Scottish Parliament Building

:) surprisingly welcoming, clean, informative and interesting to visit. Free to enter too. Need to pass through security similar to an airport screening to enter. Security staff friendly and helpful with directions and ideas of places to visit. Lockers are available, once you clear security, near the public washrooms, where you can store your backpacks. Lockers require a pound coin or token from the reception desk if you don't have a pound coin to secure the lockers. Coin or token is returned when you finish use of the locker. It is possible to access the viewing gallery to watch parliament business. At the time we made a viewing their was a presentation in the native language of Scotland from the man who made the first complete translation of the bible to native Scottish in 600 years along with other parliament business. Staff and members or parliament were approachable and friendly if you met them in the lobby area. You could also schedule appointments to meet with them at the Parliament building.

Well worth a visit. Entrance and tours free, though in summer you may need to book the tour ahead. What a beautiful building! It feels uplifting to walk through the carefully designed halls and passages, which aim to reflect a value of transparency and openness. Politics may not always live up to that, but it is a good ideal to embody.

A striking symbol of what a modern governmental building can be. It does not look strange and bizarre, even if it does not look ordinary or typical. It's not what one would expect from a governmental building, but it looks quite majestic nonetheless. Glass windows and slabs concrete comprised building, but it does not look like the bleak modernist buildings that have fallen out of. A rustic camera asymmetric arrangement of stones on the outside of the building makes it feel more organic and vital. It feels stately in a way that fits the 21st century and the rebirth of a specifically Scottish national consciousness.

On a weekday when parliament was sitting I took the 10 minute guided tour and then sat in the Public Gallery to hear a speech on the proposals for home insulation, heat pumps & shared heating. Followed by questions. On a weekend I joined a full guided tour, which explores the building and the Debating Chamber. The building is so inspiring, the glazing represents the wish for transparency, the motifs remind users of the history and who they represent. That the new building has not been modified is a reflection of how fit-for-purpose the design is, and yet includes features that make it so unique. The guides are friendly and passionate. I highly recommend a tour, or even just a cup o tea in the café.

The Scottish parliament is a must-see attraction for anyone who are planning to visit Edinburgh and loves politics, history, and culture. I visited there few years back. It is a unique and impressive institution that represents the voice and aspirations of the Scottish people. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to have a memorable and enlightening visit.

I liked our visit here very much! We arrived on a Saturday. You can visit the debate room and the common areas for free and without a reservation. They also offer free tours (45 minutes), which require reservation, and they also offer 10 minutes talks (no reservation is required). There is a Cafe inside with very reasonable prices. Staff is very friendly everywhere.