Places to see on the Royal Mile Edinburgh

Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful capital cities that we have ever visited. We flew from Dublin to Edinburgh and after reaching the city center, we headed straight for the Scotland Tourism Center. After enquiring directions to the hotel, we grabbed a few maps and headed straight to our hotel. We stayed at the Ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge – Royal Mile. As the name suggests the hotel is located near the Royal Mile and the Waverley station. The hotel offers amazing views of the old town of Edinburgh. The location of the hotel was pretty convenient as it was close to the major tourist attractions and the train station from where we had to catch a train to London. One of the most famous places in Edinburgh is The Royal Mile and in this post, we list down some of the top places to see on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh.

The Royal Mile in Edinburgh is a succession of streets connecting two significant locations, Edinburgh Castle and the Holyrood Palace. The distance between these two places is exactly 1.6 kms and hence it is known as the Royal Mile. If you search for the Royal Mile on Google Maps, you won’t find a street as it is made up of five major streets as follows:-

• Castlehill
• Lawnmarket
• High Street
• Canongate
• Abbeystrand

ROYAL MILE – EDINBURGH

Edinburgh is a perfect base location to explore the Highlands, the Midlands, and the Lowlands of Scotland. We had 5 days to explore this beautiful country before we left for London. To be honest we had no fixed itinerary for Edinburgh so we went with the flow. The best way to explore this medieval city is on foot. The buildings on the Royal Mile were originally constructed of timber which was later replaced by buildings built of stone. The Royal Mile has everything you are looking for – secret trails, underground vaults, traditional Scottish pubs, full kilt outfits on rent, and whiskey tasting from all over the world. Let us take you on a virtual tour of the Places to see on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh. 

A WALK IN TIME

A walk down the Royal Mile is like a walk back in time. The beautiful architecture, the cathedrals, and churches are sure to take you back in time. Do take a moment to marvel at the beautiful architecture. 

The doors of the many the buildings along the Royal Mile are painted in contrasting colors and it makes for a great photo opportunity. Do not miss to click a picture with a beautiful door. 

The Royal Mile is a cobbled street lined with beautiful cafes, pubs and souvenir shops. The charm of a cobbled street in an old European town is something else. Have a pint or a coffee in one of the many pubs or cafes and just watch people walking along the Royal Mile. 

The Royal Mile has its fair share of buskers, pubs, and kilt shops. If you are interested in renting a kilt, then do visit one of the many shops.

Many of the pubs have secret rooms and passages. Do check out — Royal Mile Tavern, Tollbooth Torn, Whiski Bar

 

 

 

HISTORY CITY CHURCH – ST. GILES’ CATHEDRAL

This beautiful church was founded in the 12th century and is dedicated to St. Giles. Do visit this church while you are strolling along the Royal Mile. 

Edinburgh is famous for its history, mysteries, legends, and the underground world. Yes, you heard that right. There’s a world beneath some building on the Royal mile made up houses and alleys. You can walk through it and learn about more about how the residents lived and worked.

THE SCOTCH WHISKEY EXPERIENCE

Just a few steps away from the Edinburgh castle, Scotch Whiskey Experience is one of a kind museum that boasts of the largest collection of whiskeys from all over the world. It’s a journey into the world of Scottish whiskeys — you can learn the entire process, how they are stored, savor the different tastes depending on the region. 

You also get to keep a beautiful whiskey glass as a souvenir. 

 

PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE 

Holyrood Palace is the official residence of the British Monarch in Scotland. Parts of the palace are open to visitors and the ticket price is 16.50 British Pounds. 

 

 

EDINBURGH CASTLE 

At the other end of the Royal Mile is the famous Edinburgh Castle built on top of Castle Rock. The castle is one of the most fortified castles in Europe. From the castle, one can get a panoramic view of the town of Edinburgh. 

Architecture, kilts, live music, haggis, secret tales, hidden alleyways, brick walls, and the underground passage makes Edinburgh downright captivating.

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Have you ever been to Edinburgh?

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Special thanks to Scotland Tourism for all the support, we had an amazing time at Edinburgh.