people truly lived back from 1600s. What made it so special were the volunteers, waiting in each room to tell us colorful stories from the time. A very special place.

T. C.

Great reconstruction of what city life was like through the centuries. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff and a lovely cafe to finish😁

J. C.

Did the guided tour which took about an hour. Tour guide George was very knowledgeable and entertaining. We first went up the narrow winding stair to the boarding house on the 3rd floor, then to the draper's shop on the 2nd floor, then to the merchants house on the 1st floor. Each floor had its own story, as did many of the objects and furniture. Worth a visit.

C. R.

Had a great tour hosted by David last week. As an Edinburgh local I had no idea of the rich history of this building, and David provided deep insight into its various uses, and the a number of the characters that resided in the building over the last few centuries! David also took time to answer the groups questions when asked! Great experience and insight to the fascinating (and at times rather gnarly) history of the building and the Royal Mile!

Y. V.

One of the best properties of NTS that I have visited because you can TOUCH everything! Yes, you read it properly!! I did the tour with Kate and she was amazing, giving a lot of interesting information and facts about the place as well as details of the curious objects that we discovered during the visit. Then we did the tour "Tables through time" with Lydia. She was fantastic, letting us know all about food in the different periods of time and having different snacks to try in each floor. It was just perfect! Can't recommend enough!

B. T.

Good old Scottish Heritage. We spent some time with guides who gave us a personal tour of the top and first floors. Fascinating! Nice cafe on ground floor.

R. O.

Ken is absolutely fantastic at his job! We had a great time at Gladstone's Land today. The tour he gave us was engaging, informative and entertaining. I highly recommend this place for a travel back in time, it's a gem in the heart of the Old Town for History lovers!

K. B.

Loved the ice cream but the museum and its staff was just amazing and so helpful. They were happy to answer any questions and the knowledge in the building history was impressive. What an amazing experience learning about history of Edinburgh in the 16/17th century. Definitely need more recognition as its an amazing little museum (and i got some great pics too 😍)

R. H.

Dog-friendly cafe, fantastic looking cakes, great coffee. The staff couldn't have been more helpful or friendlier. I was very impressed. Prices were good too.

C. T.

Definitely worth a trip. You can take a self-guided tour of a guided tour, which lasted under an hour. Fantastic peak at what living in Edinburgh was like through the 1600s to today.

J. P.

A remarkable building, well worth a visit with a lovely cafe on the ground floor, the guides were excellent and very informative as regards the history of the property. Whilst in Edinburgh a visit to The Georgian House in Charlotte Square is a must and only a 15/20 minutes walk away.

S. C.

This is a National Trust for Scotland property right on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh quite close to St. Giles Cathedral and the castle (so it's at the top end of Lawnmarket heading to the castle). It's a 16th century tenement and has been set up over three floors to reflect its use in 1912, as a lodging house, 17th century drapers shop and a 16th century merchant's house. The staff are knowledgeable and give all sorts of little details so the visit is really interesting especially if you like history. Members of National Trust for England get in free but its not too expensive and has concession and family tickets which you purchase in the cosy coffee and ice cream parlour through the arches on the ground floor. Access to the building and the three floors are up some stone spiral steps so sadly it's not suitable for anyone who can't manage stairs. The building also has four holiday lets and we stayed in Crichton on the fourth floor. Access to this flat and to Johnstone and Riddoch flats were down Lady Stairs Close at the side of Gladstone's Land. All three are one bedroom flats and Crichton was so nice but the photos of the other flats look fantastic too. Not big but perfectly formed, it has a lounge with dining area, a kitchen, bathroom and double bedroom. Linens, towels and toiletries are supplied and the kitchen is well appointed if you want to cook and eat in. We really enjoyed our stay here - these flats are a real find and you are right on the Royal Mile with all its sights. Just bear in mind the turnpike (spiral) staircase Access- all the visitors comment on it and there are 67 steps up to Crichton so it's an aerobic workout every time you use them. I'm overweight and 65 but I managed them without resorting to oxygen! The flats are not too far either to walk from the station or to Prince's Street with its modern shops. A truly great place. Can't wait to go again!

A. J.

Just a phenomenal time on the Intimate Lives tour, led by the brilliant Lydia. One of my favourite historical sites in Edinburgh – was last here for a really fascinating lecture on queer British histories. Will be back for another talk/tour/ice-cream sooner than later.

L. C.

Great coffee shop! Had coffees and the cinnamon buns and wow, super tasty!! Fast and friendly service in a niche location on the Royal Mile.

M. A.

I ordered Ice cream and hot chocolate The Ice cream was tasty but the hot chocolate wasn’t good

M. E.

Lovely coffee. Good size and smooth strong taste. Unusual cinnamon bun, very tasty.

P. E.

Interesting guided tour through one of Edinburgh’s oldest homes. The tour guide was excellent, very knowledgeable and friendly and happy to answer any questions and have a chat. The home itself is interesting to look through, the rooms appear in a couple of different time periods which gives a lot of info on how the home would’ve been through the centuries. There is a fairly steep staircase at the start which may prove a challenge for some to walk up.

E. W.

I was happy no reservation was needed and I just paid my 7 Euros and walked in. It was interesting going through the rooms and there is a lot of fascinating info on laminated sheets in every room. A guide on the top floor gave a short intro before we were free to wander around. I was there about half an hour, as part of "Rick Steves Royal Mile Walk" (free audio - do a search online!). Our cruise ship docked 7 am till 1 am and I managed to see the Royal Yacht Britannia, this Royal Mile walk, Edinburgh Castle tour, and Mary Kings Close (for the last two, I did timed reservation online weeks ahead).

p. w.

