McEwan Hall

McEwan Hall is a circular sandstone building in Edinburgh's Old Town that houses a grand auditorium with a painted dome at its center. The space can seat over one thousand people and includes additional rooms below and around the main hall for different events.

A wealthy merchant named William McEwan funded the construction of this ceremonial hall in 1897, giving the University of Edinburgh its own graduation space. The building opened in 1894 and became a symbol of the university's academic standing.

The main hall displays paintings showing allegorical figures of Science, Art, and Literature painted across the dome. These artworks shape how visitors experience the space and reflect what mattered to the university.

The building sits in the city center and is easily reached on foot, though it sits within a densely built area. Visitors should know it operates mainly as an event space, and access depends on what is happening inside.

The outer walls contain empty niches intended for statues that were never filled after construction began. This unfinished decoration gives the building an unexpected simplicity that hints at what was once imagined.

Location: City of Edinburgh

Location: Edinburgh

Inception: 1897

Architects: Robert Rowand Anderson

GPS coordinates: 55.94532,-3.18968

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:53