The Royal Mile is the Backbone of Edinburgh's Old Town
Edinburgh's Royal Mile is the impressive thoroughfare which connects Edinburgh Castle at the top of the hill with the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the bottom. There can surely be no other street in the world which affords the visitor such a diverse blend of history, romance, horror and intrigue.
The "street" is actually divided into four sections, known in turn as Castlehill, The Lawnmarket, The High Street and The Canongate. The above photograph is taken from near the top of the Royal Mile, at the junction of The Lawnmarket and Bank Street, looking down towards the Palace (unsighted) and the distant Firth of Forth.
The "street" is actually divided into four sections, known in turn as Castlehill, The Lawnmarket, The High Street and The Canongate. The above photograph is taken from near the top of the Royal Mile, at the junction of The Lawnmarket and Bank Street, looking down towards the Palace (unsighted) and the distant Firth of Forth.
The Royal Mile - Site Contents
What you will see featured on this page
This site is by no means an exhaustive guide to what you will find on Edinburgh's Royal Mile - it is not my intention for it to be such. It is, rather, a suggestion as to what particularly the first time or infrequent visitor to Edinburgh may find of most interest in the locale. I will be updating and developing it on a regular basis to hopefully prevent any of the information from becoming stale, out of date or unreliable.
Click on any of the features listed immediately below to go straight to their specific details or - as I would recommend to particularly the first time visitor - take the time to browse the site in full.
This site was last updated on Sunday 8th November 2009.
Click on any of the features listed immediately below to go straight to their specific details or - as I would recommend to particularly the first time visitor - take the time to browse the site in full.
This site was last updated on Sunday 8th November 2009.
- Edinburgh Castle
- Edinburgh Castle - A Short Musical Slideshow
- St Giles' Cathedral
- A Guide to Getting Around Edinburgh
- Edinburgh City Chambers
- Properties to Let in Edinburgh
- Scotland Today and for Auld Lang Syne
- Parliament Square
- Souvenirs of Scotland
- Museum of Edinburgh
- More Edinburgh Sites on Squidoo
- The Queen's Gallery
- Do you want more information on the City of Edinburgh?
- The Palace of Holyroodhouse
- William Wallace - Braveheart and Guardian of Scotland
- Why not come and see the glories of Edinburgh and its Royal Mile for yourself?
- More Information on The Royal Mile from around the Web
- Want to Know More About Gordon Hamilton, the Author of this Site?
- What did you think?
- A Little Bit of Edinburgh on Hub Pages
- Gordon Hamilton on Hub Pages
Edinburgh Castle
The Home of Scotland's Crown Jewels
Edinburgh Castle is undoubtedly one of Scotland's most famous landmarks. It is built on top of an extinct volcano and offers excellent views across the City of Edinburgh and far beyond. It is home to - among a great many other things - the Scottish Crown Jewels and The Stone of Destiny, upon which ancient Scottish kings were crowned. It is open to the public all year round, every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Edinburgh Castle - A Short Musical Slideshow
Click on the large arrow in the centre of the screen followed by the small one to the bottom left to activate the display.
Edinburgh Castle
A slideshow of the sights in and around Edinburgh Castle
curated content from YouTube
St Giles' Cathedral
The Royal Mile's impressive place of worship
St Giles is the patron saint of Edinburgh. He lived in the 7th century - in France, strangely enough, and not Scotland - but this apparent inconsistency is probably explained by the long standing historical ties between the two countries. St Giles' Cathedral, which is also frequently referred to as The High Kirk of Edinburgh, is approximately 900 years old, parts of the building dating back to the early 12th century. It has some of the best examples of stained glass windows in Scotland, though none remain prior to the 18th century.It is commonly thought of as the Mother Church of Presbyterianism, perhaps partly due to the fact that John Knox himself was once minister here but also for the fact that the Solemn League and Covenant, drawn up in defiance of King Charles' plans to reintroduce espiscopalianism to Scotland, continues to be housed within the Cathedral.
A Guide to Getting Around Edinburgh
Find full details of not only The Royal Mile but lots more!
This handy little guide, which will fit snugly into your pocket, offers both maps and a written guide to the attractions of Edinburgh and their precise locations. Why not order your copy today and save precious hours during your trip that would otherwise be spent trying to find your way around.
Pocket Map and Guide Edinburgh (EYEWITNESS POCKET MAP & GUIDE)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/21/2009) 
Edinburgh City Chambers
The seat of local government on The Royal Mile
The City Chambers, the plans for which were drawn up by the famous architect John Adams in the mid-eighteenth century, have been home to the ruling council since 1811. They include among other sights of interest the city's cenotaph - the memorial to those who perished in the two World Wars - and a magnificent statue of Alexander the Great, mounted on his horse, Bucephalus. Properties to Let in Edinburgh
Advertise for free or find the one which you seek!