Great espresso. I had to resist the pastry ones but they looked delicious - pumpkin loaf, cinnamon bun, gelato.

H. A.

Cafe latte, hot chocolate, English tea, pumpkin cake, cinnamon cake, it’s good taste. Pumpkin cake delicious.

A. S.

Very pleasant tour, small but a bet you will like it as I did. The ceiling that has been there for 500 years is something indescribable, just feel it.

P. C.

Gladstone's Land is one of those places that it's so easy to overlook if you're walking the Royal Mile. But this is a bit unfair. It might be one of the oldest houses in town and it gives a very good insight into what life in 16th Century Edinburgh must have been like. the painted room on the first floor is stunning! Check out where the servants slept too.

M. I.

Great historic house but what really made the experience wonderful were the excellent guides in each room. I highly recommend.

I. R.

Great and friendly guides and really interesting. Got in with student discount. Lovely coffee shop downstairs with seating and view of the Royal mile

M. B. K.

We had an amazing time. Our tour guide Rosie knew a lot of interesting stories about this fascinating museum.

m. p.

Strange seeing the old wooden shutters open in the windows here from street level. Gives you a hint of how people lived in the past very interesting indeed.

A. D.

A rare glimps into how the middle class lived in the 16th and 17th century. It is a self guided tour meaning there are laminate cards with information to read. Many of the rooms are dimly light making it hard to read the cards. They do have a flash light but I found my cellphone light worked better. There are volunteers on each floor that can answer questions and give Information as well.

V. M.

Really great little place, especially if you're a member of the National Trust for Scotland The house is amazing and fascinating, and the guides are really knowledgeable. Top tip - LOOK UP! The ceilings are spectacular!

J.

Went on their "intimacy lives tour" back on valentine's weekend and I am still talking about it to friends. The tour guides knowledge was honestly one of the best in Edinburgh and having it within the historic house was just amazing. I am definitely coming back for more tours!

F. H.

Absolutely outstanding! The staff were excellent and the house was very fascinating. On the first floor it has a full on flat with a kitchen bedroom and an exhibition room. Even the kids enjoyed it as i thought it would be boring. Great cafe nextdoor too as excellent coffee and ice cream. 😁

S. W.

This is a surprising find in the centre of Edinburgh. Fascinating look into the old city and how people lived. Its all stairs, so avoid if you can't manage four or five floors of stairs. I didn't see a lift. Staff here are very knowledgeable and great to talk to.

A. S.

Nice find, the tour is conducted by a guide which I enjoy more than an audio tour. The tour covers a single storey of the property and incorporates the social history of the occupants and the extension of the building. Probably not going to appeal to kids as much as adults. The tour is accessed via a narrow wooden staircase and has uneven surfaces throughout due to the nature and age of the building.

S.

We were made aware by the ticket woman that there is no description or story signs inside and that she advised purchasing the detailed booklet for £5, which explains this will be our main way of finding the history of the building. It was only after we purchased the booklet that she advised there are guides inside who will be happy to answer your questions and tell the stories. It is a bit of a disheartening mislead to make a sale, given the historical site being presented by the National Trust. That aside, we had some great conversations and fun with the guides on the first floor, Rachel and Allister. Showing our own interest to find out more, the guides flourished and my partner and I agreed they were a great duo who brought the place to life. As factual evidence goes, the information about the residents and timeline of the house aren't fully proven, and the pieces inside are mainly original from the respected time era but not original to the building itself - so allow for some flexibility and the entertainment value to fill in the historical gaps. All in all, I would absolutely recommend Gladstone House to anyone who wants to take a step back in time.

L. j.

Wonderful to see this beautiful building saved . Lovely friendly informative staff .

M. I.

We have done the 15:00 tour which was very interesting and informative. The guide (Kristine) was knowledgeable and friendly. we would love to come back for other tours in the future.

W. P.

Interesting building to visit. Knowledgeable staff who give great details about the various inhabitants of the building throughout different times

C. M.

I last visited Gladstone's Land in 1995 and much has changed since then. It tells the story of the house over the ages rather than a particular date as before. There is no doubt that it has been well done though would have been nice for it to feel a bit more lived-in - dirt on the wall, personal things strewn around, maybe sounds likely to be heard, and possibly even the smells of the era. However, a really great place and I strongly recommend a visit. PS Brilliant guide – first time apparently and really good.

A. E.

Quite a bit of information to read through about Gladstone's life. However it is quite a small attraction due to the size of building.

P. S.

We took the guided tour and it was the best choice for us as the guide was there to answer all the questions.

P. E.

Guides very knowledgeable and fascinating insight into Edinburgh's past.

G. F.

Spontaneous visit to this amazing heritage property today. Really enjoyed my time soaking up the unique, intimate atmosphere! All of the staff were incredibly welcoming and clearly enjoyed sharing their knowledge of the building as well as previous tenants and their lives. So much to discover here! Wonderful!

J. M.

Took the 1500 guided tour with guide David. So informative and enthusiastic about this fascinating house, spread over three floors illustrating 360 years of varied life. Not to be missed.

P. H.

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of this fascinating building. Lydia gave us tonnes of facts and figures cunningly disguised in enthralling stories about the lives of the people who lived here. She was well versed in all the history, funny and engaging, never lost for an answer to our frequent musings and enquiries. A totally worthwhile, fun and memorable visit. We will be back to hear more.

F. B.

More of an historical house with a very nice coffee shop / ice cream parlour. Be sure to look up above the false walls to see the original stone work, staff are very friendly. Also the whisky scented hand sanitiser is a nice touch.

