Bute House and Georgian House

Bute House and the Georgian House, Georgian residences

The Edinburgh audio-guided tour stops you before two of the most famous houses in the city, on Charlotte Square. At number 6, Bute House, with its fine columns and elegant façade, is the official residence of the First Minister of Scotland.

Two houses by Robert Adam

Designed by the famous architect Robert Adam, Bute House was transferred in 1966 by the Marquess of Bute to the National Trust for Scotland, the organisation in charge of preserving and listing the country's historic monuments. To the left, at number 7, is the Georgian House, built in 1796 and also listed. Both testify to the refinement of the Georgian art of living.

What there is to see

The Georgian House can be visited and presents a real time capsule of eighteenth-century aristocratic life, with its period furniture and decor. Bute House, as an official residence, cannot be visited, but its façade can be admired from the square. Together, these two residences embody the elegance of Charlotte Square and the New Town.

Practical information

Bute House and the Georgian House are on Charlotte Square, in the New Town of Edinburgh, at numbers 6 and 7. The Georgian House can be visited according to its own schedule, whose hours may vary; Bute House, an official residence, is contemplated from the square.

Who designed these houses?

Bute House was designed by the famous architect Robert Adam, like the whole of Charlotte Square. The neighbouring Georgian House, built in 1796, belongs to the same Georgian spirit.

Can these residences be visited?

The Georgian House can be visited and presents eighteenth-century aristocratic life. Bute House, the official residence of the First Minister of Scotland, cannot be visited but is contemplated from the square.