Edinburgh Royal Mile Attractions – 15 not to miss!

Edinburgh has lots of Royal Mile attractions – it’s not just a busy street where it seems that every tourist has congregated! And while it is busy, don’t discount it when looking for things to do in Edinburgh – there’s a lot going on here.

Every time I visit Edinburgh I find myself in the midst of the Royal Mile, it’s in the heart of the old town but in easy reach of the New Town too. I love the feeling of the area, even when it’s really full with tourists!

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Edinburgh Royal Attractions Pass

Get a 48 pass to Edinburgh’s Royal attractions and save some serious money. It includes:

  • Edinburgh Castle
  • Holyrood Palace
  • Royal Yacht Britannia
  • Hop on Hop off Bus (48 hours)

A note from the writer: Hey! I’m Kirsty and I’m a UK travel expert – while I grew up in Scotland, as an adult I now return to visit almost every year – there’s so much to see! Shout (or comment below) if you have any questions about your next trip and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

When visiting Edinburgh in Scotland you’ll likely find yourself on the Royal Mile at some point.  It’s home to many of the big attractions and a great place to feel the vibe of the old town.  

Yes it can be touristy and yes it can be busy, but there’s so much to do there you definitely shouldn’t miss it!  

The best thing is that it’s not hard to escape the tourists, especially if you start walking and exploring all of the way down the Royal Mile.

If you’re looking to figure out the best things to do on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh and what not to miss, then read on and you’ll see some great ideas.  

Book tickets in advance!

If you’re traveling at weekends or in the summer you might find that it’s a good idea to pick up tickets for your must sees in advance. You might even be able to get guided tours which can enhance a visit!

Here are my favourites and ones you may wish to consider booking in advance:

If you want to visit the Castle and Holyrood house I recommend getting an all in one pass to save money – Royal Attractions Pass

edinburgh royal mile attractions and street sign

15 of the best Royal Mile attractions in Edinburgh

We’ll start at the top of the Royal Mile and work our way down!  Let’s go…  

Edinburgh Castle

hotels overlooking edinburgh castle

Dominating the view of Edinburgh city, the Royal Mile itself and also the itineraries of countless tourists is the main attraction in the city – Edinburgh castle!  

Even if you’re not heading in to explore the castle itself I recommend heading up as far as you can go and get that wonderful view over the city!

If you do decide to explore then you’re in for a treat – there’s so much to see and take in there from the military history to the small dog cemetery which will touch your heart!  Take a good couple of hours to really see all you can.

Get skip the line tickets here: Edinburgh Castle    

Witches fountain

witches well edinburgh royal mile scotland

I had missed this particular spot on the Royal Mile every time I went and it was only on reading up on some interesting history of the area that I came across it.

The Witches Well is situated in the courtyard area of Edinburgh Castle (before you pay to go in) and it marks the spot where witches were burned at the stake many years ago.  

I found it a quite interesting little spot so wanted to share with you – there’s a really nice carving on the well and it often has some flowers in it too.  

Scotch whisky experience on Royal Mile

Scotch Whisky Experience

If you’re a fan of whisky and want the distillery experience but don’t have the time to escape the city then the Scotch Whisky experience is for you.  It’s not something I’ve done myself (I’m not a huge fan of the drink!) but I’ve heard some good reviews about the place.  

You’ll learn about how whisky is made and also get a taste of the stuff too – it’s also suitable for kids, they get to taste some of Scotland’s other drink, Irn Bru!

There’s a basic ‘Silver Tour’ that is going to satisfy your basic interest about whisky but if you have any whisky enthusiasts around there are some more in depth tours as well.

Tours run every 20 mins – get your tickets for the Scotch Whisky experience here

attractions on edinburgh royal mile scotland

Tartan Weaving mill and experience

Although essentially a really big gift shop the Tartan Weaving mill also has some merits if you are looking for a free thing to do along the Royal Mile or just wanting to kill some time if the weather isn’t being kinds to you.

Inside you can learn a little about the weaving process when making tartan and the history of the traditional Scottish cloth.  We’ve often gone in with our kids and they enjoy wandering around all the floors and seeing the mill machines.  

