The People's Story Museum
About This Museum
It's a little jarring to realize that the building holding The People's Story Museum was once the town jail, a place of punishment, and now it echoes with the vibrant, often tough, lives of ordinary Edinburgh residents. Step inside and you're immediately transported; it’s not a quiet hall of artifacts but a bustling recreation of the city's social heartbeat from the 18th century onward. You'll walk past a life-sized cooper's workshop, hear the clatter of a recreated pub, and even step into a 1940s kitchen. This place has an incredible knack for making history feel less like a lesson and more like a conversation with the past.
Collection Highlights
The museum brilliantly recreates entire scenes: look for the detailed displays of a washerwoman's steam-filled lodge, the humble single-end (one-room) home, and the political banners from workers' protests. Don't miss the reconstructed pub and the oral history recordings where you can actually hear the voices of those who lived this history.
Visitor Information
You'll find it right on the Royal Mile at 163 Canongate—it's that striking old Tolbooth building you can't miss. Best of all? Entry is completely free, making it one of Edinburgh's most accessible and genuine gems.
Architecture & Building
Housed in the historic Canongate Tolbooth, it's a quintessential 16th-century Scottish building with a distinctive clock tower and crow-stepped gables that just oozes old-world character.
Contact & Location
Address: The People's Story Museum, 163, Canongate, Old Town, City of Edinburgh, Alba / Scotland, EH8 8BN, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 131 529 4057
Website: Visit Website
