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Visiting us

The Scottish National War Memorial is located in the heart of Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. It is found within the walls of Edinburgh Castle.

Visits to the Castle are by timed ticket and tickets can be obtained via the Edinburgh Castle website.

For visits to the Memorial only, please request a visit by writing to ticketing@hes.scot.

If you only wish to visit the Memorial, please note that you will not have an opportunity to visit any other parts of the Castle.

The Memorial is a 15 minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station and the Edinburgh City Centre Bus Station and it is five miles from Edinburgh Airport. Car parking is available in the Castle area, but not on the Castle Esplanade.

Their Name Liveth

The Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle is open to the public every day of the week from 9.30am to 6.00pm or 5.00pm, depending on the season. Please note that last entry is an hour prior to the Castle’s closing time. Please contact Historic Environment Scotland at Edinburgh Castle for precise opening times – Tel: +44 (0)131 225 9846.

Please note that when the Castle is open, it will not be possible to visit the Memorial only between 1230 and 1330 and when ceremonial events e.g gun salutes on the King’s birthday, are taking place in the Castle. Please check the Castle website for dates of Ceremonial events before your visit.

The Memorial is also closed at Christmas and when commemoration services are being held.

If you wish to visit the Castle as well as the Memorial, you must pay an admission charge. The best price for entry to the castle is online.

Visitors are respectfully asked to remember that this is a Shrine to those who gave their lives in the service of their country. Please respect the privacy of those paying homage by refraining from photography of any kind and maintaining a respectful silence.

The Scottish National War Memorial is a charitable trust and donations towards the upkeep of the Memorial are always welcome. Donation boxes and a "Goodbox" (accepting card donations) are to be found in the Memorial Hall and Porch.

Our Instagram posts

On Saturday evening the Chief Executive was honoured to attend the inaugural Scottish Festival of Remembrance at the Usher Hall. It was a superb evening paying tribute to our Armed Forces, past and present, and our civilian services too. #lestweforget #legionscotland #poppyscotlandMrs Penny Loudon, Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Scottish National War Memorial, laid our wreath yesterday at the National Remembrance service in Edinburgh#lestweforgetFor the Fallen By Laurence Binyon With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, England mourns for her dead across the sea. Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, Fallen in the cause of the free. Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres, There is music in the midst of desolation And a glory that shines upon our tears. They went with songs to the battle, they were young, Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted; They fell with their faces to the foe. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; They sit no more at familiar tables of home; They have no lot in our labour of the day-time; They sleep beyond England's foam. But where our desires are and our hopes profound, Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight, To the innermost heart of their own land they are known As the stars are known to the Night; As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain; As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, To the end, to the end, they remain.One of our most precious recent donations to the Memorial is this letter from the battlefields of WWI. It was written to the mother of Pte George Fairholm Forbes, who was killed in action in France. It reads: Please note the Memorial will open at the later time of 1130am on Sunday 1st November. This is due to a private event. Thank youPlease note the Memorial will open at the later time of 11am on Saturday 24th October. This is due to a private event.Thank youWhy do we remember? Next week on Thursday 29th October we are hosting a special event to launch our new free resource aimed at schools and young people. Timed to coincide with the approach to Remembrance Sunday we invite you to come along for an informative and thought-provoking evening at Moray House School of Education at The University of Edinburgh. Tickets to this free event can be booked here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/why-do-we-remember-scottish-national-war-memorial-resource-launch-tickets-2002197863708?aff=oddtdtcreator We are grateful to acknowledge the help of the @edinburghtattoo and The MacRobert Trust in financially supporting this project.An absolute pleasure to welcome the HMS Spartan Association to the Memorial today for their annual service of Remembrance 🫡On Merchant Navy Day we are sharing some of the Merchant Navy images within the Memorial. The merchant fleet sustained huge losses in both World Wars. #LestWeForget #MerchantNavyDay2026Welcome to our new followers! We're delighted to have you here. Follow along for updates and info about our beautiful memorial. Here is the stunning depiction of Please note the Memorial will be temporarily closed on the below dates: Sunday 6th September - late opening at 10am Monday 7th September - early closure at 4pm Tuesday 8th September - late opening at 11am Thursday 10th September - early closure at 4pmWe were honoured to be guests at this year's @edinburghtattoo this week. It was a fantastic performance! The Scottish National War Memorial is one of the military charities financially supported by the Tattoo, and we much appreciate their generosity.We are very excited to announce our forthcoming exhibition in conjunction with the National War Museum! The exhibition will be entitled The 98th Annual Service of Commemoration was held at the Memorial today, marking the anniversary of its opening. We were delighted to be joined by many guests including three of our Heralds. In a difficult week for our Armed Forces, our service personnel past and present were very much in our thoughts. #lestweforgetThe Memorial will be temporarily closed on the morning of Friday 5th June for a private service. It will reopen at approximately 1300.An excellent opportunity to see some great live music for free, and raise funds for military charities.They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember themThe Chief Executive and the Keeper of the Rolls laid the wreath on behalf of The Scottish National War Memorial at today's National Service in Edinburgh Image credit Mark OwensIn Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.
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