J. w.

This was a great tour, with an engaging guide. Historically solid. Well worth seeing.

D. G. S.

We went to the Intimate Lives tour and had a great time. Kate's talk brought the place to life and gave us loads to think about. The house is really interactive and gives a great glimpse into Edinburgh's past. Definitely a great place for tourists and locals to visit.

K. K.

We paid a visit to Gladstones Land as part of the launch of the new bus tour, Cobbles The Dog by Edinburgh Bus Tours. Wonderful selection of ice creams and i cannot wait to visit the museum on another occasion

l. S.

Totally love the new settings for this grand place. The historic value of this land is amazing. Again the guides are really helpful and friendly in there details of this place is truly appreciated. That's again for a excellent visit. Lovely new cafe, really relaxing and beautiful setting.

P. O.

Such a charming place, full of character. The decor is well styled. My tea & cake was wonderful. You can learn a lot of history here, it's not just a cafe.

Y. H.

Ice cream is good! Especially tequila rose flavor!

J.

The hosts at the old house make sure you get a great impression of what life was like in this house and in Edinburgh in general throughout the history. An absolute must see to get a better image of Edinburgh.

S.

Very interesting old house originally from 1600's. It's set up on three floors as it would have been back in the day, like a museum but where your encouraged to touch. The stone spiral staircase is a bit daunting & not for the faint hearted. It's doesn't take very long to visit but there is a nice cafe on ground level. (Take note the building is named after the original owner and nothing at all to do with the ex-priminister or his bag etc.)

C. K.

The building is absolutely amazing and the staff were so helpful at explaining features and really bringing the place to life. The cafe at the end was a lovely treat - the ice creams were delicious!

O. H.

Absolutely wonderful property, definitely in my top 10!

C. W.

We went on the Intimate Lives tour with Kate and enjoyed every second! She’s so knowledgeable and shed light on topics rarely spoken about. Loved!

J.

Excellent tour. Worth the money

N. S.

Very nice café with polite and friendly staff. Excellent cakes!

T. R.

This NTS place really was the highlight of our trip to Edinburgh. We were made to feel very welcome, the volunteers were awesome and the fact that you can interact with everything is fantastic. The cafe is very reasonably priced and very cosy.

M. L. R.

Wonderful small place to know closer how people of Edinburgh use to live.

E. I.

Really interesting. Defo get the guidebook if not on one of the tour, gives you loads more information. Volunteers in the room very knowledgeable. Nice cafe downstairs.

M. B.

Nice Architecture of all buildings and so many places for night life.

J. P.

Tour guide was informative. Pleasant tour ,visited April 2022

n. j.

Very interesting visit. Gladstone's Land has just recently opened after having work done in it. The new draper's room is brilliant. The painted ceilings are fascinating. Loved the history of the building.

L. K.

Wonderful cake and hot drinks. Loved it.

G. Y. G. (.

Fantastic coffee stop just a short walk from Edinburgh Castle Fantastic cakes and ice creams. Very stylish inside the shop has Fantastic friendly staff. The shop also offers milk substitutes and vegan options.

C. W.

The tour was very informative and the house being interactive meant that it wasn't the usual national trust experience of 'here's a bunch of old stuff'. Will be going back for the extra tours too

M. K.

Awesome

J. L.

Absolutely amazing! The food and the drink were definitely very nice. But what made it so great was the staff. They were so friendly and the atmosphere was great. I would recommend anyone to go to Gladstone's land. 10/10

S. I.

A fascinating insight into Edinburgh's property past.

L. M.

The best thing of the whole experience was the amazing tour guide Lydia who is just a wonderful human being and deserves recognition for her very insightful tour. Loved it definitely will have to come back at some point.

K. H.

A lovely little place for a pitstop. Hot/cold drinks, cake or ice cream - or both. Oozing with history and a menu book telling you about the building and residents. Lovely helpful staff. Cakes were GF too - bonus! Thank you NT Scotland on a hidden gem.

J. W.

There are no dull moments at Gladstone's Land, at least for the history enthusiasts. This museum was meticulously restored to the condition it was once in, back in the 1600s. The tour guides were all very knowledgeable as we had a brilliant and engaging tour throughout the house. Every point in the house is packed with fascinating purpose and history. The tour is worth the time and the gift shop is well stocked with all types of goodies and souvenirs.

J. E.

Interesting small historical house run by the National Trust. Amazing preserved painted ceilings.

J. S.

Came here on a miserable Sunday afternoon to have something to do indoors. Was very pleasantly surprised with this tour. Wasn’t too pricey and our guide was fantastic. She made the whole experience very interesting and memorable, and was able to keep the whole group’s attention for the entirety of the tour. She was very interactive with us all as she made lots of eye contact with each person while filling us with plenty of information, stories and theories. Money well spent and worth the visit.

I. L.

Been a while since we last visited and were delighted with the revamp. Staff friendly and very knowledgeable. Highly recommend.

P. S.

We visited without a tour (sadly none was available that day). You have to be able to climb a few narrow stairs to see the rooms. Upstairs a very friendly young woman answered all our questions and was really knowledgeable about historical questions, which gave us excellent impression of the life then. If you wish you can dress in costumes while you walk around the museum. On the ground floor is a nice gift shop where you can find pretty candles, jewellery, cosmetics, scarfs, books and decorative stuff (also outlander merchandise) and thereby support the National Trust for Scotland with a little shopping.

P. D.

A look back at a historic house in Old Town. Rooms reconstructed to show how they would have looked in past eras. Very informative and friendly volunteers will explain the history of the house.

c. b.

A small hidden attraction but a really interesting place. Very friendly informative staff. Great ice cream to finish.

