Museums & Galleries · Edinburgh
St Cecilia's Hall
📍 EH1 1LL
Photo: Jim Barton (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
- Musical instrument museum with over 6,000 historic instruments
- Oldest purpose-built concert hall in Scotland
- Short films of musicians demonstrating instruments across the collection
- Instruments span the 16th to 20th centuries
- Learn about colonial history behind the collection and building
St Cecilia's Hall is the University of Edinburgh's musical instrument museum, housed in the oldest purpose-built concert hall in Scotland. Inside, you'll find a small portion of Musical Instrument Museums Edinburgh's 6,000+ collection of historic instruments, covering the period from the 16th century to the 20th century, from harpsichords and violas to rarer pieces like the contrabass serpent and the chimerical Stroh violin. The museum also addresses its colonial ties through a dedicated section called Colonial Legacies. It suits visitors curious about music history and instrument craftsmanship. Located in the City of Edinburgh, it's just 0.3 miles from Edinburgh Waverley station, with 149 bookable places to stay within 5 miles nearby.
Practical details
- Best for
- Those interested in historic instruments and music history
From the attraction's own website on 28 Sep 2026 — check before you travel.
Facilities
- ✓ Guided Tours
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Make a proper break of it — these stays are all within 25 miles.
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🗓️ Make a break of it
Turn a visit to St Cecilia's Hall into a proper getaway — ready-made plans, and the drive worked out with fuel, EV charging and the best stops.
🚆 Or come by train
- Edinburgh Waverley 0.3 miles
- Haymarket 1.3 miles
- Slateford 2.7 miles
Straight-line distances · live departures on each station page