The Edinburgh Castle, voted as the ‘Best UK Heritage Attraction’ by British Travel Awards 2013, is located atop a dead volcano in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh. The castle saw Sturm und Drang in the Scottish history. Presently, the castle is a part of the historic heritage of the country and is one of the most-visited destinations in Scotland. Together with the neoclassical Georgian New Town, the medieval fortress of Edinburgh has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
It is available for hire to host events such as weddings, concerts, etc. The fortress also offers a perfect backdrop for filming. Several movies such as, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), Chariots of Fire (1981), Trainspotting (1996), Hallam Foe (2007), etc., have been filmed in the romantic setting of the castle.
The Entrance Gateway embellished with statues of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace, leads the visitors to a cobblestoned lane that extends up below the 16th century Portcullis Gate. From here, you may choose to follow the audio guide. If you arrive early you may take a tour in the backward direction, i.e., from the St Margaret Chapel, in such a way that you end up with the National War Museum and while returning you reach the One o’clock Gun, right at the time of its firing.
The highlights of the castle include:
- Mons Meg is huge gun that was used to fire a 150 kg gunstone for up to 3.2 km (two miles).
- The One o’clock Gun is fired almost daily since 1861.
- Crown Jewels including the sword, crown, and sceptre, along with the Stone of Destiny, the investiture seat of Scottish Kings, form the main attraction of the castle.
- St Margaret’s Chapel, the Royal Apartments and the Great Hall, are the oldest buildings in Edinburgh.
- The Half Moon Battery overlooking the entrance gives the castle a unique appearance. The walls of the battery were used to fire at the enemies who tried to barge in via the main entrance.
- The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Regimental Museum, the Royal Scots Regimental Museum, Prisons of War, Scottish National War Museum, and Scottish National War Memorial, recall the days of torment and ordeals during the late 18th century.
The speculations and experiences of some people suggest that the Edinburgh Castle is haunted. However, there is no proper evidence to support it. But, because of the killings done here, there are probabilities of the castle being haunted by the ghosts of the people who lost their lives in it.
Edinburgh Castle Map
Facts about Edinburgh Castle
- Boisterous Iron Age warriors guarded a hill fort.
- The oldest poetry of Edinburgh centers around the Gododdin warriors feasting at the castle for about a year, before losing their lives in battle.
- For several years, the Scots and English fought over the control of the castle.
- The One O’Clock gun was fired for the very first time in 1861.
Where is Edinburgh Castle?
The castle is located at about 7.6 miles from the Edinburgh Airport. You can reach the castle within 20 minutes (without traffic) via the route A8. You can reach the castle via car, bus, and metro. The airport provides an express bus service Airlink 100 to Edinburgh city center. The chief railway station in Scotland is the Waverley Station.
Address: Castlehill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NG, United Kingdom
Best time to visit Edinburgh Castle
During the summers, the early hours from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. are perfect to visit the castle. You will be able to take a tour of the Edinburgh Castle within two hours. At 12:30 p.m., locate the best vantage point for One o’clock gun. The castle becomes crowded during the rest of the day. You may visit the castle during the afternoon, if you wish to click some good photographs, as the sun shines bright and the shadows are prominent. People avoid visiting Scotland during the winters, as the weather is harsh.
Edinburgh Castle Hours
The Edinburgh Castle opens from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during summers (April 1 to September 30); while during winters (October 1 to March 31), it opens till 5:00 p.m.
Edinburgh Castle Tickets
The entry ticket for an adult between 16 and 59 years of age costs £16.00. The ticket for a child of age group 5 to 15 years costs £9.60.
More on Edinburgh Castle
What are the coordinates of the Edinburgh Castle?
55.9486° N, 3.2008° W
Which are the interesting places near the Edinburgh Castle?
Scottish Highlands, Holyrood Palace, Ben Nevis, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Outlook Park, Burrell Collection, Loch Lomond, and Arthur’s Seat.
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