Edinburgh Castle

What's inside the walls

The castle is a cluster of buildings rather than a single keep. St Margaret's Chapel, built around 1130 by David I in memory of his mother, is the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh. The Royal Palace holds the Crown Room with the Honours of Scotland – the crown, sceptre and sword of state – and the chamber where James VI was born in 1566. The Great Hall, finished in 1511 for James IV, has a carved hammer-beam roof.

Guns, prisons and a museum

Mons Meg, the huge 15th-century siege gun, sits on the battlements. The One O'Clock Gun fires from the Half Moon Battery at 1pm every day except Sundays, Christmas Day and Good Friday, a tradition going back to 1861. Below the Queen Anne Building, the Prisons of War vaults show the carvings left by 18th-century prisoners, and the National War Museum of Scotland is included in your ticket.

Planning your visit

Book a timed ticket online in advance – the castle warns that tickets often sell out well ahead, and booking also gets you the best price. Audio guides work on your own phone or on castle devices. There's a shop, a place to eat and afternoon tea on site. Afterwards, walk down the Royal Mile or along Castlehill to the Scotch Whisky Experience and Camera Obscura, both a few minutes away.

Highlights

• Honours of Scotland in the Crown Room
• St Margaret's Chapel, Edinburgh's oldest building (c.1130)
• One O'Clock Gun, fired Monday to Saturday
• Mons Meg, a 15th-century siege gun
• National War Museum of Scotland included with entry

Good to know

• Book online in advance: tickets often sell out, and booking ahead guarantees entry.
• Audio guides are available on your own phone or a castle device.
• There's a separate disabled access and parking line: 0131 310 5114.
• The Stone of Destiny is no longer here – it moved to Perth Museum in 2024.

Frequently asked questions