National Library of Scotland
Home to over 24 million printed items, around 100,000 manuscripts and more than two million maps, the National Library of Scotland is a treasure trove of information and a must-visit for all visitors to the capital looking to discover more about Scotland’s history and culture.
By registering for free visitors can access the Reading Rooms to explore the rich collection of resources on offer, including rare historical documents, music, maps and manuscripts.
Located just off the Royal Mile on George IV Bridge, the Library’s main building contains a Visitor Centre which offers a range of facilities including an exhibition area, café and shop.
Throughout the year there are three different types of exhibitions on display, each showcasing the Library’s collections and bringing them to life in an exciting and engaging way. All exhibitions are free and open seven days a week.
The Library is home to one of the world’s largest map collections including landscapes, town plans, and railway maps and the Bartholomew Archive. The Map Collection is located at our Causewayside building.
The National Library Moving Image Archive also forms part of the Library and is based in Hillington, near Glasgow. The Moving Image Archive has a film and video collection of over 100 years of Scotland's history.
Once visitors return home they can continue to enjoy the Library’s vast online resources through the online catalogues and digital galleries available on our website: www.nls.uk.
The opening times for the reading rooms, exhibition space, café and shop at George IV Bridge Edinburgh are:
Monday: 09:30 – 19:00
Tuesday: 09:30 – 19:00
Wednesday: 10:00 – 19:00
Thursday: 09:30 – 19:00
Friday: 09:30 – 17:00
Saturday: 09:30 – 17:00
Sunday: Closed
Admission free. Disabled access via wheelchair lift.
Contact Information: George IV Bridge
Edinburgh, EH1 1EW
Scotland
Getting there by railway:- From Waverley Station, Edinburgh, walk west along Princes Street for one block to the Mound. Walk up the Mound, cross over the Royal Mile and continue along George IV Bridge for 30 metres.
