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Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Fortress on Castle Rock above the city, home to the Honours of Scotland, the Scottish National War Memorial and the One O'Clock Gun.
A mini guide to
Old Town & Royal Mile: things to do
Places worth your time in Old Town & Royal Mile
Top places
Things to do in Old Town & Royal Mile
Landmarks, museums, parks and viewpoints in and around the area.
Cathedral
St Giles' Cathedral
The High Kirk of Edinburgh, a medieval church on the Royal Mile with a crown-shaped spire and the Thistle Chapel.
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Attraction
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions
Victorian camera obscura beside the Castle, with a rooftop terrace and floors of optical illusions and interactive exhibits.
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Attraction
The Scotch Whisky Experience
Visitor attraction at the Castle end of the Royal Mile, with a barrel ride and tours about how Scotch whisky is made.
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Underground tour
The Real Mary King's Close
Guided tours of preserved historic closes beneath the Royal Mile.
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Museum
Writers' Museum
Museum in Lady Stair's House about the lives and work of Robert Burns, Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.
Historic house
Gladstone's Land
Surviving 17th-century tenement on the Lawnmarket, restored and cared for by the National Trust for Scotland.
Museum
Museum on the Mound
Museum inside the Bank of Scotland's headquarters, telling the story of money and banking.
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Museum
Museum of Childhood
Museum of toys, games and dolls on the High Street.
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Arts centre
Scottish Storytelling Centre
Centre for Scottish storytelling beside John Knox House, with a theatre, exhibitions and events.
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Historic house
John Knox House
Late medieval house on the High Street, linked to the Protestant reformer John Knox and now a museum.
Attraction
The Edinburgh Dungeon
Actor-led attraction on Market Street staging stories from the dark side of Scottish history.
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Landmark
Mercat Cross
The historic market cross beside St Giles', a traditional place for public proclamations.
Gallery
Fruitmarket
Contemporary art gallery near Waverley station, with a bookshop and café.
Gallery
City Art Centre
Council-run gallery on Market Street, showing the city's art collection and temporary exhibitions.
Museum
St Cecilia's Hall
Eighteenth-century concert hall and museum of musical instruments, run by the University of Edinburgh.
Edinburgh
More areas to explore
15 sights · 30 places to eat
New Town
Georgian squares, grand galleries and Princes Street Gardens
Open the mini guide →
16 sights · 23 places to eat
Holyrood, Arthur's Seat & Calton Hill
A royal palace, a Parliament and two hills with city views
Open the mini guide →
14 sights · 23 places to eat
Stockbridge & Dean Village
A riverside village, a botanic garden and Edinburgh's best-loved suburb
Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Old Town & Royal Mile (area photo): Anthony O'Neil, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Edinburgh Castle: Stephencdickson, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- St Giles' Cathedral: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Camera Obscura & World of Illusions: Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- The Scotch Whisky Experience: Jorge Franganillo, CC BY 2.0, source
- The Real Mary King's Close: Mario RM from Madrid, Spain, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Writers' Museum: Stefan Schäfer, Lich, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Gladstone's Land: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, CC BY 2.0, source
- Museum on the Mound: Pjt56, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Museum of Childhood: Stefan Schäfer, Lich, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Scottish Storytelling Centre: Brian McNeil, CC BY 3.0, source
- John Knox House: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, CC BY 2.0, source
- The Edinburgh Dungeon: Shadowgate from Novara, ITALY, CC BY 2.0, source
- Mercat Cross: User:Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Fruitmarket: Stefan Schäfer, Lich, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- City Art Centre: Victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- St Cecilia's Hall: Jim Barton, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- New Town: Chris Morgan, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Holyrood, Arthur's Seat & Calton Hill: Peulle, CC BY 4.0, source
- Stockbridge & Dean Village: Mike Shaw, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Leith & the Waterfront: Alan Murray-Rust, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Grassmarket & Southside: rboed*, CC BY 2.0, source
- Haymarket & Murrayfield: Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Bruntsfield & Morningside: Macumba, Public domain, source
- Portobello & the Coast: M J Richardson, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
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