Hidden Scotland
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The Stillsautomat photobooth at Stills, a steel booth with a chequered floor and its STILLSAUTOMAT sign.
Edinburgh

Stillsautomat

Scotland's only analogue photobooth, inside Stills on Cockburn Street: four black-and-white frames on a strip, developed while you wait.

Welcome

Just inside the door of Stills, the photography centre on Cockburn Street, stands a tall steel cabinet with a chequered floor and a curtain.

The Stillsautomat is Scotland's only analogue photobooth, the old kind that takes real photographs on real paper.

Sit on the stool, draw the curtain, tap a card on the reader and the booth takes four frames, a few seconds apart. Then the machine develops the pictures inside the cabinet while you wait, and a strip of four black-and-white portraits comes out of the slot. The style of booth goes back to 1925.

The booth helps to raise money for Stills, an arts charity, and it keeps the gallery's hours, from Tuesday to Saturday, eleven until five. There is no booking: just walk in.

Round the cornerStillsA centre for photography on Cockburn Street since 1977.1 min by roadSee itGloved hands hang black and white photographic prints on a darkroom line
Before you go

Walk in, sit down, close the curtain and pay by contactless inside the booth.

It keeps the gallery's hours, Tuesday to Saturday.

Where
Stills, 23 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh EH1 1BP.
Open
Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm.
Paying
Contactless, inside the booth.

Opening hours

Monday
Closed
Tuesday
11am–5pm
Wednesday
11am–5pm
Thursday
11am–5pm
Friday
11am–5pm
Saturday
11am–5pm
Sunday
Closed
Where it is

Inside Stills, halfway down Cockburn Street.

Close byCockburn Street and the galleries below it.
  1. The Fruitmarket GalleryThe Fruitmarket GalleryA free gallery of contemporary art on Market Street.Under a mile1 min by road
  2. City Art CentreCity Art CentreThe city's own gallery of Scottish art, six floors on Market Street.Under a mile1 min by road
  3. Marble café table with iced coffee, latte art and a cameraGordon Street CoffeeUnder a mile1 min by road
  4. The MilkmanThe MilkmanUnder a mile1 min by road
  5. Cockburn StreetCockburn StreetA curving Victorian street of turreted tenements, built in the 1850s.Under a mile2 min by road
Directions
Gloved hands hang black and white photographic prints on a darkroom lineAttractionsStillsA step away
Mimi's shopfront with award chalkboards for Scottish Bakery and Café of the YearCafeMimi's BakehouseA step away
The old sweetshop front of The Milkman on Cockburn Street, CONFECTIONS cut in the stone above.CafeThe MilkmanA step away
CafeBrewhemiaA step away
Sandstone turrets and arched windows rise against an overcast skyAttractionsThe Scotsman StepsA step away
Set table beside a brick fireplace with clock and mirror aboveRestaurantsWhiski Rooms0.2 miles
Turreted stone tenement with crow-stepped gables and a lamppost in Edinburgh's Old TownAttractionsWriters' Museum0.2 miles
Pavement slab inscribed with Robert Garioch's verse "In Embro to the ployAttractionsLady Stair's Close0.2 miles
Turreted stone building with a Makars' Court sign in Edinburgh's Old TownAttractionsWriters’ Museum in Lady Stair’s Close0.2 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near the booth, and when each is next free.

A man walks past Bucken Booths entrance flanked by black lamp postsOld Town Chambers
  • To stay
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from Stills
Check datesA round table and chairs stand before tall curtained windows looking onto stone buildings, a sofa and mounted television to the right.Moment George IV Bridge
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from Stills
Check datesWest End Muse
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from Stills
Check datesA turreted sandstone building with conical spires catches the evening light above rooftops, a large pine tree standing beside it.The Scott Hotel
  • A hotel
  • In Edinburgh
  • A mile from Stills
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in EdinburghAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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