Gladstone's Land (National Trust for Scotland)

We were here on a food tour and were introduced to cranachan. One pic is the food tour portion size and the other is the actual portion on the menu, we were too quick to eat before remembering a picture. We bought whisky syrup and some souvenirs too and knowing it goes to fund National Trust for Scotland (museums and art galleries which are free) we felt it was all money well spent. If you want a highland coo buy it here!

The café at Gladstone’s Land is a little oasis of calm right in the middle of the Royal Mile madness. You step off the street full of bagpipes, tour groups and sudden rain showers, and suddenly you are somewhere warm, civilised and smelling faintly of good coffee and cake. The coffee is excellent and very welcome after dodging crowds outside. Properly made, hot and comforting, it feels like a reward for surviving Edinburgh’s most energetic street. The cakes and light bites are exactly what you want from a historic café. Simple, well made and very satisfying, especially if you have just been wandering around pretending you are not tired. What really makes the café special is the setting. You are sitting inside one of Edinburgh’s oldest buildings, surrounded by thick stone walls and centuries of history, quietly enjoying a coffee while the modern world rushes past just outside. It feels slightly smug in the best possible way. Service is friendly and relaxed, and there is no pressure to rush. It is the perfect place to pause, warm up and recharge before heading back out into the Royal Mile chaos. A great café in a brilliant location, and proof that sometimes the best part of a historic site is sitting down with a coffee and pretending you live there.

We didn't get a chance to eat here, though we wanted to try the variety of ice cream, we just ran out of time on our itinerary. However, the tour was very interesting and we thoroughly enjoyed it. It was interesting to learn about the different ways the building was used throughout history. Also, we thought the bathroom doors were hilariously terrible. Glad to not be in that period of time anymore 😂.

First visit using my National Trust Membership. Lovely guides on 3 floors. Over 60 steps to get to the top floor and quite tight going round but worth the climb. Watch out for low ceilings going up the stairs. Gained insight on how Edinburgh folk lived in the Georgian era. Amazing restored painted rafters on first floor. Enjoyed being able to touch items and try on hats.

The Gladstone's Land is a really nice café. We had a really nice scone and coffee. We received the coffee drinking temperature. If it had been a little hotter that would have been better. The house was nice to talk around the the National trust volunteer was very helping knowledgeable about the property.

Lovely cafe with very friendly staff. Very nice food and so dog friendly. They gave us a bowl of water and a biscuit for our st Bernard and even put a video of her on their Instagram. Really made us feel welcome

Gladstone’s Land in Edinburgh is a must-visit attraction, offering a wonderful blend of history and charm. While the historical significance and beautiful details of the site are truly impressive, what really stands out is the delightful café on the first floor. The ice cream, pastries, and coffee here are exceptional. Each treat is crafted with care, offering a perfect blend of flavors that make for an unforgettable experience. The customer service is equally outstanding, with staff who are friendly, attentive, and always ready to ensure a pleasant visit. The ambiance of the café is simply lovely, making it an ideal spot to enjoy a cup of coffee while soaking in the historical atmosphere. Whether you’re taking a break from exploring the city or simply looking for a cozy place to relax, the café at Gladstone’s Land is a gem that should not be missed.

Very expensive ticket price for a 3 level museum but what is even more appalling was the unprofessionalism of the 2nd level guide, an elderly woman. She approached me to start regaling abt the history but as soon as a large group descended from the 3rd level, she promptly cut off her speech and proceeded to entertain them. Should have just left this place alone & focused on John Knox house instead!

I don't get this place isn't listed as an ice cream establishment, because the ice cream here is next level great! Wow! Get the award winning double cream vanilla and the raspberry sorbet! So. Damn. Good!

Gladstone land is such a hidden gem on the royal mile and easily missed as just an ice cream parlour and cafe but you'd be surprised to learn that it's also a 17th century tenement house and run by lovely and informative and passionate national trust for Scotland volunteers such as the lovely Mhari. There is a system to follow when visiting, firstly you purchase your ticket at the ice cream parlour and coffee shop, then head back outside and up the spiral staircase to the 3rd floor and work your way down. On each floor there is a volunteer that relays stories and points out things of interest. You are allowed to walk around, touch things, hold things and really immerse yourself into the history of three centuries from 1632 to 1911.