L. M.

Fantastic little spot, so much history. You MUST get the volunteer guides chatting to get the most of this site! There's a story in every piece that has been painstakingly restored in the building. Also an excellent gift shop down below...

G. L.

So interesting, so evocative and an amazing survivor from a past age.

J. S.

It's hard to rate an historical attraction such as this. The history of the building, the photos and illustrations of it through the years, and the building itself are all incredibly fascinating. Unfortunately though things were a bit disorganized on the management front when we showed up. We came for the guided tour and were left waiting for a bit until we were eventually told that the person that does the guided tours called in sick and only self guided tours were available. Then we waited for a bit outside of the opening time for someone to actually open the home us for us to go in - and we then discovered that several floors were closed due to understaffing... All in all we were left a bit disappointed. I'd still recommend checking it out - maybe we caught them on a bad day!

S. R.

Beautiful restoration for one of Edinburgh's great grand old building in the heart of the Old Town. Good food options and knowledgeable tour guides, a great addition to Edinburgh's Old Town and a welcome site to see the building returned to public view.

C. B.

An absolutely fascinating property with layer upon layer of history. The staff were upbeat and helpful, while our tour guide filled a whole hour visit with incredible stories about Edinburgh's past. Definitely recommend a visit. Quite a lot of listening so I'd probably say 6+ is the starting age for visitors to get the most out of the experience.

D. S.

History of the building is told through the centuries as you decend. The climb up the steep spiral staircase to the top is not for the faint hearted.

H. C.

Loved this place, really interesting and some really great things to see. Clever idea to have different time periods on different floors. Worked really well.

N. D.

Amazing gift shop with a really good selection of Scottish products that are unique and nothing like the tourist shops on the Mile. Really enjoyed the historic tour and our holiday flat couldn't have been in a better address; so comfy and cosy too!. Staff are really friendly and helpful - and the best thing is that all the proceeds help to conserve the building which is about 500 years hold!

C. H.

Fascinating Edinburgh tenement from early 1600s with lots of detail imparted on the tour. Unfortunately it can only be visited on a guided tour and advanced booking is recommended. Our guide was a tad eccentric and wandered off piste a lot in his rambling perorations but this did provide some charm for at least the English native speakers on our tour.

I. N.

Great place to visit. Guides are fantastic and lovely insight in to life through the ages in old Edinburgh.

H. B.

A very interesting house with lots of history and beautifully well presented. Friendly staff and lovely coffee shop

j. s.

Absolutely outstanding ice cream and cake, the billionaires short cake is fantastic, always better than millionaires shortcake lol. Great friendly staff would really recommend stopping for a coffee here

B. R.

Interesting and informative, the recreation of rooms from different centuries is a clever idea and the staff and volunteers are very knowledgeable.

F. A.

A lovely preserved town house that's a lovely example of 17-18 c .the house sits 10 metres from Deacon Brodie pub on the royal mile on the Lawn market.

C. M.

Beautiful wee place on the Royal Mile. We Had tea and The most gorgeous Carrot cake. Staff were lovley.

C. E.

Very interesting themed tour with Lydia. Interesting building with a lot of history. The ice-creams are fabulous too!

J. M.

Informative and fun small group tour (pre-booked online.) There were five us with the guide, who was knowledgeable and patient with all of our questions. Quality gift shop on the ground level.

D. A.

So many interesting places from this location!

B. D.

Very interesting to see original old Town dwelling. Nice cafe too.

I. H.

We loved the guided tour , but for our two girls (6 and 10) it was a wee bit boring - some kind of treasure-hunt for children would be good to keep them occupied while the adults are listening to the guide.

R. c.

A giftshop with a bunch of things normally ladies are buying

G. J.

I really, really enjoyed my visit to Gladstone's Land. I wasn't sure what to expect - although I'm a National Trust geek, I've not been to many smaller properties. This one is definitely a gem. You enter into a small ticket booth before plunging straight back into old Edinburgh - a fabric merchant's shop, complete with wares. Maps and drawings of Edinburgh at the time fill the corridors as you explore, and rooms are decorated in period, helping to give an impression of life in the city 400 years ago. The volunteer guides were wonderful, telling us titbits of information (we went during the week just outside of tourist season, when it was quieter and they had more time) and explaining how the Royal Mile has changed over the years. If you want a flavour of the city's history, I'd highly recommend it - particularly followed by a visit to the New Town property on Charlotte Square. It really puts the differences in the architecture into perspective, and despite having lived in the city a long time, I still learnt a lot.

C. L.

Really interesting tour at 3pm and costs no more than going alone, so very glad I did it.

D. L. C.

Stopped in for tea and a scone. Loved the food and the staff, friendly and helpful. Highly recommend it for a quick stop to relax

F.

You can visit this property by guided tour only. There were two large live owls outside when I visited - very popular with tourists - and a considerable amount of owl-related merchandise in the shop. I asked what the connection was and was told the Trust likes to partner with the organisation which owns the owls to support traditional skills. I had recently been shown the owl holes in various building in the NTS village at Culross. Barn owls (which don't hunt noisily through the night) were kept against mice and rats. After the meeting point downstairs you visit the hall upstairs, the kitchen, the painted room and what is now called the Georgian room. The room are styled to represent different periods in the house's history although the objects are not, as I understood it, original to this particular property. The second floor now houses an education centre for schools, the third floor is or was until recently rented out and these also have painted ceilings. The top floors house three holiday let apartments owned by the National Trust. Our guide was the fascinatingly-accented Tam. The tour was partly about this particular house and the function of some of the objects in the house from the past but we also learned about the Darien scheme, why the Norloch smelt for five miles around, and the origins of words like earmark, curfew, the name Gladstone, 'burning the candle at both ends', caddy, sleep tight, 'saving face', quack and the Scottish word "piece" . We also learnt about the religious symbolism of the flowers and fruit in the painted ceiling and heard about the moral symbolism for virtue and vice in, among others, the monkeys, pigeons, hawks on the painted ceilings of the floors above. I think the tour was interesting for children and adults. Parking is free in Edinburgh on Sundays but finding a free spot in the centre can be tricky and you always sit in traffic. Next time I would try to remember I prefer to park on the edge of the centre and walk in. I have often parked in e.g. permit holder 4 zones, loading bays and on single yellow lines on Sundays. The gift shop struck me as one of the Trust's higher end shops. In particular there are some lovely throws and blankets here. Buying your gifts here will support the work of this excellent charity.

