St Giles’ Cathedral
St Giles’ Cathedral, also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, has stood at the heart of the Royal Mile for nearly 900 years, witnessing Scotland’s turbulent religious and political history. Founded in the 12th century and rebuilt in the 14th, its soaring Gothic architecture is crowned by the distinctive crown spire that dominates the Old Town skyline. Central to the Scottish Reformation, it was the parish church of reformer John Knox and later became home to the ornate Thistle Chapel, seat of Scotland’s highest order of chivalry. Inside, stained glass windows, intricate stonework, and memorials honour centuries of national figures. Still an active place of worship and civic ceremony, St Giles’ remains a symbol of Edinburgh’s heritage, drawing visitors for its beauty, history, and enduring role in the life of the city.
Edinburgh Scotland
St Giles' Cathedral is prominently located on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh’s Old Town, approximately halfway between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, it is a stunning Gothic church with a crown-shaped spire that is a defining feature of the city skyline. Founded around 1130, the cathedral is rich in history and architecture, featuring beautiful stained glass windows, intricate carvings, and the famous Thistle Chapel, home to Scotland’s Order of the Thistle. The cathedral stands in Parliament Square, close to the historic Scottish Parliament building and the Law Courts, flanked by the bustling Royal Mile's shops, cafes, and museums. Visitors can enjoy guided tours that reveal stories of Scotland’s religious and civic history, and climb the tower for spectacular views of the city. Its central location makes St Giles’ Cathedral a focal point for exploring Edinburgh’s cultural and historic heritage.
Museum
Museum of Edinburgh
Museum
Surgeons’ Hall Museums
Museum
Museum of Childhood Edinburgh
Museum
Museum on the Mound
Museum
National War Museum of Scotland
Museum
Newhaven Heritage Museum
Museum
People’s Story Museum
Museum
Writers’ Museum
Museum
St Cecilia’s Hall
Museum
Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage
Museum
Corstorphine Heritage Centre
Museum
Queensferry Museum
Museum
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum
Museum
Royal Observatory Visitor Centre
Observatory
Our Dynamic Earth
Museum
Trinity House Maritime Museum
Museum
Museum of Magic, Fortune-Telling & Witchcraft
Museum
King’s Theatre
Theatre
Festival Theatre
Theatre
Edinburgh Playhouse
Theatre
Queen’s Hall
Theatre
Usher Hall
Theatre
Royal Lyceum Theatre
Theatre
Traverse Theatre
Theatre
Bedlam Theatre
Theatre
Church Hill Theatre
Theatre
Rose Theatre
Theatre
Scottish Storytelling Centre
Theatre
Summerhall
Theatre
St Stephen’s Theatre
Theatre
Festival Square Theatre
Theatre
Leith Theatre
Theatre
Portobello Town Hall
Theatre
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Gallery
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
Gallery
City Art Centre
Gallery
Collective Gallery
Gallery
Fruitmarket Gallery
Gallery
Open Eye Gallery
Gallery
Leith Walk Gallery
Gallery
Braewell Gallery
Gallery
Dovecot Studios
Gallery
Morningside Gallery
Gallery
West End Craft & Design Fair
Gallery
Bourne Fine Art Gallery
Gallery
Red Door Gallery
Gallery
Marchmont Gallery
Gallery
Talbot Rice Gallery
Gallery
Torrance Gallery
Gallery
Gallery TEN
Gallery
Wasps Patriothall Studios and Gallery
Gallery
Rhubaba Gallery and Studios
Gallery
Edinburgh Castle
Castle
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Castle
Craigmillar Castle
Castle
Holyrood Park
Park
Princes Street Gardens
Park
The Meadows
Park
Inverleith Park
Park
Calton Hill
Park
Harrison Park
Park
Victoria Park
Park
Pilrig Park
Park
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions
Museum
Arthur’s Seat
Mountain Peak
Scott Monument
Monument
The Royal Mile
Tourist attractions
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Botanical Garden
Dean Village
Tourist attractions
Innocent Railway Tunnel & Path
Historical Landmark
The Real Mary King’s Close
Historical Landmark
The Scotch Whisky Experience
Tourist attractions
The Edinburgh Dungeon
Tourist attractions
Grassmarket
Street
Stockbridge Market
Market
Edinburgh Farmers’ Market
Market
Leith Market
Market
Tron Kirk Market
Market
Ocean Terminal Market
Market