With its historic buildings, museums, shops and restaurants, this stretch of Edinburgh's Old Town is a much-loved haunt.
A visit to Edinburgh wouldn’t be complete without a trip along the Royal Mile with its hundreds of years of rich Scottish heritage and culture. This cobblestone stretch runs all the way from Edinburgh Castle on one side, to the Palace of Holyroodhouse on the other. To this day, its series of streets come together to make up the Old Town's foremost thoroughfare, where you can see its historic buildings and admire some of the city's best sights.
Start off from the castle on the west side and head down the hill. On the way, you'll pass by pubs, restaurants and plenty of independent shops. On the south side, you’ll find Parliament Square, home of Parliament House, which today houses several law courts.
Also in the square, you'll find St. Giles' Cathedral, the Mother Church of Presbyterianism, which has served as a place of worship for locals for almost a millennium. As you venture indoors, look down at the cobbles near its west entrance and you’ll notice the heart-shaped Heart of Midlothian mosaic, marking the very spot where the Old Tolbooth prison was once situated.
Head for the People's Story museum, which traces the history of the city and shares the stories of ordinary Edinburgh citizens all the way back to its early medieval days. Or visit Gladstone's Land and gaze at the interiors of this stunning 17th century townhouse.
Nearby is the Canongate graveyard, where many famous Scottish figures like philosopher and economist Adam Smith are buried. The Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre is also well worth a visit if you’d like a taste of Scotland's national drink. The name whisky is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic term "usquebaugh", meaning 'water of life'. All around this part of town, you’ll see examples of the rich history and heritage, discovering hidden passages and alleyways that remain much the same as they would have done hundreds of years ago.
When you reach the Palace of Holyroodhouse, you'll be at the end of the Royal Mile. You can visit this royal residence throughout the year, except when the British royal family is visiting. It will take you a brisk 20 minutes to walk across The Royal Mile, but to explore everything here you could lose yourself for at least a couple of days.
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