St Giles' Cathedral
About
The High Kirk of Edinburgh, halfway down the Royal Mile, its crown steeple one of the defining shapes of the skyline. John Knox preached the Reformation from this pulpit, and the Thistle Chapel, a small riot of early-twentieth-century carving, is the chapel of the Order of the Thistle, Scotland's highest order of chivalry (find the angel playing bagpipes). Entry is free as a working church, with donations welcome; access can be restricted without notice for services and events, and guided rooftop tours run for around £6 if you want the Mile from above.
Photos
Highlights
- ✓The crown steeple, a skyline signature since the fifteenth century
- ✓The Thistle Chapel and its bagpiping angel carving
- ✓John Knox's pulpit and Reformation history
Tips
- →It is a working church: access may close without notice for services
- →Summer hours roughly Mon-Fri 09:00-19:00, Sat to 17:00, Sun from 13:00; shorter in winter
- →Rooftop tours run around £6 per person; book via the cathedral
- →Free guided tours run some weekday afternoons; check the board inside
Best Season
More Attraction Activities
Edinburgh Castle
Scotland's great fortress on its volcanic rock: the crown jewels, the Stone of Destiny, the One O'Clock Gun, and the city's defining view.
National Museum of Scotland
Scotland's free national museum: the great Victorian Grand Gallery, Dolly the sheep, and a rooftop terrace with a Castle view.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The King's official Scottish residence at the foot of the Royal Mile: Mary, Queen of Scots' chambers and the ruined Holyrood Abbey.