Edinburgh Castle
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Edinburgh Castle is the most visited attraction in Scotland, welcoming over 1.3 million visitors each year who come in search of views, royal history, and a glimpse at the 'Honours of Scotland' - Britain's oldest crown jewels. Edinburgh Castle is not only the dominant feature of the city's skyline, visible from miles around, it's also the feature which gives the city its name -- the old Gaelic name translates roughly as 'the fort on the hill'. trust me, you might underestimate this castle, and even i have kept 2 hrs for this, but it needs more time. With several museums, a large war memorial, a royal palace, a Great Hall & several other little stops/activities, if you want to actually see all of Edinburgh Castle's sights and attractions, you'll need much more than two hours... especially considering the line to see the Honours of Scotland (AKA the Crown Jewels) can last 20+ minutes. * Three regimental military museums * The National War Museum * The Scottish National War Memorial * The Honours of Scotland, featuring the Scottish crown jewels and Stone of Destiny * St Margaret's Chapel, the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh * Optional 30-minute introductory tours available throughout the day * Prisons of War exhibition * The Great Hall where banquets were held * The One O'Clock Gun, fired every day (except Sunday) at 1pm * Visit the small antechamber where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her son, James VI of Scotland * Three gift shops and two cafes The oldest surviving structure at the castle (and the oldest in the city) dates back to the 12th century. It is of course St Margaret's Chapel, built by King David I in honour of his mother. This same king is the one credited with turning Edinburgh Castle into a royal residence. As the years rolled on, royals came and went, with new additions being made to the castle, creating the complex we see today. The Renaissance of the 1400s for instance brought us the Royal Palace that now houses various royal paintings and displays (including THE closet where Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to King James VI of Scotland, AKA King James I of England). The 1500s brought us the Great Hall, which was needed of course for fancy banquets. The 1600s brought new defences and barracks as the castle eased into its role of a military outpost more than swanky royal digs Tickets to Edinburgh Castle should be booked online before you arrive. Tip: these spots across the city offers great view of the castle- Calton Hill, The Grassmarket, Salisbury Crags, Castle Esplanade, Ross Fountain, St Cuthbert's Churchyard, The Vennel
I visited this castle 20+ years ago and it was raining so didn't really see it in its fully glory. I was so happy that this time around, I visited on a sunny day! Place is simply magical and a visit not be missed when visiting Edinburgh. There is a lot to see and admire about this place. Although it was in the middle of February, it was super busy. I am glad that we had reserved tickets and that we were early on site. By the time we left, it was super crowded.
I'm embarrassed to say that we didn't get to see the castle the first time we were in Edinburgh. My mother was visiting us for the summer, and we did what she wanted to do thinking we would go back before leaving the UK. That never happened. I remember staring up at the castle longingly from Princes Street. There was no way we would miss this opportunity again 35 years later. It was so worth the long wait. We arrived at the castle close to 1:00 PM. It was just in time to see and hear the One O'Clock Gun on the Argyle Battery. What a cool experience! Our guide for this walking tour made it more special with his countdown to the last second. It was perfect. He gave us a brief overview of the castle and the exhibits. Then, we were on our own to explore everything it has to offer. There's even a whisky experience there. Honestly though, we were more thirsty for water at that point. We took the grand walk up the Royal Mile. There is a shorter route to get there from Grassmarket if you're staying in the West End of Edinburgh. We took that route on the way back down. The Royal Mile just has so many sights to see along the way. It's totally worth the longer walk. The castle is an experience. You could spend half a day there. We stayed for a couple of hours. I think people stay longer in August during the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. We were there at the low end of the tourist season in November. It had its advantages being that it's not as crowded. It typically rains a lot, but fortunately it was a good weather day (just partly cloudy). It was great! We saw the Scottish National War Memorial (no pictures allowed inside) and gallery. It was a highlight along with St. Margaret's Chapel. There is a Prisons of War exhibit in the vaults under Crown Square. It's here where you can see the prisoners graffiti on the doors behind a glass display. There also is a model of the HMS St. George that French POWs made while imprisoned at Edinburgh Castle. It dates back to 1760. It's an interesting exhibit that gives a visual of how they lived in these prisons with audio recordings in the background. Another highlight worth mentioning is the Dog Cemetery and Mons Meg. If that's not enough, then you can also see the crown jewels (or not). There are just so many more interesting things to see in my opinion than the jewels, but why not? It's all included in the admission price. It's a must visit in Edinburgh. I regretted not seeing it all these years. It was great to finally experience it.
