Former royal residence in the heart of the country’s capital. Castle extraordinaire. Once upon a time a prison. Home of the Crown Jewels.
No, I’m not talking about the Tower of London.
I’m talking about Edinburgh Castle.
Set high atop Castle Rock, this mighty castle dominates the Edinburgh skyline and has become a symbol of the city. Once the abode of kings, it has played an important part in Scottish history.
Want to visit this most famous of Scottish castles? Here’s your ultimate guide to the one and only Edinburgh Castle!
Table of Contents
A Short History of Edinburgh Castle
The site where Edinburgh Castle now sits was first inhabited during the Bronze Age, some 5000 years ago, when a hilltop fort was first built.
The first documentary evidence of the castle appears during the reign of Malcolm III (1031 – 1093). Known as the “Castle of Maidens” back there, it was known to be one of the dwelling places of the Scottish royal family, who lived here on and off for centuries.
Throughout the Middle Ages and into the Early Modern period, it became one of the most prominent residences of the Scottish kings and queens.
Thanks to its strategic location, Edinburgh Castle also suffered many sieges over the centuries. Scots vs. English, Scottish nobility vs. Scottish royalty, royalist vs. Cromwellian, and even Jacobite forces fought over the castle. In fact, Edinburgh Castle is the most besieged castle in Britain.
The last siege of the castle may have taken place in 1745, but it has continued its military use since then. Prisoners of war were kept at the castle in the 18th and 19th centuries – including some captured during the American Civil War. Even to the present day, the castle serves as the Regimental Headquarters of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Regimental Headquarters of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys).
Edinburgh Castle’s importance received global recognition when it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Today, over a million people visit the castle every year.
Essential Information / Before you go
Opening Times
The castle is open most of the year, although times vary. Currently they are:
1 January: 11:00am – 5:00pm
2 January to 31 March: 9:30am – 5:00pm
1 April to 30 September: 9:30am – 6:00pm
1 October to 23 December: 9:30am – 5:00pm
24 December: 9:30am – 4:00pm
25 and 26 December: Closed
27 December to 31 December: 9:30am – 5:00pm
Note: Last admission is an hour before closing. (Last admission on December 24 at 2:30pm.)
Tickets
Standard ticket prices are:
Adult (aged 16-64): £21.50 – £24.00
Adult (aged 65+): £17.00 – £19.00
Child (aged 7-15): £13.00 – £14.50
Children under 7 enter free.
Check out more ticket options (and the most up-to-date prices) here.
Members of Historic Scotland or the Explorer Pass also enter free.
If you want to experience High Tea at the Tea Rooms, prices include admission to the castle and are:
Adult (non-member): £60 or £66
Historic Scotland Member Adult: £38 or £43
Child (non-member): £30
Where can I purchase tickets?
You can purchase online, directly at the site, or through a tour operator. If you plan on visiting during the busy summer months, I highly recommend booking in advance, whether that be purchasing tickets on your own (which is what I opted to do) or through a tour operator.
How do I get the tickets I purchased online?
When you purchase your tickets online from the office website, you will be prompted to select how you want your tickets delivered to you. Options include downloading your tickets to your mobile phone or receiving an email from where you can print out the tickets to bring with you.
Should I purchase tickets in advance?
If you’re going during the busy summer months, definitely, if you want a guaranteed entry. This is especially true during August, the busiest month for visitors.
When I went, I had an entrance timeslot for just after opening. As I approached the castle entrance, there was a sign up that warned unprepared tourists that there were no tickets available…until 2pm the next day.
Guided Tours
Guided tours are available during high season (typically late March or early April to the end of September).
Cost: about £3.00 per visitor (on top of the regular ticket price)
Due to limited space, guided tours MUST be booked in advance.
Audio Guides
Adult: £3.50
Concession: £2.50
Child: £1.50
I’d skip the audio guide if you’re knowledgeable about Scottish history, as it likely won’t provide you with any new information. I found the signs posted around to be informative about what you were seeing.
What time of year is best to visit?
Any time of year! Summer is the height of tourist season, so you’ll be contending with more crowds, especially during August, when tourists to the city double thanks to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Military Tattoo.
What time of day is best to visit?
Get inside the castle by noon. The reason? You’ll want to check out the 1 o’clock gun (more on that below).
Of course, the earlier or later in the day you go, the fewer people there’ll be. The middle of the day will be busiest, but it’s worth dealing with the crowds to witness the gun go off.
What is the recommended length of time to visit?
Depends on how much you plan on seeing, but half a day (2-4 hours) will give you a good amount of time to see most everything and even enjoy some lunch.
What should I bring?
Wear comfortable shoes – you’ll likely be standing and walking a lot during your visit and, like many old buildings, there are some uneven steps and winding staircases to climb.
