Walking up Edinburgh’s Royal Mile in the direction of the Castle, it is easy to miss the National Trust for Scotland property called Gladstone’s Land. This interesting Edinburgh tenement now houses an artisan ice cream shop on the ground floor and the museum on the upper floors. The City Adventurers stopped off for a visit during their trip to The Edinburgh Fringe last year.
We had pre-booked a guided tour and waited in the ice cream shop with a drink for our tour to begin. At the appointed time our small group gathered outside and climbed the winding stairs to the front door. Then we continued up the staircases to the top floor to meet our guide. While The Royal Mile was loud and crowded, once we stepped through the heavy wooden door of Gladstone’s Land, the city noise just vanished and we were transported back in time….
This 500-year-old tenement offers a rare glimpse into how Edinburgh’s residents actually lived, worked, and traded through the centuries. The building takes its name from Thomas Gladstone, a wealthy merchant who bought it in 1617. After falling into disrepair, it was saved from demolition in 1934 by National Trust for Scotland. It now shows life in different time periods on each floor.
The upper windows give a unique perspective of the Lawnmarket that you cannot get from street level.
Third Floor – Set up as Mary Wilson’s Boarding House 1911
The room at the top is furnished to reflect a boarding house in 1911.
Second Floor – Set up as William Dawson and Elizabeth Pillans Draper’s shop in 1766
The second floor shows how the building would have been in 1766 when it was used as a drapers shop.
First Floor – Set up as John Riddoch and Margaret Noble’s home in early 17th century
Thomas Gladstone bought the building in 1617 and extended it, adding fashionable painted ceilings. Dating back to 1620, the intricate designs feature flowers, birds, and even a tiny monkey. They were covered with plaster for centuries, which luckily preserved their vibrant colors.
The first floor also includes the kitchen and storeroom.
Information on visiting this National Trust for Scotland property
The whole tour takes around an hour, although the building is also open for self-guided exploration during the day.
Our guide was friendly and informative. He told us that, unlike other heritage properties, we were free to explore the building and touch things on the top two floors, except for the four-poster bed and the fireside chair.
As it is not especially big, it is suitable for smaller sized groups not big groups (we were about 20 people). With spiral staircases to each floor, it is also not suitable for those with mobility issues. However, there was limited seating available on the top floors.
Book your visit at the National Trust for Scotland
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