Overview
Discover a world-famous icon. Perched on a volcanic plug, Edinburgh Castle has dominated the skyline of Scotland’s capital city for centuries.
Climb Castlehill to explore this mighty fortress and former royal residence, now a major part of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh UNESCO World Heritage Site. Scotland’s crown jewels are among the national treasures on display within the castle walls.
Known as the ‘defender of the nation’, Edinburgh Castle remains an active military base. An annual highlight is the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, held on Castle Esplanade every August.
No trip to Scotland’s capital is complete without a visit to Edinburgh Castle – voted Best UK Heritage Attraction for the fourth year in a row at the British Travel Awards 2014.
Edinburgh Castle is also a popular filming location and appears in the film adaptation of the Irvine Welsh novel Filth, starring James McAvoy.
View a map of our locations that have starred in film and TV. Download Historic Scotland on Screen [PDF, 679.37KB]
What to see and do
- Set your watch by the One o’Clock Gun, fired daily (except Sundays)
- Enter Edinburgh’s oldest building, St Margaret’s Chapel, built around 1130 by David I
- Admire the late-medieval ceiling of the Great Hall, built around 1510 for James IV
- Look for Mons Meg, a huge, late-medieval siege cannon, among the castle artillery
- See a unique perspective of the castle at the Western Defences
- Take in the panoramic views of Scotland’s capital city
- Take our fun fact-finding quiz (also available in Brazilian-Portuguese, French, Gaelic, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish and Welsh).
- Find out more about the Jacobite Risings with our Jacobite Trail Quiz
The Western Defences
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