Scotland Today and for Auld Lang Syne
A true blog about the real Scotland
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byParliament Square
The historic site of the old Scottish parliament, off The Royal Mile
This was the site of the old Scottish Parliament building, prior to the Act of Union in 1707. It is a great shame that much of the original square was destroyed by fire in 1824, as were many more buildings in the surrounding area, but some of the original structures still remain. Souvenirs of Scotland
So many to choose from!
There are of course an almost infinite number of souvenirs to be purchased, both of Edinburgh and of Scotland as a whole, during any visit. But what if you couldn't carry those that you wanted to take home with you, or simply never got a chance to shop for them? What if you haven't actually managed to arrange your trip just yet?That is where this online store could prove extremely useful! The teddy bear (pictured) is just one example of the huge range of quality merchandise available to buy at this fantastic St Andrew's Cross store at incredible prices. Find everything from t-shirts, to mugs, to BBQ aprons and lots more besides. Click here to go there now and take a look at what is available!
Museum of Edinburgh
A look at the history of Edinburgh and The Royal Mile
This somewhat unimposing building towards the bottom of The Royal Mile - on The Canongate - belies the collection of historical treasures that may be found within. The collar and dish of Greyfriars' Bobby are certainly huge attractions to those familiar with the tale but there are a great many other items of interest to be found here.Admission to the museum is free.
More Edinburgh Sites on Squidoo
Check out what they have to offer
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The Last Drop, Edinburgh
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The Last Drop is a traditional Scottish pub in the centre of Edinburgh's historical Old Town, to be found at 74/78, The Grassmarket, near The Royal Mile. It is a place of wooden beams, a friendly atmosphere, fine ales and quality food. The...
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The Edinburgh Fringe Festival
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The Fringe consumes the City of Edinburgh for three weeks in August every year in a vibrant Festival which is effectively a colourful celebration of the International Arts. Performers come from all over the globe: the famous, the not so famous...and...
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Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags, Edinburgh
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Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags are twin rock formations to the north-east of Edinburgh City Centre, in the grounds of the Royal Holyrood Park. There are numerous walks over and around these geographical features, of varying degrees of length and d...
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The Scott Monument, Edinburgh
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"The Scott Monument. Erected 1840-44 to the memory of Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832.) Born in Edinburgh, lawyer and ardent patriot. He won enduring fame as a romantic poet and the author of the Waverley novels. This monument was designed by George Meik...
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Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh
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Princes Street Gardens, in the very centre of Edinburgh, actually forms part of what used to be the bed of a man made loch, called the Nor Loch. Drainage of the loch began in 1760 with the developing Gardens first being leased by the Crown Estate in...
The Queen's Gallery
The Queen's Gallery exhibits various works of art from The Royal Collection. It is located in what was formerly The Duchess of Gordon's School (1846) and the Holyrood Free Church (1850), immediately outside the gates of Holyroodhouse Palace at the very foot of The Royal Mile. It was opened in 2002 by HM The Queen as part of her Golden Jubilee celebrations within the city of Edinburgh. Do you want more information on the City of Edinburgh?
Try accessing some of these links
- Getting to Know Edinburgh
- Visit Scotland gives you a range of information from travelling around the city to where to stay in it.
- Official Tourist Board - accommodation, attractions and events around Edinburgh.
- Accommodation, attractions and events in Edinburgh - Official Tourist Board
- Edinburgh Guide
- A comprehensive, frequently updated guide to what's on and what's hot in Edinburgh.
- Edinburgh Festivals - City Guide
- Edinburgh Festivals - official online listings for every Edinburgh Festival - Bank of Scotland Children's International Theatre Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Edinburgh Military Tattoo and lots more besides!
- Edinburgh City Guide - overview
- Presenting a rather Gothic cityscape as it spreads out below its ancient Castle, reaching out to the port of Leith, Edinburgh is far from dour. The canny Scots have crafted a capital that is crammed with culture, filled with fun and festivity, veneered with sophistication but reeking of history.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse
Her Majesty the Queen's Official Residence in Scotland - the end of the Royal Mile
It is thought that the Palace of Holyroodhouse dates back as far as 1128, when King David I of Scotland founded the Abbey. Throughout the intervening centuries, much upgrading and development work has been undertaken on the site at the instigation of a succession of Kings, both prior to and following the Union. Mary, Queen of Scots, also spent a significant part of her life here. The roof of the original Abbey collapsed in the 16th century but much of it still stands today. William Wallace - Braveheart and Guardian of Scotland
But how much do you really know about him?
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William Wallace - Braveheart
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Whatever your own particular perspective causes you to think of William Wallace, surely no one can deny that he must have been quite a remarkable man in many ways? It was William Wallace who provided the inspiration and determination for the downtro...
