I have to confess that I walked past the National Library pretty much every day for ten years before I went inside – I had no idea what I was missing out on!
It may seem pretty obvious what the building holds but as well as being the largest library in Scotland they also host a range of exhibitions relating to their collections, and all of them are free!
My favourite bit of the library though is their events. A couple of evenings a week there are free lectures between 18:00 and 19:00. They cover a wide range of topics, some tie into the exhibitions on the go and others to various history months or topical events. I love getting to hear experts discuss their chosen topics and learning a little bit more about history or current affairs.
There is also a great wee café and book shop inside to take a break after exploring the exhibitions.
The Library is just off the Royal Mile, so most visitors, like I used to, wander right past without realising the treats contained inside.
