Royal Mile, Edinburgh

by scottishvisitor
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A Place of Incarsination

The Tollbooth was erected in 1561 & restored in 1879. The building had a Council Chamber accessed by the outside stairs. Underneath was the Jail, this must have been a grim place indeed, especially if you were a Gypsy. They were jailed simply for being what they were. After time spent in the Tollbooth they were then transported to Greenock & shipped from there to New York. The Tollbooth is now a museum with free entry but no visit to New York on offer here!!

Address: Cannongate

Directions: On The Royal Mile

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	Royal Mile: The People's Story Tip Rating:

Updated By Nemorino

on July 7, 2005

The People's Story

Opposite the Museum of Edinburgh ("across the street," as we would say) there is another museum called "The People's Story", which documents the everyday life of the inhabitants of Edinburgh in various historical periods, from the late 18th century to the present day.

There are full-scale reconstructions of such places as a prison cell, a cooper's workshop, a 1940s kitchen, a wash-house, a pub and a tea room, and there is a twenty-minute video presentation.

Open Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sundays during August 12 noon - 5pm. Admission is free.

Address: Canongate Tolbooth, 163 Canongate

Phone: 0131 529 4057

Directions: On the Royal Mile.

Website: http://www.cac.org.uk/

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	Royal Mile: Royal Mile Tip Rating:

on July 1, 2005

Top of the Royal Mile

The Royal Mile is a collective name for the streets connecting Edinburgh Castle, at the top end, with Holyrood House at the bottom. The official names of these streets are Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate, and a short stretch called Abbey Strand leading up to the entrance of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Along the Royal Mile there are at least two dozen buildings that could with some justification be described as tourist attractions, so it's no wonder you can find lots of tourists along here. In fact if you have lost some tourist acquaintance and are looking for him or her, this would be a good place to start.

Website: http://www.royalmile.com/

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	Royal Mile: Museum of Edinburgh Tip Rating:

on July 1, 2005

Museum of Edinburgh

Down towards the lower end of the Royal Mile there are two local history museums which document the history of Edinburgh in quite different ways.

This one, the Museum of Edinburgh, gives an interesting if rather conventional view of the city's growth and development over the centuries.

It is located in a restored 16th century building called Huntly House.

Open Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sundays during August 12 noon - 5pm. Admission is free.

Address: 142 Canongate

Phone: 0131 529 4143

Directions: On the Royal Mile.

Website: http://www.cac.org.uk/

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	Royal Mile: The Fudge House of Edinburgh Tip Rating:

Updated By Nemorino

on July 20, 2006

The Fudge House of Edinburgh

There are several fudge shops along the Royal Mile.

This is the only one I've ever been to, because I like its looks (also my son used to know a girl who worked here), so I'm afraid I can't judge if their fudge is better or worse than anybody else's along the street.

What I can definitely say is that their fudge is not as good as the fudge my mother used to make when I was a child. But it comes in more colors (colours) and flavors (flavours) than hers did.

Address: 197 Canongate

Phone: 0131 556 4172

Directions: On the Royal Mile.

Website: http://www.fudgehouse.co.uk/

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	Royal Mile: Tolbooth Tavern Tip Rating:

on July 1, 2005

Tolbooth tavern

In addition to the museum "The People's Story", the historic building "Canongate Tolbooth" also houses a traditional pub (said to be "popular with tourists" -- no wonder, considering where it is) called the Tolbooth Tavern.

Address: 167 Canongate

Phone: 0131 556 5348

Directions: On the Royal Mile.

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	Royal Mile: Canongate Tolbooth Tip Rating:

on July 1, 2005

Canongate Tolbooth

The building "'Canongate Tolbooth", which now houses the "People's Story" Museum, was built around 1590 to house the Council Chambers (and the prison) of the then-independent burgh of Canongate, which had not yet been made a part of Edinburgh.

The building was restored in 1879. The clock on the outside of the building is not the original, but is a replacement for a clock that was made in the 17th century.

Address: 163/167 Canongate

Directions: On the Royal Mile.

Website: http://www.rampantscotland.com/edinburgh/bledin_tolbooth.htm

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	Royal Mile: The Royal Mile - Edinburgh's Most Interesting Walk Tip Rating:

Updated By tpal

on March 31, 2005

by tpal
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Advocate's Close on the
Royal Mile

The Royal Mile is undoubtedly the most famous street in Edinburgh. It runs from the castle down a rocky ridge which has been compared to a spine. Along High Street are some of the most important buildings in the Old Town area such as St. Giles Cathedral, but to me the most intriguing aspect of the street is what I see as its organic nature. This is a street which developed as needed. Unlike modern recreations of urban centers, this street has a certain elegant disorganization about it.

One of my favorite aspects are the many closes or narrow alleyways which connect this spine with the adjoining streets. Pictured here is the Advocate's Close across form St. Giles Cathedral and named for Scotland's first Lord Advocate, James Stewart, who had a house located on the close. The earliest building dates to 1590. Many of the closes have plaques mounted with brief histories.

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	Royal Mile: Heart of Midlothian Tip Rating:

Updated By MalenaN

on April 4, 2005

by MalenaN
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Heart of Midlothian on the
Royal Mile

In the pavement outside St Giles Cathedral there is a heart, the Heart of Midlothian. A tradition says you shall spit on it for luck when you pass. I didn’t, but I saw an old man doing that at the same time he said something. Hope it gave him luck!

Address: On The Royal Mile (High Street)

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	Royal Mile: Royal Mile Tip Rating:

Updated By MalenaN

on March 24, 2005

by MalenaN
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The Royal Mile

The Royal Mile is the street going down from the Castle, through Old Town, to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It is about 1 mile long, and is actually divided in four sections, Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate.
Walking down the Royal Mile you will pass many old buildings and churches, hotels and hostels (I stayed at Brodie’s Backpacker Hostel on High Street), souvenir shops and museums.