Historic Mavisbank House Opens for Rare Public Tours This September

Mavisbank House, between Loanhead and Lasswade, will welcome the public free of charge on Saturday 12 September and Sunday 13 September 2026 as part of Midlothian Doors Open Days. The opening offers visitors interested in local history, architecture and the building’s future a rare opportunity to learn more about the site while plans for its restoration move forward.

The Category A listed house is one of 16 venues taking part in the Midlothian programme. No event times are listed in the available information, so visitors should consult the official programme before travelling.

Visit Mavisbank House during the heritage weekend

• Dates: Saturday 12 September and Sunday 13 September 2026
• Venue: Mavisbank House, between Loanhead and Lasswade
• Entry: Free
• Programme: Midlothian Doors Open Days, alongside 15 other venues
• Booking: Information is available through Midlothian Council’s website
• Who it is for: Members of the public interested in the house, its history and its proposed restoration

Mavisbank House was designed by Sir John Clerk in 1722–23. It is recognised as one of Scotland’s earliest neo-classical houses and as the country’s first Palladian villa, making the open weekend an opportunity to see a nationally significant building that is not routinely open for this kind of public access.

Why the opening coincides with restoration plans

The weekend comes as Midlothian Council has formally begun legal proceedings to use compulsory purchase powers to help secure ownership of the building. The intended outcome is to enable restoration by The Landmark Trust, a charity that rescues historic buildings at risk.

The compulsory purchase process is not itself complete. However, the council has signed a legal agreement to support it at no cost to the council, with guarantees intended to ensure that ownership transfers directly to The Landmark Trust following any completed process. That distinction matters for visitors: the event provides information about a restoration project that is advancing, rather than access to a completed restoration.

Funding for the proposed work is already in place. In May 2024, The Landmark Trust secured £5.3 million from the National Heritage Memorial Fund to restore Mavisbank House. The building was severely damaged by fire in 1973 and has remained in a fragile condition, while the surrounding designed landscape is owned and protected by Historic Environment Scotland.

The Mavisbank Trust has campaigned to restore the house and grounds for 25 years. During the Doors Open Days weekend, visitors will be able to place that long-running effort alongside the current plans for the building’s future.

Check the programme before attending

Midlothian Council is the source of the event and restoration information. The available listing confirms the dates, location and free entry, but does not provide opening times, transport arrangements or accessibility details. Booking and any entry requirements should therefore be checked through the Midlothian Council website and the Midlothian Doors Open Days programme before visiting.

Source: Midlothian Council