A Parliament for the People

Learn about one of the youngest parliaments in the world.

About the exhibition

Find out about Scotland’s fascinating parliamentary history in our permanent exhibition. There’s no need to book in advance.

Interactive timelines explore Scotland’s parliamentary history from its first recorded meeting in 1235. The exhibit covers Scotland’s political union with England in 1707 and the 1997 referendum that led to a Scottish Parliament with devolved powers.

Discover how people have campaigned for change over the years, in areas such as health and LGBT+ rights. Watch video interviews with campaigners and hear firsthand how changing the law has positively impacted people in Scotland.

In the exhibition, you can see a copy of the 1998 Scotland Act. This Act established the Scottish Parliament.

The exhibition will also introduce you to the work that our committees and MSPs do to make Scotland a better place to live.

There’s content in British Sign Language (BSL) and Gaelic.

More information

For opening times, parking information and more, go to our plan your visit page.

Don't forget to stop at our shop and café during your visit!

Some display information is low so that wheelchair users can easily read it
Videos have subtitles and BSL interpretation
Although there is no seating in the exhibition area, there are portable seats available for visitors to use. These seats are available in the main hall, adjacent to the exhibition

More about accessibility

Please remember that this is a working parliamentary building and, as such, you are expected to behave as set out in this policy. We reserve the right to remove visitors who breach this policy and apply a period of exclusion from our public galleries and parliamentary business.

For all visits, please:

follow all instructions from parliament staff, including any requests to bring ID with you
do not leave your bags and personal belongings unattended
do not smoke in the building
do not eat or drink, except in the restaurants
if given one, wear your visitor lanyard and pass at all times. Return it when asked or when leaving
collect any items retained by security as you leave
note that protests are not allowed inside the building. Banners, flags and political slogans are forbidden

The Parliament’s Standing Orders cover public access to parliamentary business. They allow the Presiding Officer to set reasonable conditions, and exclusions if these are not met.

For visits to see parliamentary business, please:

enter, sit in and leave the galleries quietly and as requested by parliamentary staff
switch all electronic devices off, and secure them as instructed by parliamentary staff
do not cause a distraction or disruption to parliamentary business. If there is a disruption in the Chamber, the Presiding Officer can ask visitors to leave
note that people who wilfully disrupt may face a period of exclusion from future visits
do not applaud or shout out during meetings
do not take photos, videos or recordings during meetings
obtain prior permission to paint, sketch or draw
follow the instructions of parliamentary staff on when and where to sit and to leave. For First Minister’s Questions, this includes remaining seated for the entire session. If you need to leave before the session ends, please speak to the nearest member of Parliament staff

Location

Edinburgh, EH99 1SP

Days and times

Monday, Friday and Saturday (including public holidays) –

10am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm)

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, when parliament is sitting –

9am to 6.30pm (last entry 6pm)

Price

Free