Gladstone's Land
Gladstone's Land
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Explore 400 years of Edinburgh's Lawnmarket history on 3 floors throughout one of the city's oldest tennement houses! Our self-guided tours and guided tours are fully interactive, which means you're welcome to actually touch and sit on old furniture in a hands-on experience. Volunteer guides are happy to answer any questions during your visit and we offer specialty guided tours on food ("Tables through Time") and intimacy through the ages ("Intimate Lives" 16+). Gladstone's Land was named after Thomas Gladstone, a merchant who bought and extended the House in the early 1610s. He also introduced the beautiful painted ceilings, which are well-preserved and impressed tennants back then as well as visitors today. Our brand new café and ice cream parlour is fully accessible and offers a variety of delicious cakes, hot drinks, snacks and ice cream flavours - including one specially made for us after an 18th century recipe!
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Old Town
Few Edinburghers live in the Old Town, but its labyrinth of dank alleys and steep streets suggests this was not always the case. Today, it’s mostly visitors, tartan-flavoured souvenir shops, and pipers that you’ll find on its cobbled streets. This is the place to get a feel for Auld Reekie (Old Smelly), as the town was once nicknamed, and stroll the Royal Mile, the thoroughfare that links the castle with the royal palace – two of Edinburgh’s great set-piece attractions. But there’s lots more exploring to do here down dozens of little alleys, or wynds, while at night the city’s busiest clubs erupt along the Cowgate which is closed to traffic for this purpose.
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See what travellers are saying
  • Josepha M
    148 contributions
    Three floors of surprises in a tenement in central Edinburgh
    This tenement is free for National Trust members. It is spread over three floors with steep stairs. Each floor shows a different time period and has a well informed volunteer. I was most impressed by the painted ceiling beams and wall paintings from several centuries ago.
    Thank you for such a lovely review, the painted ceiling and walls are indeed one of the many highlights throughout Glads. Team Glads
    Written 13 April 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 10 April 2023
  • dkeith
    322 contributions
    Great insight into the past
    Great spot to get some social history and at your own pace. Guides were informative and the experience was very much like Tenement Museum in NYC. Each of three levels provides a view of a different time period and a look into Edinburgh's past that was missing from other Edinburgh tours despite having taken several during our visits here. More than reasonable cost. Nicely done.
    Many thanks for your kind feedback, we're delighted to hear you enjoyed your visit and that we were able to offer something a little different! Thank you again, Anna
    Written 31 May 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2023
    Written 29 May 2023
  • Regular customer
    5 contributions
    Much ado about nothing
    The write-ups were good as were the reviews, so we decided to make that our Edinburgh first call together with the Royal Mile. The contents of the house were skimpy, although the guides on each floor tried to make as much as possible out of very little content and substance. We felt we had wasted the GBP10 per head ticket price. The staff were very good though.
    Many thanks for feedback, so sorry to hear you didn't enjoy your visit. The collection has been designed to reflect what the property might have looked like during the specif time periods depicted. We are constantly evolving our experience and have taken your comments on board. I sincerely hope you enjoyed the rest of your visit to Edinburgh, Anna
    Written 2 June 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 30 May 2023
  • Joanne C
    Ellesmere, United Kingdom356 contributions
    Small but interesting
    Quite a small attraction so it won’t take long to look round but not to be missed. Bought by the National Trust in the 1930s so free entry if you’re a member. Only three rooms to see with a guide in each . The main feature is the painted ceilings covered over for almost 250 years and only uncovered in the 1930 when the trust took possession. Worth a visit on the way past .
    Thank you for taking time to leave feedback, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed! - Will
    Written 25 July 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 17 July 2023
  • sara a
    1 contribution
    Unforgettable journey through time
    Gladstone's Land in Edinburgh is a captivating interactive museum that immerses visitors in the 17th century. The tour guide, Judi, is the highlight of the experience. Her passion, energy, and down-to-earth nature make the visit 10 times better. The museum showcases meticulously restored rooms, authentic furniture, and intricate tapestries that transport you back in time. Judi's profound knowledge and storytelling skills bring history to life, making you feel like an active participant. Her enthusiasm is contagious, engaging visitors of all ages. Judi's impeccable work ethic and dedication to delivering an exceptional experience are evident throughout the tour. She adapts to the group's needs and ensures everyone feels involved and captivated. Gladstone's Land and Judi's guidance offer an enchanting journey through time. Prepare to be transported, educated, and inspired as you explore Edinburgh's fascinating history. Ps : 4 pm on 24 July 2023
    Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a glowing review! Judi is elated to hear you enjoyed her tour so much - she's one of the best we have! - Will
    Written 11 August 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 25 July 2023
  • Virginia2002
    341 contributions
    An Interesting Place
    We stopped here to take a break from the crowds of people on the Royal Mile. Am glad I read about it in a tour book or we probably wouldn't have stopped. The house was quite interesting. There were guides on each floor. The one on the top floor was very knowledgeable & seemed to have endless information. The house itself is one of the oldest remaining buildings in Edinburgh. Be aware that you'll need to climb the stairs to get to each floor.
    We really appreciate you taking time to leave us a review, thank you so much for visiting! - Will
    Written 11 August 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 25 July 2023
  • Emily M
    12 contributions
    Interactive, historical and fun!
    An interesting museum, which gave us a feel for historic Edinburgh. My daughter loved the dressing up clothes and historical role play. It was great to be able to touch the artefacts. The volunteers were friendly and helpful.
    We believe interacting with he property is the best way to experience life as it was through the decades, and we're so glad to hear you enjoyed it too! Thanks for leaving a comment! - Will
    Written 7 September 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 27 August 2023
  • matthew p
    Edinburgh, United Kingdom77 contributions
    just a look aboot.
    this place is okay it is just really a look how folk used to live in the olden days but there's, not that much to see to be honest you're only able to go up so far and then the top floor is roped off. and the place does look quite dark when the shutters on the windows are closed. there is a café in here and toilets but other that the entrance fee is quite high just to see not very much those.
    Sorry to hear you found your visit underwhelming, but thank you for stopping by! The building is dimly lit in order to reflect the way it would have looked back in the day. We try to only use light sources they would have had access to (save our museum spotlights dotted throughout the property). The money from your admission fee goes directly back into the property and helps to conserve and maintain this beautiful building. Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback, it's always much appreciated! - Will
    Written 18 September 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 16 September 2023
  • Chilled04
    130 contributions
    Not the best
    Interesting building but very disappointed. The guide did his best to make it interesting but he went on so much that you tuned out after a while. Each floor is a different century and it’s interesting to learn about what life was like and to see how people lived at this time. However, nothing is original to the building and is from the national trust’s reserves. We are members of the National Trust and I have to say it’s the first property we have visited that I would not recommend.
    So sorry to hear you found the property underwhelming. To give a bit of context, the reason there's nothing original is because when we bought the property in 1934 it was a wreck and was lined up to be demolished. Also, the nature of the building passing hands on a floor by floor and even a room by room basis makes it impossible to retain anything original - especially to the later time periods. Hope that helps! - Will
    Written 28 October 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 26 October 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions

