Scotland’s Heritage Hub will be steeped in the nation’s history. The property we wish to acquire is no ordinary building; it is a physical link to Scotland’s past, steeped in the stories that shaped the nation. Located on the corner of Bristo Port and Bristo Place, this B-listed property holds special architectural and historic significance, standing on ground that has witnessed more than five centuries of Scottish history.

Bristo Place was once the southern gateway into Edinburgh, entered through Bristo Port, a fortified arch built in 1515 as part of the Flodden Wall. Though much of the wall has disappeared, its remains can still be seen in the neighbouring National Museum of Scotland, traced in cobbled lines across the surrounding streets and marked by a nearby commemorative plaque.

This site has long been a stage for defining moments. In 1503, Margaret Tudor entered the city here through a grand Renaissance arch to marry King James IV, marking the Treaty of Perpetual Peace between Scotland and England. Nearby, in 1638, the National Covenant was signed at Greyfriars Kirk, another turning point in the nation’s story, and later the doomed Darien project was directed from a house on Bristo Place.

The present tenements stand on the site of the George Inn, shown on Kincaid’s 1784 plan, close to the former Greyfriars monastery and other landmarks that reveal Edinburgh’s evolving civic and social life. The ground floor and rear portion of the building has been a ceramics merchants since 1850. For centuries, this small corner of the city has been a gateway to Scotland’s past, a place where people, ideas, and events have met and reshaped history. Now, it stands ready to open its doors once again, this time as the new home of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

The heritage hub will continue that tradition, acting as a modern gateway to Scotland’s past, welcoming everyone to explore, learn, and connect with the nation’s stories. In bringing new life to this historic site, we are not just preserving its fabric, but ensuring its spirit endures for generations to come.

Located at the heart of Edinburgh’s cultural quarter, the Bristo Port building sits within one of the United Kingdom’s richest cultural corridors and offers an unparalleled platform for public engagement. As part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is surrounded by national heritage institutions and cultural landmarks such as Edinburgh Castle, the King’s Theatre,  Greyfriars Bobby, the Royal Mile (High Street), Surgeons’ Hall Museums, the National Library of Scotland and the University of Edinburgh (including St Cecilia’s Hall). This area attracts over 10 million* visitors annually, including 2.3 million to the adjoining National Museum of Scotland. Nearby is Historic Environment Scotland and the Scottish Parliament.

The site’s central position offers further strategic advantages. Excellent transport links ensure easy access from across Scotland and beyond. This prime setting will amplify the reach and visibility of our work to one of the largest and most engaged heritage audiences in Scotland.

Scotland’s Heritage Hub would be accessible to as wide a range of users and visitors as possible from across Scotland and beyond.

A redeveloped B-Listed building, conserved for the future and reimagined