There’s a wealth of different gifts and trinkets you can buy in store as well, and if you’re looking for somewhere to dress up in a kilt and get your photo taken, you can do that too, although this is regrettably not free!  

Camera Obscura

Always with big queues and for good reason is the Camera Obscura attraction right by the castle.  It’s a quirky place to visit with optical illusions covering 5 floors and a great view of the city from the very top – unrivalled really!  

The camera obscura itself is a victorian invention and projects an image of the city in to the room – really clever!  Perfect for kids to enjoy but equally so big kids – you’ll need a couple of hours to enjoy it at your leisure.

Get your tickets in advance for the Camera Obscura here.

Gladstone’s Land

This 17th century merchant’s house is hidden in amongst all of the tourist shops that are around the top of the Royal Mile.

It’s owned by the National Trust for Scotland and it’s open for people to look around and explore how this house looked in the past. It’s housed many different kinds of people over the years from rich to middle class and the rooms are kept how they would have been at the time.

There’s a small charge for entry to Gladstone’s Land but it’s well worth it if you are interested in history and Edinburgh’s past. Check their site here.

All the tourist shops!

Especially at the top of the Royal Mile, you’ll be inundated with ALL the tourist shops.  I do find they can be quite fun to wander round, especially if you’re experiencing some of Scotland’s finest weather, but be aware that you’ll be paying the highest prices around the city.  

As you head down the mile the shops get a little less busy and there’s also some fabulous independent shops (I am in LOVE with a crystal shop there and always pop in) to spend time in too so don’t discount a bit of retail therapy on your trip.  

Street performers

royal mile street performers

Even in the depths of winter you’ll find street performers along the Royal Mile.

From people dressed up as Braveheart, pipers playing you a tune all the way to people performing magic tricks, you can while away so much time watching them all!  

Heart of Midlothian

heart of midlothian edinburgh royal mile

Blink and you’ll miss it but on the path as you wander down the Royal Mile is the Heart of Midlothian.  

This is a mosaic made in to the shape of a heart and it marks the site of the old tolbooth in the city and also the centre of the town.  Public executions also happened there as it was the entrance to the tolbooth (which is another name for a jail).  

There’s a tradition of spitting on the heart as you go by for luck so don’t be surprised if you see someone do that!  

Real Mary Kings Close

There’s so much history in the old streets of Edinburgh and if you want to learn more about it in an entertaining way then you’ll not want to miss visiting the Real Mary Kings Close attraction.  

I so wanted to visit here on my last solo trip, but my husband wanted to go with me so I had to take a rain check!  Will be experiencing this one soon, but it’s one of the most highly rated attractions in Edinburgh so comes highly recommended.    

There are many different small streets and tales to tell around the Royal Mile and many tours of the city focus on these areas.

Don’t miss this tour in Edinburgh! Take a ghostly tour of the vaults and old streets around the Royal Mile with a tour like this one

Museum of Childhood

One of our favourite stops when we would visit Edinburgh with our kids a few years back was the Museum of Childhood which lovingly displays all sorts of old toys from years gone by.  

There’s lots of hands on exhibits too for kids to enjoy and it’s a really lovely place to let off a bit of steam!  Adults will also enjoy the museum for the history in the place too.  It’s also free – what’s not to like?  

John Knox House

john knox house royal mile edinburgh

Housing the Scottish Storytelling Centre is the John Knox house.  If you’re at all interested in the history of Mary Queen of Scots then this is a must for you.  John Knox was one major threat of hers and he helped lead the Scottish Reformation in the 1500s.   It was a time of major upheaval in the country and he because he stayed in this house for a short while it meant that it has been able to have been saved over the years from demolition, preserving the history.  

You can get tours to learn more about this time in Scottish history in this amazing building.

You can buy tickets in advance to the John Knox Museum here

Museum of Edinburgh

museum of edinburgh royal mile

Another free museum, this time focusing on the city itself and the history there is the Museum of Edinburgh.  It’s situated in a 16th century house and is a great place to learn about Edinburgh while escaping some of the crowds in the upper parts of the Royal Mile.  As you get down this far it definitely quietens down!