Must-visit if you're in Edinburgh. We had reserved tickets to get in, and got lucky as it was a beautiful day, sandwiched between dreary rainy ones which are more common in this part of Great Britain. We enjoyed the history, the magnificent views of old and new town sprawled below us and the Firth of Forth beyond, the museum, and the One-O-Clock gun! Pro-tip: Book a late morning entry time so you can be there at 1 pm for the gun, duck indoors into the museum or gift shop if it rains, and dress in layers, as the weather can change in minutes.
If you are in Edinburgh for the night, you need to ensure you have tickets for Edinburgh Castle. You can't go to Edinburgh without visiting the Castle if you have never been. The Castle is a venerable place overlooking Edinburgh and beyond. A glorious view surrounds you at all angles as you make your way through the grounds. There are many places to check out both inside and outside where you will take more than a few pictures. When you think of gloriously grand castles that impose over the surrounding landscape, it's Edinburgh Castle. God help any invader back in the day from trying to invade the castle, they would fail miserably. There is much to enjoy at the castle between The Great Hall, Margaret's Chapel, the castle jail, the Esplanade, as well as the views that will knock your socks off. Make sure to buy tickets in advance. For a few dollars more, you can do a flexible entrance at any time during the day, which allows you to go visit whenever you like on that day.
A must-do while in Edinburgh. You could spend hours roaming the castle and various museums included within. We spend about three hours and it wasn't even that crowded. You start on the main level which has some great views of the city. From there, you can head up, stopping off at various side points which have story boards and short videos speaking to the castle history. Once at the top, more views of the city, a little shop, and a prayer building. If I am remember correctly, you'll also find the Scottish crown jewels in this area as well Back down, you have a few museums which cover history both long ago and more recent. You'll learn of the Scottish involvement in the world wars and see plenty of artifacts to help you make your stay a bit education. Again, a must-do while here!
The Edinburgh Castle is by far the largest draw of tourists walking up a steep embankment to capture a glimps of Scottish history. There is a cost to enter the castle, although free to wander the exterior grounds and take amazing pictures and videos. The castle was worth the exhausting walk, and even for me as an anti-historian who does enjoy cool stuff, I was strangely impressed. Breathtaking views of the 15th century city of Edinburgh surrounding the beloved castle. Oddly, the massive castle structure was choppy and square instead of the traditional pointed sectionals.
Edinburgh Castle is absolutely worth the visit. The atmosphere is eerie and powerful, and you can feel how much history is buried there. I did a guided tour with Marcus and he was my favorite part of the experience! He was incredibly knowledgeable, funny, and genuinely excited to share history beyond castle walls. We talked about Scottish and English rulers, Scottish clan warfare, conflicts with England, and the castle's role in our world wars. Crazy! If you're traveling to Scotland, this is a must-see, and a guided tour is 100% worth it--definitely book it!
I booked our guided tour tickets online to secure our spot for the tour. When we arrived we informed the staff that we had the Historic Scotland membership and we were brought to a separate and much shorter entrance line! The tour ran about 45 minutes and our guide was friendly and informative throughout. The tour brought us outside the main walls and then back inside. We later explored many of the buildings that the tour could not cover like St Margaret's chapel, Crown Jewels, War Memorial, prison and museums. We were surprised that we spent almost three hours here but there were just so many places to see along with the panoramic views of Edinburgh.
