A lovely old cathedral. I couldn't help noticing however that although it has a fantastic statue of John Knox in it there there was no tomb. When I enquired about this I was told that his burial place is marked by an orange spot on the pavement in the car park outside. Apparently he was buried in the churchyard of St Giles but the bodies were exhumed and dumped in Greyfriars Churchyard when they built the car park. Sad to treat the remains of such an important historical character in this way. http://www.negotiatenow.co.uk read more

St. Giles' is a very nice cathedral on the Royal Mile, which has played a central role in the city of Edinburgh for centuries. I attended for the University of Edinburgh's annual carol service in the cathedral. Although it was quite cold inside, the event was excellent, with full use being made of the powerful organ. The architecture is beautiful. The vaulted ceilings are great to admire, and the windows are gorgeous too. It's not a massive place, so visiting as a tourist shouldn't take too much time out of your day, but it's worth popping in to take a look around. The location is perfect for fitting in a trip with the rest of your adventures on the Royal Mile, the major tourist thoroughfare of Scotland's capital city. read more

Medieval walls stores all the prayers, thoughts and hopes whispered over the centuries. Generations passed away and now we have short moment to calmly leave our thoughts and hopes in this timeless place. Stop and appreciate this great privilege which you have. read more

Escape the weather... Looming over the Royal Mile... Photos cost extra. read more

St. Giles Cathedral is a beautiful building and due to it's location on the Royal Mile it's a must see visit if you're a tourist visiting Scotland's beautiful capital city and a perfect spot to get a few pictures taken. It's never usually as congested or overcrowded as some other areas along the Royal Mile so it makes it a breathe of fresh air. I didn't realise that you have to pay £2 to take photos of the cathedral and I'm guessing that's from inside. That's awful, what a con! I'd stick to standing outside and getting as many pictures as possible! read more

Another one of the top landmarks and must see churches in Edinburgh, It seems there are quite a few churches similar to this one but none quite as beautiful on the inside The stained glass has very bright colors and you can see clearly the story it is trying to tell. There are many stone statues as well. Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures because a permit is 2 pounds and I was feeling quite lazy that day. Some things are better seen and experienced without having a camera in front of your eye the whole time and this is one of them Its right on the royal mile, so you really shouldn't miss it.. I will admit we did not stay very long here. Whoever was playing the organ was making a racket. I have no idea if they were tuning it or the chosen piece of music was that chaotic. read more

Definitely worth stopping in as this is right on the Royal Mile in the center of historic Edinburgh. Admission is free and the church has been very well-maintained. Inside is some impressive architecture, especially the ceiling of the Thistle Chapel. It takes about 10 minutes or so the explore the inside, so it's not a big time commitment. read more

When heard the term High Kirk, I first thought of the Star Trek captain after too much Romulan Ale. This was a nice surprise; I'm not much interested in churches and religion but I am interested in history, architecture, and art - all of which are quite impressive at St. Giles. The building is quite striking in the middle of the Royal Mile. While the outside is impressive, the inside is amazing, from the pulpits, soaring ceiling, arches, Thistle Chapel, to stained glass windows. I particularly like the one designed by pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones, but seeing sunlight filtered through the colors of any of the stained glass windows was breath-taking. read more

Beautiful old church on the Royal Mile. You can't miss it if you're looking for it. No pictures inside unless you're willing to pay some money but other than that, it's free! Wander in and just take everything in. The church is really pretty. There's also this room in the back and it's pretty entertaining. The right terms for everything escapes me but basically, different families can pick what they want displayed? (I'm not really sure, I wasn't really paying attention when someone was explaining it to me). So anyway, you have like these old, regal and "traditional" orb-things and then right next to one of them is something covered in rainbows and smiley faces. It doesn't sound funny in print but you should definitely check it out! There's also a gift shop and tourist information desk. read more

