At this time I wish to share my free self-guided Edinburgh Royal Mile stroll with you. The Scottish capital is a ravishing place to discover on foot. With its gorgeous hilltop fortress, fairly inexperienced areas, bustling buying streets, and hidden closes, there’s lots to see on a stroll in Edinburgh. My self-guided route and map will present you probably the most well-known components 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 stunning cities within the UK.
Whether or not you want seeing heritage buildings or sweeping views, shopping retailers or exploring museums, Edinburgh has one thing for each traveler.
Regardless of you probably have 1 day in Edinburgh or 4 days in Edinburgh, you’ll be capable of uncover lots 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 foremost sights 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 Fort and the Palace of Holyrood Home. I hope my stroll helps you take pleasure in exploring this a part of Edinburgh as a lot as I’ve.
If you need a guided tour, you possibly can see good choices on the GetYourGuide web site. I’ve taken many excursions with them through the years and I’ve all the time had a very good expertise. From Harry Potter excursions to fortress excursions and Previous City strolling excursions, there’s no scarcity of decisions. You may guide one right here.
If you need extra concepts, you will discover a number of further routes and maps within the guide Edinburgh’s Hidden Walks. You will get it on Amazon right here.
Edinburgh Strolling Tour
My self-guided strolling tour of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh begins on the fortress. It’s centrally situated, so it’s simple to get to from Edinburgh Waverley station, coach and bus stops, and on foot from the Royal Mile and different components of town.
Edinburgh Fort
If you wish to, you possibly can discover the fortress earlier than you start. You may guide tickets right here. While you’re performed, begin your Edinburgh Royal Mile stroll by going through away from the fortress and heading straight down Castlehill.
You’ll move The Scotch Whisky Expertise, the Digicam Obscura & World of Illusions, and The Witchery by the Fort resort as you make your method 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 Road.
Victoria Road & Grassmarket
Victoria Road is among the prettiest and most colourful streets in Edinburgh. There are many nice retailers and eating places right here. Don’t miss the Harry Potter store when you’re a fan. In the event you’re hungry, Oink is a neighborhood favourite.
Spend a while strolling round Victoria Road, then proceed all the way 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 immediately it’s a full of life house lined with enjoyable pubs and eating places.
You may stroll round a bit and climb the Vennel steps within the southwest nook if you wish to see a well-known view of Edinburgh Fort.
Both approach, proceed your Edinburgh Royal Mile stroll by heading again in the direction of West Bow and veering proper on Cowgatehead while 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 filled with headstones with names you would possibly acknowledge from the Harry Potter books. J. Ok. Rowling received inspiration for her characters’ names right here (she wrote a few of 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 positioning of The Elephant Home, the aforementioned cafe the place J. Ok. Rowling wrote the Harry Potter books.
Hold strolling down the highway, passing the Nationwide Library of Scotland in your proper as you make your method 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 by it, you’ll end up in an atmospheric courtyard that’s house to The Writers’ Museum.
You may go to the museum or spend time taking images and movies, then exit by 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 may go contained in the cathedral if you wish to (don’t miss the gorgeous Thistle Chapel), or proceed strolling down the Royal Mile because the identify modifications to Excessive Road. 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, considered one of my favourite secret locations in Edinburgh. If you wish to get into town’s historical past, it’s price touring. You may guide tickets right here.
No matter you select to do, you possibly can peer by 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 may as well take a detour down Cockburn Road. This winding Victorian highway 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 Road, passing the Museum of Childhood and the Scottish Storytelling Centre. Hold straight because the identify of the Royal Mile modifications to Canongate.
You’ll move by extra cultural establishments like The Folks’s Story Museum as you go. In the event you’re an Outlander fan, you possibly can 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 highway, going by the Museum of Edinburgh and Canongate Kirk. If you wish to, you possibly can head by Dunbar’s Near get right into a secret backyard. It’s a ravishing inexperienced house, 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 all the way down to White Horse Shut. This historic avenue on the left aspect of Canongate is house to a courtyard full of gorgeous heritage houses 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 house to gorgeous royal interiors. It’s price touring you probably have time.
Whether or not you go to or not, your self-guided strolling tour of Edinburgh ends right here. There’s heaps 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 probably the most well-known components of the Scottish capital.
Edinburgh numbers among the many finest UK metropolis breaks, and it’s considered one of my favourite locations to go to within the UK. I’m positive you’ll find it irresistible as a lot as I do while you go.
Discover this publish useful? Purchase me a espresso!
New right here? Be part of 1000’s of others and subscribe to the A Woman in London weblog by way of e-mail.
Among the hyperlinks on this weblog publish are affiliate hyperlinks. For gratis to you, I earn a small fee while you click on on them and make a purchase order. It doesn’t have an effect on the way in which you store, and it’s a good way to help the A Woman in London weblog.
Pin it!