Frequently Asked Questions
Panmure House is a hub of enlightened research, debate and scholarship. At Panmure, we wish to carry on the legacy of Adam Smith and his works and so, we host an array of events and academic programmes that draw upon the cultural relevance of Smith, and his home. Some event themes involve economics, finance, social theory, ethics and the Scottish Enlightenment. The dinners hosted in recent times mirror the life and purpose of the House back to 1790.
We are available to host events that further the mission of the House all year round with the exception of August; during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. If you are interested in using Panmure as a venue, you can read our Terms of Engagement. We encourage you to submit a query if you feel your purposes align.
Whilst not open to the public all year round, we welcome visitors from the general public into the House during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival each August and in September for the annual Doors Open Day.
Due to COVID-19, the forthcoming Doors Open Day will take place virtually at the end of September. Keep an eye out here and you can follow to experience a virtual Panmure. We hope the Edinburgh Fringe Festival will be back in August 2021, so be sure to keep an eye out for ticket releases and further details in Spring 2021.
We are situated just off the Royal Mile and within close proximity to the Scottish Parliament. Our address is Panmure House, 4 Lochend Close, Edinburgh, EH8 8BL. You can access us easily on foot or by public transport.
Located just opposite the Royal Mile Primary School, Lochend Close can be accessed via two openings on the street. This leads you out into a courtyard in which Panmure House is located directly ahead. A comprehensive set of directions can be found here.
Lochend Close is reserved for permit holders only, and is typically heavily monitored all week. You can park nearby at the following:
- There are pay and display spaces located on Calton Road which is situated at the bottom of Lochend Close. These spaces are for a maximum of 4 hours at £4.30 per hour.
- There is a car park within Holyrood Park – next to the Palace. The Team highly recommend this spot for parking as it takes roughly 5-10 minutes to walk up via the Canongate (Royal Mile). This is £1 per hour from Monday – Friday. Please click here for more information.
For the most accurate & up-to-date guidance on coronavirus, please visit your local Governments' website.
STaff
The health and safety of our staff is paramount. In accordance with government regulations, Panmure has been closed since March 2020. Our staff have been working from home and will continue to do so as per the Scottish Government guidelines, to reduce the need to use public transport and to minimize households mixing at this time. Our staff will be fully trained on social distancing to ensure a safe return to work when appropriate.
visitors
Panmure House has no foreseeable public events scheduled. We regret that the Edinburgh Fringe Festival was unable to go ahead in August. However, we are orchestrating some online webinar-style events, such as the Economics @ Panmure research seminars, and the Hutton Series on Climate Change. Keep an eye on the What's On section for more information.
Founder sponsors
We are grateful for the support of our Founder Sponsors and would like to discuss the terms of sponsorship with each Founder with regards to rolling over unused days into 2021. Please reach out to the team to discuss this in greater detail.
DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, THE BELOW ACTIVITIES AND VENUES MAY NOT BE OPEN NOR AVAILABLE. pLEASE ENDEAVOUR TO CHECK YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADVICE AND THE OFFICIAL SITES OF EACH VENUE BEFORE MAKING A JOURNEY.
Canongate Kirk is located beside the House just off the Mile. Here, you can visit Adam Smith’s grave and take a guided tour of the Kirkyard from a local historian. Smith’s grave was visited by 7 Nobel Laureates in 2009 to mark the 250th anniversary of the publication of the Theory of Moral Sentiments.
The Scottish Parliament is also a short walk from the House, where you may arrange a free guided tour or visit the exhibitions. Alternatively, you can take a break in the public café and browse the gift shop. For more information about visiting the Scottish Parliament, click here.
For those who wish to see the city from above, you can take the stairs and walk up Calton Hill. The Hill sits adjacent to Panmure and takes only 5 minutes to climb. At the top you can see full views of the city which are particularly spectacular on a pleasant day! Once you have taken in the panoramic view of Edinburgh, you can make the most of photographic opportunities at the unfinished National Monument and take a wander around the Collective contemporary art gallery. Feeling peckish at the top? The Lookout Café is the one-stop-shop you may be looking for.
Panmure House plays host to events for our Founder Sponsors as well as Heriot-Watt University departments, academics and students so we may not always be able to register you for an event. If in doubt, get in touch and let us know what event you are interested in.
Visit our Get Involved section to interact with the different levels of engagement and activity within the project.
You can also follow us on our social media channels:
Twitter: @AdamSmithHouse
Instagram: @PanmureHouse
Facebook: Adam Smith's Panmure House
LinkedIn: Adam Smith's Panmure House
The House is equipped with internal and external lifts that facilitate easy access in and around the House. There is also a single disabled toilet facility located on the ground floor in the Interpretation Suite area. Our staff are also trained in wheelchair evacuation in the rare event of a fire.
We ask that anyone attending an event at Panmure House who may require use of our external lift would let us know in advance so that we can set-up for your arrival.
For additional information on our facilities, click here.
Absolutely - our payment platform is in its' development stage, so be sure to keep an eye out on our social media channels for the official shop launch! Take a look at our merchandise here to browse our very own custom House of Edgar Adam Smith’s Panmure House tartan and more.
Just a few steps from Panmure House, visitors can visit the grave of Adam Smith in the churchyard of Canongate Kirk.
Walking further up the Canongate, to where it becomes the old High Street of Edinburgh, visitors can experience a street that has changed little since Smith’s lifetime. Opposite St Giles Cathedral is the former Royal Exchange building (now the Edinburgh City Chambers) where Adam Smith worked as Commissioner of Customs for Scotland from 1778.
In the street outside is an impressive statue of Smith, the first major public monument to the philosopher. This was unveiled in 2008 and is the work of the Scottish sculptor Alexander Stoddart. Did you know the statue was funded entirely by private donations?
Further up the High Street, can be seen a statue of Smith’s friend and fellow philosopher, David Hume, by the same sculptor.
Further afield, Kirkcaldy, the town of Smith’s birth, is easily reachable by a regular train service from Edinburgh’s Waverley Station or by car – about an hour’s drive. Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery, just near the railway station, includes a display of Smith material, including the portrait of his mother by Conrad Metz. Other historic buildings in the town date from the period of Smith’s life.
Due to COVID-19, the 2020 Edinburgh Fringe Festival was cancelled. We are optimistic that the 2021 session can proceed, whether it be physically or virtually. We encourage you to visit the official Fringe Box Office for the most updated plans and Fringe activity.
Keep an eye on our Fringe @ Panmure page where tickets will normally become available. When the time comes, we recommend you purchase in advance of your preferred date as our popular shows tend to sell out quickly!
The short form in the Contact Us section goes directly to the Panmure Team who will pick up your query and get back to you promptly.
Subject to requirements, Panmure can be used as a hosting space for events. Venue Use covers almost everything you may need to know before enquiring, however, you are more than welcome to call us for a chat. Just head to the contact form as above and our Programme Assistant will get in touch to arrange a conversation.