Join us for Doors Open Days 2026 on Saturday the 26 September.
Dovecot is housed in the former Infirmary Street Baths which were the first public baths in Edinburgh, built in 1885 by Robert Morham. Facing possible demolition, The Dovecot Foundation funded the restoration of the building with the opening in 2008. The Ladies Baths is used as an event space, while the tapestry studio occupies the former swimming pool.
For Doors Open Days get a unique glimpse into the heart of Dovecot Studios from our Tapestry Studio Viewing Balcony. As the longest-running tapestry studio in the UK, Dovecot continues a legacy of craftsmanship using techniques passed down through generations.
Tapestry weaving is no longer taught in UK further or higher education, so our apprenticeship programme passes on skills and knowledge from Master Weavers, tracing a lineage back to the Studio’s founding weavers in 1912. As the UK’s oldest tapestry studio, Dovecot is keeping this living tradition alive while reimagining it through contemporary artists and new generations of weavers.
Tours of the Tapestry Studio Viewing Balcony will be running throughout the day at 11am, 12:30pm, 2pm and 3:30pm. Tours are free and drop-in.