We visited a few years ago now when we were learning about the story of Greyfriars Bobby with our kids – there’s some more information on the history of this tale here!

If you’re interested in the Greyfriars story you might also want to wander along to the churchyard where Bobby’s grave is.  It is a small walk from the Royal Mile – see more information about visiting Greyfriars Churchyard here

Scottish Parliament Building

scottish parliament edinburgh royal mile

In huge contrast to the old history of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile we find the Scottish Parliament building and the modern architecture.  

This is where the devolved parliament sits and where many of Scotland’s policies are made.  You can visit inside and they do tours if you want to know more about this current history of the country.  

Palace of Holyroodhouse

palace of holyroodhouse royal mile

Finally at the end of the Royal Mile is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, one of the official homes of the royal family in Scotland.  I finally managed to get to visit this wonderful palace on my last trip and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.  I’m a bit of a fan of the Royal family anyway and of course I love the history so to be in the place where so much went on and still does to this day was pretty amazing for me!  

You can wander around the rooms in your own time and with an audio guide to help you understand what is around you.  The palace is small compared to Buckingham Palace but it’s still a wonderful and amazing place!

Get your tickets for Holyroodhouse Palace here.

Looking for somewhere to stay on the Royal Mile?

The Royal Mile can be somewhat noisy at night as I found when staying at the below Ibis hotel, even off season in February, so I do recommend if you can to stay a little off the street itself!

If you do want to stay on the Mile itself a good budget is the Ibis Hunters Square – cheap and cheerful and just halfway down the Royal Mile

A unique and upmarket option to check out is The Witchery just by the Castle

And if you want a castle view try the Apex Grassmarket, a little off the Royal mile but has amazing views

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Edinburgh Travel FAQ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Do I need insurance for traveling to Edinburgh?

YES! I always recommend people take travel insurance when exploring the world!

Check Travel Insurance Master for quote comparisons from different providers.

Do I need a car for visiting Edinburgh?

MAYBE – if you’re staying in the city then you don’t need a car at all. YES – If you’re wanting to explore further afield in Scotland then a car is worthwhile.

I recommend DiscoverCars to compare car rental prices in Edinburgh

How to book accommodation in Edinburgh?

For hotels I recommend Booking.com (and my favorite Edinburgh Hotel which is the APEX Grassmarket – hint: castle views!)

For apartments check out VRBO

Will my phone work in Edinburgh?

Perhaps – it depends if you have roaming enabled and beware this can be an expensive way to use your phone.

If you need a SIM for use in the UK I recommend GiffGaff which you can get and set up before traveling.

What to pack for Edinburgh

Keep yourself dry and comfortable is my motto for Edinburgh travel! A rain jacket and comfy shoes are a must.

See my post about what to pack for Edinburgh

Do I need midge spray for Edinburgh?

Edinburgh, as a city, doesn’t suffer from midges. You might see them if you travel to the west coast or lochs in the summer months. Check out my guide to midges and how to miss them in Scotland.

What’s the best guidebook for Edinburgh?

I really like the Lonely Planet Pocket Guides

Where to get flights for Edinburgh

Expedia is my first port of call for finding cheap flights to Edinburgh and Scotland.

Do I need a visa for Scotland?

Many countries don’t need a visa for visiting Scotland as tourists (USA, Canada, Aus, NZ and Europe) – it’s always best to check first though.

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Kirsty Bartholomew

Kirsty Bartholomew is a travel expert and has been getting lost around the world for over 30 years and writing about it for over 10 of those. She loves to help people explore her favourite places in Scotland, England and beyond. She cannot stay away from historical sites.

7 thoughts on “Edinburgh Royal Mile Attractions – 15 not to miss!”

    • Hey Becky – that will be so special – I hope you have a fantastic time. As for events, not sure with the added COVID complications, but hopefully this year will have something nice on. Christmas day in the UK often sees things close and if you want to eat out it’s a good idea to book in advance You can always check out my Edinburgh in Winter guide too.

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