How long is the Royal Mile?
This might seem like an obvious question. The Royal Mile is a mile long, right? Well, yes and no. It’s not a mile as we know it today, it’s actually slightly longer at 1.13 miles. So let’s delve into the history of this famous Edinburgh street to find out more…
Measuring the Royal Mile
The Royal Mile is a historic cobbled street in Edinburgh, which runs through the heart of the city’s Old Town. This iconic street stretches from the imposing Edinburgh Castle at the top, to the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the bottom. The Royal Mile takes the “Royal” part of its name from its connection to these two royal buildings, while the “Mile” refers to the street’s length when it was originally built, from around the 12th century. But back then, Scots used their own units of measurement.
At the time of its construction, the mile used for measuring the length of the street was not the mile we know today. Instead, it was a Scots mile, a unit that was slightly longer than the English equivalent. The exact length varied slightly from place to place, but it was generally about 1.13 English miles, or roughly 1.81 kilometers. Over time, as measurements became more standardised and then integrated with the rest of the United Kingdom, the use of the Scots mile diminished. By the 19th century, it had become obsolete.
Exploring this historic street
So, that’s why the Royal Mile isn’t exactly one mile long. Just one of the many stories behind this fascinating Edinburgh street! Comprising of five main sections: Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, Canongate and Abbey Strand, it is a key part of the Old Town. It takes only around 20 minutes of walking time to venture from one end to the other, although you could spend all day visiting its many attractions, shops, restaurants and museums.
