Location: Castlehill, Old Town, central Edinburgh


building image © Adrian Welch

Contact Edinburgh Castle: +44 (0)131 225 9846

Edinburgh Castle Photos : all available photographs

World-famous castle set at the top of the Royal Mile

Gareth Hoskins Architects won a project to design the Visitors' Reception:
Edinburgh Castle Ticket Office


Castle image © Adrian Welch

Scotland's most famous Castle

Edinburgh Castle contains Edinburgh's oldest building but is also considered as the original settlement thousands of years ago: it is defensible due to the rocky outcrop and has access to fresh water via a well.

Edinburgh Castle is visited annually by approximately one million people. Edinburgh Castle offers good panoramic views of the city. Edinburgh Castle was the seat (and regular refuge) of Scottish Kings.


image from Charles McKean CD



building: photo © adrian welch sep 2006

History

King James VI of Scotland [James 1 of England upon the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603] was born here by Mary, Queen of Scots. The ancient Honours of Scotland - the Crown, the Sceptre and the Sword of State - are viewable in the Crown Room; the ‘infamous’ Stone of Destiny has also been kept here.

The Scottish National War Memorial, designed by Lorimer, built shortly after World War One is another highlight. Edinburgh Castle is also the home of the One O'Clock Gun. This is fired every day except Sunday at precisely 1pm, a wonderful city institution, a reminder to break for lunch.


model image © Adrian Welch

The Edinburgh Castle Esplanade hosts annually the world-famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo over a three-week period in August. The Scottish Army & various guests present music, marching and historical reenactments under floodlights.


image © Adrian Welch

The oldest building at Edinburgh Castle is St Margaret's Chapel (above), which survived various sieges due to its religious significance: it was probably requested by King David, following his mother's (Queen Margaret, d.1093) death at this site. Members of Edinburgh Castle garrison still have the right to marry in the Chapel.


building: photo © adrian welch sep 2006

Edinburgh Castle sits on the volcanic rock – the ‘crag’ of glacial ‘crag and tail’ – with the tail being the Royal Mile tapering mound which falls down to Holyroodhouse. Fronting the Castle is a gently sloping rectilinear space called the Castle Esplanade. This is a good viewing point for the city.


image © Adrian Welch

There is evidence of human habitation on the Castle Rock - 135m above sea level - as far back as the Bronze Age. The early fort was called Din Eidyn, and was occupied by the Votadini, a local Celtic tribe. The Votadini were also present at another settlement on another volcanic rock, Traprain Law, just east of Haddington.


In 1174 to 1186 Edinburgh Castle was given to the English by King William the Lion with four other Scottish castles as security for his ransom. During the Wars of Independence (1296 - 1342) the Castle changed hands four times.
Robert the Bruce won Edinburgh Castle back from the English in 1314. Edward III of England built a new castle in 1335 but held it only until 1341.


photo © Adrian Welch

Facilities
Edinburgh Castle restaurant - Mills Mount Restaurant - by RMJM with self & table service
open 7 days a week
last ticket sold 45 mins before closing


photo © Adrian Welch

Opening times
check times: 0131 225 9846
1st Apr to Oct 31st
9.30am until 6pm, last admission 5.15pm
1st Nov to Mar 31st
9.30am until 5pm, last admission 4.15pm
Christmas Day & Boxing Day
Castle closed
1st Jan
11am until 5pm

Prices (current Nov 2005)
Adult £9.80 Child £3.50 Concessions £7.50


photo © Adrian Welch

Mills Mount Cafe, Edinburgh Castle
Mon-Sun. 9.15am - 5.15pm - contact: jane.mackenzie@sodexho.co.uk
Edinburgh Castle building: please check with owners for details re access & charge

Contact Edinburgh Castle: +44 (0)131 225 9846

Other Edinburgh Castles include Craigmillar Castle, Dalkeith Castle, Lauriston Castle, Liberton Tower

View of Edinburgh looking east from Edinburgh Castle:

photo © Adrian Welch

Military Tattoo

The Tattoo is already sold out for 2004 but there is an exclusive webcam for all the unlucky people who were unable to secure tickets.
As the official webcam sponsor of the Edinburgh Castle Tattoo OutdoorExplorer are offering visitors the chance to see live pictures throughout the event and, for first time, a live video and audio streaming broadcast of the Grand Finale Performance from Edinburgh Castle Esplanade. The Edinburgh Tattoo is a major Scottish event which is popular all over the world. Tattoo webcam: www.outdoorexplorer.co.uk/tattoo

There has been a proposal to relocate the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in the west part of Princes Street Gardens, below Edinburgh Castle.

The structurally-expressive temporary stand - erected annually - on the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade is reportedly insufficient for current needs. The Military Tattoo takes place every Edinburgh Festival for three weeks.

In the mid-eighties Morris and Steedman (Architects) were commissioned to produce detailed plans for a 10,000 seat Edinburgh Tattoo arena 'below' Edinburgh Castle, unveiled in 1989 to much controversy. Princes Street Gardens are protected but limited building work has been undertaken latterly as part of the RSA’s Playfair Project. Morris and Steedman’s Tattoo Arena was apparently influenced by the Acropolis parti in Athens.

The Edinburgh Tattoo began in 1950 at Edinburgh Castle and sells around 200,000 tickets per annum and is watched by approximately one million people on TV. The Edinburgh Tattoo is highly iconic and rooted in Highland traditions, yet the structure is vividly modern, its cantilevering metal spaceframe contrasting with the worn stone context.

Although it is temporary, for many visitors (ie for the Festival or typically every Summer) the Edinburgh Tattoo is always there and thus a fascinating modern intervention in the absolute heart of the City at the head of the Old Town’s royal axis and high above the city so massively visible: it shouts ‘the Edinburgh Festival has started’.


photo © Adrian Welch

Image above showing Earl Haig with, beyond, Ramsay Gardens on left, and the Hub on the right

Edinburgh Castle - Contact e-mail: hs.explorer@scotland.gsi.gov.uk



Scottish Castle : Structures in Edinburgh & Lothian

Jenners

Edinburgh Castle context : Outlook Tower - Camera Obscura

Scottish Architecture

No larger images:

image s © Adrian Welch

Scottish Parliament

Edinburgh Castle Ticket Office

The lighting at Mills Mount Restaurant is by Jonathan Speirs (of Speirs and Major), designed in conjunction with Hugh Broughton Architects

Royal Bank of Scotland

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Comments / photos for the Edinburgh Castle Architecture page welcome:
info@edinburgharchitecture.co.uk

Edinburgh Castle Building : page - adrian welch / isabelle lomholt

Website Information: www.historic-scotland.net