Royal Mile
The main street of the Old Town, linking Edinburgh Castle with Holyrood Palace. It runs about one mile and is lined with churches, narrow lanes and Scottish specialty shops.
The Royal Mile is made up of four sections: Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate, plus Abbey Strand, and it is about 1.8 kilometres long. It forms the spine of Edinburgh's Old Town. Highlights along the way include the Scotch whisky experience, Parliament Square centred on St Giles' Cathedral (the wood carvings in the Thistle Chapel inside the cathedral are exquisite, and entry is free with donations welcome), the underground vaults tour of Mary King's Close, the John Knox House, the Museum of Childhood and the Scottish Parliament Building. On both sides of the main street there are over a hundred narrow alleys called 'closes' or 'wynds', and going into them often reveals unexpected courtyards and viewpoints. On the south side, Victoria Street is colourful and curves steeply downhill. It is thought to be one of the inspirations for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter. At the bottom of the slope is the bar area of the Grassmarket. During the August Fringe Festival, the entire length of the High Street becomes an open-air stage. It is recommended to walk downhill from the castle, browsing as you go, for about 2–3 hours. Tartan, cashmere and whisky shops are everywhere, so compare prices before buying.
Opening hours
Open all day (sights and shops along the route approx. 10:00–18:00)
Nearby sights
- The Real Mary King's Close
- St Giles' Cathedral
- National Museum of Scotland
- Calton Hill
- Greyfriars Kirkyard & Greyfriars Bobby
- Scott Monument
- The Writers' Museum
- Scottish National Gallery