As far as tourist attractions go, you can rarely go wrong with a good old castle. Scotland may be rife with them, but this one is the closest to the rest of the hot spots in the city, so it's your best-bet for a family-friendly afternoon; that is, if the 20-odd pounds it takes to get in isn't a deterrent. I wish I could say it was super authentic, and while it IS an actual castle, it feels more like a museum than anything. There is plenty to see and do inside, but it's not the most riveting experience I've had here. The gift shops are surprisingly affordable, as far as souvenirs go, and I found a bit of everything I could possibly want to take home with me. They also have two cafés, one of which is a tea room, and the other more of an eating hall. The food does get a bit pricey, though. A sweet treat I discovered during my wanderings was a old-fashioned apothecary presentation in the Great Hall, featuring a darn-good actor willing to improvise and play with the crowd. The best part is probably the views - which are amazing - so bring those cameras, and take those Instagram-worthy winners.
Such an experience! See how the town started and was defended. Great history and the tour is worth your money.
Walked all the way to the top of the hill where the castle sat unobstructed. The Scottish castle is not lived in by a family although is occupied by the Scottish military. The view surrounding the castle is amazing which is evident by the pics. It's free to roam the front of the castle but will cost you a few bucks if you want a limited tour of the inside.
Edinburgh Castle is deservedly the most popular paid tourist attraction in all of Scotland. It's an imposing and impressive site and is a historic castle/fortress that sits atop volcanic Castle Rock. It's naturally at the center of Edinburgh and at the top of the Royal Mile and at the west end of Edinburgh's Old Town. Just some of the main features here include the housing of the Scottish crown jewels in the Royal Palace, the National War Museum, the Half Moon Battery of cannons, the gigantic Mons Meg cannon, the Great Hall, the Crown Square or courtyard, the military quarters, the historic 12th century St Margaret's chapel (and Edinburgh's oldest building), and the great vantage point of panoramic city views. We were very lucky to get our morning visit in as well as enjoy the scenic city views from up here before the remnants of Tropical Storm Amy hit the area after our visit. Rain or shine, Edinburgh Castle is a must-see 5 star attraction.
4 years ago
It was a cold day in October, a group of us had plans to visit Edinburgh Castle coming from Ireland. It's a really good place to explore, there's lots to see and a great spot at the castle's vantage point for a view of Edinburgh. Unfortunately, we were on a tight time constraint with literally less than an hour to run through as much as we could. The staff are all friendly and helpful. The castle itself is full of historic scenes which give you a glimpse of how the people lived back then. Awesome castle, you need 2-3 hours here because it's big with a lot of history and it's totally worth seeing. A visit to the castle is a MUST if visiting Edinburgh. Tip: Although we were unable to stay for the cannon, at 1:00 pm they have a gun cannon fire! That would've been cool to see. So, if you're reading this review, you're welcome. read more
A really impressive and amazing piece of History. Surely no-one goes to Edinburgh without visiting this world famous edifice. Smart folks (not me!) book ahead on line to save the wait in a Disneyworld-like snaking queue (probably save money too!) but since we visited in September we wanted to make sure that it was a sunny clear day for our visit (not always so in Scotland!) and so to be sure we waited until the day itself to be sure..... The building is worth hours of your time, both inside and out as well as the views. It sits on a hill over looking the city and despite being busy, as my pictures hopefully show, there is ample space to view everything, study, enjoy and even take pics for Yelp. Cannons, prisons, chapels, artwork, stained glass and thought provoking history are all at your disposal. Take your time and enjoy! Three thumbs up - Mrs G and I were accompanied by my son (from Ohio) on this trip. read more
This castle sits upon a hill and looks out over the entire city of Edinburgh. It's truly magical and worth going in to explore. You have to pay to enter and I'd save at least an hour to go through the entire thing. We went in their great room, armory room, chapel, and so much more. Enjoy! read more
The castle is the crown jewel of Edinburgh, sitting in the sky and overlooking the rest of the city. The best views of the castle are from OUTSIDE the castle, down along Princes Street. But for good views of the CITY (and to explore the castle interior), you'll need to buy a ticket (online in advance) to come inside. The castle grounds let you explore the cathedral and many state apartments. You can also learn about Scottish history while you're here. Overall fun, but where the castle truly excels (relative to others in the UK) is how it towers dramatically above the city, less so for its interior. Tickets are pricey and worth doing once, but not repeatable. Overall fun to see and worth a trip on a visit to Edinburgh. read more
