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Categories: Landmarks & Historical Buildings, Museums [Edit]
Castle HillMon-Sun 9:30 - 18:00
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I have some extremely fond memories of Edinburgh Castle, and I've been here quite a few times throughout my life. My dad's in the army and so we used to come pretty often for social functions where my sister and I would get to meet a whole load of grown ups. The food which they put on at those things is incredible with canapes, exotic drinks and big roast dinners for all lucky enough to attend.
Edinburgh Castle is where the Military Tattoo is held where different regiments put on an impressive display of marching, throwing their rifles in the air and firing huge guns. It takes amazing coordination and has a real sense of occassion about it.
The Castle is also a huge tourist attraction as you get a great view of the city and it offers plenty of information regarding its history and why it was built in the first place.
Okay so every yelper and their dog has written a review about Edinburgh Castle. But I still feel the urge to express my opinion- that same urge that has got me into trouble many a time.
Let me begin by saying that Edinburgh Castle, as a landmark, is truly beautiful. I could not wish for any other entity to sit, like a crown, at the centre of the city I live. No matter the view, if you can see Edinburgh Castle, it always remains impressive. It LOOKS spectacular.
However my feelings on the rest of the Castle experience are rather a mixed bunch. I'll get it out now and agree with the others who complain about the price. Some days you will be met with half hour+ queues only find out you have to pay half your travellers checks to get in.
But that isn't my main complaint, my main complaint is that I can't get over the fact that I feel Edinburgh Castle is a little phony. I feel like its presented as some symbol of Scottishness, and at the very least, a paradigm example of a Scottish castle. It's at least not the latter of these. Only part of the Great Hall and St Margaret's Chapel date from the 16th century or before, everything else is later, a large part Victorian. The Great Hall interior is Victorian (bar the ceiling which is genuine medieval and very impressive). It LOOKS medieval but its actually a Victorian romantic interpretation of a medieval hall. Of course the Hall did need repairing after Cromwell ruined it, but the fact its really a romanticised version of a castle is the feeling I feel pervades the whole site, not just the building, but also its presentation.
When I was in the Castle courtyard once, a tourist came up to me and said, "excuse me, could you tell me where the castle is?". "Madam, this IS the castle". I think there are two common responses from tourists after visiting, the first is that they love it in all its glory then expect all Scottish castles to resemble its grand facade, its completeness, its ideal castleness. Or they are perplexed "why doesn't it look anything the other castles we have seen around Scotland?"
There is, of course, so much history surrounding the castle. There has been a Royal Castle here since the 12th century. It has seen many wars, through the "Lang Siege" and the Jacobite Rebellions and all. I actually find the war museum, separate but based in the castle grounds, to be one of the more interesting parts, as I actually feel I learn something from it. The rest of the castle just feels, to be honest, a bit boring. A large part of it feels like a series of New Town villas (a residue of the castle's use as a military barracks).
The castle also lets down in its use for several over priced restaurants and tourist gifts shops. How many does it need? With every other shop down the Royal Mile selling whisky and books about genuine Scottish ghosts, does our premier historical site have to too?
Having said it all this, Edinburgh castle is worth a visit. It has moments when it does impress and even if only for the sake of its vital role (note, in the past) of Scottish history, you can still feel the nostalgia. I too have good memories of visiting as a child, and I wouldn't want to ignore those. Just remain open minded and do a bit of reading around the side. And expect to pay for the privilege. Lots.
After not visiting Edinburgh castle in years I though I would correct this and experience the main attraction in the city. Luckily for me I went on a hot sunny day and the castle dominated the blue skyline in the city.
Once inside the castle, you are provided with fantastic views of the city throughout the castle via the battlements and walls. The cost of getting into the castle is something around fifteen pounds, and at first I thought it was quite pricey, but overall it is great value for money.
Inside the castle there is a lot on offer to do. There are a number of museums on the different army regiments that have graced the castle, the prison, the church and the exhibition of the crown jewels and stone of destiny.
