11 Iconic Buildings and Places in Edinburgh

Enjoy the climb up to Arthur’s Seat through Holyrood Park, once a royal hunting ground, and you’ll be rewarded with sweeping city views. This 251m summit is a dormant volcano which last fizzed into action 335 million years ago. As well as being an incredible viewpoint and famous landmark, the summits are also the site of an Iron Age hill fort.

Over 2000 years ago, these hills were fortified by a people known as the Votadini, and the remains of these buildings were uncovered in 2020. Today, the views that once made them an excellent place for fortification, make them a wonderful spot for photographs.

The square at Grassmarket is still bustling with activity to this day. Fifteenth-century taverns and shops line Grassmarket, offering refreshments, clothing and other goods to visitors in historic surroundings. This marketplace was both a trading place and, more ghoulishly, the site of public hangings.

The site of its gallows is marked by a plaque opposite The Last Drop tavern, where condemned men drank their last whisky. One of the most famous gallows’ guests was Maggie Dickson, who woke up in her coffin after the hanging and became infamous for surviving the drop and there’s still a pub named after her in the square.

This dramatically located links course has hosted the Open Championships 6 times from 1874 and is home to one of the world’s oldest golf courses. There is documented evidence of golf being played here as far back as 1672.

This 9-hole course is a must-visit for any golfing enthusiasts in your group. Try playing a round using authentic hickory clubs, remodelled from 19th-century originals. On weekends, small groups may also have access to the clubhouse itself, if they contact the club in advance.

At the foot of Arthur’s Seat, near Duddingston Loch, you’ll find the Sheep Heid Inn. Established in the 14th century, this charming Edinburgh pub has played host to Scottish royalty. Mary, Queen of Scots apparently made this historic tavern her local as she jaunted between Craigmillar and Holyrood palaces. Her son James VI played skittles in reputedly the world’s oldest skittle alley.

In the centuries since, other notable figures, including Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson have stopped in for a drink or 2. With so many famous names giving their approval, how could you pass it up?

Among all the historic stone, the steel-and-glass Scottish Parliament building stands out as an emblem of modern design and ingenuity. It scooped up plenty of awards when it opened in 2004, as well as controversy due to being overdue and over budget.

Parliament sits on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, but even then the building is free to enter. Guided tours are available the rest of the week, apart from Sundays when the building is closed. A tour around Enric Miralles’s legacy shows off the angular Tower Buildings, upturned skylights and fanciful motifs.

Now nestling on the waterfront at Leith is the one-time floating palace for Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family, used for state visits and holidays between 1935 and 1978. Take a peek into the lavish lifestyles of the British monarchy, with the chance to see the Queen’s bedroom and one of her Rolls-Royces in the on-board garage.

You can also discover the hard work and complexities that go into running a yacht of this size. Across the 5 levels, you learn about not just the experiences of the royals aboard, but also the crew that kept the Britannia running for over 40 years.

Wherever you are in the city, this great medieval fortress perched on ancient volcanic rock is visible. It’s a microcosm of local history: this was the site of Mary, Queen of Scot’s home, headquarters of Cromwell’s invading army and today it hosts the military tattoo during the Edinburgh Festival.

Within the castle lie the Honours of Scotland, the oldest crown jewels in the UK, still as sparkling as they were in the 1500s. Plunge into the past in the Fight for the Castle exhibition, which whisks you back through time to the Scottish wars for independence. As the castle is such a popular destination, buy tickets online during peak season.

Discover the portal to the past that is the Georgian House. Restored to its former glory to demonstrate what life was like in Edinburgh in the 18th century, this fascinating townhouse, designed by Robert Adam, is a fine representative of Georgian town planning and architecture.

Walking around the 3 floors of this house museum you’ll get a glimpse into how both the upper class and their servants lived. With period furnishings, china and silver on display, there’s plenty to make history fans excited.

One of the Old Town’s many resting places, this cemetery is said to be one of the most haunted in Britain, where ghosts, ghouls and poltergeists are, apparently, a common sighting. The church was founded in 1620 and also houses a museum. Surrounding it are the serene grounds of the graveyard.

Perhaps the most famous resident, however, is 4-legged. Greyfriars Bobby, the loyal dog who stayed by his master’s grave for 14 years, is commemorated with a statue and a pub right outside the entrance to the kirk, as well as a gravestone and memorial within. Thousands of people stop to pet this best boy as they go past, as you can see from his shining nose.

The National Monument of Scotland was a failed attempt at building a full-scale copy of the Parthenon that was designed to commemorate Scottish soldiers. To this day, only 12 columns have been completed after work was stopped due to funding issues in 1829. The monument was originally designed to be a memorial to honour Scottish soldiers who lost their lives in the Napoleonic Wars.

Even without the interesting history of the unfinished building, a visit to the monument is still impressive with the beautiful sight of the massive columns perched atop Calton Hill, and the views of the cityscape beyond.

The National War Museum in Edinburgh Castle highlights the lives of Scotland’s soldiers and the influence of war on the country’s relationships with neighbouring countries. You should allow about an hour for your museum tour, but there is much more to do in the castle, so it’s easy to make a day of your trip to take in all the sights.

In addition to the big-picture history of battles, the museum focuses on the personal experiences of soldiers. Stroll through 400 years of history shown through artefacts such as weapons, armour, paintings of famous battles and personal effects and letters from soldiers. The museum is sure to fascinate anyone with an interest in Scottish or war-time history.