2 years ago
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3 years ago
You can't go to Edinburgh and miss the castle. Thanks to our quick thinking concierge, we made it in on our last day. We did the fastest tour ever as we were short on time, but still worth it. So beautiful, so historic. read more
2 years ago
The castle was undoubtedly the highlight of my summer 2018 trip to Edinburgh and so it occupies the 100th review spot for the year! This is an historic fortress with archaeologists finding evidence of human occupation dating back to the Iron Age of the late 2nd/early 3rd century. It is commonly referred to as the "rock". It has only been a castle since King David I's reign in the 12th century and served as a Royal Residence until 1633. It is credited as the "most besieged place in Great Britain" with over 26 sieges in its 1100 year (documented) history. If you are a history buff, you will certainly have to spend an entire day here. There are gorgeous views and don't miss the 1 pm cannon! The Rock is the most visited paid attraction with over 2 million visitors per year. Try to purchase your tickets online to skip the ticket window lines and go straight to the entrance queue. Popular points of interest are: *St. Margret's Chapel - the oldest building in Edinburgh, dating to the 12th Century. *Mary, Queen of Scots' birthing room, 1566 AD *The Crown Jewels, aka "The Honours" or "Regalia" - originally hidden away, nearly forgotten and then rediscovered in 1818 AD. *The Stone of Destiny, 1296 AD. TIPS: *Hours are from 9:30 am - 5:00 pm daily with last entry at 4:00 pm *Pre-purchase your tickets online and get there early to line up *Wear comfortable closed-toe shoes with some tread *Dress in layers- the top of the Rock can get cold and windy and the interiors can be very warm *If you bring a companion, make sure they are committed to the same time span here that you are and that they have the mental & physical stamina to wait in lines, climb stairs, go into very small, narrow places *Read up on the history before you go *Get the Audio Tour headset *Visit the restroom (porta potties) at the bottom of the hill before you cross the Esplanade- restrooms are scarce and inconvenient on the grounds. I love castles and history! Truly, this place was one of my favorite sites of all my travels. Yelp Challenge 2018: 100/100 read more
The Edinburgh Castle is iconic, so it's hard not to be mesmerized by its grandeur. We don't really have castles in America...so I am impressed by any castle I see. By the time I had actually gotten to the castle I was so excited. I could spot it from miles away where my friend and I had parked and the walk felt so long that I had the hype built up in my head. The castle served both to house royalty but also to defend the city. The castle still feels like a living, breathing thing when they are reenactments and the one o'clock gun going off. Royal Palace still holds the crown jewels as well. Although the exterior is very impressive I also really enjoyed the Great Hall. They've restored the castle well and the details are incredible. I also enjoyed seeing the old armor and swords lined up against the wall. Outside, the view of all of Edinburgh is stunning. I should think that at sunset you would have a perfect view of everything. I highly recommend buying tickets online before visiting since this is a very popular tourist attraction. When we came in the off-season it was not as crowded but I can imagine Summer would be another story. read more
I first saw the magnificent edifice from the Scott Memorial. It was breathtaking, sitting atop the hill. Then, to be in it, is even more amazing. There are so many different paths and structures that you are just speechless at what everything is. The views from the top are even more enthralling. The Great Hall was a sight to be seen with the armor, and weaponry. I wish we would have went on a tour, to really take in the history, etc., but we opted to explore ourselves, and still managed to stay about 3 hours. I also liked the prison building. It was cool to learn that prisoners could make crafts and then sell them to the villagers. Once a week the market was open to all. I also liked how they carved their names and stories into the prison doors, and how they then preserved it for future generations to view. It always astounds me at walking in the path of history, walking where people of yesterday once stood. read more
