Set atop a craggy outcrop, Edinburgh Castle is a cluster of museums, militaria, chapels, cannons, vaults, prisons, the Scottish Crown Jewels, all with an amazing view of the whole city.
The castle dates back to the 7th century, but the rocky hill it sits upon has seen action longer than that and is the very reason for Edinburgh’s existence. The hill was the most easily defended hilltop on the invasion route between England and central Scotland, which was a route followed by many armies from the Romans in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD to the Jacobite troops of Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745 when the castle last saw military action. From then until the 1920s it served as the British army’s main base in Scotland.
Edinburgh Castle has been the setting of many major historical events in Scotland. Perhaps most known is that Mary, Queen of Scots once lived here and gave birth to her son, James VI, in the Royal Apartments. He later went on to unite the crowns of England and Scotland in 1603.
Wherever you go in the city, the castle proudly towers majestically above. It is certainly one of the most atmospheric and popular sights to visit in Edinburgh and we’ve created this guide to help you get the most out of your visit.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
GUIDE TO VISITING EDINBURGH CASTLE
HIGHLIGHTS OF EDINBURGH CASTLE
PLAN YOUR VISIT TO EDINBURGH CASTLE
Is Edinburgh Castle Worth the Visit?
HIGHLIGHTS OF EDINBURGH CASTLE
Edinburgh Castle is an imposing symbol of Scottish independence with every building on its grounds having a unique story to tell.
You are free to explore the castle on your own, which is what we chose to do. There is ample printed information and knowledgeable guides stationed around the castle if you have questions. Or you could join one of the 30-minute guided introductory tours (included in the admission price) and/or an audio guide which provides four hours of commentary can be purchased.
We also recommend giving yourself enough time on your visit for afternoon tea. We did just this at the little café next to the battery where they shoot the 1:00 canon each day. We had tea with scones, clotted cream and jam and it was delicious and kept us fueled for exploring the extensive grounds of the castle.
ESPLANADE
In front of the castle, you’ll find a large open area called the Esplanade which is a parade ground that was laid out in the 18th century and enclosed by ornamental walls about a hundred years later. For most of the year, it is a coach/bus parking lot, but in the summer months, there are huge grandstands put up for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo festival which takes place every night in August.
It is worth spending some time in the Esplanade for a couple of reasons. First, there are various memorials dotted around including an equestrian statue of Field Marshal Earl Haig (the controversial Edinburgh-born commander of the British forces in WWI) and the pretty art nouveau Witches’ Fountain which memorializes 300 women who were accused of witchcraft and burnt at the stake here.
Second, there are wonderful views in both directions from the Esplanade where you can look out to the north to see the Firth of the Forth and Fife, or down into Edinburgh’s New Town where you can spy the lacy spire of the Scott Monument, or out to the Nelson Monument and Calton Hill.
ST. MARGARET’S CHAPEL
Near the highest point of the city (about 440 ft) is a tiny chapel which is the oldest surviving building in the castle, and quite possibly all of Edinburgh. This is St. Margaret’s Chapel which was once believed to have been built by the saint herself and be the site of her death in 1093. The architectural style suggests that it actually dates from about 30 years after her death and was built by King David I in honour of his mother, St. Margaret.
The tiny Romanesque-style church is unadorned which was a testament to its namesake’s reputed piety. The nave is simple with classic Norman zigzags decorating arches and you can you see a copy of St. Margaret’s 11th-century gospel book and a small stained-glass window featuring St. Margaret in the chapel.
ARGYLE BATTERY & MONS MEG
The battlements in front of St. Margaret’s Chapel offer some of the best of the castle’s panoramic views, both down into the city of Edinburgh but also views of the castle grounds.
From here you can see the famous 15th-century siege gun called Mons Meg which could fire a 500 lb stone nearly two miles! This was a gift from Belgium who shared a common enemy with the Scottish (England) and were eager to help arm Scotland. It last saw service in the 1540s and was then moved to the Tower of London in 1754. It was so important to Scotland though that Sir Walter Scott convinced George IV to return it to Scotland in 1822.