Why not come and see the glories of Edinburgh and its Royal Mile for yourself?
Begin planning your trip right here!
Simply fill in the few required details below and see what fantastic offers are currently available to you.
More Information on The Royal Mile from around the Web
Guides to all you could want to know
- Edinburgh Royal Mile
- All the History, People, Photos and Information. Lists every shop, close and places of interest, places to eat and places to stay in the world's ultimate festival city.
- Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood; The Royal Mile: Scotland
- Edinburgh's Royal Mile... the largest, longest and finest street for Buildings and Number of Inhabitants, not only in Britain, but in the World.. Daniel Defoe, 1723
- Royal Mile - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Royal Mile From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Places to Visit - Edinburgh's Royal Mile
- Illustrated Guide to Places to Visit in Scotland - Edinburgh's Royal Mile
- The Royal Mile - A Guided Walk From The Official Edinburgh Military Tattoo Web Site
- A guided walk along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh from the Edinburgh Military Tattoo
- Edinburgh Old Town - a Tourist Guide to Shops, Restaurants, Pubs, Cafes, Hotels and Tourist Attractions in the Capital of Scotland
- Edinburgh Old Town - a Tourist Guide to Shops, Restaurants, Pubs, Cafes, Hotels and Tourist Attractions in the Capital of Scotland
- The Royal Mile High Street Edinburgh
- Edinburgh's Royal Mile and High Street are often used to represent the same area. Here we have a list of the facinating things to see and do while visiting
- Edinburgh Architecture - The Royal Mile
- Edinburgh, Scotland's capital city, has many interesting buildings all within walking distance of Princes Street and the famous Royal Mile.
Want to Know More About Gordon Hamilton, the Author of this Site?
He writes about a lot more than travel and travel destinations
Below is a link to Gordon hamilton's Home Site on the Web. This is where you will find the details of all the many subjects upon which he writes. The main subjects he has been writing about recently are the actual Business of Writing, Business Advertising and Marketing, Food and Drink, Personal Finance and Travel but he also from time to time touches upon other subjects.-
Gordon Hamilton - Freelance Writer
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Gordon Hamilton has been a Freelance Writer, writing for - and creating - Web 2.0 sites on the Web since April 2007. The first site which he joined was Helium.com, followed by Squidoo in August 2007 and Hub Pages a month later. Those three sites rema...
What did you think?
This is the place where you can let me know...
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Thank you for your visit to this page and your time spent looking through it. I very much hope that you found something that you liked and are now inclined to visit Edinburgh and see more for yourself.
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- DonBroon DonBroon Nov 10, 2009 @ 7:40 am
- Is there a more historically interesting street anywhere in the world than Edinburgh's Royal Mile. If they could get rid of the tatty-tartan shops it would be even better.
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- KimGiancaterino KimGiancaterino Nov 25, 2008 @ 11:07 am
- You create such beautiful travel lenses. Welcome to All Things Travel.
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- Janet Janet Aug 20, 2008 @ 12:26 pm
- Interesting site with good information about Royal Mile - which is fascinating!
People can stay right on the Royal Mile at self caterign apartments through http://www.edinburgh-flats.com/
A Little Bit of Edinburgh on Hub Pages
Short newsbites and more
These links are to smal mini-sites on Hub Pages, which give information upon or tell stories about Edinburgh.
- Cheap Edinburgh Hotels
- Edinburgh, Scotland is a vacation and holiday destination for millions of people each year. In fact, of all the tourist spots in Great Britain, only London can count more annual visitors than Edinburgh. And...
- George Bush and the Edinburgh Festival
- Everyone likes a little bit of humour, don't they?
- The Edinburgh City Pub Spy Guide
- I am The Spy. My identity is a closely guarded secret, guessed at by many, known by none. I champion the cause of the public at large, seeking the best in quality and value on their behalf. My opinions are...
- Squidoo Lens of the Day
- The Last Drop is a pub on The Grassmarket, in Edinburgh's "Old Town." I first built my Squidoo Lens describing it in October of 2007 but I have been visiting the pub since the late 1980's. On 25th August 2008,...
- Mary King's Close
- It may not be immediately apparent to the casual visitor but Edinburgh's historic Royal Mile has an even older warren of streets and chambers running what is now far underground. Sealed off and forgotten...
Gordon Hamilton on Hub Pages
What do I use Hub Pages for?
I regularly use Hub Pages for publishing short news items or human interest stories. Below are links to my ten most recent articles:
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byby Gordon_Hamilton
My name is Gordon Hamilton and I live in the United Kingdom.
I first began visiting Edinburgh as a very young child and have done so on an extremely...
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