27 September 2025 (10:00 - 16:00)
National Records of Scotland (NRS) performs the registration and statistical functions of the Registrar General for Scotland and the archival functions of the Keeper of the Records of Scotland, including maintaining the archives as one of Scotland’s five National Collections.
Our purpose is to collect, preserve and produce information about Scotland's people and history and make it available to inform current and future generations.
Our records span from the 12th to the 21st centuries, touching on virtually every aspect of Scottish life. We are the repository for the public and legal records of Scotland, but we also have many local and private archives. We hold and facilitate access to one of the most varied archive collections of records in Britain.
Our collections are held in four buildings in Edinburgh, two of which, Robert Adam’s Neoclassical General Register House (GRH) and Robert Matheson’s Italianate New Register House (NRH), are Category A listed and outstanding examples of 18th and 19th century architecture. Adam’s elegant General Register House is one of the oldest purpose-built archive buildings still in use in the world.
The open courtyard between General Register House and New Register House is a unique garden planted with 58 plant species - all connected in some way to Scotland's collective memory, whether through myth and folklore, heraldry, or association with individual famous Scots.

Activities
A special display of NRS records, ‘Scots on the Move: Railways and Tourism in Victorian Scotland’, will be on show, exploring how tourism in Scotland was transformed by the birth of the railways during the age of Queen Victoria (1837-1901).
Free family history taster sessions in the Scotland’s People Centre.
A chance to speak to archivists and other specialists to answer questions about their role and the role of NRS.
Tours of General Register House and the Archivists’ Garden.
We ask that those attending a building tour book in advance, informing us of any special access requirements. Places can be booked via the NRS Eventbrite page:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/national-records-of-scotland-13420221531
Please note: Tours will last approximately 40 minutes and, where possible, we ask to book in advance. A limited number of walk-in places will be available on each tour.
We ask booked attendees to arrive promptly for their tour time. If you are late, your place may be given away on a first-come, first-served basis.
Visitors should wear comfortable footwear. We regret that the tour route through the building is not suitable for wheelchair users or those with limited mobilities.
Except for tours, all other activities are drop-in or sign-up on the day, including the free taster sessions introducing Scotland’s People.
Images are all Crown copyright.
We will link to a digital animation of General Register House from the present day to the 18th century; a video tour of New Register House and a 3D scan of the Archivists’ Garden which will allow our users to explore the buildings and spaces remotely. These resources will also be promoted on our social media channels together with other material.
Find our more about our work by visiting NRS’ YouTube channel Learning playlist

Address
HM General Register House, General Register House, 2 Princes St, Edinburgh, EH1 3YY