20 Attractions to Explore Near Royal Mile

This was a vibrant arts venue with a seasonal programme of live storytelling, theatre, music, exhibitions, workshops, family events and festivals. It is also used as a venue during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The new building, designed by Malcolm Fraser Architects, replaced the former Netherbow Arts Centre, which itself replaced the Moray-Knox Church, demolished in the 1960s.

John Knox House on Edinburgh's Royal Mile is a well-known tourist attraction, described by one architectural historian as 'improbably picturesque'. The house itself was built from 1490 onwards, featuring a fine wooden gallery and hand-painted ceiling. Investigate the ground floor and you can see the remnants of medieval ‘luckenbooths’, or locked booths, once rented out as shops.

The Museum of Childhood was the first museum in the world to be dedicated to the history of childhood and it attracts over 200,000 visitors a year. The collections include eighteenth-century teddy bears and beautiful dolls, all dressed in the period’s clothing. Visitors will also discover puppets, toy soldiers and small and rudimentary cars with pedals, among many other treasures.

The Edinburgh Vaults are a series of chambers formed by the 19 arches of South Bridge. Today, the vaults are one of the most haunted places in Edinburgh. For around 30 years, the vaults were used to house taverns, workshops for cobblers and other tradesmen, as well as storage space for said merchants. In later years, the vaults were a hotspot for the homeless and for criminal activity such as illegal gambling taverns, illegal whisky distillery and, according to rumour, bodysnatchers stored corps

Dovecot is a world-renowned tapestry studio in the heart of Edinburgh and a landmark centre for contemporary art, craft and design. It is a landmark centre for contemporary art, craft and design built around a leading international tapestry studio. The Gallery occupies an extraordinary building in the heart of Edinburgh working to programme, commission and produce exhibitions and events for audiences and clients who share Dovecot’s passion for making and the creative arts.

The People's Story Museum is a museum housed in the historic Canongate Tolbooth, which houses collections telling the story of the working-class people of Edinburgh from the late 18th century to the present day. This is done through use of oral history, reminiscence and written sources. The museum houses Britain's largest collection of early reform flags and banners: 144 in all.

The City Art Centre is an impressive nine-storey former warehouse located in the heart of Edinburgh. Originally constructed between 1899 and 1902, it was converted into gallery use in 1980. it has a collection which include historic and modern Scottish painting and photography, as well as contemporary art and craft. It is an exhibition based venue with no permanent displays.

The Canongate is the lower section of the famous Royal Mile in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. It was once a separate burgh from the city itself before becoming incorporated in 1865 as a district of the capital. The Canongate contains several historic buildings including Queensberry House, now incorporated in the Scottish Parliament Building complex, Huntly House, the Canongate Tolbooth and the Canongate Kirk, opened in 1691 replacing Holyrood Abbey as the parish church of the Canongat

The Museum of Edinburgh, is a museum in Edinburgh, Scotland, housing a collection relating to the town's origins, history and legends. It comprises of a variety of items related to Edinburgh’s history and legends, including objects made of silver, ceramic and glass. Moreover, there are several remarkable articles, for example, the original drawings of the New Town or a miniature of the Old Town dating from the sixteenth century, from the time of Mary, Queen of Scots.

This was a former fruit and vegetable market, first opened as a gallery in 1974, and has shown artists from Henri Cartier-Bresson and David Hockney to Louise Bourgeois and William Kentridge. The Fruitmarket's programme, publications and events all aim to ‘show thinking happening’ and ‘to demonstrate that art is a creative, active and generous cultural force’. As well as gallery spaces, the Fruitmarket offers a carefully curated shop including books, artist editions and gifts, and a cafe.

Lord Cockburn Street was built as an access to the Waverley Bridge Road at Waverley Rail Station from the High Street near to the Tron Kirk. The Plans for Cockburn Street were submitted over a lengthy period circa 1850 and was finally completed in 1859. Lord Cockburn's head is carved over the entrance to 1 Cockburn Street and The street contains a series of small specialist shops.

The Cowgate is a street in Edinburgh, Scotland, located about 550 yards southeast of Edinburgh Castle, within the city's World Heritage Site. The street is part of the lower level of Edinburgh's Old Town, which lies below the elevated streets of South Bridge and George IV Bridge. Consequently, the Cowgate can be quite gloomy and dark in sections. It meets the Grassmarket at its west end and Holyrood Road to the east.

Located in the heart of Edinburgh's historic Old Town - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - The City Chambers has enviable views of the city's skyline, providing an enchanting backdrop your event. The current building was originally built as the Royal Exchange, which was funded by subscription and commissioned in 1753.[2] It was designed by John Adam with detail alterations by John Fergus.

This is a beautiful natural garden offering a tranquil escape from the often-hectic Royal Mile. Originally created back in the 19th century by the landscape architect Sir Patrick Geddes, but heavily reconstructed by Seamus Filor in the 1970s, the garden boasts fragrant flowers, blooming bushes and sweet-smelling herbs - and all just a matter of metres from the capital’s busiest pedestrian street.

Edinburgh Waverley railway station is the principal station serving Edinburgh, Scotland. It is the second busiest station in Scotland, after Glasgow Central. It is the northern terminus of the East Coast Main Line, 393 miles 13 chains from London King's Cross, although some trains operated by London North Eastern Railway continue to other Scottish destinations beyond Edinburgh.

One of Edinburgh's top attractions and only preserved 17th-century street. The close was partially demolished and buried due to the building of the Royal Exchange in the 18th century, and later closed to the public for many years. The area became shrouded in myths and urban legends; tales of hauntings and murders abounded.

The Edinburgh Dungeon is the ultimate underground journey through Edinburgh's darkest history, using live actors, theatrical sets, special effects, 360 degree sets and thrilling rides in a truly unique and immersive walk-through experience. The shows are laced with tongue in cheek, gallows humour typical of the Dungeon brand. Since its opening, it has evolved to feature walkthrough theatrical shows, such as Witch Hunt, and the cannibal cave of Sawney Bean, based on the legend of the notorious ca

This is a memorial to the Scottish philosopher Dugald Stewart, professor of moral philosophy at the University of Edinburgh from 1786 until his death. The monument was situated on Calton Hill overlooking the city of Edinburgh and was built in 1831 to the design of architect William Playfair, who modelled his design on the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens.

St Giles’ Cathedral, built on an ancient sanctuary built during the ninth century. The temple is dedicated to St Giles, patron saint of the lepers. The current building was begun in the 14th century and extended until the early 16th century; significant alterations were undertaken in the 19th and 20th centuries, including the addition of the Thistle Chapel. St Giles' is closely associated with many events and figures in Scottish history, including John Knox, who served as the church's minister a

The Nelson Monument is a commemorative tower in honour of Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, located in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is situated on top of Calton Hill, and provides a dramatic termination to the vista along Princes Street from the west. The monument was built between 1807 and 1816 to commemorate Nelson's victory over the French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, and his own death at the same battle. In 1852 a mechanized time ball was added, as a time signal to shipping i