Granton Lighthouse

Granton Lighthouse in Edinburgh is a Victorian red-brick building on West Harbour Road, beside Granton Harbour on the Firth of Forth. It looks like a lighthouse from a distance, yet it never guided a ship: it is the former depot of the Northern Lighthouse Board, the body that runs Scotland's lighthouses.

What is Granton Lighthouse, really?

A two-storey warehouse of fifteen bays, it has a low corner tower crowned by a lantern-style cupola. The walls are red brick, with yellow brick at the corners. The Board leased the ground from the Duke of Buccleuch in 1852, and the depot went up in the 1860s. It is a Category C listed building (reference LB29925 with Historic Environment Scotland).

What was it used for?

The Northern Lighthouse Board stored and sent out supplies for lighthouses and buoys here, tested and serviced equipment, and trained its staff. It moved out around 2002. The building is now owned by the City of Edinburgh Council, and parts of it have been let to businesses. Plans have been approved to convert it into a creative hub centred on music, with rehearsal and recording studios, co-working space and a viewing platform in the lantern. Check the current status of the works before you visit.

What else is nearby?

Next door, the cottage at 20 West Harbour Road has its own Category C listing. Around the harbour you will find the Middle Pier and Pilot House (Category A), designed in the 1830s with input from Robert Stevenson and Son, plus two breakwaters carrying small navigation lights. Between 1914 and 1919 the harbour served as a naval base. A waterfront path gives views across the Forth towards Fife.

How do I get there?

Granton sits on Edinburgh's north shore, about 4 km from the city centre. A city bus or taxi from the centre takes roughly a quarter of an hour, and from Leith or Newhaven you can walk or cycle along the coast. The building is best seen from the outside on West Harbour Road; the interior is not generally open to visitors.

When should I go?

The facade and tower can be viewed at any hour. Late afternoon light flatters the brickwork and the water. Wind off the Forth can be sharp, so bring a warm layer even in summer.

Frequently asked questions

Was Granton Lighthouse ever a working lighthouse? No. The lantern on the tower is an architectural feature of the Northern Lighthouse Board depot and never served shipping.

Can I go inside? It is not a ticketed attraction. Access depends on how its conversion is progressing, so ask the City of Edinburgh Council for current details.

Where can I see the real lighthouses at Granton Harbour? Small navigation lights stand on the eastern and western breakwaters and on the Middle Pier. They are best viewed from the quayside.

How long should I allow? About an hour if you combine the building with a stroll around the harbour.