Hotels near The Royal Mile

The Royal Mile is the single most famous street in Edinburgh, running roughly one Scots mile (1.81 km / 1.12 miles) downhill from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It is technically four streets - Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, and Canongate - lined with medieval closes (narrow alleys), tartan shops, whisky bars, and the UNESCO-listed Old and New Towns of Edinburgh on either side.

Anchoring the centre is St Giles' Cathedral, the High Kirk of Scotland, recognisable by its 15th-century crown spire. Just downhill, John Knox House dates to around 1490 and is one of the oldest residential buildings in the city. The closes branching off the main street, like Mary King's Close and Advocate's Close, are atmospheric on their own and worth a detour. Buskers, bagpipers, and ghost-tour touts thicken from late morning - the street wakes up early but is at its quietest just after dawn.

Pro Tip: Skip the kilt shops and step into Real Mary King's Close (2 Warriston's Close, EH1 1PG) for a guided tour through 17th-century streets that were sealed off and built over. Book online to avoid the queue.