A. L.

Lovely ice cream and coffee shop.

U. S.

Interesting place with a lovely knowledgeable guide. It is a pity that the other parts of the building are taken out off the tour. Not easy to find but for history lovers - a real gem in Royal Mile.

A. M.

This is an informative tour of the last standing mediaeval tenament house in Edinburgh's old town You need to climb stairs (the tour starts by walking to the highest visited floor, then continues by going down It includes original painted ceilings which still have colour

J. T.

Excellent piece of history beautifully restored with staff to be proud of. Also wonderful cakes and coffee.

G. H.

0ne of the oldest original bldgs in old town Edinburgh. There is about half hour history tour of the living quarters on the second floor. Our guide was delightful & the information was interesting & helpful. Highly recommend it!!

K. W.

One of Edinburgh's oldest buildings which gives excellent insight into how people lived before the building of the New Town. We went for an event which highlighted a sad time in Scotland's history

K. K.

Tour started in part of gift shop which seemed silly as vety crowded. Dont know why we couldnt have just gone straight upstairs where seats were provided which can be taken atound with you if standing is a problem. Good knowledgeable guide. Tour lasts an hour.

Y. H.

Intimate setting and super informativeabout daily life in historic Edinburgh. Super friendly and enthusiastic volunteers. Also a nice stop with well curated local products. Also affordable.

M. &. D. A.

Somehow not as interesting as before. Needs more easily read information and background about the people who lived there. Coffee shop and ice-cream a definite plus.

E. L.

Wonderful visit and to learn more about Edinburgh's history. All NT staff very informative.

E. H.

Interested trip through time. Cafe is amazing great ice cream and the best cinnamon rolls

R. M.

Wasn't here for long. Meeting a friend after her work, but the staff were lovely and got on very well with my dog.

J. G.

Fantasic tour I would highly recommend it. I am from Edinburgh but I found the trip to Gladstone's Land extremely informative. Tap in to the people who are working they are brilliant.

K. J.

Coffee's really good! Staff is nice and they play good music as well.

R. N.

Although the tour is interesting enough, I wouldn't pay if I wasn't a National Trust Member. If you are a member, go right ahead (and book in advance if it's holiday time).

L. T.

Loved it, volunteer staff very friendly and well informed, very interesting building

I. J.

A fascinating place to visit to get an insight into Edinburgh's residential past. An easy place to miss though amongst all the other attractions on the Royal Mile.

T. L.

I didn't actually go in, but they were showing off owls which made it worth stopping by.

R. h.

Lovely little coffee shop,had ice-cream too Beautiful decor 😍

A. J.

Beautiful place a hidden gem Staff excellent, service great, ice cream divine, a warm and friendly place

O. S.

Claimed to be oldest building in royal mile. A view into the daily life of 16-18th century residents of Edinburgh. Admission fees of £7 applies.

M. K.

Great experience and even better service. Would recommend for everyone!!

A. J.

Friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable staff. They recommended another Trust property to visit during our stay in Edinburgh.

D. S.

A great introduction to mediaeval Edinburgh life (without the reek), very friendly staff and an excellent coffee shop

A. L.

An interesting place to visit. Self guided tour possible but tour guides are full of knowledge. Good for history buff. Also free coffee at the end.

p. h.

If you are into architectural history visit this place its amazing.

A. G.

Nice interesting little national trust property, worth a quick visit when you are in town

B.

Excellent historical building in the heart of the old town. Worth a visit and the staff were friendly and knowledgeable

D. H.

Very interesting guided tour. Our guide, Finley was extremely knowledgeable and answered everyone's questions well. Fascinating building.

C. T.

Quaint, painted ceiling interesting. House showed us what life was like at the time. Guides were informative.

J.

We just came here for the Cranachan Sundae 🍨 Very Nice!

P. C.

Interesting home to visit showing life in the city through the centuries

D. D.

Great, interesting place and friendly, welcoming staff. Really loved it!

K.

Very knowledgeable staff pleasant visitor experience only thing no photographs as they are trying to sell guide book's.

K. H.

Interesting little museum.

C. G.

Excellent Scottish Affogato Sundae. Helpful team. Nice ambience.

A. W.

Amazing place,Friendly Staff, and Helpful Making Me a Sandwich 🥪, Come back again...!!

C. L.

Interesting tour run by enthusiastic guides. Recommended

G. T.

Free to National Trust members, very busy during the festivals. Part of historic Edinburgh

R. G.

Guides provide a really interesting history of ye olde Edinburgh.

N. M.

Lived it, nice atmosphere, good service and very clean.

D. L.

Nice place for a drink etc, would highly recommend

S. K.

Fantastic informative tour Great gift shop Staff are friendly and knowledgeable

C. L.

Interesting and great staff

T. A.

First of~ looked more like a castle than a market. As a tourist attraction definitely gets a plus

D. R.

Very good. We had the "witches" flour which was very informative.

