Edinburgh Castle
Address: Castlehill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NG
Dominating the impressive city skyline, Edinburgh Castle has sat on the volcanic Castle Rock since the 12th century. Perfectly positioned high at the top of the famous Royal Mile, it was a major defence structure for the city, involved in many battles and conflicts. In fact, Edinburgh Castle is known as the most besieged place in Great Britain, with 23 attempts of capture on record.
The Scottish Royal family used Edinburgh Castle as a Royal Residence until 1603 and it remains an important landmark, full of history and legend. Home to the Honours Of Scotland (the Scottish Crown Jewels), birth place of King James I/VI and location of the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh. The current structure is well preserved and maintained, having been expanded, rebuilt and refurbished over the centuries. Today, it is open to the public and receives over a million visitors every year.
5 things to do at Edinburgh Castle
- Experience stunning panoramic views of Scotland’s capital from the high position at the top of Castle Rock.
- Explore the Castle Esplanade, which is the area leading to the entrance of Edinburgh Castle. This was a place of execution in the past and there is now a memorial there for the 300 women that the authorities burned as witches during the 15th to 18th centuries. There are also many military memorials and statues.
- See the One o’clock gun. The Master Gunner fires it at 1 pm Monday to Saturday and crowds gather each day to enjoy the spectacle. You can hear the sound of the gun all across the city.
- Take the tour of the castle to discover its fascinating stories. Highlights include the Great Hall, Crown Room, Royal Palace, St. Margaret’s Chapel and the National War Museum of Scotland.
- Within the Crown Room, see the Scottish Crown Jewels. The crown, sceptre and sword of state make up the Honours of Scotland. Plus, Scotland’s Stone of Destiny, which was a traditional coronation seat for Scottish monarchs for hundreds of years.
