10 Best Things to Do on Edinburgh's Royal Mile

Located in the centre of the city atop a hill, Edinburgh Castle is easy to find and hard to ignore. Over the centuries the ancient fortress has been home to kings, queens and even a saint. Start your Royal Mile adventure with a taste of royal history by visiting the Honours of Scotland, the oldest Crown Jewels in Britain.

There’s so much to see here, including an entire National War Museum, that you could easily spend a whole day exploring. Enjoy lunch on site at the Redcoat Café, or to really treat yourself book ahead for a traditional afternoon tea featuring fresh local produce at The Tea Rooms.

When you hear ‘palace’, you think ‘royalty’, and that’s exactly what you’ll find at this royal residence. As well as playing host to visiting nobility and heads of state, it was once the home of the famous Mary, Queen of Scots. Her suite of chambers has been preserved so can you look around and imagine what it was like to live there.

Other highlights include an unrivalled collection of French and Flemish tapestries, and the gorgeous palace gardens where you’ll find the ruins of 12th century Holyrood Abbey – a great spot to take souvenir photos.

Advocate’s Close is one of the finest examples of the traditional alleyways that thread between the main thoroughfares of Edinburgh’s Old Town. Like many streets in the area, it’s named after a former resident, Lord Advocate of Scotland Sir James Stewart.

The narrow, steep passage has been in continual use for over 500 years and has been rebuilt and redeveloped many times since then, encapsulating that entire history. Be prepared for stairs, a fantastic view of the Scott Monument, and there’s even a cosy pub.

Founded in 1124, St Giles Cathedral – also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh – has a lot more to offer than most other parish churches. From vaulted ceilings to centuries of memorials, the cathedral houses more art than many galleries, including a variety of stained-glass windows such as the Joshua window designed by Pre-Raphaelite Edward Burne-Jones. This is a beautiful setting for music too, so check the online events calendar for upcoming concerts.

While open to the public 7 days a week, this is also a working church offering Presbyterian services every Sunday that include performances by their world-touring adult choir. Members of the public from any faith background are welcome to attend.

Step down to The Real Mary King's Close beneath the Royal Mile for a tour of Edinburgh’s only preserved 17th century underground street. Here you can explore the homes and workshops of former residents. The experience is brought to life by actors playing characters from a variety of historical periods, including Mary King herself, who the street was named after.

Pre-booking is a must for this stand-out attraction, and it’s worth checking their website to find out about upcoming and seasonal events. Note that tours of this spooky, underground labyrinth are not suitable for children under 5.

At the eastern end of the Royal Mile you’ll find the strikingly modern Scottish Parliament building. Work began on the site in 1999 to provide a home of the newly devolved government, and it was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 2004.

A lot of the building is open to the public, and it’s a smart move to reserve a place on a free tour before you arrive. There are regularly changing exhibitions, and you can even attend certain parliamentary sessions, such as First Minister’s Questions, just book ahead to secure your free seat.

Dating back to 1470, John Knox House is the oldest, original medieval building still standing on the Royal Mile. The house has survived a turbulent history, and narrowly avoided demolition in the 1840s thanks to its association with John Knox, founder of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

The house has been restored and turned into a museum where you can step into a past filled with hand painted ceilings and intricately tiled fireplaces for a taste of 16th century interior décor. Augment your experience of Old Edinburgh by arranging a Story Tour with the adjoining Scottish Storytelling Centre.

The Scottish Storytelling Centre is a thriving arts complex built to celebrate Scotland’s rich heritage of oral storytelling and the people who practice and perform today. In addition to storytelling events, tours and workshops, the centre is host to a range of performances such as live music, poetry reading and theatre, and hosts comedy during the Edinburgh Fringe.

Plan ahead to see what events are on when you’re in town, or drop by to check out the centre itself, the current art exhibition, or to book a Story Tour of the adjacent John Knox House.

The Writers’ Museum celebrates 3 of Scotland’s literary heroes, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert Burns – better known as Rabbie Burns. Come and see collections of personal items, including Burns’ writing desk, Scott’s printing press and numerous manuscripts and first edition books. You can also see the ring given to Robert Louis Stevenson by a Samoan chief, engraved with ‘Tusitala’ which means ‘teller of tales’.

Visiting the museum is free, and you’ll also find the peaceful Makars’ court just outside, where the flagstones are carved with the names of Scottish writers from the 1300s right up to the present day like a literary walk of fame.

If you’re looking for family fun, come to Camera Obscura & World of Illusions and test your brain against mind-bending visual trickery. Explore interactive attractions, like Bewilderworld, with its maze of mirrors and Vortex Tunnel. Get ready for some truly unique selfies full of weird and wonderful novelties.

You can also see demonstrations of the camera obscura, which projects live views of the city using nothing but sunlight and reflections. Or, head up to the roof terrace and check out the views directly.