Visitor Centre, Edinburgh

• Easter opening hours

Our Visitor Centre in Edinburgh offers a range of facilities and services for those who enter the George IV Bridge building.

In this ground-floor area you can:

The ground floor

• Visit our exhibitions
• Browse and buy books and quality unique gifts and stationery
• Enjoy refreshments and snacks in our café
• Browse our online collections
• Join the Library for entry to our reading rooms and access to a wider range of digital material.

Visiting safely

We encourage you to wear a face covering when visiting the Library, especially in busy spaces.

Please do not visit the Library if you are feeling unwell.

The main public area

In the main public area we have:

Information point

Shop merchandise

• Computers that anyone can use to find online reference material and see material digitised from Library collections
• An information point, where you can learn more about the Library
• The bookshop, selling Scottish publications, stationery and gifts
• The café seating area
• WiFi access.

Books and other items for sale are on display on shelves in the main public area.

You can also shop online.

Café

Across the main corridor is the café servery which offers:

• Superior quality Fairtrade coffee and fine teas
• Fresh sandwiches, snacks and homemade cakes
• Drinks and snacks to take away.

Readers' Registration

At Readers' Registration visitors can:

Readers' registration

• Join the Library for access to the reading rooms and for remote access to our eResources
• Renew a library card
• Collect prepaid photocopies of material from the collections.

To speed up your registration, you can start the process by joining online. The 'How to register' guide will take you through the various stages of joining.

Please remember to bring evidence of identity and address when you come to get your library card.

We have two wheelchair-friendly computer workstations where people can join online. Read more about George IV Bridge access and facilities for people with disabilities.

Opening hours

The George IV Bridge building is open:

• Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 9:30 to 7pm
• Wednesday: 10am to 7pm
• Friday and Saturday: 9:30am to 5pm. 

The café is open:

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9:30am to 5pm
• Wednesday: 10am to 5pm
• Saturday: 9:30am to 4pm.

View large George IV Bridge Google map

By bus: Several buses go via the city centre and stop outside the National Library of Scotland on George IV Bridge and nearby South Bridge and Chambers Street. Visit the Lothian Buses website for further information.

By train: The nearest train station is Edinburgh Waverley and the Library is a 10-15 minute walk away up a steep hill. Plan your journey with Traveline Scotland

By tram: The nearest tram stop is on Princes Street and the Library is a 10-15 minute walk up The Mound, which is a steep hill. Plan your journey with Traveline Scotland

By bike: Edinburgh is a cycle-friendly city. There are many dedicated cycle lanes and many junctions have advance cycle stop lines. Bike hire is available across the city: visit the Edinburgh Cycle Hire website for details. Cycle racks are available on George IV Bridge, Victoria Street and Chambers Street to park your bike.

By car: Follow signs to the city centre. Off-street parking is available at nearby at NCP sites.   See also: Edinburgh City Council parking information.

Park and Ride: Park and Ride options are available by tram and bus. Leave the tram or bus in the city centre on Princes Street and the Library is a 10–15 minute walk away up a steep hill.

Contact us

If you have a query about our Visitor Centre in Edinburgh, or about collections and services in general, ask a question online.

Using the Library