Landmark

The Royal Mile

The main street of the Old Town, running from the castle down to Holyrood. The official guide places it within a World Heritage site.

Cost Free

Free

What the guides say about The Royal Mile

Stay in the Old Town if you want the castle and the Royal Mile on your doorstep and can handle slopes, cobbles and a busy street at night.

From Edinburgh Old Town or New Town: Which Is Better to Stay In?

Start with Edinburgh Castle, walk the Royal Mile down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, then climb Arthur's Seat or Calton Hill for the view.

From Things to Do in Edinburgh: What the Guides Agree On for a First Visit

Tap to open the interactive map

View on the interactive map Google Maps directions

What's on near The Royal Mile

Upcoming events within a ten-minute walk of The Royal Mile, from the weekly Edinburgh events calendar.

Festival

Edinburgh Science Festival 2027

3 Apr to 18 Apr 2027 Venues across Edinburgh, Old Town

Science festival held 3 to 18 April 2027 across the city.

See on the map Event listing

Stay nearby Hotels near Venues across Edinburgh, 3 to 5 April

Festival

Edinburgh International Children's Festival 2027

29 May to 6 Jun 2027 Venues across Edinburgh, Old Town

Performing arts festival for children, 29 May to 6 June 2027.

See on the map Event listing

Stay nearby Hotels near Venues across Edinburgh, 29 to 31 May

Festival

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival 2027

16 Jul to 25 Jul 2027 Venues across Edinburgh, Old Town

Jazz and blues festival, 16 to 25 July 2027.

See on the map Event listing

Stay nearby Hotels near Venues across Edinburgh, 16 to 18 July

Festival

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2027

6 Aug to 30 Aug 2027 Venues across Edinburgh, Old Town

The Fringe's 80th edition runs 6 to 30 August 2027 at venues across the city.

See on the map Event listing

Stay nearby Hotels near Venues across Edinburgh, 6 to 8 August

Film

Edinburgh International Film Festival 2027

12 Aug to 18 Aug 2027 Venues across Edinburgh, Old Town

Film festival, 12 to 18 August 2027.

See on the map Event listing

Stay nearby Hotels near Venues across Edinburgh, 13 to 15 August

Smaller local events nearby

WEEK 8 SCREENING Film
Thu 12 Nov · The Banshee Labyrinth
Event at The Banshee Labyrinth.
19:30 to 21:30 · Map · Source: Eventbrite
Sneaky Pete’s 18th Birthday Party Activities
Fri 13 Nov · The Fruitmarket, Edinburgh
£5 · 20:00 to 23:59 · Map · Source: The Fruitmarket

See every upcoming event in Edinburgh

Nearby

Whistle Binkies Nightlife · 1 min walk A live music bar in the vaults under South Bridge, open every night until the early hours. City Art Centre Museum · 2 min walk A city-run gallery of Scottish art and touring exhibitions, with lift and escalator access to all floors. Museum of Childhood Museum · 2 min walk The first museum in the world dedicated to the history of childhood, opened in 1957. St Cecilia's Hall Museum · 2 min walk A concert room and music museum run by the University of Edinburgh. Stills Museum · 2 min walk A centre for photography with free gallery entry, open Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 to 17:00. The Real Mary King's Close Museum · 2 min walk A preserved 17th-century street beneath the Royal Mile, visited on guided tours.

Around Old Town

Castle, Royal Mile and the closes

The Old Town runs down a ridge from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood. It sits within a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the museums, closes and kirks here are mostly a short walk from each other.

Old Town has 32 places on the Roam Edinburgh map: 17 museums, 5 bars, 3 landmarks, 3 churches and cathedrals, 1 shop, 1 park or garden, 1 market and 1 pub. Read the Old Town guide.

Fruitmarket Museum · 2 min walk
Scottish Storytelling Centre and John Knox House Museum · 2 min walk
St Giles' Cathedral Church · 2 min walk
Edinburgh Dungeon Museum · 3 min walk
The Jazz Bar Nightlife · 3 min walk
National Library of Scotland Museum · 4 min walk
Sneaky Pete's Nightlife · 4 min walk
The Bongo Club Nightlife · 4 min walk

Stay near The Royal Mile

Browse live availability and compare prices around Old Town.

See hotels near The Royal Mile on Booking.comPrices are for the night of Saturday 14 November. You can change the dates on Booking.com. If you book, Roam Edinburgh earns a small commission from Stay22 at no extra cost to you.