Edinburgh Tool Library - Meadowbank Hub
ENTRY
Free
WHERE
Edinburgh
What it’s like
Borrow proper tools, get stuck into a repair café or bag a woodworking bench, all on a library membership rather than a big spend.
This isn't really a "bring the kids for an afternoon out" spot in the usual sense, it's a tool library, but if you've got an older child who likes taking things apart or fixing them, it's an interesting one to know about. The inventory runs to over 3,000 tools, there are classes and workshops on offer, and the monthly Repair Café is the bit that suits a curious kid best, sitting alongside adults mending toasters and lamps instead of binning them.
Meadowbank Hub is open Fridays and Mondays, 3pm till 7pm, and there's also a Cycle Kitchen there if bikes are more your family's thing. You don't need to reserve anything, you can just turn up in that window and see what's available on the shelf, though reserving ahead does mean a smoother collection if you know exactly what you're after. Borrowing works on a membership: £40 standard for the year, £10 if you're on a concession, and there's a Pay It Forward option too if you fancy covering someone else's.
Fancy woodwork over repair? You can book a bench at the Leith Community Workshop for three hours, £10 standard or £3 concession, which is a proper hands-on session rather than a browse. Worth knowing that popular tools like Makita kit, battery gardening tools and carpet cleaners only go out for the weekend when they're in demand, so don't bank on a longer loan if everyone else wants the same thing.
There's no dedicated parking at any of the hubs, just limited on-street spaces nearby, so factor in a short walk if you're driving over with a car full of kids and a return pile of tools.
Facilities
Need to know
- Booking
- Reservations optional. Walk-ins welcome during opening hours
- Parking
- No dedicated parking. Limited on-street parking available
- Popular tools like Makita kit and carpet cleaners only go out for the weekend, not longer.
- There's a Cycle Kitchen at Meadowbank Hub if bikes are more the interest than tools.
- A Pay It Forward membership option exists if you want to fund someone else's access.
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Membership is £40 a year standard, or £10 concession, and that's what lets you borrow tools. Booking a bench at Leith Community Workshop is separate, £10 standard or £3 concession for three hours.
Do we need to book ahead?
No, you can pop by during opening hours and borrow whatever's available on the spot. Reserving just means you know what you're coming for and get a smoother collection.
What are the opening hours?
Meadowbank Hub is open Fridays and Mondays, 3pm to 7pm. Most people collect on Thursday or Friday and return on Monday.
Is there parking?
There's no dedicated parking at the hub, just limited on-street spaces in the area. Park responsibly, as they put it.
Can kids get involved in the repair café?
It's a monthly event where people bring items in to fix rather than throw away, and it's a good one for a kid who likes seeing how things work.
Does membership run out?
It lasts a year and doesn't auto-renew by default. You'll get emails before it expires and can renew online.
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