The six front-loading, cast-iron cannons from the Napoleonic era are in the Argyle battery that sits atop the high stone cliffs that look over the New Town. In this area, you’ll also find Mill’s Mount Battery which is where the daily ritual of firing the one o’clock gun takes place. This was originally for the benefit of ships in the Firth of Forth but today is an enjoyable ceremony for visitors to watch but you do need to get here early to get a place near the front of the crowd to get a good view.
CROWN SQUARE & PALACE
This is the historic heart of Edinburgh Castle and is the most important and secure area of the whole complex.
On the eastern side, you can visit the Palace which was begun in the 1430s and later remodelled for Mary, Queen of Scots and her consort Henry, Lord Darnley. Their entwined initials (MAH) and the date ‘1566’ can be seen above one of the doors. In the palace, you can explore a few historic rooms, including a tiny bedchamber where Mary gave birth to James VI. The Crown Jewels, properly known as the “Honours of Scotland” are housed in the Crown Room along with James V’s jewel-encrusted crown and the Stone of Destiny.
On the south side is the beautiful Great Hall with its hammer-beam ceiling built by James IV to resemble the hull of a ship. It is used to host the castle’s official banquets and meetings and is still used for these purposes today.
On the north side is the Hall of Honour which houses the Scottish National War Memorial. This sombre spot was created in 1927 to commemorate the 149,000 Scottish soldiers lost in WWI, the 58,000 who died in WWII, and the nearly 800 lost in British battles since.
From Crown Square, you can descend into the Vaults where are a series of chambers used as a prison for captured foreign nationals and the Military Prison which was built in 1824 with cells designed for solitary confinement.
READ MORE: Looking for more great things to add to your Edinburgh itinerary? Check out these 21 things to do in Edinburgh!
PLAN YOUR VISIT TO EDINBURGH CASTLE
HOW TO GET THERE
Edinburgh Castle can be found on Castlehill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NG.
The nearest station to the castle is Waverly Station which is the main central station in Edinburgh. The castle can be seen from the station exits and it’s a short walk, though it is uphill all the way.
By Bus: You can take the local buses with the ‘Mound’ or ‘George IV Bridge’ on their routes or some of the hop-on/hop-off buses make a stop by the castle.
By Car: There is no public parking at the castle itself. For the nearest on-street parking zones you can try Castle Terrace and Johnston Terrace.
The NCP Castle Terrace parking lot offers a discounted rate for visitors to the castle (except during August). To receive the discount, you must validate your parking token at the castle’s audio booth during your visit.
By Bike: There aren’t any bike racks at the castle itself but they are available nearby on Victoria Street, Waverly Station, and Chambers Street.
HELPFUL LINKS:
- If you need an app that will navigate you around whether walking, driving or using public transport and even works offline then click for a guide about how to use Here WeGo.
OPENING HOURS
Opening hours for Edinburgh Castle are 0930 until 1800 from April 1 through September 30 and 1000 until 1600 from October 1 through March 31. The last entry is one hour before these closing times. Please check the Edinburgh Castle website for full opening times.
The complete castle complex is closed on December 25-26 and January 1.
The castle is busiest in the morning.
We would recommend you aim to spend at least half a day at the castle, but you could easily spend most of the day there.
HOW TO BUY TICKETS & SAVE MONEY ON ADMISSION
Basic admission prices at the gate are £17.50 for adults, £10.50 for children (5-15 years) and £14.00 for seniors and concessions. Children under 5 years and carers of visitors with disabilities are free.
Castle tickets are for a specific entry time. You must arrive within this window to enter but you can then stay until they close.
To guarantee entry on the date and time of your choice, you must buy your tickets online in advance. Online prices are also slightly less than prices at the gate.
There are several ways you can save money on admission prices:
- Historic Scotland members must book their tickets online and show their tickets on entry at the main gate.
- English Heritage, Manx, and Cadw members get half-price entry in their first year and free entry for renewal and life members. Tickets must be booked in advance.
- Current members of the British Armed Forces receive free entry but must book their free ticket in advance.