Also, being Scotland, you’ll want to keep an eye on the weather. In colder months, you’ll want to layer up. For most of the year, you’ll want to bring some kind of rain protection just in case.
What should I not bring?
Large backpacks and suitcases are not permitted in the castle.
How to get there
Edinburgh Castle is located on the west side of the Royal Mile.
Hop-on-hop-off tours and taxis may get you close (there’s no parking lot, so driving isn’t really an option either), but any way you slice it, you’ll need to walk up to the castle.
Bathrooms/Restrooms
There are bathrooms spread throughout the castle complex. They are:
- Opposite the Ticket Office, near the entrance
- By David’s Tower
- At the Tea Rooms
- At the Redcoat Café
During your visit
On to the fun stuff! Here’s what to see and expect:
Upon Arrival
Your tickets will be inspected upon entry, or you can purchase them on-site.
If you want an audio guide, purchase them near the entrance.
What to see and do:
There’s a lot to see at Edinburgh Castle. Here’s a taste of what you can see:
Portcullis Gate
Portcullis Gate is one of the first parts of the castle you’ll encounter on your visit. It dates from the 1570s, when it was built to replace a tower that had been destroyed by a siege.
The upper part of the gate dates from the 1880s, as the previous structure was deemed too plain.
Argyle Battery
Here you’ll get some of the best views of Edinburgh.
You’ll also notice some canons still positioned to defend the castle in a siege (though they probably wouldn’t actually work). These particular ones date from Napoleonic times.
One O’Clock Gun
This is the reason you’ll want to visit the castle before, well, 1pm. Because everyday at 1 o’clock precisely, a gun is fired.
The tradition dates back to 1861 and was meant as a time signal for nearby ships. (The older method was a visual ball drop…which probably wasn’t the best idea for oft-rainy Scotland.)
With modern technology, its historic use as a timekeeping method isn’t necessary anymore. Instead, it’s a popular tourist draw.
If you want to get as close as possible to the gun, get there at least a half hour prior to the firing as it will draw a crowd. But don’t worry if you don’t want to stand around that long. Since the castle is built on a hill, you can easily find a good place to watch, even though you may not be up close and personal.
David’s Tower
Edinburgh Castle has evolved over the centuries – thanks in part to the sieges it endured, where parts of the castle were blasted away by enemy fire.
This is what happened to the once mighty David’s Tower, built by King David II, from whom the tower gets its name. He lived here, and used it to store the royal treasures. A couple of centuries later, the force of an English cannon proved too much and the tower collapsed in 1573.
Built over before being rediscovered in the 19th century, today the tower is one of the oldest parts of the castle.
David’s Tower may have been the scene of one of Edinburgh Castle’s most infamous episodes. 16-year-old William, Earl of Douglas and his younger brother were invited to have dinner with King James II. Despite the cries of the 10-year-old king, the Douglas brothers were suddenly taken out and murdered. Known as the “Black Dinner,” the event was said to have inspired the “Red Wedding” in George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones.
St. Margaret’s Chapel
This small chapel is the oldest building in Edinburgh, dating from the 12th century. It was built by King David I as a chapel for the royal family. It was dedicated to his mother, Queen Margaret, who died at the castle in 1093. Known for her piety, Margaret was canonized a saint in 1250.
Romanesque in style, the chapel was restored after its identity was discovered in the 19th century. (Before that, it was used to store gunpowder.) The decorated arches in front of the altar are original.
There’s a lovely stained glass of Saint Margaret, but this is a modern addition to the chapel.
Mons Meg
Mons Meg is a whopping 6-ton, 20-inch diameter cannon – making her one of the largest caliber cannons ever built. Even her cannonballs weighed nearly 400lbs (175kg)!
A wedding gift from Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy to King James II of Scotland, Mons Meg served in a military capacity for less than 100 years. She was fully retired from service after her barrel burst in 1680.
Scottish National War Memorial
Opened in the 1920s, the Scottish National War Memorial commemorates those Scots killed during the two world wars and later conflicts.
The Roll of Honour is kept there and you can look up the names of those who perished. It’s a moving sight, seeing the books filled with names, surrounded by military colours, stone columns and stained glass, and a chapel for prayer.
Families of the fallen still do come here to remember their lost loved ones, so proper respect should be shown while visiting the memorial. No photographs are permitted inside.
The Honours of Scotland
The Honours of Scotland is the name given to the Scottish regalia, consisting of the crown, scepter, and the Sword of State. They are showcased in a brightly lit glass case in a small, dimly lit room in the castle, together with the Stone of Destiny.
First used together during the coronation of an infant Mary, Queen of Scots, the Honours of Scotland actually older than the more famous British Crown Jewels. They date from 14th and 15th centuries. The scepter and sword were said to be gifts from the pope. The crown was fashioned for Mary’s father, James V.
