Royal Mile Edinburgh, Photos, Buildings, History, Architects, Images, Old Town

Royal Mile, Edinburgh : Architecture

Edinburgh’s most famous street, Scotland, UK

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Royal Mile Architecture

The Royal Mile is a historic street in Edinburgh Old Town, stretching from the Castle to the Palace.

photo © Adrian Welch

Contents of this page: Royal Mile Architecture + Conference + History

Royal Mile Buildings: Edinburgh Old Town Architecture Tour
selection at base of this page

Royal Mile, Edinburgh: historic plan, usage approved by Charles McKean

The famous Old Town ‘herringbone pattern’ drawing (above), shows the skeletal structure of the High Street. It’s backbone follows the glacial crag-and-tail ridge line from the volcanic plug of Edinburgh Castle rock down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. There are hundreds of vennels or closes running off it.

Notable buildings on the Royal Mile include, from the top (west):- Edinburgh Castle, Parliament Square, St Giles Cathedral, Tron Kirk, John Knox’s House, Canongate Kirk,Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The Royal Mile is named Lawnmarket, Hig Street and Canongate from west to east. The street is mostly cobbled and used to be much wider, especially around St Giles Cathedral.

St Giles Cathedral: middle of Royal Mile

St Giles Cathedral photograph © Adrian Welch