St Cecilia's Hall

About the museum

St Cecilia's Hall was built in 1763 for the Edinburgh Musical Society to a design by the architect Robert Mylne. It was the first purpose-built concert hall in Scotland, and its main room is an oval chamber on the first floor. Audiences later moved to the Assembly Rooms in the New Town, the society gave its last concert in 1798, and around 1801 the hall was sold to a Baptist congregation. Over the next 150 years it served as a school, a Freemasons' lodge, a warehouse and a ballroom.

The University of Edinburgh bought the building in 1959, and its concert room was rebuilt and reopened in 1968. A second restoration in 2016 and 2017, partly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and costing about £6.5 million, improved the concert hall and the museum galleries.

The music museum shows part of the university's collection of historic instruments, which numbers more than 6,000 pieces across the Edinburgh collections. The displays include harpsichords, virginals, spinets, organs, fortepianos, harps, lutes and guitars, and some instruments can be played. The Russell Collection of early keyboard instruments is shown with other collections, among them plucked string instruments. A chamber organ made by John Snetzler around 1750 was restored in 2017. The concert room is still used for concerts, talks and workshops.

Highlights

• Scotland's first purpose-built concert hall, opened in 1763
• Historic harpsichords, virginals, organs and fortepianos, some of which can be played
• Russell Collection of early keyboard instruments
• Plucked string instruments such as lutes, harps and guitars
• Free digital guide covering over 150 instruments
• Concerts and events in the oval concert room

Permanent exhibition

• Music Museum: historic instrument collections – Galleries show early keyboard and plucked instruments from the University of Edinburgh collections, including the Russell Collection.

Founded

1763

Operated by

University of Edinburgh

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free and donations are welcome. Volunteer-led tours are free; private group tours cost £3 per person.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The entrance on Niddry Street has a ramp, and a lift serves the galleries and the Concert Room; it takes up to 25 people and wheelchairs and mobility scooters that fit. There are also stairs to the first floor. Accessible toilets are on the ground floor. Reception has induction loops. The visitor leaflet and exhibition labels are available in large print. Occasional seating is available, and gallery stools can be borrowed from reception. Assistance dogs are welcome. A sensory map, a visual guide and sensory bags with ear defenders and a self-led activity can be requested for autism-friendly visits.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Family activities and education workshops are offered. A sensory bag with an activity trail is available on request at reception.

Getting there & parking

The hall is in the Old Town of Edinburgh, just off the Royal Mile. There are no bike racks on site.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Reception and the shop are brightly lit and can be busy. No bike racks are available on site.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The Concert Room can be hired for music and music-history events such as concerts, talks and workshops.

Plan your visit