The Stone of Destiny has always held a special fascination for me. In ancient times, Scottish kings were crowned at Scone – the stone is also known as the Stone of Scone. The high point of the ceremony involved the king seating himself on the stone, symbolizing the union of the king, the land, and its people.
The Stone of Destiny was so important to Scotland, that King Edward I of England made it a point to take the stone to London. It’s been used in the coronation of English monarchs ever since. The stone was returned to Scotland in 1996, although it returns to London whenever a new monarch is crowned.
Since the room in which the Honours are held is so small, only a limited number of people are permitted to enter at a time. There can be a small line to get, but it’s not even remotely close to the long wait that you’d experience for the British Crown Jewels.
Royal Palace
After seeing the Honours of Scotland, you’ll be dropped off at the Royal Palace. These were used by Scotland’s royals when they came to stay at the castle.
Most notably, Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to the future James VI (& I of England) here, in a tiny corner room that you can still see. Mary’s formidable mother, Mary of Guise died at the castle in 1560. The last monarch to stay here was James’ ill-fated son, Charles I, in 1633.
- Want to see more places associated with Mary, Queen of Scots? Check out In the footsteps of Mary, Queen of Scots!
The Great Hall
Built in 1511 during the reign of King James IV, it was used for ceremonies and banquets. Now, you can find swords, halberds, armor, and even mini-cannons. While much of the interior has been restored after damage from being used as a military barracks, the impressive free-standing roof is original.
Prisons of War
In the 18th and early 19th centuries, Edinburgh Castle was used to house prisoners of war. Now, you can see what their living conditions would have looked like in this part of the castle.
There’s also a weird voiceover of imagined conversations between prisoners that plays as you walk through the exhibit. It really threw me off when I was there, made creepier by the fact that I was the only tourist around.
Regimental Museums
There are two regimental museums located within Edinburgh Castle: The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Regimental Museum and the Museum of the Royal Scots and the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Similar to other regimental museums, they tell honor the bravery of these Scottish regiments and give an overview of the conflicts they have been involved in. You can find swords, uniforms, and other mementos. You can also see the Victoria Crosses earned by members of the regiments for their acts of valor.
Scottish National War Museum
Located in what was once a warehouse, this museum is dedicated to, well, war. Covering over 400 years of military history, you’ll find uniforms, weapons, and other mementos of war.
Also at the museum? The well-known painting The Thin Red Line by Robert Gibb, which depicts an event during the Crimean War when 500 Highland soldiers stood their ground against 2,500 enemy cavalry.
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (every year in August)
This extravaganza that takes place every August on the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. Featuring military performances from the UK and around the world, it is part of the Edinburgh Festivals.
Born out of a longer tradition of military tattoos, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo began with a simple performance in 1949, with a full program the following year. Since then, it has grown to become one of the major events in the UK and is televised annually.
This was one of the highlights of my trip to Edinburgh. There are two performances on Saturdays and occasionally on Fridays. If you plan on attending on one of these days, go for the later performance, which takes place after dark. Then you can watch the fireworks display in all its glory.
The Gift Shops
There are a few gift shops scattered around the castle. Of note:
The main gift shop, the Portcullis Gift Shop, is near the ticket office and information center. You’ll find a variety of gifts here, including exclusive Edinburgh Castle merchandise.
Near St. Margaret’s Chapel you’ll find the Whisky and Finest Food Shop, where you can pick up food, liqueurs, and you guessed it, whiskey.
Where to Eat
A couple of cafés are located in the castle complex:
The Red Coat Café is located right near the One O’clock Gun. You can find a variety of food here, including grab-and-go sandwiches, baked goods, and, during lunch, hot food.
For something a little more stereotypically British, book an afternoon tea package to be enjoyed at The Tea Rooms. Prices may be a little steep, but they include admission to the castle. Don’t forget to admire the decorative cakes on display, which you can also enjoy even if you aren’t stopping by for tea.
Nearby sites not to miss
Edinburgh Castle is right at the end of the Royal Mile. So take stroll down the mile, buy your souvenirs at some of the many souvenirs shops, and stop by some of the other historic sites along the way, including St. Giles’ Cathedral, the main church of the Church of Scotland, John Knox House, where the Protestant reformer was said to have lived, Mary King’s Close, a historic alleyway said to be among Scotland’s most haunted, and Canongate Kirk, where Elizabeth II worshipped when she was in town.
If you want to make it a royal Scotland kind of day, head to the opposite end of the Royal Mile, where you’ll wind up at Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland.
So there you have it! A complete guide to visiting Edinburgh Castle. What are you most looking forward to seeing at the castle?
For more ideas on how to spend your time in Edinburgh, check out my Edinburgh itinerary.
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