You can pass hour upon hours looking through all that is on offer! The castle was quite busy however, the beauty of the castle is that at certain places it is less busy and quieter, where you can appreciate the castle!
Its tag of Edinburgh's number one tourist attraction is well deserved!
Whether you're a tourist or a resident, the absolute must-see is the Edinburgh Castle. The Castle sits high atop a hill overlooking the City of Edinburgh at the end of the Royal Mile. According to their website, there has been human settlement on the site since 900BC. But it's more than just an old castle. There are several museums within the grounds.
Once you pass through the entrance, the first thing you'll notice is, besides the ticket machines, the gift shop. I guess they want to get you coming and going, but it is the largest one on site. Besides the usual T-Shirts, you can get clan histories and whiskey collections. Once past this commercialism, you pass through Portcullus Gate.
Being a castle, war plays an important part in its history. There are not one, but two war museums here. The National War Museum looks at four centuries of Scots at war. The Scottish National War Memorial is dedicated to the Scots who died in both World Wars. The Prisoners of War Exhibit shows how the castle was used for POWs imprisoned and executed there.
I think my favorite exhibits were the Royal Palace, the Great Hall, and the Crown Room. The Royal Palace was is where Scotland's royalty lived when they were in Edinburgh. Believe me, it wasn't quite as "palatial" as the name implies. They preferred staying at Holyrood Abbey. The Great Hall dates from the 1500s and was used for state functions. When Oliver Cromwell invaded Scotland, he had the hall converted into a barracks. It wasn't restored until the 1880s.
My favorite though was the Crown Room. Here you see Scotland's crown jewels. I fell into a hush marvelling at the quiet beauty of it all. Americans tend to think of anything made before 1990 as old. Here we have the crown, sceptre and sword date from the late 15th and early 16th centuries. They had to be buried a few times. Twice to hide them from Oliver Cromwell and once to hide them from the Nazis. They remain in ceremonial use today with the crown being present at the opening of Scottish Parliament.
You can easily spend almost an entire day here. A few tips. It's steep here--wear your walking shoes. And I mean good, sturdy, ugly, comfortable walking shoes. Be sure to watch the 1pm firing of the guns. Also it's a good idea to buy your tickets on line like Rick and I did. Finally, take the guided tour. The guides here are very knowledgeable and the tour is included with your admission.
Listed in: Trip to U.K.
The history and the views from the castle are stunning, so are the 'free' museums once you get inside.
They should have a student price, but they don't. Unless you can prove you are unemployed don't even bother trying to get the concession price. That to me is BS, how do you do that? "Um, excuse me boss that I don't have, can you validate that I do not work for you?"
Anyway, the one o'clock gun was great, the audio guide is informative (they have a student price for that!?!?!?!) and each part of the castle was amazing to look through and experience.
We had no problem with the queues because we bought our tickets online. The gift shop underneath St. Margaret's chapel has free whisky tasting that is single malt made in the Scottish Highlands and has a floral and honey hint. Check it out and maybe get a bottle or two.
Since I'm an Edinburgh Yelper I thought I should share my thoughts on the main attraction here. I have been to Edinburgh Castle a good few times in my life, and every time I have absolutely loved the experience. It really is a must see for tourists and locals alike at least once.
I agree wholeheartedly with everyone who's moaning about the prices because it is expensive, although if you've been around Edinburgh you'll see that's par for the course really. However it is worth paying, however begrudgingly you might pay it because the Castle is just beautiful.
The crown on top of a volcano, the Castle's famous one o'clock gun fire can be heard across Edinburgh. You could easily spend a whole morning or afternoon there, checking out the different parts of this place, grabbing a snack in one of the two cafes or catching a glimpse of the Crown Jewels (although no photography allowed!) The headset guide is a great way to make the most of your experience as you can stop and start it when you please, skipping parts if you like.