We went in with low expectations but this inconspicuous National Trust property was a highlight of our visit to Edinburgh. We really lucked out with our guide (all tours are guided), a recent arrival in Edinburgh from York where she completed her PhD. Topping it off, she is an actress who put her acting skills and enthusiasm for her new city to construct an engrossing tour...we felt as if we were at a theater performance. Numerous small details on life in Edinburgh (for the rich and poor), the objects and paintings, the people, the rise, decline, and rebirth of the city and its districts. For us, fun, interesting, educational...an absolutely great visit.

Gladsone's Land is a sister property to The Georgian House, both owned and operated by the Scotland National Trust. While I did prefer The Georgian House to Gladstone's Land, this property is still well worth visiting while you're in Edinburgh. It's easy to combine this with a visit to the castle - though it would be easier if they allowed pre-booking online, or operated with guides in each room rather than requiring the full guided tour, which only operates once per hour. However, if you make it on time and there are slots available, you'll get to see how the "better off" lived in the old city back in the 1600's. The most interesting rooms are the kitchen and the bedroom, with its amazing painted ceiling. I would have loved to venture beyond the first floor, but it sounds like they use that for office space. Would have been neat to see how some of the less well-off lived, but oh well - can't have everything.

Great tours - way more historically interesting than both the castle and Georgian house! I went to the witchcraft specific tour and it was awesome.

Enjoyable but this 17th century house had very little rooms for you to see. The first guide in the luckenbooth was very informative and knew lots about the house and past tenants. The house was interesting, I wish I could say more but it didn't blow me away and I can't tell you anything that really stuck in my mind. Xoxo

I visited Gladstone's Land when I was in primary school, many years ago, but have had friends go recently and I have been told it is still the same. As I was with my school we were all told to change into 17th century clothes which was interesting to say the least, we were then given a guided tour around 6 different rooms that showed different walks of life in that era from the poor lifestyles to the richer lifestyle. The rooms are full with objects from that period where we were given stories about each, and interesting pieces of information about life at that time. The one thing that really sticks out is the ceiling in one of the rooms, it was truely magnificent, and I also believe is handpainted. Today, to go in as a visitor you can walk around the rooms yourself and spend as much time as you like. If you would like a guide, you can request one, at an additional cost. They have a souvineer shop there but there are also some downfalls. There are no toilets and there isn't a cafe within the centre either. There is nowhere for car parking, unless you enjoy to walk. The prices are fairly reasonable though and downfalls aside, it makes an educational and interesting day for the whole family!

Good but not large, well-preserved and presented 17th century tenement in the Lawnmarket portion of The Royal Mile. Enter through the authentic luckenbooth (what shopping used to look like back when) and follow a self-guided tour through the atmospheric period rooms. There are staff in each room to answer questions and lots of interesting details. The ceilings and walls in the painted chamber are worth seeing. All it needs is the girl with the pearl earring. I can tell there are other floors with more delights that are not on show and for the prices being charged, these ought to be on display as well. It would be nice to see what became of these old houses once the great and good abandoned the Old Town for the spacious geometries of the New Town. They should show what became of the tenements when hordes of desperately poor people divided and subdivided the floors into especially dire living conditions. Most were finally swept away by the civic-minded Victorians. Gladstone's Land is a remarkable survival. I would like to either see its scope widened or its admission price lowered. Better yet, a combined ticket to allow access to its sister museum, The Georgian House in Charlotte Square. Both museums are must-sees for anyone curious about the real old Edinburgh.

It's good. It should be either slightly cheaper if left as it is or slightly better at the same price. And the no toilets thing is a real let-down. Had to run our desperate three year old out to The Hub and back to use the toilet and that's a fair walk in heavy rain. That said, well-presented displays of period furniture show you what life was like in one of these Olde Worlde tenements back when this was a swanky address. It does not show the awfulness of what it was like when the well-to-do decamped to the New Town and the great unwashed all moved in. Often several families to a single, small room. I think that should have been shown as this was a major aspect of these buildings and why many were knocked down or even fell down. The painted ceiling in Gladstone's room is genuinely gorgeous and worth seeing. There were docents in each room who helpfully answered questions and were informative but a guided tour might be a better way to experience the place. There may be one a day, check with staff. If you like history and want to see what The Royal Mile and Old Edinburgh were like then definitely check this place out.