Despite not being religious, I have always been struck by the way that churches and especially cathedrals have such an impact upon a person. The vastness of St Giles compared to the individual is phenomenal and what makes it even more fascinating is that this was built hundreds of years ago without the modern methods of building we have today. The huge wooden doors open upon into a cool, calm, beautiful and serene environment where you can gather your thoughts or simply gaze at the cathedral. Entry is free but you are given the opportunity to part with a donation. What is great are the Christmas services that are held which are well worth going to. Even if like me you are atheist the sentiment and passion of the service puts you in the Christmas spirit even if you are somewhat of a Scrooge! Organ recitals in any cathedral, least of all St Giles, are another brilliant experience. St Giles can be found along the Royal Mile and you really cannot miss it!! read more

Not really a place for children of a younger age. This place is steeped in history with amazing stain glass windows, carving s and stone works and a spectacular organ, it really awe inspiring. As this is free it is well worth a visit to see some remarkable workmanship of the 12th Century. There is also a gift shop and retaraunt. Book in advance for group bookings read more

Walking by this church on a rainy day, we decided to duck inside to keep dry. And perhaps because we just didn't know what to expect, our jaws completely dropped. The interior is incredible. Every time you look there's something you didn't notice before. There are so many alcoves, each more ornate than the last, and the whole place has a peaceful vibe to it. We also attempted looking for the famous angel with bagpipes...keep your eyes peeled in the Thistle Chapel...hint hint... Definitely well worth a visit, especially because of its great location right on the bustling Royal Mile! read more

Really remarkable cathedral that , because it has been altered so many times throughout its history , shows elements from many different architectural styles. There are lots of different sections within the cathedral, memorials to different important scottish figures such as Robert Louis Stevenson and Elsie Ingalls. At the rear is the Lorimer designed Thistle Chapel for which there is a small charge, but it is well worth seeing. This is used by the Queen and her appointed Knights of the Thistle. The cathedral is also know for its absolutely excellent organ . THere are sometimes recitals so you can also hear it outwith services. ( There is also a good cafe in the crypt) read more

Pretty, pretty cathedral right around the corner from our hotel. Free to go in, but there is a suggested donation, which we happily contributed to since this place is quite a work of art. There's beautiful stained glass windows all along the sides. I was curious to go into the back chapel area but that costed an additional fee and we were in a hurry to see other parts, so we just kinda peeked in. Looked interesting though! There was some cool music playing in the back when we went in. We took some pictures of the interior, windows, carvings on the pews (cherubs), etc. before taking off to take more pics of the impressive edifice. Really enjoyed visiting this cathedral inside and out! read more

definitely worth a visit. a beautiful cathedral in the heart of Old Town, very close to Edinburgh Castle. inside is gorgeous stained glass and old stone carvings. we didn't do a tour, but it was worth it to spend even 30 minutes inside examining the architecture. don't miss it! read more

This is a beautiful and old cathedral located on the Royal Mile. Free admission but donation preferred. Upon entry you can see and smell the history in the air. The sunlight shines through its huge stained glass windows and lights up the massive room with a glow. It so quite and peaceful in here. Worth ducking your head in and taking the time to walk around a bit. read more

St Giles Cathedral is Edinburgh's beautiful architecture at it's best. Forget your new fangled, frankly hideous Parliament buildings, this place is what its all about. I do agree with Lynsey C when she says it has sort of become a money making scheme, £2 for photos is a bit ridiculous! There is a nice atmosphere though, it's really peaceful and quiet, which can be difficult with hoards of tourists everywhere. There is loads to see and it really is very interesting. Entry is free too. read more

Beautiful cathedral close to the center of the Old Town. When I came in, the choir was singing and it was so beautiful and peaceful. I would come again just to be immersed in serenity and peace. read more

i am not very much of a cathedral guy.what i would say is that the cathedral is much more beautiful from the outside. inside is a bit of a deception, despite the stunning glass windows. unlike most of the cathedrals, this very one has a shape of a greek cross, instead of the more common catholic one. there is a small chapel once there worth to get in, richly decorated with craft and art. eventually, once outside, the builing shows again a majestous shape in concordance with the tone and colours of the royal mile. it is ok, but don't dwell too long in there if you are to visit more stuff read more

