As Scotland’s capital city since at least the 15th century, and an important city for even longer than that, so it’s no surprise that Edinburgh is full of historic things to see.
Not sure where to start? Here are 10 of the best!
Table of Contents
A (Very) Short History of Edinburgh
There’s evidence that Edinburgh has been inhabited continuously since the Bronze Age some 5000 years ago. But it was during the reign of King Malcolm III (r. 1057 – 1093), who made Edinburgh his seat of power, that the city’s importance really took off.
After the turbulent Middle Ages (during which the city was invaded a couple of times by the English), the financial and intellectual wealth of Edinburgh grew during the Renaissance. Commercial activity increased, which in turn attracted more people to the city, most of whom lived in unsanitary tenements. New ideas also flourished – reformers such as John Knox came into conflict with the devoutly Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary was eventually defeated, and Protestantism became established in Scotland.
The union between Scotland and England occurred in 1603. Throughout the next century religious tensions continued and Edinburgh lost nearly half its population during a particularly devastating outbreak of the plague in 1645.
The 1700s saw the Jacobite Rebellion and the pretender Bonnie Prince Charlie came to the city. It was also at this time that Edinburgh realized it needed a revamp – and building on the New Town began.
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Edinburgh became a leading center of the Enlightenment in Britain. Joseph Black, William Cullen, James Hutton, Robert Burns, David Hume, Adam Smith, Dugald Stewart, Allan Ramsay, Henry Raeburn, and Sir Walter Scott were all active during this period.
The Industrial Revolution and modernization came to Edinburgh in the 19th century and the city continued to grow in prestige. Since the 20th century, there has been an increasing wave of nationalism and greater calls for independence – Scotland received its own parliament again in 1997 (this has been dissolved during the union with England), centered in Edinburgh.
The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
1. Edinburgh Castle
The iconic castle on a hill. No matter where you are in the city, you’re likely to catch a glimpse of Edinburgh Castle.
A center of power for several centuries, the town of Edinburgh grew up around this fort. Later, in the 11th century, a stone castle was built by King Malcolm III and was used as a residence for Scottish kings and queens.
Always possessing a military function, at one point it held prisoners of war. Today, it still serves as the headquarters of two Scottish regiments, as well as housing some military museums and the Scottish National War Museum.
Here you can find Edinburgh’s oldest building, St. Margaret’s Chapel, see where Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to her son and successor James VI, the first king of a united Scotland and England, and watch the firing of the one o’clock gun. It’s also the site of the annual Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Edinburgh Castle is one of the city’s most popular sights, so I recommend booking your ticket in advance, especially during the busy summer months.
Want to learn more? Check out my Ultimate Guide to Edinburgh Castle!
2. Palace of Holyroodhouse
Located opposite Edinburgh Castle on the Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the monarch in Scotland. The king does visit every summer; the palace is closed to the public during that week.
Scottish monarchs have been associated with Holyrood since the 12th century, often staying at the guesthouse when they visited the abbey founded by King David I. James IV built a palace here at the beginning of the 16th century, although the current building dates mostly from the 17th. Mary, Queen of Scots famously witnessed the murder of her friend and secretary David Rizzo here in 1566. Bonnie Prince Charlie briefly occupied the palace during the Jacobite uprising.
Next door to the palace is Holyrood Abbey, once a grand Gothic church, now attractive ruins. You can also enjoy some of the lovingly upkept gardens, where the Royal Company of Archers, the King’s bodyguard in Scotland, are still permitted to practice shooting bows and arrows.
3. The Royal Mile
The main street of Edinburgh’s old town and one of the city’s oldest areas, the Royal Mile is bookended on either side by Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
In days of old, the Royal Mile was the traditional procession route for Scotland’s monarch. Today, it’s a popular spot for tourists, which also explains the many souvenirs shops along the road.
But it’s also where you’ll find several historical sites, including St. Giles Cathedral (more on that below), the Real Mary King’s Close (again, more on that below), Canongate Kirk and kirkyard (with its distinctive architecture and where some famous Scots are buried), and the Scottish Parliament building.
Want to learn more about the Royal Mile? Check out the Historic Things to See Along the Royal Mile!
4. National Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland was the result of a merger between two museums – and it really feels like you’re getting two museums in one. The first is a natural history and science museum; the second showcases the history of Scotland.
In the natural history/science and technology section, you’ll find dinosaur bones, artefacts from world cultures, and flying machines. One of the museum’s star attractions? Dolly the Sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult mammal.
The Scottish history section is particularly fascinating. There’s lots to discover here, from ancient down to modern Scotland. In addition to personal items belonging to Mary, Queen of Scots and lots of claymore swords, you can find the Lewis chessmen (some of them; the other half are in the British Museum in London), the Hunterston Brooch (one of the most important Celtic brooches), and The Maiden (an early form of guillotine).