A definite must see in Edinburgh.
You can't go to Edinburgh and not visit Edinburgh Castle. There should be a law about this. Anyway, I went to the castle and spent a couple hours here.
I love castles, I want one. But then again, I'm not Nicholas Cage and I can't buy a bunch of them prior to declaring bankruptcy. This castle did not disappoint. It's huge and there is lots to see. The best part though is the views. Since the castle is up on a hill you get spectacular views of the entire city.
The castle also has the crown jewels but you can't get anywhere near them with a camera. The good news is they really weren't all that impressive so I didn't feel bad that I didn't get a picture.
The castle is worth a visit if for no other reason than it's a castle, and castles are always cool.
A must see while in the UK/Scotland. Stunning the way it rises above the city. Never get tired of seeing it.
Well...who could miss it really? It seems a lot of tourists do though. Everybody who lives in Edinburgh must have had the classic, "Could you tell me where the castle is?" question from people, when you're standing on Princes Street, and the huge piece of history is blatantly towering over you. There's also the classic "Why did they build Edinburgh Castle so close to the train station?" line, which is so ridiculous that I struggle to believe someone actually did come out with it, or whether it could be that it's one of those Chinese whispers type scenarios. Whatever the case, this is Edinburgh's most worldwide known defining feature, the postcard buyer's favourite, and the iconic monument that makes Edinburgh so unique.
A castle on top of a volcano is hardly something you encounter willy-nilly on a daily basis, so based on that, I would suggest to anyone visiting Edinburgh to do more than just eye up the castle from Princes St, and to actually go up and take a look round it, as the views round Edinburgh once you're in are fantastic, plus you can watch the long standing tradition of the firing of the One o'clock gun, something a lot of people would be lost without hearing on a daily basis, because it signifies that everything is continuing as usual in the city...although for some, I think it's just a loud way of telling them their lunch break is over, and they should get back to work.
When I finally got to the Castle I had decided 2 things:
1. I was never going smoke again, because after the walk I just did, made me feel like an old man, and thus, I probably would've have been able to enjoy the castle a bit more
2. Scots are people to!
only joking, I love Scotland, my Gran is from these parts. The Castle was an excellent place to visit. All the staff a helpful and love working there, which I find rare in this industry. So many stories and the history of the place is great to hear as well. When your in London you don't realise how much of the UK you miss. Edinburgh is a Beautiful city and the Jewel in this crown is the Castle. You can feel the energy. I wish I could harness that.
When we walked around the different parts of the Castle, I felt that everything wanted to be there, I mean it can't run on much money, the Crown Jewels are actually in this one small room, And they manage to drag that section out, so you learn who made everything and where they all came from, which if your a little like me, you'd like.
There are two Cafes where the food was nice but a little pricey for quality and quantity. Still, that doesn't spoil it and I didn't want to leave when it was time to go home.
Alex
You can't really visit Edinburgh without visiting the castle. This castle, in particular, is incredibly well preserved and gorgeous, making it a great place to explore for individuals and families. I went in the winter and the snow was NOT pleasant for wandering around, but I would presume that summer months would be awesome. The views from the castle are incredible. Absolutely breath-taking, actually. Make sure you have your camera at the ready!
Its funny how that if you live in a city, you never go and see its tourist attractions, the same can be said for me living in Edinburgh. I still remember the first time I ever visited the Castle - it was a long time ago (1999), but it left such a lasting impression on my mind that I recently went back, to spend the day as a tourist.
Firstly, a negative - the queues if you dont book online are huge (easily an hours wait), the cost of getting in is astronomical and you will be harrassed by more tourists than you ever thought possible during the sumer months. But, as was pointed out to me, all castles are like that during the sumer - why should one in the middle of a city be any different?
Of course, once you get into the castle and you are absorbed by the history and the culture and the general feeling of awe at such an amazing building, all is forgiven. The history of Scotland, its armies, and the city itself is all there, and amazing.
