Visit The Mound in Edinburgh | Tour Details & Highlights

About The Mound in Edinburgh

Like a grand bridge built from the earth itself, The Mound serves as one of Edinburgh’s main arteries. It pulses with traffic between Princes Street to New Town and through Old Town’s North Bank Street.                

This remarkable artificial hill creates a natural divide between the tranquil twin spaces of Princes Street Gardens. The East and West gardens unfold like green wings on either side of this historic thoroughfare.

The History

The Mound is built in the middle of a drained loch. According to popular lore, it was formed over decades as residents dumped household waste and rubble from the New Town construction work there. However, a rare archaeological study has provided new insight into the 200-year-old site’s history, confirming only the latter part of this traditional account.       

The new information suggests that The Mound’s formation was carefully managed by the municipality, with designated cart routes for specific materials. Bricks from the 17th and 18th centuries were found, indicating that some rubble came from Old Town demolitions.  

Abandoned Innovation

The steep incline of The Mound made it treacherous in winter, especially after the tramlines were removed. Edinburgh officials introduced a groundbreaking solution to combat slippery winter conditions: an electric heating technology embedded in the road. This technology was the first of its kind in Britain.

The system was installed in the late 1950s and faced its first major test during a heavy snowstorm in 1960. The Mound stayed clear while the rest of the city’s traffic was in chaos. Despite its success, the system was ultimately decommissioned, likely due to extensive operational costs. Today, the technology remains beneath the surface, a forgotten relic of innovation. 

Visiting The Mound with Bright Bus Tours 

Find out more about dropping in on The Mound with the friendly
Bright Bus Tours’ hop on, hop off bus in Edinburgh. Here is what to expect from the journey.

Top Highlights of The Mound

Here are some of the highlights you can bank on seeing.

Located in the Bank of Scotland head office, Museum on the Mound, also styled “MUS£UM ON THE MOUND,” is the banking and money museum of Edinburgh. 

This institution offers a new perspective on currency — extending beyond how we think about finances. The story of money unfolds through art, design, technology, security, trade and crime. Each plays a vital role in the complete story of money and how it forever altered economies, societies and our everyday lives.  

Fun fact: The original bank vault has been decommissioned and no longer holds money or valuables. Instead, it now stores the gift shop inventory — so you can buy the most secure pens in Scotland at the museum!

ONE MILLION Pound Exhibit

The Money Matters display lets you see what most only glimpse in crime films — tightly stacked, cold hard cash. Behind a transparent window, 50,000 £20 notes pile up to an eye-catching £1,000,000. 

The catch? Every note featured is cancelled, so there’s no need to install heavy security. Still, it’s a striking sight. It gives you a real sense of what a million pounds looks like, in terms of volume.      

Child-Friendly & Interactive Attractions

Like many other museums in Scotland, Museum on the Mound boasts interactive activities for children to learn about money through hands-on experiences.  

Interactive exhibits include:

• Safe Cracking: Do you have the stealth to walk through the front entrance of the Bank of Scotland and crack a safe? Probably not. While real bank heists aren’t recommended, this exhibit gives you the trill in a controlled setting. 
• Interactive Maps: Explore Edinburgh’s transformation since the 16th century through digital exhibits that reveal how the metropolis has evolved over the years.
• 1920s Insurance Application: Step back in time and experience firsthand the process of applying for insurance in the 1920s. It comes complete with period-appropriate scenarios and procedures. 
• Memory Boxes: Scents, sounds and objects access stored memories. Borrow one of the museum’s kits to unlock forgotten personal history through sensory triggers.  Themed collections are available for groups or individuals. They spark discussions and work with other resources or independently.

An Autism Friendly Space

The museum is an autism-friendly space. It offers complementary sensory bags on loan designed to help ease stress or provide extra stimulation. These bags are filled with fidget toys, engaging activities, headphones and intriguing objects inspired by its collections.

Family Fridays

Traveling with kids? Don’t miss Family Fridays at the gallery! During term time, dedicated spaces come alive with creativity and promote discovery:

• Bring your little ones in the mornings – While parents enjoy a cuppa, toddlers can enjoy sensory fun with lights, sounds and hands-on art activities.
• Afternoons for big kids – Older children can explore interactive trails among sculptures, get creative with artists and take part in hands-on workshops.

Celebrated artists and architects have led the RSA for nearly two centuries, to protect Scotland’s creative independence. The institution is built on the belief that artistic and architectural creativity is valuable and essential to Scotland’s cultural identity and national heritage. 

Fine art exhibits change throughout the year, ensuring you can keep returning to discover fresh perspectives, emerging talent and timeless masterpieces. The RSA also has an archive and library of the Academy and Scottish art that is open to the public.

Amenities & Accesibility

The area around The Mound in Edinburgh features many accessible facilities to ensure a comfortable day in town.

• Most buildings feature wheelchair-accessible entrances
• Accessible public toilets 
• Dining options: Pubs, restaurants and cafes  

FAQs About Visiting The Mound

What free things can you do on The Mound?

In addition to the Museum on the Mound, the National Gallery of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Academy, The Mound offers these free attractions to explore:

• Climb the News Steps: Located beside the Bank of Scotland head office, these 124 stone steps connect Market Street and St Giles Street. They’re a popular spot for taking pictures, with many love locks adorning the steps. 
• The Writer’s Museum: This delightful free literary museum is just off The Mound. The Writer’s Museum honours a trio of iconic Scottish writers: Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.       

What notable architecture can I see on The Mound? 

Even in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, The Mound’s landmarks hold their own. 

Bank of Scotland Head Office

The Bank of Scotland head office was located in the Old Town before it settled in its current location on The Mound. Designed by Robert Reid and Richard Crichton in the Palladian style, the original building was far from beloved. A notable Scotsman called it “a prominent deformity.”   

The Bank of Scotland’s landmark building took on its commanding presence in the 1860s when architect David Bryce headed an ambitious expansion. His updated design created the façade we see today, adding architectural drama to North Bank Street and Market Street.   

The building also houses the Museum on the Mound, offering free public access to exhibits on financial history, design, technology and even crime. 

The National 

Just off Princes Street sits a complex with one of Scotland’s finest art collections, including illustrations and sculpture. The beauty begins before you enter its grand halls.   

The National Gallery of Scotland and Royal Scottish Academy — both neoclassical Greek revival buildings — were joined into a single complex called The National. Stunning oversized windows take your sights away from paintings and feature views of the lively Calton Hill and the Scott Monument in Princes Street Gardens.  

The Assembly Hall at Edinburgh University’s New College  

With its turrets seen from Princes Street, this neo-gothic building is a dramatic presence on The Mound. In 1989, this is where most Scottish MPs signed a declaration asserting Scotland’s right to its own parliament. A bronze statue of John Knox, leader of the Protestant Reformation, stands in the main courtyard of New College.  

The Assembly Hall now shares the premises with the New College and has hosted many different functions.    

How much time do I need to visit the Museum on the Mound?

The average visitor spends between 45 minutes and an hour at the Museum on the Mound. While this free bank and money museum is small, its exhibitions are packed with fascinating artefacts and interactive exhibits.

The compact nature of the museum makes it perfect for fitting into a busy Edinburgh itinerary. However, economic enthusiasts should allow up to 90 minutes to appreciate all the exhibits fully.

The museum’s central location means you can easily combine your visit with other nearby attractions for a full day of sightseeing in Edinburgh with Bright Bus Tours.