General Register House
General Register House
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Neighborhood: New Town
Suits and shopping bags rule the streets of New Town, until after dark when strappy dresses come out to play. This is the city’s central business district with its smaller offices, clothes boutiques, and many of the city’s flashiest restaurants and ritziest clubs. The architecture along roads like George Street helps give it a swank and formal feel: it’s a planned Georgian development of regal townhouses, geometric squares, and self-important statues. But it’s also a very wanderable neighborhood, with a healthy bustle at almost any time of day and fine people-watching in places like St Andrew's Square which fills with picnickers around lunch. You’ll also find a series of cheerful basement bistros on Hanover Street, while dark Rose Street has something of the feel of an undiscovered back alley and is chock-full of characterful pubs and small independent shops.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.0
39 reviews
Excellent
16
Very good
15
Average
7
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Alison G
Perth, UK23 contributions
Jul 2013 • Solo
entry is free , but it is a good idea to book ahead for a computer screen and desk especially during the peak times in the summer. The cost for a day is £15.00 which is reasonable considering the information that can be sourced. They also have taster sessions that are free. Recently some of the search rooms have been closed,so there is more pressure on the remaining desks. The staff are helpful and they do take the trouble to decifer some of the old records that are available.
If you are interested in genealogy then this is definitely the place to come. It does contain all the births , deaths and marriages in Scotland since 1855. It also holds the old parish records as well
If you are interested in genealogy then this is definitely the place to come. It does contain all the births , deaths and marriages in Scotland since 1855. It also holds the old parish records as well
Written September 9, 2013
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.
Shaun H
Carlisle, UK33 contributions
Jul 2018 • Solo
Comfortable chairs to spend the day in front of a computer. Programmes easy to use and searches faciltated by friendly and knowledgeable staff. One lady helped me to find a missing Great Great Grandmother...seemingly they had changed the familial name from the Irish Catholice Corcoran to Scottish Protestant McCorkindale in order to get employment in the the Clyde shipyards. Once the assistant found this out we went back again and found the name "Clinton". Who knows the ex president will be able to boast we share a common ancestry!!
You don't have to be an academic to search and to find out stuff is thrilling especially the bigamists in the family which I think was quite common in the 19th. Century.
Get in there and find your roots...Scotland has great, easily accessible records of all kinds in the Database.
Great exhibition, Free, about the Scottish Suffragettes and suffragists.
It has an adequate cafe but don't expect cordon bleu fare.
Seamus Cumbria
You don't have to be an academic to search and to find out stuff is thrilling especially the bigamists in the family which I think was quite common in the 19th. Century.
Get in there and find your roots...Scotland has great, easily accessible records of all kinds in the Database.
Great exhibition, Free, about the Scottish Suffragettes and suffragists.
It has an adequate cafe but don't expect cordon bleu fare.
Seamus Cumbria
Written August 14, 2018
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.
IAG2608
Vancouver, Canada525 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
We paid 15 pounds sterling each to have a chair in front of a computer to research our Scottish ancestry. The staff are pleasant and helpful and the research capabilities are good despite the restrictions that are placed on having access to more “recent” information. If you have an interest in genealogy and have Scottish ancestors, this is the place to visit.
Written June 5, 2019
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.
Rebecca Crawford
Edinburgh, UK4 contributions
Aug 2022 • Solo
If I could put zero star I would. Although there is more than one number no-one is answering the phone!! What are we paying them for? They are supposed to be dealing with public queries. Well I wanted to buy something from them so they've lost. Well done!
Trip Advisor....take the phone icon off.
Trip Advisor....take the phone icon off.
Written August 4, 2022
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.
Jim M
Aberfeldy, UK27 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
Thank you to all the staff at New Register House for the Open Doors Day 2018.
I visited with my partner to view the William Wallace letter. The disabled access into the building is simply amazing. The friendliness of the staff showed the doors are open to everyone, everyday at New Register House.
Thanks for allowing us to share the 12th century in a 21st century context. Congratulations!
I visited with my partner to view the William Wallace letter. The disabled access into the building is simply amazing. The friendliness of the staff showed the doors are open to everyone, everyday at New Register House.
Thanks for allowing us to share the 12th century in a 21st century context. Congratulations!
Written September 30, 2018
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.
yandinazetland
Stonehaven, UK2,605 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
A beautiful building at the east end of Princes Street the Adam Dome and the library is worth a visit alone. Until the end of November there is a fantastic exhibition bringing together amazing photographs of convicted criminals from the Edinburgh City archives - murders , embezzlement and robbery during 1870 - 1917 . Go see before it ends - it is free.
Written November 22, 2017
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.
bsandrs
Portsmouth, UK23,078 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
Whilst we have walked by the General Register House, containing the National Records of Scotland on many occasions, we have never been in, and with the "Famous Scots From The Past" Exhibition being advertised during the Festival, thought this would be a good time. The display is at the back of the building and a walk through to that area includes some stunning rooms and past a rather magnificent statue of George the Third. The artefacts and information boards relating to the Four Famous Figures were fascinating, two more well know, two which were new to us. The staff were all very welcoming, especially the man overseeing the exhibition room. We will make a point of checking for further presentations when we return to the City next year.
Written August 21, 2017
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.
lbmullane
Silver Spring, MD70 contributions
Jun 2017 • Solo
Spent an enjoyable half day here. Reasonable cost to do research. Very very helpful staff, stayed with me till I got settled in. Beautiful building, too, so the atmosphere was wonderful. I was able to confirm dates and names more easily here than having to pay for online credits and be disappointed. I could have stayed for a week!
Written June 22, 2017
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.
CeeKee19
The Woodlands, TX45 contributions
Went to do some research for ancestry. Great resources. Found lots!
Written January 19, 2012
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.
Fiver75
Melbourne, Australia12,454 contributions
Aug 2011 • Solo
This staggering building is located to the north of the Edinburgh Train Station, at the top of a T-intersection. The massive frontage is very impressive, with a statue of Wellington sitting right in the middle. An impressive piece of architecture and worth a few moments to appreciate.
Written October 9, 2011
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.
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Claim your listingGeneral Register House - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about General Register House
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience General Register House:
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General Register House Information
Excellent Reviews | 16 |
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Very Good Reviews | 15 |
General Register House Photos | 38 |