St. Giles is, as noted previously, the birthplace of Presbyterianism. The cathedral is located right along the Royal Mile, and is worth a stop. If you happen to be there on a cloudy day, the inside can seem somewhat dark, but don't let that put you off. In addition to beautiful stained glass, there is a small chapel that has gorgeous arts and craft carvings. I enjoyed my visit. read more

What a lovely cathedral this is, well worth looking in on the way up the mile. I was amazed at the layout inside, it's like lots of little churches under the same roof. A massive organ looks over the congregation. Some beautiful stained glass windows & coloured banners hanging all around. read more

Cathedral look amazing! it is so beautiful , and it smells like candles :)

LOVED IT! OK, so there is a 'photo fee' but it's very reasonable. Enjoyed walking thru the history, the gentleman at the entrance was very helpful and knowledgeable. The people in the gift shop were great. Well worth the time to see. read more

This cathedral has often been called 'the mother of Presbyterianism', do to John Knox taking on the role as the first post-Reformation minister after the last mass was said on March the 31st, 1560. Dedicated to St Giles, the patron saint of lepers and cripples, some parts of the church are held to date from 1124, although a fire in 1380 destroyed the church almost completely. Of particular note are the stained-glass windows, famed throughout Scotland as some of the best surviving examples from the 19th and 20th century. St Giles is seeped in the history of Edinburgh and its people, and a visit will undoubtedly enthuse the visitor to discover more of its pregnant history. read more

St Giles Cathedral is amazing. Alot smaller than most cathedrals I have been in but I assume that is because it is within a major city. When we arrived someone was practising the organ which just set up an amazing atmosphere. The architecture is amazing and the stain glass is beautiful. A wonderful place to just have a quiet wander and the gift shop has some nice items within and the proceeds go to the upkeep of the cathedral. read more

That's great!! I've been there twice. The second time I met a choir which is really amazing. After listening we were deeply moved. The decorations in the cathedral is very delicate. Really worthy visiting. read more

Mostly known as St. Gyles, the cathedral is the midpoint of the Royal mile and dates back to 12th century. Sometimes referred to as 'the mother of Presbyterianism', St. Gyles is only cathedral in its formal sense. Named after the saint patron of cripples and lepers, the cathedral stands out with its beautiful traditional Scottish crown steeple and the artistic stained glass windows, among the most popular names are: Victorian Windows, Burne-Jones Window, North Window, and the Burns Window. Very often at weekends newly weds could be spotted in the square in front of the cathedral's gates. It is a place of quiet during the Fringe Festival throngs. read more

Lovely cathedral and a great cafe entrance around the back opposite the law courts basic stuff such as Jacket spuds at reasonable prices and cheerful staff, Just nice to visit both the church and cafe so close to the Royal Mile read more

wonderful cathedral that has an eerie sense of peace and calm. when i lived in edinburgh there were sunday at 6 orchestral evenings. just outstanding music played by, i think, napier uni. lots of orchestral music is religious in origin so it was just fabulous to hear the music in this quite outstanding church. not much of a church goer but this is a beautiful place and i often had a little seat if i neeeded to think read more

This cathedral was awesome! It had these really cool sliding glass doors leading in and out of the church. What really caught my eye however, was the fact that they had an art gallery set up inside of the church. It was awesome! read more

The Kirk itself is very nice, very old and very historic. Underneath there is a refectory which is probably one of the best places for lunch on the Royal Mile. Good home made soup and butties but overpriced jacket potatoes - maybe they raised the price for the Fringe?? Just nice to go in here - and in the church - to get away from the crap souvenir shops which are all around. read more

Stunning building and the stained glass in particular is breathtaking. If you are interested in gothic architecture, this is definitely worth a visit. read more

really worth popping in to look round - amazing stained glass and a lovely cafe with quiet open air seating at the back

beautiful cathedral with lots of history! great interiors and stained glass windows.