Planning to visit Scotland this vacation? This stunning destination has a lot of hidden gems for its visitors to explore and one of those is the Royal Mile. It is located in the heart of Scotland’s historic capital – Edinburgh. You can also visit the Grassmarket which is just a short walk away. It is an area steeped in the city’s colourful history. Check out below for more information about Royal Mile and Grassmarket.

Royal Mile, Edinburgh

The Royal Mile is located in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town and is a very famous spot for tourists. It connects fantastic Edinburgh Castle that is perched high on a base of volcanic rock and overlooks the impressive, towering tenements, between which cobbled closes. There are also narrow stairways that interlock to create a secret underground world. There are many more attractions on the Royal Mile including The Real Mary King’s Close or the Scottish Storytelling Centre, historical sites including St Giles’ Cathedral, ultra-modern Scottish Parliament and so much more.

Many international festivals also take place at Royal Mile. Every August, many entertainers and comedians visit this place to celebrate the Edinburgh International Festival – the largest arts festival in the world. The Royal Mile has also been a great spot for shooting successful movies, the most recent being Avengers: Infinity War, Outlander and so much more.

Also read – Culture Corner: The Edinburgh Experience in Scotland-Things to do in Edinburgh!

How to get to Royal Mile?

You can easily visit Royal Mile by taking a bus. 1, 8, 19, 35 and 37 are some of the buses that stop there and are easy to access. There are more alternative buses with numbers 23, 27, 41, 42, 45, 67 which also stop on George Forth Bridge. Every bus stop is within walking distance.

Attractions on the Royal Mile

Edinburgh Castle
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions
Museum of Edinburgh
People’s Story
Writers’ Museum
Dunbar’s Close
Gladstone’s Land
The Scottish Parliament Building
The Palace of Holyroodhouse & Queen’s Gallery
The Real Mary King’s Close
Museum of Childhood
St Giles’ Cathedral
Scotch Whisky Experience

Also read – Castles in Scotland: These famous places will leave you amazed!

Shopping on the Royal Mile

The Royal Mile is a perfect spot to shop special and traditional souvenirs of Scotland. If you dig a little deeper, you’ll discover the unique shopping scenes in the country. You can even find a range of items in your family tartan, a bottle of whisky from Royal Mile Whiskies or The Whisky Shop and so much more. There are best chocolate shops such as The Chocolatorium, fudge shops like Fudge Kitchen, coffee shops The Milkman Coffee and restaurants serving delicious traditional food and so much more.

Also read – The Ultimate Harry Potter Tour of Edinburgh

Grassmarket, Edinburgh

Grassmarket is a medieval marketplace that dates back to the 1300s. It was also a site for public executions in past. Now, it is a vibrant area buzzing with lively drinking spots and eclectic shops. You can explore the detailed medieval architecture, stunning castle views and dynamic atmosphere and vibes making it one of the most loved areas in the city. The area is mostly filled with tourists, students and professionals alike. You will also get to hear some bloody tales of a checkered past at traditional pubs The Last Drop, Maggie Dickson’s and The White Hart Inn.

People who love fashion then it is your place as it is a haven of retro clothes and quirky accessories. Find beautiful hand-made hats and accessories and so much more.

Also read – Scotland Travel Guide – A Beautiful Experience Awaits You

Frequently Asked Qustions about the Royal Mile and Grassmarket

Why visit the Royal Mile in Edinburgh?

The Royal Mile is located in the heart of Scotland’s historic capital – Edinburgh. It has been a processional route for kings and queens for the last 500 years and is the reason why it is so famous. It also has many major attractions situated on it.

From where does The Royal Mile Start and end?

The Royal Mile starts from – Outside Edinburgh Castle, The Esplanade EH1 2NG and ends with the – Scottish Parliament Building, EH99 1SP.

How old is the Grassmarket in Edinburgh?

The Grassmarket dates back to the 1300s. It was also a traditional place of public execution. It used to be the most populated place with cattle fairs and stables and around the 1670s the market became a trading point for goods.

Is the Grassmarket in Edinburgh safe to visit?

It is usually a quite busy place and should be reasonably safe. You may get accosted by drunks so, take care of that.

So, don’t wait and visit The Royal Mile and Grassmarket to indulge in the real essence of Scotland. Check out Pickyourtrail as it offers amazing Scotland travel packages at great prices. You can also customise your United Kingdom itinerary on your own to have a vacation just as you want. Explore the world with just a click, see you soon!