As we speak I wish to share my free self-guided Edinburgh Royal Mile stroll with you. The Scottish capital is an attractive place to discover on foot. With its beautiful hilltop citadel, fairly inexperienced areas, bustling procuring streets, and hidden closes, there’s quite a bit to see on a stroll in Edinburgh. My self-guided route and map will present you one of the crucial well-known elements of town.
Self-Guided Edinburgh Royal Mile Stroll
From the awe-inspiring structure of St Giles’ Cathedral to the bucolic surroundings alongside the Water of Leith, Edinburgh is among the most lovely cities within the UK.
Whether or not you want seeing heritage buildings or sweeping views, searching outlets or exploring museums, Edinburgh has one thing for each traveler.
Regardless of when you have 1 day in Edinburgh or 4 days in Edinburgh, you’ll be capable of uncover quite a bit on this a part of Scotland.
I’ve been to town numerous occasions, and every go to has proven me extra of Auld Reekie’s principal points of interest and under-the-radar areas.
However on each go to I discover myself strolling down the Royal Mile, a succession of roads within the Previous City that runs between Edinburgh Citadel and the Palace of Holyrood Home. I hope my stroll helps you get pleasure from exploring this a part of Edinburgh as a lot as I’ve.
If you would like a guided tour, you’ll be able to see good choices on the GetYourGuide web site. I’ve taken many excursions with them over time and I’ve at all times had a superb expertise. From Harry Potter excursions to citadel excursions and Previous City strolling excursions, there’s no scarcity of decisions. You’ll be able to ebook one right here.
If you would like extra concepts, yow will discover a number of extra routes and maps within the ebook Edinburgh’s Hidden Walks. You’ll be able to get it on Amazon right here.
Edinburgh Strolling Tour
My self-guided strolling tour of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh begins on the citadel. It’s centrally positioned, so it’s straightforward to get to from Edinburgh Waverley station, coach and bus stops, and on foot from the Royal Mile and different elements of town.
Edinburgh Citadel
If you wish to, you’ll be able to discover the citadel earlier than you start. You’ll be able to ebook tickets right here. While you’re carried out, begin your Edinburgh Royal Mile stroll by going through away from the citadel and heading straight down Castlehill.
You’ll move The Scotch Whisky Expertise, the Digicam Obscura & World of Illusions, and The Witchery by the Citadel lodge as you make your solution to Tolbooth Kirk and Lawnmarket.
While you get there, flip proper on Higher Bow and comply with it down the hill. Upon reaching the staircase, descend it to get to Victoria Avenue.
Victoria Avenue & Grassmarket
Victoria Avenue is among the prettiest and most colourful streets in Edinburgh. There are many nice outlets and eating places right here. Don’t miss the Harry Potter store if you happen to’re a fan. Should you’re hungry, Oink is a neighborhood favourite.
Spend a while strolling round Victoria Avenue, then proceed right down to the appropriate it because it turns into West Bow and leads you to Grassmarket. Grassmarket Sq. was as soon as an execution website, however at this time it’s a full of life area lined with enjoyable pubs and eating places.
You’ll be able to stroll round a bit and climb the Vennel steps within the southwest nook if you wish to see a well-known view of Edinburgh Citadel.
Both approach, proceed your Edinburgh Royal Mile stroll by heading again in the direction of West Bow and veering proper on Cowgatehead whenever you get there.
Greyfriars Kirkyard
Stroll a brief distance down Cowgatehead, then veer proper once more on Candlemaker Row. In your proper you’ll see an arched entrance to Greyfriars Kirkyard. Undergo it and also you’ll end up in a historic graveyard.
This place is stuffed with headstones with names you may acknowledge from the Harry Potter books. J. Ok. Rowling obtained inspiration for her characters’ names right here (she wrote among the novels in a restaurant close by).
George IV Bridge
Spend as a lot time exploring as you’d prefer to, then exit the churchyard on Greyfriars. Head throughout Candlmaker Row and switch left to get to George IV Bridge. In your proper you’ll see the Nationwide Museum of Scotland.
