Worth a DetourSight · Sacred SiteFree

St Giles' Cathedral

The High Kirk of Edinburgh on the Royal Mile, with its crown spire, stained glass and the ornate Thistle Chapel.

Photo: Carlos Delgado · CC BY-SA 3.0
Open
Every day; Sundays mostly for worship
Price
Free; donations welcome
Time Needed
45 minutes
Address
High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1REDirections
Getting There
On the Royal Mile, a 5-minute walk from Waverley station.

Why Go

John Knox preached the Reformation from its pulpit in the 16th century. Its open stone crown has been a landmark of the city since the 1490s.

The little Thistle Chapel, made for Scotland's order of knighthood, is carved with angels playing bagpipes.

Nearby in Edinburgh

Mary King's Close2 min walkNational Museum of Scotland5 min walkGreyfriars Kirkyard5 min walkScottish National Gallery5 min walk

Go Next

1–3 of 6
If You're Nearby
Cities · Golf

St Andrews

Scotland
About 31 miles away

The home of golf, and Scotland's oldest university.

Guide Coming Soon
Worth a Detour
Cities · Music

Glasgow

Scotland
About 42 miles away

Scotland's biggest city, with Mackintosh's architecture and a great music scene.

Guide Coming Soon
Must-See
Nature · Lakes

Loch Ness

Scotland
About 105 miles away

Scotland's deep, dark, monster-haunted loch, with Urquhart Castle on its shore.

Guide Coming Soon

Something wrong or out of date?

Traveler Reviews

Sign in and mark St Giles' Cathedral as visited to write a review.