What to do · Edinburgh
The Royal Mile, from the castle to Holyrood along the Old Town's high street
Information
- Price
- Free · St Giles' £12 for non-residents of Scotland aged 16 and over
- Duration
- 2 h
- Distance
- 1.6 km
- Season
- All year round
- Who it's for
- All ages; downhill if you start at the castle
- With a dog
- On a lead; it's a public street, but only assistance dogs are allowed in the cathedral
The street, section by section
The Royal Mile links the castle with the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It is just over 1.6 km long and slopes downhill all the way, so start at the top. It isn't a single street: it changes name five times, and each section has its own character.
- Castlehill. Just below the castle esplanade. Here you'll find the Camera Obscura and the Scotch Whisky Experience. It's the stretch with the most tartan shops and the biggest crowds.
- Lawnmarket. The upper part of the High Street. Gladstone's Land is a merchant's house on several floors that gives you an idea of how people lived vertically in the Old Town.
- High Street. The heart of it all: Parliament Square, St Giles' Cathedral, the market cross (Mercat Cross) and, set into the ground, the Heart of Midlothian, a heart of cobbles marking where the entrance to the old prison stood. Spitting on it is a local custom; don't stand on top of it. Further down, John Knox House and World's End Close, which marked the edge of the walled city.
- Canongate. It was a separate burgh until the 19th century. It's quieter, with the Canongate Kirk and its graveyard, and it ends opposite the Scottish Parliament, a modern building that clashes with everything before it.
The closes, the other walk
On both sides run the closes: narrow, steep alleys between the old tenement blocks, leading down towards Princes Street to the north or towards the Cowgate to the south. Many are named after a resident or a trade. Peer into several: some end in courtyards, others in steps with views. Beneath one of them lies Mary King's Close, a buried street you can visit with a guide. And to the south, under South Bridge, the underground vaults.
St Giles' Cathedral
Edinburgh's principal church, with its crown-shaped spire, stands right on the High Street. Until this autumn you went in for a donation; since 5 October 2026 it charges £12 to visitors aged 16 or over who don't live in Scotland. Under-16s go in free. The ticket includes the staff-led guided tours, the Thistle Chapel with its carved stalls, and a 25-minute audio guide you listen to on your phone via a QR code. You can buy it online or at the cathedral itself.
Opening hours: Monday to Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 to 18:00; Thursday until 17:00; Saturday from 9:00 to 17:00, with a quiet hour, without noise, from 9:00 to 10:00; Sunday from 13:00 to 17:00, after the morning services. Wheelchair access is through the west door, but the Thistle Chapel isn't accessible and there is no accessible toilet for now.
Tips
- Go early or as evening falls From 11:00 to 17:00 in summer the street is packed. First thing in the morning you have it to yourself and can see the closes without people.
- Walk down, not up Start at the castle and finish at Holyrood. On the way back, a bus or a taxi along the lower streets saves you the climb.
- Look up and to the sides The interesting things are in the close signs and on the façades, not in the shop windows.
- In August, a different street During the Fringe, the High Street fills with street performers and stages. It's a different experience, and a much slower one.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to walk the Royal Mile?
Walking without stopping, about twenty minutes. With stops at St Giles' and in the closes, allow two hours. With the castle and the palace, the whole day.
How much does it cost to go into St Giles'?
£12 since 5 October 2026 for visitors aged 16 or over who aren't resident in Scotland. Under-16s and residents of Scotland don't pay.
What are the closes?
Narrow alleys leading off the main street between the old buildings. They are public and you can walk them freely, except those with a gate.
Can you do it with a pushchair?
Yes, the street is wide and cobbled. Many closes, on the other hand, have steps.
As a familyWith teenagersWith a dogWith friends