Loved this castle and it's nights how! Unfortunately, I can't compare it to a regular visit because I only attended the nights how. Consequently, the buildings were locked and the history panels were hard to read. Regardless, I still got a sense of what a medieval guard would have seen. From a strategic point, it is easy to see how difficult taking the castle would have been. What is nice about this castle is that it still serves as an active military station and maintains the famous 1pm gun. The light show itself was mesmerizing because each section displayed something unique. My advice is to enjoy being a tourist here. read more
2 years ago
Edinburgh Castle is a must see in the city. Located at the top of the Royal Mile, the castle provides a great opportunity to learn about the military history of Edinburgh. I arrived about half an hour before the castle opened and the queue to get in was insane! I recommend purchasing the earliest ticket you can, as it can get overwhelmingly crowded as the day goes on. There is so much to see in the castle if you enjoy history. I hopped on one of the free guided tours when I first arrived and it was a great introduction into the history of the castle, as well as points of interest to hit during your visit. The guide, Robert, was really funny and gave a great tour. Audio guides are available for a price, but the guided tours are free. I stayed for about three hours here and felt like that was plenty of time. Around 11:00 am, the crowds got a little unbearable, but thankfully, I had the opportunity to see everything I wanted to. read more
4 years ago
Great experience. The staff was friendly and the lines were not too long. My two friends and I had our ticket times from 10-10:30. It was so beautiful and so nice, but I was a little surprised at how little of the inside of the castle you actually were able to see. Overall great experience, I recommend! read more
2 years ago
The most awful coffee literally possible to find in Edinburgh, maybe even the whole world. That dookie tasted like sour milk from hell, but it wasn't even cows milk so how did they make it taste like that. Oat milk latte? More like oat milk fart, ay? Would not feed it to my worst enemy to be honest. Castle was really cool tho. read more
I visited with the kids who enjoyed running around and exploring but they weren't interested in the museums of battles and wars and seeing swords and guns and medals, they just wanted to explore the grounds and Craigmillar castle is great for that, Edinburgh castle is a stunning piece of history high on a rock with its steep incline,and memorial to William Wallace and it was great to see the cannons and the monument to Earl Haig but it's seems a little commercialised and a bit boring! I don't think we'll be in a rush to go back. read more
3 years ago
Beautiful views of the city of Edinburgh. The Castle is composed a number exhibits providing interesting details about the Castle and its long history. I recommend arriving at the Castle well before you're entry time as the queue can get quiet long. You do not get to see much of the Castle's interior, but it is must visit in Edinburgh. read more
7 years ago
Edinburgh Castle sits on an ancient extinct volcano that rose 350,000 million years ago. This was the Carboniferous Period when much of the world was a tropical rainforest. The basalt under the castle is a large volcanic plug which elevates the summit to 430'. A natural fortress, the castle was first erected in the 12th century by King David the 1rst but did not become the royal residence until 1633. Later in the 17th century the castle became a military barracks with a large garrison. Throughout its' history, Edinburgh Castle has been subject to siege and conquest, 26 to be exact, the most in the world. A water shortage ended many sieges inspite of a 92' well built to prevent that contingency. Today Edinburgh Castle is a museum. These are some of the sites, artifacts and highlights of the castle. St. Margaret's Chapel which is was built in the 12th century and is an original structure. Portcullis siege gate with its' metal spiked bars. Argyll Battery with its' six-gun battery used to defend the castle during the Napoleonic Wars. One of clock cannon firing. Argyll Tower built in the 1880's. Lange Stairs which consists of 70 steps and was the original entrance to the castle. Prisons of War Exhibit which features the prison cell where pirates and war prisoners were held in the 1700-1800 hundreds. Honors of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny, Sword of State and Crown Scepter. Used in the coronation of Mary Queen of Scots in 1543. Royal Palace and James VI birth chamber in 1566. The Great Hall completed in 1511. Wonderful weapons display. TIPS: 1. Book online. Save time standing on line and save an average of 2 pounds per ticket. Adult 16-59, 19.50- online 17.50. 2. You are assigned an entry time slot. A 9:30 entry slot must be booked at least a day in advance. All other entry times must be booked online at least 1.5 hours in advance. 3. Buy an audio-guide for 3.50 pounds as you enter the Portcullis Gate. The audio-guide is 1 hour long. The guides are mostly story telling and you can select one of twelve languages.. The clock on the right just past the gate tells the time of the next tour. 4. There are itineraries for 2-3 hrs, 2 hrs,1.5 hrs, and 1 hr. Each itinerary highlights different aspects of the castle. Know what you want to really see. I started with the 1.5 hour Royal Route. read more
