The Hub, One Of Edinburgh’s Icons

If there is a must see in Scotland, that is Edinburgh. This historic city has many places to discover and an impressive heritage. And we are going to talk about one of the most outstanding monuments in Edinburgh: it is The Hub, with its Gothic spire tower. Do you want to come with us to meet her?

Everything there is to know about The Hub

It is located on the Royal Mile, the medieval area, and halfway between the castle and the Palace of Holyrood. But the tower of The Hub is seen from all over the city. In fact, it is the tallest building in Edinburgh.

It is an old church, the Highland Tolbooth Kirk. But for a long time no services have been held there. What’s more, its function today has nothing to do with religion. It is the information center for the Edinburgh Festival.

Due to its location and appearance, you might think that it is a construction that is several centuries old. You may imagine that it is a gothic building. Nothing could be further from reality, it has not yet turned two hundred years old.

It was built between 1842 and 1845.  Its objective was to house the administrative headquarters of the Church of Scotland, while serving as an assembly hall for different events. However, this changed when in 1929 there was a reunification of churches in the country and the headquarters was moved to another place

Renowned St John’s Church, some religious events and services were held in the Gaelic language for several years. However, in the 80s it was definitely in disuse.

The Renaissance

At the end of the 90s the new life of this church would begin. A profound remodeling was carried out and in 1999 it would begin to function as the headquarters of the Edinburgh International Festival.

Since then this is a space dedicated to all kinds of cultural manifestations. Conferences, exhibitions and concerts are held here. Even weddings and private events.

That is why entering The Hub can be a real surprise. And it is that its interior has nothing to do with what you can imagine when you see its exterior architecture. Here you will discover modern and colorful offices, event rooms and concerts with avant-garde touches. There is also a bar and restaurant.

The peculiar thing about this building is that before entering you expect everything to keep an architectural harmony but you will be surprised when you find modern colored offices inside as well as rooms with very avant-garde touches.

What else to see in Edinburgh

The Hub must be an indispensable stop in the city. But don’t forget that Edinburgh has many other attractions.  These are the essentials:

• Edinburgh Castle : it is the jewel of the city. It stands at the top of Castle Hill, from where you can get incredible views of the city. To see its interior you will need several hours.
• Royal Mile: it is the most famous street and runs through a large part of the city. From there you can access a mystery of medieval streets where you can get lost and soak up the history of Edinburgh.
• Holyroodhouse: it is an incredible palace, a jewel of baroque architecture. Today it remains the official residence of the Queen of England in Scotland.
• Princess Street Gardens: After draining the North Lake, these gardens were created in 1820. They serve as a separation of the old city and the new city. They have more than 150,000 m² and form the most important urban park in the city.
• National Gallery of Scotland:  in this museum you can see works from the Renaissance to Post-Impressionism by artists such as Titian, Velázquez, Monet or Gauguin.

After seeing it, it is clear that a visit to Edinburgh is well worth it. Begin this one with The Hub, with its Gothic tower and surprising interior, and continue through the places that we have recommended. Depending on the days you can enjoy the city even more.