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Square
Grassmarket
Historic market square below the Castle rock, once the site of public executions and now lined with pubs, restaurants and shops.
A mini guide to
Grassmarket & Southside
A market square under the Castle, Greyfriars and the city's main museum
Photos
1 / 10Welcome to the area
A market square under the Castle, Greyfriars and the city's main museum
The Grassmarket is a long market square beneath the Castle rock, once a place of public executions and now lined with pubs, restaurants and independent shops. Curving Victoria Street climbs from it to George IV Bridge.
South of the Old Town, the Southside takes in Greyfriars Kirkyard, the National Museum of Scotland, the University's historic buildings and the Meadows. It is a good area for museums, cafés and student-friendly places to eat.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Street
Victoria Street
Curving, colorful street linking the Grassmarket to George IV Bridge, lined with independent shops and cafés.
Church
Greyfriars Kirk
Church and kirkyard dating from the early 17th century, where the National Covenant was signed in 1638.
Statue
Greyfriars Bobby
Statue of the terrier said to have guarded his owner's grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard.
Museum
National Museum of Scotland
Scotland's national museum, with collections on Scottish history, world cultures, science and the natural world.
Directions Website Report a problem with National Museum of Scotland
Museum
Surgeons' Hall Museums
Museums of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, covering surgery, pathology and the history of medicine.
Directions Website Report a problem with Surgeons' Hall Museums
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Grassmarket & Southside and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Take Victoria Street
Curving Victoria Street links the Grassmarket with George IV Bridge and has a steady run of small shops and cafés.
2
Allow time for the museum
The National Museum of Scotland is large. Pick a few galleries rather than trying to see everything.
3
Mind the cobbles
The Grassmarket and the closes around it are cobbled and steep. Wear comfortable shoes.
4
Walk the Meadows
The Meadows, south of George Square, is a flat, open park that makes an easy break from the Old Town hills.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Explore this guide
Everything for Grassmarket & Southside
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Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Grassmarket & Southside (area photo): rboed*, CC BY 2.0, source
- Grassmarket: Ermell, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Victoria Street: Andrew Abbott, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Greyfriars Kirk: Carlos Delgado, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Greyfriars Bobby: Rock drum, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- National Museum of Scotland: No machine-readable author provided. Maccoinnich~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Surgeons' Hall Museums: Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Old College: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- McEwan Hall: AlasdairW, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Talbot Rice Gallery: Talbot Rice Gallery, CC BY 4.0, source
- Dovecot Studios: Drnoble, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- The Meadows: Benjamin Brock, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- George Heriot's School: Oliver-Bonjoch, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Flodden Wall: Jorge Franganillo, CC BY 2.0, source
- Festival Theatre: Kleinzach, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Bruntsfield Links: Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Summerhall: Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0, 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
- Old Town & Royal Mile: Anthony O'Neil, 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
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
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