4 years ago
Amazing adventure back in time. The souls of thousands that have traveled through the walls of that castle. The history. I've wanted to visit since I was a child. God is good. Thank you Jesus for making my dreams come true. read more
4 years ago
Lovely castle! Has an amazing view of the entire city of Edinburgh. It is plenty big with lots to see and learn about. Great for all ages! We spent an hour and a half here and found the whole experience incredible! It does get a bit windy that high up, so I would recommend bringing a jacket of some sort. read more
Never mind the Tourists, here's the Castle! So yeah, there are a *lot* of tourists around - doesn't matter, just go, it's way worth it. This is a *castle*, with history embedded all through it. Wait for the (free) guided tour just past where they collect tickets. It's 20 minutes long (every 30 mins or so), and totally worth it - witty, informative, and all you need to guide you along after that. Be sure to also grab an audio guide, and after the guided tour, let your interests guide your feet. The museums inside are pretty awesome - don't miss them (especially if it's cold/raining, they're quite the perfect refuge! Oh, do avoid the whiskey tastings, much better to be had in town... read more
We bought our tickets online in advance, printed at home before we left and were able to bypass all lines and go straight in (but the lines weren't long anyway). Buying online in advance also saves you 2.00 gbp per ticket (17.50 online, but 19.50 at the door)! I highly recommend to see the castle...it was very interesting and well worth the visit. We spent about 2 hours here and still didn't see all of the exhibits. Lots of history and some amazing views of Edinburgh from the outside. Has several prison and Royal Dragoon exhibits as well as the Crown Jewels. There's even a view of a cemetery for soldier's dogs in a lower garden! read more
9 years ago
From our AirBnb at Lady Wynd, there's 2 ways to get to the Edinburgh Castle: across the road from us was a very long sets of stairs leading up to the castle, or follow the road through Greenmarket Street, and head up to the castle gradually. We took the road, which was about a 10-minute walk. As we approached the Castle, there was a kiosk for those who booked online to collect their tickets. The area in front of the gate was under construction, as they were tearing down the scaffolding and bleachers from the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Once inside, I found the area for the free guided tour, which lasted about 1/2 hour. The guide provided a light history of the castle, and interesting points of interests. Afterward, we were on our own to explore. After the castle, we decided to walk the Royal Mile to the Palace Holyrood Canongate and Parliament. read more
7 years ago
We did not go inside as the Fringe Festival was in full swing and the lines were crazy. The exterior is all we could see. Perhaps next time I'll get to go inside but those I talked to said it was worth the charge to get in. read more
A wonderful place to visit. I love history, but I'm not one to visit every museum, cathedral, historical site, etc. when I visit a place. This was well worth a visit. If you're not in great physical health, know there will be a lot of incline and climbing. It took my mom a long time to get up. I loved seeing the prisons and views of the city. read more
5 years ago
A charming afternoon. Great views. We spent about two hours here and thoroughly enjoyed all of the different exhibits including the Crown Jewels and the one o'clock gun. A good option for a trip to Edinburgh, especially if you are interested in the history of the city. read more
4 years ago
Amazingness! The amount of history in this place is crazy! Very detailed, that honestly it would be about 4 hours worth of information without stopping. Stunning architecture. Very photo worthy and just something you have to see when you come to Scotland! Highly recommended. read more
3 years ago
8 years ago
