Edinburgh · Old Town
The Royal Mile
The street that links the castle to the palace, made of four streets in a row: Castlehill, the Lawnmarket, the High Street and the Canongate. It is lined with closes, small museums, churches and shops, and it is busy at all hours.
- 2 h 30
- Free
- Booking: not needed
- Old Town
Data checked on October 5, 2026
The Royal Mile is about a Scots mile long and runs along the spine of the Old Town, from Castle Rock down to Holyrood. Tall stone tenements climb above both sides, and narrow closes drop away between them. St Giles' Cathedral and several small museums sit along the way, and the Scottish Parliament stands near the bottom. Allow a slow pace, because the point is what is behind each doorway.
What to look for
- The narrow closes and wynds
- St Giles' Cathedral and the Heart of Midlothian
- The Canongate Kirkyard
- The Scottish Parliament at the bottom
Opening hours
Always open.
A public street, open at all hours. Individual shops, museums and closes keep their own times.
Source: Forever Edinburgh (edinburgh.org), checked October 5, 2026
Tickets and booking
Free.
Getting there
Waverley station is a few minutes from the middle of the street, up Cockburn Street.
Tip
Walk it downhill from the castle to the palace, and dip into at least two closes off the main line, where the crowds drop away.