Scott Monument
A Gothic spire honouring the writer Sir Walter Scott, standing about 61 metres tall, one of the tallest monuments to a writer anywhere in the world.
The Scott Monument was completed in 1846 to commemorate Sir Walter Scott, author of Ivanhoe and the leading figure of Scottish Romantic literature. The spire is 61.1 metres tall and built of local sandstone, which has darkened over the years from soot, giving it a deep black colour. Its elaborate Victorian Gothic design is crowned by a spire, and a marble statue of Scott sits at the base alongside his dog. Niches in the tower hold 64 statues of characters from his novels. Inside, 287 spiral stone steps narrow as you climb, and the final stretch is so tight that you have to squeeze through sideways. From the top viewing platform you can look out over Princes Street, the castle and Calton Hill. Tickets cost about £10 and are bought on site. Visitors with claustrophobia, bad knees or large bags are advised not to climb to the top. The monument stands at the east end of the Princes Street Gardens, beside the Waverley Station exit, and it can be combined with a visit to the gardens and the National Gallery. Even without climbing, photographing it alongside the castle from the gardens makes a striking picture.
Opening hours
Usually 10:00–19:00 (shorter in winter; check official website)
Nearby sights
- The Writers' Museum
- Scottish National Gallery
- The Real Mary King's Close
- St Giles' Cathedral
- Camera Obscura & World of Illusions
- The Scotch Whisky Experience
- Victoria Street & Grassmarket
- Greyfriars Kirkyard & Greyfriars Bobby