In the New Town area of the city, you can easily lose yourself in the beautiful streets that date back to the middle of the 18th century. Among them you'll find the three-storey Georgian House designed back in 1791 by Scotland's famous architect Robert Adam. Situated in the prestigious Charlotte Square, today it opens its doors to visitors from far and wide who come here to savour a taste of the Georgian high life, admiring its beautiful rooms as well as its historic furniture and silverware.
Take a tour round the grand rooms that make up this beautiful property, which has been fully-restored and furnished with sumptuous pieces of period furniture as well as historic works of art. Explore the drawing room and the dining room, and marvel at the beautiful setting. In these rooms alone you'll get to see porcelain, silverware, paintings by famous Scottish artists, and even a square piano!
Below in the basement, also known as ‘below stairs’, you will get a glimpse into the lives of the servants who worked here and keep the house running. You'll find the wine cellar, the china cabinet and the restored kitchen complete with pots, pans and utensils. You’ll notice how small the rooms are, where the staff would also have to sleep. While you're there, you can also see a short video which will tell you more about the history of Edinburgh's New Town.
Guides are on hand in each room to answer any questions you may have. Ask them about the house's former occupants, among which are listed a Free Church minister, a judge, a marquis, as well as the Lamont family who held the property back in its earliest days.
The Georgian House is a short walk from the west side of Princes Street. Fifteen minutes away, you'll also find Haymarket and Waverley train stations. The building can be found on Charlotte Square, an elegant location where you'll see many other fine examples of Georgian architecture, as well as a picturesque private garden open exclusively to local residents, though it opens to the public for major showpiece events like the Edinburgh International Book Festival held here in August.
The Georgian House opens daily, though opening hours may vary depending on the time of year you visit. You can find details of the opening times on the National Trust of Scotland’s website.