But it’s not just the exhibits themselves that are worth seeing. Be sure to check out the museum’s architecture, a contrast between the Victorian Grand Gallery and the geometric Corbusian design of the Scottish galleries.
5. National Gallery of Scotland
Located in a building designed to look like an Ancient Greek Temple, the National Gallery of Scotland opened to the public in 1859. Here you’ll find important Scottish masterpieces, as well as works from the titans of European art, including Rafael, Van Dyck, Titian, Rembrandt, El Greco, Velazquez, Monet, Cezanne, and Van Gogh.
Some of the works you should check out:
- The Monarch of the Glenby Edward Landseer, iconic Scottish painting of a stag
- The Skating Minister by Henry Raeburn, another of Scotland’s most well-known paintings
- Colonel Alastair Ranaldson Macdonell of Glengarry by Henry Raeburn, portrait of the flamboyant Scottish laird whose dress (as seen in the portrait) influence the uniforms of other Scottish regiments
- Lady Agnew of Lochnaw by John Singer Sargent, which shot the sitter into celebrity status
- Vision After the Sermon by Paul Gaugin, his first foray into the post-Impressionist style for which he later became famous
6. Scott Monument
This can’t-miss (literally and figuratively) monument to one of Scotland’s greatest writers is a whopping 200 ft (61m) high. Built in the Gothic style, construction began in 1840 from a design by George Meikle Kemp, the self-taught son of a shepherd.
Sir Walter Scott (1771 – 1832) was a novelist, poet, and historian, and is considered one of the most important writers Scotland ever produced. His most famous work perhaps is the historical novel Ivanhoe.
There’s a viewing platform at the top of the monument, although you’ll have to climb around 287 steps to get there. You’re rewarded with some of the best views of the city.
7. St. Giles Cathedral
Located on the Royal Mile, St. Giles Cathedral is a landmark of Edinburgh and the mother church of Presbyterianism. There’s been a church on this spot since 1124. The current building is a surprisingly harmonious mix of mostly late Gothic and Victorian architecture.
St. Giles has been the scene of many important events in Scottish history. Protestant reformer John Knox preached here, helping to turn Catholic Scotland into a Protestant country in the 16th century. Less than a hundred years later, a riot broke out here after Charles I tried to impose The Book of Common Prayer on the Presbyterian Scots, eventually leading to the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. More recently, the Order of the Thistle, Scotland’s only chivalric order, has held its services in the cathedral.
My personal favorites in the cathedral? The small but ornate Thistle Chapel, where the members of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle meet for services and inauguration of new members, and the stained-glass window depicting the assassination of Regent Moray in 1570, the first recorded assassination by firearm in history.
8. The Real Mary King’s Close
One of Edinburgh’s most popular attractions, the Real Mary King’s Close is a subterranean alleyway with a dark history. It’s also said to be Edinburgh’s most haunted – some 300 plague victims from the 1645 outbreak were bricked up here and left to die.
Mary King was a businesswoman who lived in the first half of the 1600s and came from a prominent family of academics and lawyers. The close was named after her, the last notable member of her family to live there.
Learn about the grittier side of Edinburgh’s past here as you follow a costumed guide for an hour-long tour. Booking ahead of time is recommended.
9. Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia
The Britanniawas a royal yacht, the most recent in a string of royal yachts dating back to the reign of Charles II. She was commissioned in 1954.
Acting as a floating palace, she was used for both official and private trips of the royal family. Several royal couples spent their honeymoons on the ship, most famously the then-Charles, Prince of Wales and his first wife Diana in 1981.
The ship was not only a royal vessel, but she was also designed to be used as a hospital ship in times of war. While never used in that capacity, she did help to evacuate British and other nationals from Aden, South Yemen in 1986.
After her decommissioning in 1997, Britannia was berthed permanently in Edinburgh and was opened to the public the following year. Today, she is one of the city’s most popular attractions.
Unusually, you do have to go through a shopping mall to get to the Britannia. The ticket office is on the 3rd floor.
Want to go more in-depth about where kings and queens spent their time in Edinburgh? Find out more about Royal Edinburgh here!
10. Calton Hill
Calton Hill is known for two things: its stunning views of Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth, and its weird collection of monuments.
Some of the notable monuments include the Nelson Monument, designed to look like Nelson’s telescope set in stone; the City Observatory, which was once the city’s astronomical observatory; the Dugald Stewart monument, dedicated to the Scottish philosopher Dugald Stewart; and the National Monument, which was supposed to honor those who died in the Napoleonic Wars, but which was rumored to be unfinished as a result of lack of funds.
Calton Hill is a much easier walk than the other great place to get views of Edinburgh, Holyrood Park and the walk up to Arthur’s Seat. However, I consider myself to be a reasonably fit person and even I got a little winded on the stairs up to Calton Hill. It is relatively flat once you make it up.
There you have it! My top picks for the most historic things to see in Edinburgh. What are you most looking forward to checking out? Let me know in the comments!
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