Lauriston Castle
Address: Cramond Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 6AD
Lauriston Castle is a tower house or ‘Scottish Keep’, constructed in 1593 and extended in 1827 and 1870. The aristocrat Sir Archibald Napier originally had it built as a home for his youngest son, also named Archibald. The castle remains unchanged since its last owners left in 1926. William Robert Reid and his wife, donated their home to the Scottish authorities upon their deaths, on the condition they would preserve it the way it was. Frozen in time, the tower house allows visitors to see what a country house was really like in Edwardian times.
The interior was last decorated between 1902 and 1919. It was designed by Mr Reid and incorporates the family’s many collections, including mezzotint engravings, Scottish and English furniture, Chinese and Dutch ceramics, Eastern rugs and Crossley wool mosaics. Set within 30 acres of parkland and gardens, Lauriston Castle and grounds offers stunning views across the Firth of Forth and Cramond Island.
5 things to do at Lauriston Castle
- Take a guided tour of the castle and see the principal rooms – dining room, drawing room, bathroom, study and library. When possible, you can also see the kitchen, which shows the contrast between life ‘upstairs’ and ‘downstairs’.
- Look out for the beautiful collection of Blue John mineral on display. As well as sumptuous Eastern carpets and rugs, intricate line engravings and mezzotints, Crossley wool mosaics and southern Italian furniture.
- In addition to the fine collections and antiques, you can also see some of the owners’ more personal belongings, from Mrs Reid’s piano and music, to a newspaper reporting the sinking of the Titanic.
- Visit the historic garden within the grounds of the property, designed by William Henry Playfair in the 1840s.
- Take a walk in the lovely tranquil Japanese Friendship Garden, which was added to the grounds in 2002.