4.5
740 reviews
Excellent
440
Very good
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Average
63
Poor
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Terrible
14

John C
Glasgow, UK14 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
Recently went on a brand new tour of the Gladstone Museum. This tour was concentrated on crime and punishment.our tour guide Katie was very knowledgeable and along with her wit managed to keep the event light hearted which considering the subject was quite a task. Katie was able to answer any questions put to her and her enthusiasm shined through the whole event. We had a really enjoyable hour and wished it could have been a bit longer. Thanks Katie for a great day. John.
Written 27 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MikeM
2 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Really fascinating building with a wealth of history - enjoyed Gladstone's Land as I saw it on a gory crime and punishment tour. Would give the building five stars.

The tour itself was OK. The tour guide was passionate, which is great to see, and the stories were fascinating, but there were a couple of things which detracted from the experience. The first was the repeated misuse of the word hung to describe people who were put to death by hanging. As the old adage goes, pictures are hung, people are hanged. Probably not a big deal to anyone who doesn't know better, but if you're a tour guide and people are paying money for your tour then you should get it right.

Secondly was the slightly odd way the tour was book-ended with a quick poll on attitudes towards capital punishment. The poll itself wasn't the problem, but the final section of the tour heard a number of stories of horrible crimes for which the perpetrators were hanged, and one more recent but just as horrific crime for which the perpetrator received life in prison. This latter account was accompanied by a comment that suggested this imprisonment isn't much of a punishment. This was followed by the poll, asking who on the tour supported capital punishment.