In your left you’ll see the well-known Greyfriars Bobby Fountain. It commemorates a loyal Nineteenth-century Skye Terrier who supposedly spent 14 years standing by the grave of his proprietor till he himself died in 1872.
After paying homage to the well-known pup, proceed your stroll alongside George IV Bridge. You’ll move by the location of The Elephant Home, the aforementioned cafe the place J. Ok. Rowling wrote the Harry Potter books.
Hold strolling down the street, passing the Nationwide Library of Scotland in your proper as you make your solution to Lawnmarket and the Royal Mile.
The Writers’ Museum
Flip left on Lawnmarket, then proper into the archway resulting in Wardrop’s Courtroom. As soon as via it, you’ll end up in an atmospheric courtyard that’s residence to The Writers’ Museum.
You’ll be able to go to the museum or spend time taking photographs and movies, then exit via Woman Stair’s Near get again to Lawnmarket and the Royal Mile.
Parliament Sq. & St Giles’ Cathedral
Flip left on Lawnmarket, strolling previous the Statue of Walter Scott and the Coronary heart of Midlothian Mosaic earlier than you come to Parliament Sq. and St Giles’ Cathedral in your proper.
You’ll be able to go contained in the cathedral if you wish to (don’t miss the beautiful Thistle Chapel), or proceed strolling down the Royal Mile because the identify adjustments to Excessive Avenue. You’ll move the Mercat Cross and the Adam Smith Statue as you go.
Museums & Closes
You’ll additionally go by The Actual Mary King’s Shut, one in every of my favourite secret locations in Edinburgh. If you wish to get into town’s historical past, it’s price touring. You’ll be able to ebook tickets right here.
No matter you select to do, you’ll be able to peer via the arches of the closes in your left as you head down the Royal Mile. A few of them have nice views of the New City.
You can even take a detour down Cockburn Avenue. This winding Victorian street has nice eating places and cafes alongside it. It’s a enjoyable place to cease for a snack, drink, or meal in your stroll. The Milkman is my favourite spot for a espresso.
Whether or not you are taking the detour or not, proceed strolling down Excessive Avenue, passing the Museum of Childhood and the Scottish Storytelling Centre. Hold straight because the identify of the Royal Mile adjustments to Canongate.
You’ll move by extra cultural establishments like The Individuals’s Story Museum as you go. Should you’re an Outlander fan, you’ll be able to take a detour into Bakehouse Near see a filming location from the well-known TV present. It was the setting for Jamie’s print store in Season 3.
If not, proceed down the street, going by the Museum of Edinburgh and Canongate Kirk. If you wish to, you’ll be able to head via Dunbar’s Near get right into a secret backyard. It’s an attractive inexperienced area, and a pleasant place to take a relaxation in peaceable environment.
Whether or not you go to the backyard or not, proceed your Edinburgh Royal Mile stroll by heading right down to White Horse Shut. This historic avenue on the left aspect of Canongate is residence to a courtyard full of lovely heritage properties and buildings.
Scottish Parliament & Palace of Holyroodhouse
Again out on Canongate, you’ll see the eye-catching Scottish Parliament Constructing in entrance of you and the Sixteenth-century Palace of Holyroodhouse (aka Holyrood Palace) in your left.
The latter is the monarch’s official residence in Scotland, and it’s residence to beautiful royal interiors. It’s price touring when you have time.
Whether or not you go to or not, your self-guided strolling tour of Edinburgh ends right here. There’s tons extra to discover close by, from the well-known Arthur’s Seat to Calton Hill.
Edinburgh Stroll Map & Particulars
Self-Guided Strolling Tour of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh
I hope my self-guided strolling tour of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile has made you wish to get out and uncover one of the crucial well-known elements of the Scottish capital.
Edinburgh numbers among the many finest UK metropolis breaks, and it’s one in every of my favourite locations to go to within the UK. I’m positive you’ll adore it as a lot as I do whenever you go.
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