P. S.

A very interesting tour

T. P.

Excellenty presented building featuring 3 periods of its occupation.

N. T.

Very ornate; one of the oldest store on the Royal mile. Brings back old memories.

S. B.

I saw some very charming birds of prey at this location. The owl was especially friendly.

V. L.

Three rooms, three different centuries.

B. H.

Interesting visit to see the old rooms and furniture but I'm not sure it was great value for money.

F. S.

Pretty little cafe on Royal Mile. Clean

B. W.

The site if one of the first traders in Edinburgh. A lovely heritage shop now

G. O.

VERY interesting and good exercise!!

A. M.

Amazing history!

S. K.

Try the salted caramel brownie. Amazing!

J. R.

Very historic building. Sells interesting things but can get crowded.

G. H.

Very interesting visit to one of Edinburgh's oldest houses.

C. H.

A real step back in time, we'll worth a visit, free to national trust members

K. H.

Amazing gift shop that is a bit hidden but is a real gem with unique gifts

B. D.

Those owls are amazing. I work next to them every day and yet I still shout in joy whenever I see them

A. S.

Really nicely laid out explaining how people lived through time. My son loved it.

c. m. b. d.

Very interesting.. gives a real insight into life in auld reekie

M. T.

Small property but very interesting and well displayed

P. N. C.

very good place where Scottish clothing products can be bought.

G. C.

Lovely place to visit. Excellent photo opportunities.

S. N.

Very interesting! Great gift shop.

G. S.

Interesting to visit. Small. Helpful staff.

S. M.

Nice place, we saw it while we were walking around.

M. G.

Very informative presentation and a good educational tool for children.

T. (.

Fascinating, brilliant staff

K. “. B. B.

An interesting place with lots of history.

L. P.

Claire is a great guide!! So friendly and knowledgeable.

I. H.

This is a must visit in Edinburgh. Staff are so informative.

d. b.

Very knowledgeable staff it's well worth a visit.

R. D.

Excellent guided tour about 50 minutes.

T. L.

Had a great time there. Great service and lovely people.

P. C.

Lovely old place. Worth a visit.

G. W.

Excellent coffee and cakes

B. M.

Awesome birds, really friendly and professional people!!

G. L.

Very interesting floors of Edinburgh's history

M. C.

Stuning place. Recomdable and interesting. Must see

S. G.

Quality flat in superb location

M. P.

I love it great place

L. R.

It was really interesting historically.

R. R.

A poem into history with informative tours

J. J. B.

So Old.at Top Level but also great for children

C. G.

This was a great tour!

D. M.

Lovely building, passed some time.

T. D. S.

Very interesting history. But just to commercial.

C. M.

Very interesting and worth a visit!

m. o. n.

Interesting little tour

D.

Interesting way to see how people lived differently over time

A. N.

Pretty good place to walk around

N. N.

Very messy inside and car park Unorganised

k. c.

i like to walk

n. d.

A beautiful place.

J. G.

Great place. Interesting & informative

K. S.

Interesting story from a Interesting storyteller

M. S.

Loved it. A taste of history!

J. S.

A very entertaining and humorous guide.

k.

Yummy ice cream

C. M.

Very interesting.

H. E.

Incisive revelation of 17th century Edinburgh.

A. S.

Great place for every occasion

B. H.

Small old house lovely.

T. S.

One of the "must see" places in Edinburgh

P. B.

Great place, great staff.

E. J. C.

Amazing gift shop.

A. P. F.

Historic building and shop.

S. H.

Good quality!

K. P.

Very nice

V. G.

Amazing

C. D.

Beautiful

L. M.

Very interesting

G. M.

Fantastic attraction!

M.

Edinburgh is full of life

m. k.

Friendly people

G. R.

A little perl

Δ. Κ.

😎 enjoyed

A. F.

Loved it, what a place!!

M. L.

Lovely place!

F. B.

Edinburgh oldest buiding

M. P.

Place full of history

G. E.

Super

A. B.

Amazing

I. M.

Everything you need

M. C. T. “. R.

amazing

M. K.

Lots of scarves

s. m.

Cool

b. f.

Brilliant. Xxx

S. G.

Awesome

K. M.

pretty cool

R. P.

Brilliant

J. V.

Great

D. P.

Really interesting

A. H.

Good day out

D. B.

Quite scenic

A. B.

Worth a visit

J. C.

Brilliant history

R. M.

A must visit

M. A.

Beautiful!

J. M.

Great place

R. E. (.

Great history

I. T.

Great place

L. H.

Nice place

S. P.

Interesting

R. P.

Interesting

I.

(Translated) It is very small and there are no explanations in Spanish. For those who like old houses and know English, it's fine, otherwise it's not worth it. The staff is very friendly and they like to explain everything. (Original) Es muy pequeño y no hay explicaciones en español. Para los que les gusten las casas antiguas y saben ingles esta bien, sino no vale la pena. El personal es muy amable y les gusta explicar todo

E. S. d. l. V.

(Translated) A very interesting visit, well narrated -in English- by guides who put interest in it and expand the information if they see you involved. Everything can be touched as if it were your own home. Do not miss it. (Original) Una visita muy interesante, bien contada -en inglés- por guías que le ponen interés y te amplían la información si te ven implicado. Todo se puede tocar como si fuese tu propia casa. No os lo perdáis.