A trainee solicitor should recognise a leading question and understand how intellectually dishonest it is. Perhaps a bit of balance could have been achieved by mentioning the countless miscarriages of justice which have resulted in the deaths of innocent people, or the ongoing fallibility of the justice system... but the earlier comment about imprisonment not being much of a punishment probably reveals something of the age of the tour guide, and the emotional and intellectual immaturity of youth. I'm sure it's something time and a little thought will address.
Written 26 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LoveTravel193774
Glasgow, UK1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Family
What a fantastic tour by Katie and the Judge! We thoroughly enjoyed this tour which poured with knowledge about the dark and twisty side of Old Edinburgh. We could have listened to our guide for hours with her extensive knowledge and wit. The tour flowed through the levels of the building while keeping us regaled with tales of terror. Just the very thing for a cold Saturday evening in Edinburgh. A must see! The building is fantastic as was the rest of the staff who were warm and friendly. 5 stars for Katie and The Judge!
Written 26 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

HHay2013
Aberystwyth, UK25 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
Enjoyed a very informative and engaging guided tour of this amazing property. The site is quite compact so the tour took just over an hour but managed to bring the building to life through the stories of the different people who have lived there over the course of its 500 (ish) year history. The rooms are well furnished and filled with fascinating objects, most of which you are allowed to touch. You can even sit on some of the chairs so, even if you are tired from exploring the rest of Edinburgh, your aching feet can find some respite here.
If you are not on a guided tour please don’t forget to look up at the beautiful painted ceilings. These were covered up for many years after they went out of fashion but show that when it was built its owner had grand ambitions for property. Apparently the ceilings were not even known about when it was saved from demolition so it truly is amazing that they still survive to be admired today.
The café on the ground floor serves delicious cake and coffee (good old National Trust) and even if you don’t have time to visit the entire site it’s a great place to soak up the atmosphere of this important building and feel you are contributing in some small way to its upkeep and its continuing legacy as a place of business at the heart of the Royal Mile.
Written 15 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for leaving such a kind and detailed review, it means a lot to us all here at Glads! The painted ceilings are the crowning jewel of Glads, but the cakes certainly make a close second! Hope to see you again sometime! - Will
Written 21 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

17lydia45
London, UK96 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
A National Trust property, this offers a great experience and truly an easy way to see below the surface in Edinburgh’s Old Town.
Different floors of the beautifully-restored house present life in a different period and the guides in different rooms give very good accounts of former occupants, their lifestyles and life in the city through the ages. Creatively-presented furnishings and items also make this a good experience for child visitors.
To start or end your visit, there is a very attractive cafe at street level!
Written 7 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
So glad to hear you enjoyed your visit with us. A spot of coffee and an ice-cream is the perfect way to start or end your visit we always say! Hope to see you again soon! - Will
Written 14 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Barry
London, UK2 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Our guide, Jodi, provided vivid details of it would have been like to live in Gladstone’s land in various centuries. She made the tour relevant and engaging.
Written 7 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
So thrilled to hear you enjoyed the tour, and I know Jodie is too! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, it helps us out a lot! - Will
Written 14 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Sarah F
3 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
We went on the tour of the house today and Katie was an absolute delight! She was a gem on the tour, answered all of our question in immense detail and was very friendly!!! Her tour is one I would recommend to all, and the cafe was delicious! But anyway, 100% ask if Katie's doing your tour if you're about to go on one, you will have the best and most accurate take on the history of the building. I can't imagine how she's able to retain all of that information. Katie was without a doubt the best tour guide I've ever had. I would happily go on the same tour again to see her enthusiasm and passion.
Written 29 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow! Thanks for such a kind and detailed review! Both us and Katie are thrilled to hear you enjoyed the visit so much, and we want to thank you for taking the time to leave us a review! It helps us out a ton! Come back any time! - Will
Written 31 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Andrew P
Guildford, UK8 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Great experience of a house through the centuries. The NTS Volunteers in each room were really informative. Much research obviously went into the way the house is presented.
Written 29 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for such a kind review, we're glad you found the place engaging and authentic! Thanks for stopping by, come back any time! - Will
Written 31 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Ali G
2 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
Lovely tour with a very knowledgeable guide Katie. Really interesting and well delivered.
Our group thoroughly enjoyed their visit. thank you!
Written 29 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katie is thrilled to hear you enjoyed your visit, and so are we! Thanks for leaving us a review, it helps us out a load! - Will
Written 31 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Gwen G
Isle of Wight, UK403 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Didn’t know what to expect on our visit. Pleasantly surprised to experience three different periods in one house. And those ceilings - just wow! Great to be allowed to touch for a change too. Volunteers very knowledgeable.
Written 28 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The ceilings are the pride of place in the museum, and for good reason! We're so glad to hear you enjoyed the visit and found the volunteers helpful, they're one in a million! Thanks for taking the time to leave us a review! - Will
Written 31 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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Gladstone's Land (Edinburgh) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

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