Of course, watch out (listen out?) for the 1 o'clock gun - something that I still love fro the first time I went.
One of the biggest and the best tourist attractions in Edinburgh has to be the castle. If you visit Edinburgh, you visit the castle - it's standard. But it's not just tourists who enjoy this historic landmark; I love it too! Ok I don't go every week or anything, but whenever I get a chance every other month or so, I pay a visit. It's a really unique thing to the city to have such a beautiful castle right in the middle of it. It's quite expensive to get in - hence the missing star - but it is worth it if you're interested in the history aspects. I never go in, I hang around and take in the sights. Some of the best views of Edinburgh can be seen from the top of the Royal Mile, so head on up just for that!
Romantic and beautiful with sweeping views of the city. Well worth a visit but here's some free advice BUY YOUR ADMISSION ONLINE BEFORE YOU GO OR YOU WILL END UP WAITING IN A 2 HOUR QUEUE TO GET IN.
During high tourist season the crowd is intense. Buy your ticket online and get there early!
It surely is worth the visit. Its just amazing how this castle was built and so much is preserved in it.
Give yourself a good 4 hours to see the castle. Lots of opportunity to take some great pictures.
Do not forget to visit the little chapel thats there in the castle...
I loved our trip to Edinburgh Castle, it really is a must see attraction in this beautiful city. We arrived around 10:30am and the waiting time
for a tickets was about 20 minutes, it seems a while but it is more than worth it. The castle is huge once your inside and the views over the city are spectacular! I would say to try and get in for the ceremonial 1pm cannon shot which is everday apart from Sundays and Christmas day. The addmission price is pretty reasonable and the staff are very friendly and never mind answering any questions that guests may have. Once we left the castle we continued our way down the famous royal mile and into Edinburghs old town.
Previous reviewers have done an awesome job of describing the castle, so instead I'll give you a little yelpy anecdote...
Way back in the mists of time when we were young scottish teenagers, we used to walk along Princess Street, stop some local person, then in our very best fake american accent ask...
Me: Excuse me Mam. Please can you tell me where your Edin-boroh Cast-al is?
Local: Ehhh... See that big hill 1000 yards to your left with the big building on top?
Me: Oh. Thats kinda small and hokey my limey friend.
Local: Ehhh... F*ck off you dumb yank.
Quality (by the way)
Most impressive. I love castles, and this is a great one, standing proudly at the center of a great city, which makes it that much more compelling.
Don't miss:
Mons Meg, the gigantic cannon
Stunning views of the city and environs
St Margaret's Chapel (the oldest building in the complex)
The Scottish Royal Honours
David's (II) Tower, where the Honours were hidden during WWII
The Great Hall
Great story from my first visit back in 2002: Inside the Royal Honours exhibit, an attendant, an older gentleman, was telling us the history of the Stone of Scone--how it had been stolen by the Edward I in the thirteenth century, stored in Westminster Abbey and used in English/British coronations ever since, and then returned recently by Queen Elizabeth. He then told us that the Scots had agreed to lend the stone to Westminster for future coronations of the British monarch. My friend asked in a lighthearted fashion, "What happens if they don't return it?" at which the old man's face darkened, and he said bitterly "They had BETTER return it." And that was the end of the lecture. Brilliant.
An excellent castle. We wandered around the castle for hours and had an amazing time. We were surprised when they shot a cannon at 1PM, and apparently they do that every day. We went back the next day to discover that there was an admission fee. I don't know how we missed that the day before. Oops.
If you've never seen a real castle, this is the place to lose your castle virginity.
What makes Edinburgh one of the most unique cities in the world is the Edinburgh Castle.
Sure there are a lot of castle throughout the world but this one sits in the middle of the city, high on a hill, looking down on you no matter if you are a tourist, a business traveler or a local.
It is always there in the background to remind you that you are in Edinburgh.
