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 ScotlandSt 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.
National Museum of Scotland
Edinburgh
Museum of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Surgeons’ Hall Museums
Edinburgh
Museum of Childhood Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Museum on the Mound
Edinburgh
National War Museum of Scotland
Edinburgh
Newhaven Heritage Museum
Edinburgh
People’s Story Museum
Edinburgh
Writers’ Museum
Edinburgh
St Cecilia’s Hall
Edinburgh
Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage
Edinburgh
Corstorphine Heritage Centre
Edinburgh
Queensferry Museum
Edinburgh
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum
Edinburgh
Royal Observatory Visitor Centre
Edinburgh
Our Dynamic Earth
Edinburgh
Trinity House Maritime Museum
Edinburgh
Museum of Magic, Fortune-Telling & Witchcraft
Edinburgh
King’s Theatre
Edinburgh
Festival Theatre
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Playhouse
Edinburgh
Queen’s Hall
Edinburgh
Usher Hall
Edinburgh
Royal Lyceum Theatre
Edinburgh
Traverse Theatre
Edinburgh
Bedlam Theatre
Edinburgh
Church Hill Theatre
Edinburgh
Rose Theatre
Edinburgh
Scottish Storytelling Centre
Edinburgh
Summerhall
Edinburgh
St Stephen’s Theatre
Edinburgh
Festival Square Theatre
Edinburgh
Leith Theatre
Edinburgh
Portobello Town Hall
Edinburgh
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Edinburgh
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
Edinburgh
City Art Centre
Edinburgh
Collective Gallery
Edinburgh
Fruitmarket Gallery
Edinburgh
Open Eye Gallery
Edinburgh
Leith Walk Gallery
Edinburgh
Braewell Gallery
Edinburgh
Dovecot Studios
Edinburgh
Morningside Gallery
Edinburgh
West End Craft & Design Fair
Edinburgh
Bourne Fine Art Gallery
Edinburgh
Red Door Gallery
Edinburgh
Marchmont Gallery
Edinburgh
Talbot Rice Gallery
Edinburgh
Torrance Gallery
Edinburgh
Gallery TEN
Edinburgh
Wasps Patriothall Studios and Gallery
Edinburgh
Rhubaba Gallery and Studios
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Edinburgh
Craigmillar Castle
Edinburgh
Holyrood Park
Edinburgh
Princes Street Gardens
Edinburgh
The Meadows
Edinburgh
Inverleith Park
Edinburgh
Calton Hill
Edinburgh
Harrison Park
Edinburgh
Victoria Park
Edinburgh
Pilrig Park
Edinburgh
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions
Edinburgh
Arthur’s Seat
Edinburgh
Scott Monument
Edinburgh
The Royal Mile
Edinburgh
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Dean Village
Edinburgh
Innocent Railway Tunnel & Path
Edinburgh
The Real Mary King’s Close
Edinburgh
The Scotch Whisky Experience
Edinburgh
The Edinburgh Dungeon
Edinburgh
Grassmarket
Edinburgh
Stockbridge Market
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Farmers’ Market
Edinburgh
Leith Market
Edinburgh
Tron Kirk Market
Edinburgh
Ocean Terminal Market
Edinburgh