People's Story Museum
Free museum in the Canongate Tolbooth on the Royal Mile telling the story of Edinburgh's working people in their own words.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The People's Story Museum is housed in the Canongate Tolbooth, a landmark of the Royal Mile that was built in 1591 and has a long history of its own. The museum opened in 1989 and is run by the City of Edinburgh Council as part of its museums and galleries.
Its displays offer an insight into the lives of ordinary working people in Edinburgh from the eighteenth century to a few years ago. What sets it apart is that the displays are based on the words of the city's people, drawn from oral history recordings and written sources, so that real voices tell the stories. Alongside original objects and images, tableaux recreate complete scenes of everyday life, among them a bookbinder's workshop, a wartime kitchen, a tea room and a jail cell.
The collection also includes political and trade union banners, tools from traditional Edinburgh trades, guild documents and objects relating to crime and punishment. The museum is not only a place to look back, since it also invites visitors to think about contemporary issues, events and opinions.
Highlights
- Tableaux of a bookbinder's workshop, a wartime kitchen, a tea room and a jail cell
- Displays built on oral history recordings of Edinburgh people
- Political and trade union banners
- Tools and guild documents from traditional Edinburgh trades
- The Canongate Tolbooth of 1591 with its clock over the pavement
Permanent exhibition
- The People's Story – Tableaux, original objects, images and oral history recordings show the working lives of Edinburgh people from the eighteenth century to the recent past.
- Founded
- 1989
- Operated by
- City of Edinburgh Council (Culture Edinburgh)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
The museum is free to visit.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The main entrance has level access with a permanent ramp. The ground-floor exhibition space, the reception, the first floor and the accessible toilet on the ground floor are reached without steps, while the second floor exhibition space and the third-floor video room are reached by steps. There is a hearing loop in the video room on the third floor, and information is available in large print. Some areas have low lighting. A British Sign Language guide to the museum is available online.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Lothian bus 35 stop at the museum
Lothian bus 35 stops by the museum (towards Ocean Terminal) and opposite, by the Museum of Edinburgh (towards Heriot-Watt University). Many buses cross the Royal Mile on North Bridge. From Waverley station, walk up Cockburn Street, cross North Bridge and continue down the High Street.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
The museum has no car park; pay-and-display on-street parking is available nearby.
The museum is on the left-hand side of the Canongate as you walk down the Royal Mile towards Holyrood Palace, opposite the Museum of Edinburgh, and a clock hangs out over the pavement. There is no bicycle parking at the museum, but racks are nearby.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Private group visits are welcome by prior arrangement by email. |
|---|
