Usher Hall in Edinburgh

Usher Hall has a 5-star rating and is one of the finest concert halls in all of Europe, whether you're judging based on performances, acoustics or aesthetics. It's the only 5-star concert hall in all of Scotland, and it's the premier destination for popular touring artists covering a variety of genres, including rock, indie and pop. Additionally, you'll find stand-up comedy performances here along with special lectures and conferences.

This venue is home to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, so you can see numerous classical music performances. They're not the only orchestra who plays here, as both visiting national and international orchestras also hold concerts in the venue. When you visit, you can be sure you're in for a treat with world-class performances and stunning music being a regular occurrence no matter what time of year you visit this historic hall.

Usher Hall in Edinburgh - one of the highlights of 10 Best Theatres in Edinburgh (Read all about Edinburgh here)

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Usher Hall highlights

The most iconic feature of this concert hall is the main stage and seating. You'll find plenty of room to enjoy a show with a total of 2,200 seats for attendees.The grand organ is a focal point of the venue from both a visual and a musical perspective. While it's not used in every performance, the organ has evoked powerful sounds and reactions ever since its 2003 restoration.

In addition to the performances held here, you can also embark on a tour of the building itself. The Concert Hall has historical significance, being more than a century old and holding Category A listed building status. On this tour, you'll find quite a few pieces of stunning artwork on loan from the City Art Centre's nationally Recognised collection. These pieces include paintings by Sir William Gillies and Victoria Crowe, among others.

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Usher Hall history

Usher Hall began as a dream of one Andrew Usher, a local whisky distiller who longed for a magnificent concert hall in Edinburgh. He donated £100,000 to fund the construction and, after years of bidding and hard work, it finally opened in 1914. It was stunning for its time – and still is today – because of the reinforced concrete construction that allowed for curved walls with heightened acoustics.

Throughout the decades, this concert hall hosted a range of incredible performances and events, including the Vienna Philharmonic in 1947 and the Eurovision Song Contest in 1972. Despite its use, upkeep was lacking, as shown when a piece of plaster fell from the roof in 1996. In response, Usher Hall underwent extensive renovations that began more than a decade later, in 2007. It reopened in 2009 and continues to wow audiences.

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Good to know when visiting Usher Hall

When you're looking to see a show at Usher Hall, you'll want to be safe by booking tickets in advance. Each event listed on their site has a convenient button you can use to buy tickets, and you'll be able to choose your seats when you purchase. You'll have several different sections to choose from, with the stalls being the best for live music and the upper circle having stunning sound quality for classical performances.

If you're looking for a bite to eat, you won't have to go far from Usher Hall. Refreshments and snacks are available within the concert hall, and are offered an hour before events in the main auditorium begin. Also, you'll find several bars and restaurants within walking distance of the venue, with options ranging from fine dining to street food.

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Location: Lothian Rd, Edinburgh EH1 2EA, UK

Phone: +44 (0)1312 281155

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