Freemasons Hall, Edinburgh
Freemasons Hall, Edinburgh
4.5
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The area
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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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1,976 within 3 miles
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491 within 6 miles
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
33 reviews
Excellent
25
Very good
3
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
2
MadamZsaZsa
Edinburgh, UK268 contributions
Nov 2015 • Solo
A mason friend recently alerted me to the fact that Freemasons' Hall was hosting an Open Day yesterday from 12 noon until 4 p.m., Saturday 7th November so, being a wet day, I went along and was suitably impressed. I had attended various events here in the past so I grabbed the opportunity to spend some quality me time exploring this historic site.
A warm welcome awaited as I entered the building and chatted to some of the brothers on reception duty.
Not only is this an architecturally stunning edifice both inside and out - but it also houses such a lot of history and artefacts of great interest to masons and non masons alike. I spent three fascinating hours exploring the building, the museum and the library - not forgetting the shop where I bought a couple of interesting books. The brothers on duty were all very knowledgeable and well informed on whatever landing I found myself so I came away with my head buzzing with information.
This venue is not really disabled friendly as there are steps up to the entrance with stairs inside to the different landings and, unfortunately, there is no lift. Toilet facilities can be found on the ground floor.
Be warned, there is no food available on the premises.
Normal opening hours are 10 a.m. - 12 noon and 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Very highly recommended - especially if you are a mason - or are of a masonic turn of mind.
A warm welcome awaited as I entered the building and chatted to some of the brothers on reception duty.
Not only is this an architecturally stunning edifice both inside and out - but it also houses such a lot of history and artefacts of great interest to masons and non masons alike. I spent three fascinating hours exploring the building, the museum and the library - not forgetting the shop where I bought a couple of interesting books. The brothers on duty were all very knowledgeable and well informed on whatever landing I found myself so I came away with my head buzzing with information.
This venue is not really disabled friendly as there are steps up to the entrance with stairs inside to the different landings and, unfortunately, there is no lift. Toilet facilities can be found on the ground floor.
Be warned, there is no food available on the premises.
Normal opening hours are 10 a.m. - 12 noon and 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Very highly recommended - especially if you are a mason - or are of a masonic turn of mind.
Written November 8, 2015
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.
Fraser6850
East Kilbride, UK16 contributions
Jan 2017 • Friends
My father and I had a brilliant time on 4th January this year. Our guide was very knowledgable and really took his time explaining the origins of many of the fascinating pieces on display. We were then given some time to browse around on our own. As there was no business being conducted that day, we were even given access to the office of the Grand Master Mason.
I would highly recommend this to any brother who has not yet visited. You'll not be disappointed.
I would highly recommend this to any brother who has not yet visited. You'll not be disappointed.
Written April 7, 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.
robert_williamson8
Hythe, UK36 contributions
Sep 2017 • Friends
Thank you so much to the grand lodge of Scotland secretary for stepping in and showing us around. As a freemason in London and Kent it's always great to see the history of the institution. It was absolutely fascinating and I cannot wait to visit again. Whether you're a freemason or not this really shows scotlands historic foundations and is a must see if you're in Edinburgh. Absolutely brilliant, thank you so much for making us so welcome. To see Robert Burns' apron and the stories were brilliant.
Written September 5, 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.
Rob N
Washington, UK252 contributions
Mar 2017 • Friends
I was in Edinburgh for the day with a fellow Freemason and we called in for the 2pm tour.
It was a Thursday and we were the only two people taking the tour so had a wonderful hour with the very knowledgeable and entertaining guide who explained many things to us and showed us some fantastic items in the museum.
These tours take place at 10am and 2pm daily and are available free of charge to masons and non-masons. You don't have to book , just turn up.
It's a fascinating building to look round and I would highly recommend a visit. It's easy to find on George Street.
It was a Thursday and we were the only two people taking the tour so had a wonderful hour with the very knowledgeable and entertaining guide who explained many things to us and showed us some fantastic items in the museum.
These tours take place at 10am and 2pm daily and are available free of charge to masons and non-masons. You don't have to book , just turn up.
It's a fascinating building to look round and I would highly recommend a visit. It's easy to find on George Street.
Written March 31, 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.
finglaspete
Dublin, Ireland2,558 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
That would be telling, they are a very secretive society.
Sitting quite snugly on this Affluent city street is the Freemasons hall, these building always fascinated me with their architecture, or when you visit a graveyard and you come across masonic graves, the symbolism is spectacular, kind of mysterious even, literally like a beacon flashing saying 'You haven't got a clue what these are about do you?' Well it does to me anyway.
Anyway the review, lovely building, caught my eye, five stars!
Sitting quite snugly on this Affluent city street is the Freemasons hall, these building always fascinated me with their architecture, or when you visit a graveyard and you come across masonic graves, the symbolism is spectacular, kind of mysterious even, literally like a beacon flashing saying 'You haven't got a clue what these are about do you?' Well it does to me anyway.
Anyway the review, lovely building, caught my eye, five stars!
Written February 1, 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.
vianalky1950
Birmingham, UK199 contributions
May 2016 • Friends
I can well recommend the tour of this wonderful attraction the Guide will take you from the entrance hall and viewing of the masonic hall, which for our tour was decked out for the next meeting which was for Lord Elgin son. the museum is a must with all its varied artefacts and don't forget to pay that visit to the shop. Enlightening for non masons BUT a real must for a masonic visit (as ours was with our ladies)
Written May 25, 2016
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.
David A
Glasgow, UK66 contributions
Nov 2015 • Friends
Visited with the assembled and had a great time. Open to non freemasons too. Tours regularly made available to the public.
Written January 22, 2016
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.
🙋🏽♂️🤹🏽♂️✔️Keep Life Simple ✈️🧳✅
Pittsburgh, PA83,896 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
We only stayed 15 minutes at the Freemasons but we were interest in the old history and old fasinsting stories .
Written September 13, 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.
Diana P
6 contributions
Sep 2017 • Friends
If you are a are mason or not it is very interesting place to visit. Lots of things to learn and see
Written July 1, 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.
Susan T
Berwick upon Tweed, UK51 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
My partner (a Past Master of a Lodge in Scotland) attended the open day in May 2017. We were warmly greeted on entering the Freemason's Hall. Our tour guide, Brother Glen Brown, was extremely knowledgeable and made the tour very interesting. It is a beautiful building with an immense amount of history contained within it. Would definitely recommend this tour. Slightly disappointed that there has been no mention on the GLOS website or Facebook page on how well attended or otherwise this event was.
Written July 5, 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.
CoolBongo
London, England, United Kingdom1 contribution
I'm thinking of doing the New Town Guided History Tour in March. The Freemasons Hall is the bit I'm most interested in. How much of 2.5 hrs is spent here? Are there any other tours that have more specifically deal with Freemasonry?
Kieran M
2 contributions
Hi there, I'm writing to you from Ireland, as I'm hoping to do a tour of Edinburgh in the New Year. I'm just wondering how much it costs for a tour of the Grand Lodge, or whatever areas are open to the public?
Susan T
Berwick upon Tweed, UK51 contributions
Tours are free but only take place at certain times each day. If you go onto the Grand Lodge of Scotland website you should be able to get details
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Freemasons Hall, Edinburgh Information
| Excellent Reviews | 25 |
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| Very Good Reviews | 3 |
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