We were in Edinburgh for less than 36 hours, and we made visiting the Edinburgh Castle a priority during our short trip. We bought tickets for the self-guided audio tour which was about ~ £42 for the both of us. Well first things first, walking into this castle feels magical. I can only imagine what it was like during the medieval days and living here. You can almost feel all the history and the significance this castle holds in Scottish history when you're walking through the castle gates. Maybe that's just the history nerd in me coming out though. My friend and I arrived at the castle to buy our tickets right when they opened and we're glad we did because for the first half of our tour it wasn't as busy. By the time we were leaving tons of guided tour groups were coming through the castle gates, so we just missed that rush. With the self-guided audio tour, you get a map, headphones and audio deck that guides you through the castle and tells you the history of each room. There are numbers at the entrance of each room that you enter into your audio deck - super straight forward. A few of my favourite sights in the castle: the crown jewels, the great hall where all the big events were held, Queen Mary of Scots bedroom, and the dungeons below the castle. We spent about 2.5 hours at the castle and left with a whole new wealth of knowledge. I highly recommend visiting this castle if you've never been to Edinburgh before. Take your time, wander around, and take in all the history that is around you. read more
3 years ago
Gotta love the royal armouries, gotta love a castle, plus, Scotland. I actually came here on my own, just because my matey was hungover didn't mean I was going to miss out on a glorious little slice of history that I didn't get to experience on my first trip to the capital. I couldn't believe how much there is here- I was expecting it to be less impressive than the Tower of London, but to me it was just as, if in a different way (The diamond's aren't as big, but with the interesting royal history in the United Kingdom and England's penchant for taking stuff, are you surprised?). I do think it's worth every penny- and I wouldn't actually call it expensive. If you decide you're cheap, It's worth even visiting the exterior and taking in the views. read more
7 years ago
Pretty special that this is my 5th-centennial review and 10th Anniversary on Yelp! Walking up to Edinburgh Castle, I remembered one of the best quotes from Braveheart "They may take away our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!". I was mesmerized by the sheer size of the castle and when I walked through the gates, I was overwhelmed by the history. Tour guides provide a free fifteen minute walk around the surrounding castle pointing out several man spots, specifically the Great Hall, the Queen's Jewels and the One O'Clock Gun fired at 13:00 as a time signal for ships in the harbor. Parts of the Castle you get a true sense of what it was like hundreds of years ago, but several spots have been modernized to include the Whiskey Experience and Red Coat Café. The city views from above are stunning and from both sides of the Castle you can see the Old and New City of Edinburgh. Prices for tours vary and take anywhere between 4 to 8 hours. It was definitely amazing to have visited. read more
This was the first real castle I've ever seen in real life and I'd have to say it was worth the wait. Edinburgh Castle is how I imagined a castle would look like as it sits high on a hill overlooking the town. The things that really amazed me about the castle were the following: - It's built on a extinct volcano, Castle Rock, and you can tell by looking at the black rocks below the castle. See my photos. - We drove into town from Glasgow and the castle is hard to miss at the top of the hill. I couldn't keep my eyes off it. - The view of the city once you are at the top of the castle near the cannons is pretty amazing too. - It has some pretty impressive cannons like the Mons Meg and the One O'clock Gun. It was last fired on October 14, 1681. Long ago it was taken to the Tower of London, a casualty of the Disarming Act, but returned to Edinburgh Castle 70 years later instead of being melted down. See my photo. - The Half-Moon Battery that served as the defense of the east front. The battery was the first home of the One o'clock Gun. I would highly recommend visiting Edinburgh Castle. read more
I visited Edinburgh Castle on New Years Eve. It was a blustery, windy day. The walk up was a bit of a cardio kick but easily done. The castle itself has many different exhibitions. We saw the crown jewels, stone of destiny, Mary Queen of Scots chambers, and walked around the grounds. They even have a pet cemetery for dogs who died in service of Scotland. It is a proper medieval castle with a lot of history. The royal castle has been here since the 12th Century through many historical conflicts and was a royal stronghold up until the Jacobite Rising in 1745. It is Scotland's most visited paid attraction. They still shoot the Time gun at 1 o'clock and there is much to explore while here. Although I didn't go into the war museum, I did see a lot. We were also here for the NYE Hogmanay Street party where they shot fireworks from the castle every hour on the hour until the midnight finale. It was spectacular, even moreso than the fireworks at Disneyland. If you know me, then that's saying something. Edinburgh Castle is a must visit if you're ever in the city. read more
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