TIP: If you wish to see some of the sights with very few visitors, book the first time slot of the day and arrive a bit before opening time. With your advance ticket, you’ll bypass the ticket line and once through the entrance gate head right to the sites that are the furthest from the entrance like the Crown Jewels and other sites around the Crown Square, instead of following the crowd that will inevitably start with Argyle Battery and the other spots just inside the entrance.
ACCESSIBILITY
While there is no public parking at the castle, there are a limited number of accessible spaces on the Castle Esplanade for Blue Badge holders on a first-come, first-served basis.
There is a mobility vehicle that can take visitors unable to manage the steep slopes from the esplanade to Crown Square and manual wheelchairs are also available for use (subject to availability).
All areas of the castle are accessed from a steep and curved central route which is made up of cobblestones. There are, however, different ways of accessing the different parts of the castle whether that is by lift or ramps.
There are braille and audio guides available.
For full accessibility details please visit the Edinburgh Castle Accessibility page.
Edinburgh Castle is one of the most well-known symbols of the city and hard to miss when visiting, both for its dominant position on the skyline and for the wealth of attractions and history within its walls. From the Scottish crown jewels to the monuments to battles hard-fought, a visit to Edinburgh Castle is a worthy addition to a visit to the capital of Scotland.
See what others think of this attraction on Trip Advisor.
With stunning views, delicious food and drink, beautiful architecture, and fascinating (although sometimes quite dark) history, Edinburgh is one of those great cities that offers a little something for everyone.
- The Royal Yacht Britannia served for 43 years, travelling a million miles around the globe it served as an advert for the United Kingdom, being used for many trade events, as well as being the Queen’s personal yacht.
- For hundreds of years, the entire city of Edinburgh lived along the cobblestone street known as the Royal Mile. It is now the high street of the Old Town and bustles with activity in its shops, cafes, churches, museums, and dark little alleyways along its length just waiting to be explored.
- With a beautiful backdrop of Arthur’s Seat, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is the royal family’s residence in Scotland and, more famously, the 16th-century home of the ill-fated Mary, Queen of Scots. The 13th-century abbey with its intricately carved stones covered in moss is very worth spending some time wandering through.
- Considered a symbol of Scotland, voted their greatest man-made wonder in 2016 and added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2015, the Forth Bridge is one of the must-see sights in Edinburgh. Viewing the bridge is great but we recommend hopping on a train for the quick journey across this iconic piece of Edinburgh.
READ MORE: Need help planning your trip to Edinburgh? Check out our Weekend Guide to Edinburgh to help you get started.
Castles can be found across the United Kingdom, from ruins to castles which are still lived in, they all have a story to tell about the country’s history.
- Step back in time to the 11th century and visit the Tower of London to see the Crown Jewels, the White Tower, and take a tour by one of the Yeoman Warders.
- The beautiful moated Bodiam Castle is a wonderful place to visit and what better way to arrive than by steam train on the Kent & East Sussex Railway.
- Tintagel Castle has long been associated with the mythical Merlin and visitors can explore the castle ruins as well as Merlin’s cave on the beach at the bottom of the majestic cliffs.
- From well-preserved medieval tower houses to evocative clifftop ruins, Scotland is bursting with castles that will take your breath away. Check out 11 more beautiful and historic castles to visit in Scotland!
Looking for more information to plan your visit to Scotland? You may find these articles helpful.
RESOURCES | PLAN YOUR TRIP TO EDINBURGH
To book flights, rental cars, accommodations, and activities for your trip, please check out our recommended travel providers, favourite apps and websites.
- Want to visit castles in Scotland? Check out The Complete Illustrated Guide to Castles, Palaces, and Stately House of Britain and Ireland and you’re sure to find plenty to explore!
- The Most Amazing Royal Places in Britain brings British heritage to life with hundreds of ideas for days out to discover castles, grand estates, and the secret hideaways of kings and queens.
- For all things Scotland, you can’t go wrong with Rick Steves! Check out his Scotland travel guide, full episodes of his TV show, or download his app for excellent audio tours.
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