HOLYROOD REACHES 250,000 VISITORS

019/2005 | 30 March 2004

Visitor figures at the new Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood have gone through the 250,000 barrier.

Since opening to the public on 7 September 2004, more than a quarter of a million members of the public have flocked to Holyrood to watch debates, give evidence at Committees, take formally guided tours or simply to see Scotland’s new Parliament building for themselves.

Presiding Officer, Rt Hon George Reid MSP said:

"Holyrood was always intended to be accessible and welcoming for the public, and they have come in great numbers from across Scotland and beyond. The architectural critics have sung their praises for the building, but reaching the quarter million visitor mark shows that the public are voting with their feet."

The landmark figure of 250,051 visitors was reached at 4.30pm on Tuesday 29 March, the same day that the Parliament’s Easter recess Open House events got underway (Tuesday 29 March to Friday 8 April).

The two-week programme of free activities includes discussion groups, poetry readings, tours and workshops, and is open to visitors of all ages.

The first of its kind to be held at Holyrood, Open House includes more than 20 individual events for Scotland’s communities and members of the public to examine what goes on in the Parliament, and to meet some of the people who make it happen.

From poetry to petitions, and web-streaming to storytelling, the varied programme has something to appeal to all visitors to the Parliament, from school children to followers of politics.

Did you know?

• All visitors to the Parliament can freely access the public areas, view an exhibition about the Parliament and make use of the shop, public café, crèche and Visitor Information Desk.
• On business days, members of the public can book free tickets to see Parliament in action in its committees or in meetings of the full Parliament. This is a very popular option and booking in advance is recommended.
• On non-business days, the Chamber’s public galleries and Committee Room are open for visitors to see these remarkable spaces, with staff available to answer questions.
• Guided tours of the Parliament are available and last for 45 minutes. They provide a detailed commentary on the building itself, from its design, to its artwork, to the history and the establishment of the Scottish Parliament. The tours cost £3.50 for adults, £1.75 for concessions and there is no charge for children under the age of five or support workers/carers accompanying a disabled person.
• Members of the general public can leave their children for up to three hours in the Parliament’s crèche while they visit the Parliament. The only parliamentary facility of its kind in Europe, the Crèche caters for children aged between six weeks and five years old. With a mixture of six full time and part-time qualified staff, the facility can cater for up to ten children at a time.
• The Parliament has an extensive Education programme for schools, with the incoming education visits programme now fully booked until the end of June 2005. Nearly 9,000 young people will take part in almost 300 group sessions. Bookings for the 2005–6 session will start to be taken in the summer term 2005.
• Holyrood recently won its first architectural award. The Edinburgh Architectural Association presented architects EMBT/RMJM with the Association's Centenary Medal, the highest accolade that the association can give to any project.

Background

According to market research commissioned by the Parliament, the projected visitor numbers for the first three years are as follows:

• 780,000 visitors expected in 2004 – 05
• 767,000 visitors expected in 2005 – 06
• 759,000 visitors expected in 2006 – 07

For more information on the tours, please see: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-04/pa04-066.htm

More information on visiting Holyrood is available on the Scottish Parliament website at the following address:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/visitingHolyrood/index.htm

The contact for members of the media is:

Sally Coyne: 0131 348 6265
Text Relay calls welcome
E-mail: sally.coyne@scottish.parliament.uk

For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 348 5000 or 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)
Text phone: 0131 348 3415 Text Relay calls welcome
email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk

Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk