Doors Open Day

Doors Open Days - Get into buildings!

Each September, Heriot-Watt University and the British Geological Survey take part in Edinburgh Doors Open Day, opening up the doors to the Lyell Centre, Oriam, the Heriot-Watt Museum and the Institute of Civil Engineering Museum.  Over the past two years, we welcomed people to explore the breadth of our global campuses through virtual tours and short talks about our research.

Discovery trails 

The Heriot-Watt Edinburgh campus spans 380 acres and is a beautiful place to walk amongst the trees, but have you ever wondered what goes on across the many research buildings?  

The Discovery Trail will take you all over our campus, allowing you to explore the ongoing research across our faculty buildings. As well as learning more about the research taking place, the Trail will also offer fun facts and activities for the whole family. You'll be able to see inside some of our labs with help from video tours, hear more from our academics, as well as learning about some of the buildings' namesakes and the research that has happened over Heriot-Watt's 200-year history!   Downloadable activities for families are available at each post, from origami whales to brain training! Check the trails out on our campus trails webpage.

Our research

We have researchers that explore everything from marine life to urban cities, from micro to macro scale, local to global. Our research activities and collaborations are constantly expanding to support transformations across both society and economy.  If you've only got a minute, dip into our research bites for a taster of how we're changing lives.

Lyell Centre

One of Europe’s leading centres in Earth, marine and ecosystem sciences, the Lyell Centre enhances Scotland’s research base and supports its innovation strategy through socially and industrially relevant research.

Our research combines with innovative technology to find solutions to the global challenges facing our planet from the deep sub-surface of the earth to the polar regions.

Here you can find out more about research at the Lyell Centre.

Institution of Civil Engineers museum

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Scotland Branch houses some 300 items, many of which have Edinburgh connections. The museum has a unique collection of items from all three bridges over the Forth (some recently acquired), a fine selection of surveying instruments, early 19th Century plate rails and much more. Check out the virtual tour on the ICE webpage.

Heriot-Watt University museum and archive

Located at our Edinburgh campus on the ground floor of the Cameron Smail Library, our museum tells the inspiring story of the University's development from its origins in Edinburgh's Old Town to Scotland's International University. It also reveals how our commitment to sustainability and the stewardship of our beautiful grounds is rooted in a rich heritage of campus and community life stretching back over 800 years to the turbulent times of Robert the Bruce.

You can find out more about our heritage, and the history of the Gibson-Craig Estate on our museum webpages. Check out our specialist facilities, as well as our residential, leisure and green spaces.

For information about upcoming opportunities to engage with Heriot-Watt research, check out the HW Engage Facebook page.

Key information

HW Engage