Doors Open Day 2017 is organised by charity The Cockburn Association which aims to preserve standards in the city and the green belt where either planning applications are made for new developments or redevelopment of old ones.
You can join the organisation and attend lectures and talks throughout the year.
Some of the buildings and gardens are open on Saturday and some are open both days. You can get all the details from the brochure below.
Although we really want to see all of the places in the brochure we have reduced our wish list to this top ten :
23 and 24 September 2017 11am-3pm |Harlaw Hydro Power House and Visitor Centre | Harlaw Reservoir Balerno EH14 7AS
This came about as a result of a community scheme to provide hydro power to the National Grid. The resulting income will be spent locally. The power house is at the foot of a steep and often muddy path (we know to our cost that you must wear appropriate shoes here!) The car park is some distance from the Power House.
23 September 2017 10am to 4pm |Centre for Wellbeing 13 Queen’s Walk EH16 4EA|
This is part of the Thistle Foundation at Craigmillar and there will be tours and talks along with taster sessions. We expect Margaret will be there leading a taster Tai Chi session which is a central part of the support services offered here. The centre has supported 18,000 people with long term health conditions in its first year.
23 September 2017 12 noon to 4pm | Lothian Buses 55 Annandale Street EH7 4AZ
If you have children then you must try to get along to this. The bus wash is an absolute must. This garage is home to the buses overnight and there is a very high tech travel centre here. All the CCTV coverage is constantly monitored to ensure that all the buses are on time and the passengers kept safe. We are not sure this will be part of the tour but there is plenty to see with vintage buses and guided tours.
23 and 24 September 2017 Lyon and Turnbull 33 Broughton Place EH1 3RR
This neoclassical building was designed by Archibald Elliott and built in 1821. It is the most beautiful space and they have a café here!
23 September 2017 11am to 4pm| St Columba’s Hospice 15 Boswell Road EH5 3RW|
This is where patients receive end of life or palliative care and you might think it would be a sombre place. But in fact it is the lightest, brightest space with a beautiful garden and unrivalled views to the Forth. The building was remodelled in 2014. £1 for car parking. Live music.
23 September 2017 10am to 4pm and 24 September 2017 1pm to 4pm | Vine Trust Barge Prince of Wales Dock EH6 7DX|
This is home to the Vine Trust who do good works in Tanzania and in the Amazon. They have taken several medical barges to the Amazon now. The barge is winner of many awards and has a 20 seat cinema for hire!
24 September 2017 12 noon to 4pm |Leith Theatre 28-30 Ferry Road EH6 4AE|
Leith Theatre has been empty for thirty years but is now the focus of a revival headed up by Irvine Welsh. It was used by Hidden Door for their festival in May and is an enchanting space which requires quite a lot of work to bring it back into regular use.
24 September 2017 |Regent Royal and Carlton Terrace Gardens 17a Royal Terrace Mews EH7 5BS |
This is a private garden used by local residents and it is well worth a look. It lies next to Calton Hill and has not changed much in layout since the 1830s. There are tennis courts, lawns, trees and seven acres of peacefulness!
23 September 2017 10am to 2pm and 24 September 2017 2pm – 6pm | Official Residence of the Consul General of France | Scottish Free French House 28 Regent Terrace EH7 5BS
After your visit to the gardens you could call in at the French Consul’s house. This used to be a resting place for French officers stationed in Scotland during the Second World War and there are many other stories to be told.
23 September 2017 1pm-6pm and 24 September 2pm – 5pm |The Chapel of St Albert the Great |George Square Lane EH8 9LD|
This is one of our favourite places. A quiet space during the week and used by the University Catholic Community on Sundays this was built by Dominican Friars. Very close to George Square which is one of the central hubs of the Fringe you will be amazed by this quiet space and the architecture.
Make up your own itinerary for this weekend from the brochure here :
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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
