Information
Landmark: Royal MileCity: Edinburgh
Country: United Kingdom
Continent: Europe
Royal Mile, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Europe
Overview
The Royal Mile, one of Edinburgh’s most storied streets, runs downhill from the stone walls of Edinburgh Castle to the gates of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.The Royal Mile runs through the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, linking the castle at one end to Holyrood Palace at the other.Steeped in history, culture, and tradition, it invites visitors to wander cobbled streets and discover the heart of Edinburgh.The Royal Mile stretches for about a mile, or 1.6 kilometers, though the exact distance shifts a little depending on where you start and stop the count.From Edinburgh Castle perched high on the western end, the street slopes gently downhill to Holyrood Palace in the east, winding past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, where bagpipes sometimes echo in the air.The name “Royal Mile” comes from its past as the path monarchs once took, lined with crowds and echoing footsteps during grand ceremonies.In Scots, people also call it the “High Street,” though the road runs through several distinct sections, each with its own feel-like the curve lined with old stone shopfronts or the quieter stretch shaded by elm trees.At the western tip of the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle towers above the city, its stone walls catching the wind and commanding the skyline from Castlehill to the Lawnmarket.From the castle, the Royal Mile slopes down through Castlehill, alive with shop windows, the smell of fresh coffee, and the chatter of tourists.Edinburgh Castle, towering behind, holds Scotland’s Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny.Heading east, the Mile slips into the Lawnmarket, where medieval buildings lean over narrow, shadowy closes.This stretch of the Mile once held a bustling market, its stalls piled high with cloth-especially lawn, a fine, smooth linen.It’s home to some of the city’s most iconic buildings, among them St. Giles’ Cathedral, whose dark spire cuts into the Edinburgh sky.Also called the High Kirk of Edinburgh, it’s a striking Gothic landmark and an important place of worship.It’s best known for the Thistle Chapel, home to the Order of the Thistle-the highest honor the British monarch can grant in Scotland.Keep walking along the Mile and you’ll reach The Tron, where a mercat cross once stood, its stone worn smooth by centuries of hands.Today, the Tron Kirk still rises above the street, a familiar stone face in the heart of the city.This stretch of the Mile buzzes with pubs, restaurants, and little shops spilling light onto the cobblestones.At its heart lies the High Street, always alive with chattering tourists, guitar-strumming buskers, and locals weaving through the crowd.This part of town is packed with historic buildings, like the Tolbooth, once a prison and court where iron bars still shadow the windows.At the Royal Mile’s eastern end, you’ll find the Canongate, once home to the Canons of Holyrood Abbey.This stretch of the Royal Mile feels calmer and more residential than the rest, yet you’ll still find plenty to see.At its heart stands the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the British monarch’s official Scottish home, with its pale stone walls catching the soft Edinburgh light.The palace draws crowds of visitors, offering a peek into royal life with gilded halls and blooming gardens.Just next door, at the foot of the Royal Mile, the weathered ruins of Holyrood Abbey-founded in 1128-stand in quiet contrast.The abbey’s medieval stonework catches the eye, and it’s where countless Scottish monarchs, including Mary, Queen of Scots, were crowned and laid to rest.Along the Royal Mile, narrow closes and winding wynds branch away from the main street like secret paths between tall, weathered walls.Many of Edinburgh’s cobbled alleys, once private walkways for residents, open a small window into the city’s medieval past.Among the most famous is Mary King’s Close, an underground street where guides lead you past dim stone walls and share stories of life here centuries ago.Fleshmarket Close and Milne’s Court deserve a mention, each steeped in its own slice of history; their narrow, cobbled lanes open onto tucked-away courtyards, quiet gardens, and old stone buildings most visitors miss if they never stray from the main street.The Royal Mile once carried royal processions-crowds lining the way for coronations of Scottish kings and the grand arrival of monarchs into the heart of the city.The Royal Mile still hosts the annual Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and other official ceremonies, just as it has for centuries, when it witnessed royal celebrations, solemn parades, and even grim public executions.Today, its cobblestones hum with music and theatre during the Edinburgh Festival, the world’s largest arts celebration.During festival season, the Royal Mile bursts with life as actors, musicians, dancers, and street artists fill the air with music and laughter.At this time, the Royal Mile bursts with tourists, artists, and locals drifting between street performers, market stalls fragrant with roasted nuts, and lively activities, while the Mile itself stands as a proud emblem of Edinburgh’s heritage.As the city’s historic heart, it pulses with stories of kings, fierce debates, and centuries of tradition.The street blends medieval stonework with elegant Georgian townhouses, each whispering a fragment of the city’s history.Near the castle, The Scotch Whisky Experience invites visitors in with the warm scent of oak casks and offers an interactive lesson in Scotland’s beloved national drink.Visitors can join guided tours, sample a dram of whisky, and discover how each batch is distilled.Tucked into the Lawnmarket, The Writers' Museum honors Scotland’s literary greats-Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson-with manuscripts, portraits, and the scent of old paper lingering in the air.The museum houses a wide array of manuscripts, portraits, and keepsakes tied to these legendary authors, while The Real Mary King’s Close-one of the Royal Mile’s most haunting stops-leads visitors down into a dim, preserved 16th-century street where footsteps echo off cold stone walls.Visitors discover the history of this long-forgotten corner of Edinburgh-its grim role during the plague, its days as a lively, close-knit community-before reaching the Scottish Parliament, set just off the Royal Mile at its eastern tip near Holyrood Palace.The Parliament building’s sleek, sometimes divisive design stands in sharp contrast to the weathered stone facades along the Royal Mile, yet it remains at the heart of Scotland’s government, just steps from shops selling tartan scarves and the smell of fresh shortbread.
