Covenanters’ Prison – Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard

Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard Doors Open Days

On Saturday 26th September we had over 2,000 visitors to the Covenanters Prison, delivered 7 full tours and answered countless questions. Thanks to Liz for being the head organiser, Alison, Ann and Stu for leading tours, Tom, Laura, Sam, Billy, Paul & Lesley for volunteering throughout.

Sunday 27th September was a rather wet day, thankfully the grass stood up well to the number of visitors and will soon dry out and bounce back.

Over the weekend we counted 3,548 people through these gates, many of whom were Edinburgh residents. Lots of them said how pleased they were to have this opportunity to visit a place they had long desired to see.

We delivered 14 full guided tours, answered countless questions about the Kirkyard, inspired dozens of people to join our group and sold well over £500 worth of guidebooks. But the key thing is that 3,548 people enjoyed visiting it, learning about it and now better appreciate the history, artistry and value of this rather magical place.

Greyfriars Kirkyard Edinburgh Covenanters Prison 01

Previous Events

The Covenanters’ Prison Greyfriars Kirkyard Doors Open Days 2026

08/09/202628/09/2026 fogk.web

Saturday September 26th and Sunday September 27th are our annual doors open days at Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh. The Covenanters’ Prison area (which is normally closed to the general public) will be open from 10am to 4pm on these days.

Greyfriars has so much Covenanter history, with many key Covenanter events of the 17th century happening here and many key Covenanter people buried here. The National Covenant was first signed here in 1638, the men who wrote it (Archibald Johnston and Alexander Henderson) are buried here, the Covenanters’ Prison was where 1,200 combatants from the Battle of Bothwell Bridge were held in 1679 and the Martyrs Monument to the men and women who suffered between 1661 and 1688 stands here, in front of the place where many of those executed in Edinburgh are buried. And of course Bluidy Mackenzies tomb is here too.

Come along between 10am and 4pm on the 26th or 27th, the visit is entirely free of charge. We will be available to answer questions about the Kirkyard. Look for us in our green tabards, we love to talk about this place!

More details here.

James Hutton Memorial Greyfriars Kirkyard Edinburgh

Articles, Conservation, People

A Before & After at The Hutton Memorial

25/06/202620/07/2026 Mark Hatton

In time for the James Hutton memorial concert in Greyfriars Kirk on Saturday, the Hutton lair in the Covenanters has had a makeover. The drain was taken out by Edinburgh University, Edinburgh Bereavement Services then made good the wall, we thoroughly weeded the lair and today 2 tons of nice new gravel was put in and levelled out. It now looks fly !