Cowgate, Edinburgh

Name: Cowgate
Address: Edinburgh, United Kingdom

#370 among attractions in Edinburgh

Street

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Gallery

Facts and practical information

The Cowgate is a street in Edinburgh, Scotland, located about 550 yards southeast of Edinburgh Castle, within the city's World Heritage Site. The street is part of the lower level of Edinburgh's Old Town, which lies below the elevated streets of South Bridge and George IV Bridge. Consequently, the Cowgate can be quite gloomy and dark in sections. It meets the Grassmarket at its west end and Holyrood Road to the east. ()

Length: 2112 ftCoordinates: 55°56'55"N, 3°11'18"W

Address

Old Town (Cowgate)Edinburgh United Kingdom

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Day trips

Cowgate – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Cockburn Street, St Giles' Cathedral, National Museum of Scotland, Thistle Chapel.

~750 ftN
Shopping, Shopping district
Cockburn Street, Edinburgh
4 min walk • Nestled in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town, Cockburn Street is a vibrant and picturesque shopping district that offers a unique blend of historical charm and contemporary retail experience. This winding, cobbled street, which slopes steeply down from the Royal Mile...
~530 ftNW
Iconic Presbyterian place of worship
St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh
3 min walk • St Giles' Cathedral, often referred to as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, stands as a venerable beacon of Scotland's ecclesiastical history, nestled in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town. This majestic church, with its distinctive crown steeple piercing the skyline, is not...
~620 ftS
Natural history and industrial exhibits
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
4 min walk • Nestled in the heart of Edinburgh's historic landscape, the National Museum of Scotland stands as a beacon of culture and knowledge. This impressive institution is a must-visit for anyone interested in the rich tapestry of Scotland's past, its contributions to the...
~510 ftNW
Church, Gothic Revival architecture
Thistle Chapel, Edinburgh
3 min walk • Nestled within the historic walls of St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, Thistle Chapel stands as a stunning example of Gothic architecture and Scottish tradition. This intimate chapel, an addition to the cathedral completed in 1911, is the spiritual home of The Most...
~700 ftW
Dancing, Nightlife
Subway Cowgate, Edinburgh
4 min walk • 65 Cowgate is a multi-storey building situated on the historic Cowgate, Edinburgh, Scotland, which is used each August as a venue complex for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world's largest open access festival.
~410 ftE
Museum, Specialty museum
St Cecilia's Hall, Edinburgh
2 min walk • St Cecilia's Hall is a small concert hall and museum in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, in the United Kingdom. It is on the corner of Niddry Street and the Cowgate, about 168 metres south of the Royal Mile. The hall dates from 1763 and was the first purpose-built concert hall in Scotland. It is a Category A listed building.
~680 ftNW
Haunted tours through now-hidden alleys
Mary King's Close, Edinburgh
4 min walk • Mary King's Close is a historic close located under buildings on the Royal Mile, in the historic Old Town area of Edinburgh, Scotland. It took its name from one Mary King, a merchant burgess who resided on the Close in the 17th century.
~850 ftNE
Museum, Specialty museum
Museum of Childhood, Edinburgh
5 min walk • The Museum of Childhood is a museum which houses a collection of children's toys and playthings, situated on the Royal Mile, in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was the first museum in the world to specialise in the history of childhood.
~390 ftN
Church
Tron Kirk, Edinburgh
2 min walk • The Tron Kirk is a former principal parish church in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is a well-known landmark on the Royal Mile. It was built in the 17th century and closed as a church in 1952.
~830 ftNW
Street
Advocates Close, Edinburgh
4 min walk • Advocates Close is a narrow and steep alley in Edinburgh of medieval origin, redeveloped in the early 21st century. With a multiplicity of steps it is not accessible to disabled persons.
~560 ftS
Museum, Art museum, Art gallery
Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh
3 min walk • Talbot Rice Gallery is the public art gallery of the University of Edinburgh, in Scotland. With a 19th-century former natural history museum and a contemporary white cube gallery.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which popular attractions are close to Cowgate?

Nearby attractions include Mercat Tours, Edinburgh (2 min walk), Monkey Barrel Comedy, Edinburgh (2 min walk), Edinburgh Vaults, Edinburgh (2 min walk), Chambers Street, Edinburgh (2 min walk).

How to get to Cowgate by public transport?

The nearest stations to Cowgate:

Bus

South Bridge • Lines: 29, 3, 31, 37, 49, 51 (2 min walk)
Chambers Street • Lines: 41 (4 min walk)

Train

Edinburgh Waverley (7 min walk)

Tram

Princes Street • Lines: Edinburgh Trams Eastbound, Edinburgh Trams Westbound (11 min walk)
St Andrew Square • Lines: Edinburgh Trams Eastbound, Edinburgh Trams Westbound (12 min walk)