L. H. M. P.

(Translated) It is a building located on the Royal Mile, you visit it when you pass through this place, the building is from the Victorian era, as well as its interior dating from the XV century, today it is one more attraction of the city, most of the building converted into a museum, made up of rooms fitted out at the time with furniture. There is a floor for exhibitions, in the lower part there is a souvenir shop. If you have time you can visit. In our case we saw it from the outside. (Original) Es un edificio situado en la Royal Mile, lo visitas cuando pasas por este lugar, el edificio es de época victoriana, así como su interior datan del S.XV, hoy en día es una atracción más de la ciudad, la mayor parte del edificio convertido en museo, compuesto por habitaciones habilitadas a la época con mobiliario. Hay una planta destinada a exposiciones, en la parte baja hay una tienda de suvenir. Si dispones de tiempo se puede visitar. En nuestro caso lo vimos por fuera.

k. F.

(Translated) Very nice and delicious we just went to the cafe, Very good reception with children of 15 months. thank you (Original) Très agréable et délicieux nous sommes juste allés au café, Très bonne accueil avec enfants de 15 mois. merci

5. S. d. v. &. S. o. t. r.

(Translated) One of the oldest buildings on the Royal Mile, with hand-painted Renaissance interiors with deep and hidden meanings. Stone arches from the 1600s, built to protect customers but which have become the ideal place for criminal activities. Have you seen the golden bird of prey outside the house? Two steps from the castle, this building is a testament to popular life in Edinburgh's old town and was once owned by the merchant Thomas Gladstone. Gladstone's Land was one of the first buildings acquired by the National Trust for Scotland, which saved it from demolition, thus preserving a piece of the town's history (Original) Uno dei più antichi edifici sulla Royal Mile, con interni rinascimentali dipinti a mano con significati profondi e nascosti. Archi in pietra del 1600, costruiti per proteggere i clienti ma, che sono diventati il luogo ideale per attività criminali. Avete visto il rapace dorato che si trova fuori dalla casa? A 2 passi dal castello, questo edificio è una testimonianza della vita popolare nel centro storico di Edimburgo e un tempo era di proprietà del mercante Thomas Gladstone. Gladstone's Land è stato uno dei primi edifici acquisiti dal National Trust for Scotland, che lo ha salvato dalla demolizione, preservando così un pezzo di storia della città

a. j.

(Translated) Beautiful cafe deserves five stars النجوم (Original) كافيه جميل يستاهل النجوم الخمسة

M. G.

(Translated) Strolling through Lawnmarket, a central area of the city, you come across this classic Victorian building. (Original) Dando un paseo por Lawnmarket, una céntrica zona de la ciudad, te encuentras con este clásico edificio victoriano.

梁.

(Translated) The tour was very informative and the guide was knowledgeable. However, I wouldn't recommend it to young children or foreign visitors who are not very good at English. The store on the first floor is very interesting; you can purchase some unique products of good quality here, nothing like most of the stores on Royal Mile. There are guided tours almost every hour, and the time is about 50 minutes. The explanation is very detailed and the commentator is very serious, but it is not recommended for children who are too young and those who do not understand English well. The store on the first floor is very special, which is very different from other tourist-oriented stores. You can buy some small textured products such as lipstick and hand cream. (Original) The tour was very informative and the guide was knowledgeable. However, I wouldn't recommend it to young children or foreign visitors who are not very good at English. The store on the first floor is very interesting; you can purchase some unique products of good quality here, nothing like most of the stores on Royal Mile. 幾乎每個小時都有導覽，時間約五十分鐘，解說非常詳細，解說員也非常認真，但是不推薦給年紀太小的小孩和英文聽解程度不夠好的人。一樓的商店很特別，和其他以觀光客為取向的店家有極大的區別，可以買到一些質感小物如唇膏、護手霜之類的產品。

B. W.

Im Rahmen der Führung erhält man interessante Einblicke in den Lebensalltag vergangener Zeiten, zB der Sekretär mit Geheimfächern an Stellen, auf die man nie gekommenen wäre. Dazu Stories aus der Edinburgher Geschichte. Für einen Besuch empfehle ich die Führung, die aktuell 2 mal am Tag angeboten wird. Teilnahme war spontan möglich. Ich war aber zur Nebensaison da. Zur Hauptsaison kann es anders aussehen. Dann vielleicht besser vorab anfragen oder reservieren. (Translated) As part of the tour, one gets interesting insights into the everyday life of yesteryear, eg the secretary with secret subjects in places, which one would never have come to. In addition stories from the Edinburgh history. For a visit, I recommend the guide, which is currently offered twice a day. Participation was spontaneously possible. But I was there for low season. The season can be different. Then maybe better in advance to ask or reserve.

B. F. (.

Der National Trust for Scotland macht hier mit der Erhaltung und Besuchbarmachung dieses historischen Gebäudes einen sehr gut Job. Die ehrenamtlichen Helferinnen und Helfer erklären sehr gut die einzelnen Räume und die Geschichte des Hauses. So lernt man, wie das Leben in der Old Town gewesen sein muss. Ich empfehle als Ergänzung auch das Georgian House zu besuchen. (Translated) The National Trust for Scotland is doing a very good job of maintaining and visiting this historic building. The volunteers explain very well the individual rooms and the history of the house. This is how you learn what life in the Old Town must have been like. I also recommend visiting the Georgian House.

C. L.

(Translated) Impressive how the house and the paintings on its ceilings are preserved. Visiting it is a real trip back in time. (Original) Impresionante como se conserva la casa y las pinturas de sus techos. Visitarla es un auténtico viaje en el tiempo

L. F. P. S.

(Translated) One of the many existing souvenir shops in Edinburgh. Nothing in particular to highlight. They offer identical items as the others and at very similar prices. (Original) Una de las tantas tiendas de souvenirs existentes en Edimburgo. Nada en especial que resaltar. Ofrecen idénticos artículos que los demás y a precio muy similares.