If one has never been to Edinburgh and only has time to do ONE thing, then Edinburgh Castle is SURELY it. It really is magnificent... seeing the Honours of Scotland is a memory I will never forget.
Personally I think the price (especially if you do the audio guide too for 3.50) is a little steep, but I had an explorer pass so I saved considerably on it.
I probably won't go again, if I did then it would give it 5 stars.
Some douchebag told me that "Hearst Castle" is a "castle"
That really cracks me up
It's funny how nobody understand the concept of "Castle" until they come here.
I was in Edinburgh on business for 2 days and had a free afternoon. I took the bus in to the old town and visited the castle.
I highly recommend the audio tour because you can do it at your own pace. You walk from place to place and punch in a # shown on a sign at each point of interest. The explanations are brief with an option to get more detail if you are interested.
The Castle and the history was captivating. I found myself spending 10 minutes at each station and spent 3 hours going through all the mini-museums.
Nice views. It sits on top a hill, surrounded by beautiful gardens.
They have this annual performance, called "The Tattoo". It's the Scottish Military playing traditional music synchronously.
This was an amazing castle, adding to the amazing experience of Edinburgh. I thoroughly enjoyed looking at some of the older sections of the castle - it was fun to imagine what it would have been like when it was built.
The view of Edinburgh city from the castle is also quite breathtaking. Compared to some of the other castles in Scotland, it's neat to see this very old, spectacular piece of history right in the middle of a modern city.
If you are in Edinburgh, this is a MUST see!
loved it, but some of the areas were closed for renovations. Although I should not hold that against them, I will.
A must see,a good family half day but probably needs more than one visit.
Kids free in October helped.
i came here with my fiancee a little while back.. it's one of the more memorable places in all of scotland.. give yourself about 3-4 hours to full take in the entire experience.. and don't forget to get their early to avoid the lines..
I only got to spend a few hours in Edinburgh - we were visiting family in Newcastle and took a day trip to this wonderful city. The place we spent the most time was at the castle and it didn't disappoint.
A mighty fortress was all I could think to say! It was magnificant! Again we took the guided tour and were given more background and history to last a lifetime.Our guide was a fiery little red head who was so witty and kept us all very interested.(if you see a little waif in a black hat , get her as your guide!) LOTS of walking in this castle.Up hills and down. Up stairs and down. YOu'll be ready for a pint in the Cafe/restaurant! If you go to Scotland this castle is the one to see.
I don't see how anyone can NOT like this castle. It is the most fabulous structure sitting on top of a volcano overlooking the entire city. You can see it overshadowing the buildings from almost every vantage point around. It's truly spectacular. I love it!
David R. mentioned all the right spots! It's definitely a place you should check out but you don't have to listen to me, the castle reels people in anyway after a day of looming over you while visiting anywhere in Edinburgh.
This castle is truly fantastic, it seems as though the entire history of Scotland is contained behind the stone walls of this structure that will keep you occupied for several hours. Those with a particular interest in military history will be very happy with what the castle has in it's various museums.
Despite the rumblings of my Glaswegian in-laws, Edinburgh Castle is in fact *not* inferior to Stirling - they are on equal footing. They are both impressive edifices looming up from quite fortuitously placed volcanic remains. Edinburgh Castle absolutely lives up to its hype; it has several facets and crannies and vistas to inspire many an oooh and an aaah.
What an impressive Castle. I visited in 1988 and will never forget it. We enjoyed our visit to Edinburgh and had some terrific Chinese and Italian Cuisine whilst there.
i spent the better part of a slightly drizzly afternoon here last week. so so pretty. even with the cold and the rain. seeing lovely things like jewels and crowns and all the various nooks and crannies to be found was quite lovely. the admission's a bit steep, but it's really a must-do in edinburgh. the views of the city are to die for and the history is fascinating.
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Said farewell to my last hotel/ It never was much…
