Sir William Kirkcaldy Captain of the Castle

26th August / 2nd September / 2nd, 3rd October

Sir William Kirkcaldy was governor of Edinburgh Castle during the reign of Mary Queen of Scots. He held the Castle against her opponents from 1571 to 1573 in what we call the 'Lang Siege'. Find out why.

11, 11:30, 12, 12:30, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00

The Birth of James VI

27th August / 3rd September 2010 / 30th, 31st October / 2011 dates 12th, 13th March

Meet Lady Reres, one of Mary Queen of Scots ladies in waiting and get the inside story on the birth of the heir to the Scottish and English thrones.

11, 11:30, 12, 12:30, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00

World War I  Remembrance Weekend

13th, 14th November

Drop in sessions - geneology etc.

11am to 3pm

Life in a Medieval Castle

23rd, 30th August / 6th, 7th, 20th, 21st November / 4th, 5th December

Meet Euphemia, Countess of Ross and Buchan. Ask her about her ancestor Isabella, who placed the crown on the head of Robert the Bruce when he was crowned King of Scots in 1306 and about life for a young girl in medieval society

11, 1130, 12, 1230, 1330, 1400, 1430, 1500

Prisoner of the Crown

31st August / 16th,17th October 2010/ 2011 dates 19th, 20th February, 26th, 27th March

During the American War of Independence prisoners of war were held in the valuts of Edinburgh Castle. Meet an American prisoner and discover what it was like to be held in this mighty fortress

11, 11:30, 12, 12:30, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00

Local Hero - William Francis  

27th, 28th, 29th, 30th November

The tale of how William Francis and Thomas Randolph took the castle in 1314

11, 11:30, 12, 12:30, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00

Queen Victoria visits the Castle

23rd, 24th October

In 1886 Queen Victoria is paying a private visit to the Castle to see what improvements have been made. Come along and ask her what she thinks of it now.

10:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 15:30

The Big Draw

9th, 10th October

Creative fun for the kids. Portrait painting & colouring in masks.

10:00 to 16:00 Argyll's Tower

Ensign Ewart

29th August / 11th, 12th September

On the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle is the grave of Ensign Charles Ewart. Hear the remarkable story his capture of the regiemtal eagle at the Battle of Waterloo and how he came to be buried here.

11am, 11:30am, 12pm, 12:30pm, 13:30pm, 14:00pm, 14:30pm, 15:00pm

The Daft Days

27th, 28th, 29th 30th, 31st December

Meet Mary Queen of Scots and her lady in waiting. Hear about the Daft Days - a time of giddiness, mirth and merriment. Find out how the Queen would prepare herself with make-up for the forth-coming revelry and games; try your hand at running at the rings and rope quoits, and see the Royal Guard put on a weapons display.

10.30am to 4pm  Great Halls /Royal Appartments

Seige of 1689

4th, 25th August / 1st September

Meet some of the Jacobite soldiers who in 1689 held Edinburgh Castle for their exiled King James VII. Discover how they were armed to fight the government forces and whether they were successful in keeping them out of the Castle

11am, 11:30am, 12pm, 12:30pm, 13:30pm, 14:00pm, 14:30pm, 15:00pm

Crime and Punishment in Medieval Scotland

4th, 5th September

Through one of most turbulent periods in Scottish history, Edinburgh Castle stood for law and order. Discover how crimes were punished in medieval Scotland. What price do you think was paid for treason?

11am, 11:30am, 12pm, 12:30pm, 13:30pm, 14:00pm, 14:30pm, 15:00pm

A Great Escape

18th, 19th September / 9th,10th October / 2011 dates 8th, 9th January / 19th, 20th March

Edinburgh Castle makes a very secure prison, steep rock sides and well guarded gates make escape extremely risky. But a few have succeeded. Hear the story of one such escapee, John Mhor Macgregor.

11am, 11:30am, 12pm, 12:30pm, 13:30pm, 14:00pm, 14:30pm, 15:00pm

The Black Dinner

25th, 26th September / 2011 dates 12th, 13th February / 5th, 6th March

On a late autumn evening in 1440 a dinner was held here at the Castle hosted by the young King James II. By the end of the night two brothers had been murdered. Find out what happened in between.  

11am, 11:30am, 12pm, 12:30pm, 13:30pm, 14:00pm, 14:30pm, 15:00pm

Christmas Carols in the Great Hall

12th December

Enjoy a selection of Christmas favourites in the magnificent surroundings of the Great Hall.

1.00 p.m., 2.00 p.m. and 3.00 p.m.

No Christmas Here

20th, 21st, 22nd,23rd, 24th December

Hear the story of why the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas, Edinburgh Castle resisted their seige but was forced to surrender on Christmas Eve 1650.

11, 11:30, 12, 12:30, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00

Happy Old Year

1st, 2nd January 2011

Come to Edinburgh Castle and help celebrate the year just past. Discern the fine dishes of spicy 16th-century food; admire the application of 16th-century make-up and tremble before a demonstration of the Royal Guard's armour and weaponry.

11am to 3pm