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Heritage Trail

Heriot-Watt Heritage Trail, Edinburgh Old Town

Today, Heriot-Watt University is a vibrant forward looking university at the forefront of innovation in research and teaching. But if you delve into our history, you will discover that our international reputation as one of the leading UK universities can be traced back almost 200 years.

Use our Heritage Trail Map below to guide you on a fabulous historical walk around the Old Town of Edinburgh and discover buildings of interest to Heriot-Watt alumni, students and our wider community.

On this trail, you will find out more about our origins in a room in Edinburgh's Old Town and our journey to become Scotland's most international university. Find out more about Heriot-Watt's heritage and links in the centre of Edinburgh with the likes of Watt, Geddes, Mears, Spence and Spark. Download a PDF version of our Heritage Trail Route Map.

Heritage Trail Map

  1. Adam Smith's Panmure House: Reopened in 2018
  2. Cannongate Flats: Basil Spence (taught at Heriot-Watt College 1931-40
  3. Bakehouse Close: Museum of Edinburgh - Restoration by F.C. Mears 1927-32
  4. St. Cecilia Hall: Niddry Street - site of Heriot-Watt College's first lecture in 1821 and classes from 1821 to 1837, when the institution moved to Adam Square.
  5. National Museum Scotland: The Boulton and Watt engine is one of the worlds oldest surviving beam engines in the world.
  6. Chambers Street: Watt Institution 1872, became Heriot-Watt College 1888
  7. 16a Bruntsfield Place (off map): Muriel Spark, an alumna of Heriot-Watt College, lived here in 1945.
  8. Lawnmarket: Patrick Geddes lived at 6 James Court from 1887 (taught at Heriot-Watt College 1886-1890).
  9. Patrick Geddes Centre: The Patrick Geddes Centre at Riddle's Court.
  10. Outlook Tower: Patrick Geddes' sociological museum. The view from the north terrace includes Heriot-Watt University's sports and performance centre, Oriam and places our current campus in Patrick/Geddes/Frank Mear's Valley Section.
  11. Patrick Geddes Steps: 3 Doves: Sympathy, Synergy, Synthesis.
  12. Grassmarket: Old Castle Brewery (now Apex Hotel), Heriot- Watt's Student Union.