A typical Royal Mile building, it towered seven stories high and stood just a stone's throw from the Castle. They rent out the basement as a tavern, the ground floors to merchants, the coveted first floor to the wealthiest of Edinburgh's elite and the subsequent floors to the slightly less well off. They decorate the main rooms in the height of fashionable interiors and add a touch of decadence with hand-painted ceilings depicting exotic fruit, still visible today! Discover the highs and lows of one of the busiest residential areas in Edinburgh, experiencing how people lived day to day through 400 years of history. Each floor depicts the House in a different century and the museum is fully interactive! Our room guides introduce you to Mary Wilson, a 20th century boarding house landlady, providing comfortable lodgings to working class men (respectable ones, only!). Elizabeth Pillans and William Dawson ran a drapers shop in the 18th century, catering to upper class customers, ensuring they were dressed fashionably for all occasions. And visit John Riddoch's and Margaret Noble's luxurious living quarters as they lived here with their 5 children, running the spice shop and tavern in 17th century Gladstone's Land. The brand new Café and Ice Cream Parlour on our ground floor offers a fantastic selection of cakes, sundaes and hot drinks, as well as soup and sandwiches for lunch. Discover hints of the historic site throughout the cosy café space, which is fully accessible and welcomes all dogs and their owners!