P. K.

(Translated) This is not a museum, but rather a gift shop. Which includes tours of the building. (Original) Это не музей, а скорее сувенирный магазин. Который в том числе проводит туры по зданию.

A. K.

(Translated) An interesting house and eloquent guides. Worth seeing. (Original) Zanimiva hiša in zgovorni vodiči. Vredno ogleda.

A. N.

(Translated) I thought it was ok, but the visit left something to be desired, we only walked through very few places in the house. (Original) Achei ok, mas a visita deixou a desejar, so andamos por poquissimos locais da casa.

E. V. R.

(Translated) The tour is very interesting, you learn a lot about life in Scotland (Original) El tour es muy interesante, aprendes muchas cosas sobre la vida en Scotland

U.

(Translated) The oldest building in Edinburgh!! (Original) El edificio más antiguo de Edimburgo!!

i. c.

(Translated) we liked to see how a wealthy man lived in the middle ages...it's nice (Original) nos ha gustado ver como vivía un adinerado en la edad media...esta bonito

A. C.

Authentisch, sehr originalgetreu, wunderbares Personal, Outlander Fanartikel vorhanden (Translated) Authentic, very true to the original, wonderful staff, Outlander merchandise available

J. m.

Wenn man dort Urlaub macht , muss man es gesehen haben..Schon beeindruckend. .top (Translated) If you go on vacation there, you have to see it. It's impressive. .Top

V. V.

(Translated) Cute. Only one room deserves on the first floor (Original) Carino. Solo una sala merita al primo piano

J. F. L.

(Translated) Tourist spot with opportunities to take good photos. (Original) Ponto turistico con oportunidades de fazer boas fotos.

מ. ב.

(Translated) Very impressive site. Historical for hundreds of years (Original) אתר מרשים מאוד . היסטורי בן מאות שנים

J. S.

(Translated) It was very nice to walk there too (Original) Was heel leuk om daar ook even te lopen

V. T.

(Translated) Very beautiful and interesting tourist spot. (Original) Ponto turístico muito lindo e interessante.

M. T.

(Translated) Sooo beautiful and charming! absolutely recommended! (Original) Moolto bella e affascinante! consigliata assolutamente!

M.

(Translated) Nice but short tour (Original) Leuke maar wel korte rondleiding

M. P. C.

(Translated) One of the typical houses of Edinburgh. (Original) Una de las casas típicas de Edimburgo.

G. L.

(Translated) Rather nice, a good visit! (Original) Plutôt sympa, une bonne visite !

ا. ا.

(Translated) Scotland is wonderful, peaceful, rich and diverse in culture (Original) اسكتلندا رائعة وهادئة واثرية ومتنوعة الثقافات

x. S.

(Translated) Very nice place with all kinds of shops (Original) Lloc molt bonic amb tota mena de comerços

I. F. 5. a. p. a. b.

(Translated) Not to be missed. Tartan fabrics and more. (Original) Da non perdere. Tessuti scozzesi ed altro.

I. G.

T. B.

Alles bestens und sauber und die Umgebung ist echt beeindruckend (Translated) Everything is fine and clean and the environment is really impressive

S. H.

Als geschichtesinteressierte Person ein wirklich informatives und interessantes Ereignis (Translated) As a person interested in history, a really informative and interesting event

曉.

(Translated) looks cool (Original) 外觀很酷

d. w.

J. S.

S. B.

(Translated) To be seen (Original) Da vedere

R. C.

(Translated) Good tourist spot (Original) Bom ponto turístico

m. D. M. F.

(Translated) That's all right. (Original) Està bé.

f. f.

(Translated) The splendor location is worth a visit (Original) موقع روعة يستحق الزيارة

M. F.

(Translated) To Visit Edinburgh!! (Original) To Visit at Edimburg!!

J.

(Translated) A very original store (Original) Una tienda muy original

I. E. N. A.

(Translated) More than words, it accelerates the heart (Original) Mas que palabras, acelera el corazón

S.

(Translated) So cute! (Original) Muy lindo!

K. B.

S. G.

S. T.

L. C.

D. P.

D.

M. H. F.

G. A. F.

Gooood

B. Z.

(Translated) Interesting (Original) Intresant

E. G.

(Translated) very picturesque (Original) Muy pintoresco

C. M.

(Translated) Historical (Original) Histórico

F. B.

(Translated) Okay (Original) Ok

s. k. l.

(Translated) Magician (Original) Magik

A. F.

V. R.

(Translated) symbolic and picturesque (Original) Simbólico y pintoresco

M. F.

(Translated) It deserves the bisits (Original) Merita la bisits

M. J.

(Translated) The cathedral is beautiful (Original) Katedra jest piękna

T. D.

(Translated) Excellent 5 +++++ (Original) Exelen 5 +++++

M.

(Translated) Beautiful (Original) Muy bonito

T. S.

(Translated) Calcio (Original) Καλοοοο

R. A.

(Translated) Spectacular! (Original) Espectacular!

G. A.

(Translated) Stocked mall (Original) Rifornito centro commerciale

K. M.

S. C.

D. D.

S. P.

R. L.

T.

(Translated) old house (Original) 古老的房子

N. A.

M. P.

(Translated) It's cool (Original) Esta chulo

K. S.

(Translated) Nicecity (Original) Lepo mesto

T. L.

(Translated) All time place (Original) Alletiders sted

A. N.

(Translated) Picturesque (Original) Pintoresco

R. D.

i. c.

M. P.

A. G.

M. R.

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