Edinburgh & Lothians

An example of this collection

City Art Centre

Located in the heart of the capital, with six exhibition galleries, the City Art Centre is Scotland's emporium of the visual arts. It hosts an amazing range of temporary exhibitions.


An example of this collection

Edinburgh College of Art

The eca has an international reputation as one of the most successful independent art colleges in the UK, and prides itself on its creativity, its co-operative atmosphere and its people. The atmosphere is truly international, with over one in five of our students coming from overseas. Degrees from the eca are validated and awarded by the University of Edinburgh, internationally recognised as a leading academic institution.


An example of this collection

Health Scotland Library

The Health Scotland Library is a free national information resource for health promotion and behavioural sciences. open to anyone who lives or works in Scotland.


An example of this collection

Heriot-Watt University Museum & Archive

The museum holds medicine-related archives and objects relating to teaching and research from the University’s origins in 1821 to today: from farriery and pharmacy to a diamond coated artificial hip joint and innovative medical textiles.


An example of this collection

Heriot-Watt University Museum & Archive

The museum holds medicine-related archives and objects relating to teaching and research from the University’s origins in 1821 to today: from farriery and pharmacy to a diamond coated artificial hip joint and innovative medical textiles.


An example of this collection

Hopetoun House

Hopetoun House is a unique gem of Europe’s architectural heritage and undoubtedly ‘Scotland’s finest stately home’. There is an extensive Estate archive including 17th century medical correspondence between Scottish Physicians and Herman Boerhavve of Leiden.


An example of this collection

Linlithgow Story

The museum, run by the Linlithgow Heritage Trust, has documents relating to the life and work of surgeon David Waldie of Linlithgow (1813-1889), who worked with James Young Simpson on the discovery or chloroform for anaesthesia.


An example of this collection

Lothian Health Services Archive

The LHSA is a rich repository for NHS institutional administrative and clinical records, private papers, photographs and objects relating to the history of health care in the Lothian region and the history of medicine in Scotland. Access is free to anyone with an interest in the records. Access Restrictions are applied where records are covered by the Data Protection Act and NHS Confidentiality Guidelines.


An example of this collection

National Library of Scotland

Scotland's largest library and the world centre for the study of Scotland and the Scots, holding an extensive collection of historical material relating to medicine and health.


An example of this collection

National Museums of Scotland

NMS is Scotland's national museum service, caring for many of Scotland's museum collections of national and international importance. The majority of medical items are to be found in the Royal Museum and the Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street, Edinburgh.


An example of this collection

People's Story Museum

Housed in the late 16th century Canongate Tolbooth on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, The People's Story uses oral history, reminiscence and written sources to tell the story of the lives, work and leisure of the ordinary people of Edinbugh, from the late 18th century to the present day.


An example of this collection

Queensferry Museum

Situated in the historic former royal burgh of Queensferry, on the south bank of the Forth, the museum commands magnificent views of the two great bridges spanning the Forth. Its collections trace the history of the people of Queensferry and Dalmeny, and include several items relating to pharmacy.


An example of this collection

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Founded in the 17th century as a 'physic garden' growing medicinal plants, this lovely garden still has many medicinal examples amongst its 15,000 species today, as well as an extensive reference library, herbarium and archive.


An example of this collection

Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

Scotland's largest historical medical library collection (started in 1682) housed in impressive portrait-lined 19th century premises, with over 50,000 printed monographs on subject areas that include medicine, botany, science and travel.


An example of this collection

Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Library and Archive

The library and archive of a 500 year old medical institution, is housed in William Henry Playfair’s handsome 1832 Surgeons’ Hall. It contains over 40,000 volumes of manuscript and printed material on subject areas that include the history of medicine, anatomy, surgery and its specialties and the history of Edinburgh.


An example of this collection

Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland

The RCAHMS records and interprets information about Scotland's built environment. Archives include hospitals, asylums and medical buildings throughout Scotland. Free public access.


An example of this collection

Royal Scottish Academy

A collection of Scottish art, relating to the last 200 years. This contains anatomical manuals and engravings, including work by Durer, Vesalius and Albinus, and life drawings by Scottish nineteenth century artists.


An example of this collection

Scottish National Portrait Gallery

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery provides a unique visual history of Scotland, told through the portraits of those who shaped it.


An example of this collection

Scottish Poetry Library

Located in an award-winning building, the Scottish poetry Library is the nation poetry resource, offering free lending and reference facilities. Focused on modern Scottish poetry, the SPL also offers a wide range of world poetry and an excellent junior section.


An example of this collection

Simpson House

Simpson House’s Discovery Room is the actual room where Simpson discovered the anaesthetic properties of chloroform. The room charts Simpson’s life through a display and video. The room holds exhibits including the decanter that Simpson passed round his assembled guests asking them to “inhale”.


An example of this collection

Surgeons' Hall Museum, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

Located in a magnificent Playfair building dating from 1832, the Pathology Museum (on the upper floor of Surgeons' Hall) has one of the largest collections of pathological anatomy in the United Kingdom and provides valuable material for the study of human disease.


An example of this collection

University of Edinburgh Library, Special Collections

Rich collections dating from the 17th century including manuscripts, printed books and medical papers.


An example of this collection

University of Edinburgh, Anatomy Resource Centre

Historical examples of human and zoological anatomy, potted specimens used for the teaching of anatomy, dissections, microtomes and microcscopes, and featuring iconic items such as William Burke's skeleton.


An example of this collection

West Lothian Council Heritage Services

West Lothian is the birthplace of Dr James Young Simpson who pioneered the use of chloroform as an anaesthetic and David Waldie, the Linlithgow pharmacist who recommended this chemical.


An example of this collection

Writers' Museum

Material relating to Scottish writers – in particular, significant collections of portraits, manuscripts, books, memorabilia relating to Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson, including Burns’ writing desk, Scott’s dining table, and Stevenson’s portable printing press.