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Scottish Borders

Robert Smail’s Printing Works

Oldest working commercial letterpress printers in the UK – a living museum of Victorian history

Planning your visit

National Lottery Open Week

We are taking part in National Lottery Open Week, so the stationery shop will be open 10.30am–5pm and the printworks open for guided tours only at 11am, 1.30pm and 3.15pm on Saturday 9 March, Monday 11 March and Thursday 14 March. There will also be a tour on Friday 15 March at 11am.

Admission is free to anyone who presents a National Lottery Ticket/Scratchcard (any date), but prior booking via our website is strongly advised.

If you have any problems booking, please ring the Smail’s team on 01896 830206.

We will then reopen for the season on Friday 29 March.


One-day workshops in 2024

We will be running new one-day workshops in bookbinding, upcycling, green cleaning and caring for textiles – in addition to our very popular letterpress printing ones.

Check our web page, or our Facebook and Instagram pages, for more details.



Dogs (except assistance dogs) are not permitted at Smail’s.

For more information about planning your visit, please see the drop-down facilities below or our frequently asked questions.

If you’d like to speak to us, we can be contacted by email: smails@nts.org.uk or telephone 01896 830206.

Facilities & access

Unfortunately, our Caseroom is not suitable for wheelchair access.

We regret we do not have a fully accessible public toilet or a drinking water bottle refill point on the visitor route, but please ask our staff who will be happy to help you.

We have an ongoing programme of accessible content development. Detailed accessibility guides for the most visited Trust places are available on our Accessibility pages as well as links to useful resources.

We’d love you to visit the Euan’s Guide website to review the accessibility of Trust places and tell us (and others) what’s good and where we need to do better.

3G/4G coverage

We have a bike rack for 5 bikes in our private courtyard – please ask our staff for directions.

With the exception of the Caseroom on the first floor, all areas of Smail’s are accessible for buggies.

There is a ChargePlace Scotland charging station for electric vehicles at:

3 Hall Street
Innerleithen
EH44 6QT
(by the side of No1 Peebles Road Cafe)

It is about 500m from Robert Smail’s Printing Works.

Visits to Robert Smail’s Printing Works include a guided tour in three sections as well as a hands-on element. In the Office you’ll find out about the generations of the Smail family and see some of our fantastic archive. In the Caseroom you’ll be put to work by the compositor – can you pass the first year of your apprenticeship?! And in the Machine Room you’ll see some of our original presses in action.

A large-print version of the guidebook is available.

There is limited on-street parking in front of the printing works and there is a Pay & Display car park (not NTS) at the other side of the village.

Smail’s has a fantastic gift shop, selling an exclusive range of letterpress stationery produced on the premises, alongside quality and quirky items from across Scotland.

New for 2024!
Our shop has turned back the clock to when it was the Stationers for Robert Smail’s Printing Works. You’ll find a wonderful range of beautiful and useful items hand-made by artisans. We focus on the local, sustainable, meaningful and unusual.
We are continually adding to our range, so please check our Facebook and Instagram pages for the latest arrivals.

With the exception of the Caseroom on the first floor, all areas of Smail’s are accessible for wheelchair users.

Wi-Fi

Opening times

Printing works

Access to the printing works is by guided tours (90 mins) only. Please note that spaces are limited. Pre-booking is advised. | To celebrate National Lottery Open Week, we will be open on Sat 9, Mon 11, Thu 14 and Fri 15 March for guided tours only.

Current period1 Jan–28 Mar, closed 29 Mar–31 Oct; Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat; tours at 11.00, 13.30 and 15.15
Gift shop

To celebrate National Lottery Open Week, the shop will be open on Sat 9, Mon 11, Thu 14 and Fri 15 March, 10.30–17.00

Current period1 Jan–28 Mar, closed 29 Mar–31 Oct; Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat; 10.00–17.00

Entry prices

Printing Works
Adult
£10.00
Family
£30.00
One adult family
£20.00
Concession
£8.00
Child
£5.00
Young Scot
£1.00

Members go free

At all Trust places, admission is free for members.

Join us today