Old Town, Edinburgh

Name: Old Town
Address: High St, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

#152 among attractions in Edinburgh

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Facts and practical information

The Old Town is the name popularly given to the oldest part of Scotland's capital city of Edinburgh. The area has preserved much of its medieval street plan and many Reformation-era buildings. Together with the 18th/19th-century New Town, and West End, it forms part of a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. ()

Alternative names: Coordinates: 55°56'51"N, 3°11'30"W

Address

High StOld Town (Cowgate)Edinburgh United Kingdom

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Day trips

Old Town – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: St Giles' Cathedral, Greyfriars Kirkyard, Gladstone's Land, National Museum of Scotland.

~650 ftN
Iconic Presbyterian place of worship
St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh
4 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...
~380 ftSW
Reportedly haunted, Cemetery
Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh
2 min walk • Nestled in the heart of Edinburgh's bustling Old Town lies Greyfriars Kirkyard, a historic cemetery that is as rich in history as it is in atmosphere. Established in the late 16th century, this graveyard is renowned for its connection to the city's past and its...
~780 ftNW
Museum, History museum, Historical place
Gladstone's Land, Edinburgh
4 min walk • Stepping into Gladstone's Land is like traveling back in time through the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town. This historic tenement, managed by the National Trust for Scotland, offers a vivid glimpse into 17th-century city life.
~510 ftSE
Natural history and industrial exhibits
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
3 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...
~680 ftN
Church, Gothic Revival architecture
Thistle Chapel, Edinburgh
4 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...
~210 ftN
Dancing, Nightlife
Subway Cowgate, Edinburgh
1 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.
~560 ftS
Nightlife
Sandy Bell's, Edinburgh
3 min walk • Sandy Bell's is a music pub in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is known locally and internationally for its live traditional music sessions, it was frequented regularly by folklorist Hamish Henderson prior to his death in 2002, indeed there is a bust of Henderson displayed above the bar.
~390 ftS
17th-century active church and arts venue
Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh
2 min walk • Greyfriars Kirk is a parish church of the Church of Scotland, located in the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is surrounded by Greyfriars Kirkyard. Greyfriars traces its origin to the south-west parish of Edinburgh, founded in 1598. Initially, this congregation met in the western portion of St Giles'.
~700 ftN
Street
Royal Mile, Edinburgh
4 min walk • The Royal Mile is a succession of streets forming the main thoroughfare of the Old Town of the city of Edinburgh in Scotland. The term was first used descriptively in W M Gilbert's Edinburgh in the Nineteenth Century, "...with its Castle and Palace and the royal mile between"...
~600 ftNW
Church
Quaker Meeting House, Edinburgh
3 min walk • The Quaker Meeting House, Edinburgh is a Category B listed building in Edinburgh, Scotland, situated on Victoria Terrace in the city's Old Town. It is the central meeting house for members of the Quakers in Edinburgh. There is also another Quaker meeting held in the Open Door cafe in Morningside in the south of the city.
~550 ftS
Theater, Concerts and shows
Bedlam Theatre, Edinburgh
3 min walk • Bedlam Theatre is a fully operational, 90-seat theatre housed in a former Neogothic church at the foot of George IV Bridge in central Edinburgh. It is owned by the University of Edinburgh, and notable for being the oldest student-run theatre in Britain.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which popular attractions are close to Old Town?

Nearby attractions include Augustine United Church, Edinburgh (1 min walk), Metropolitan Community Church of Edinburgh, Edinburgh (1 min walk), George IV Bridge, Edinburgh (1 min walk), Magdalen Chapel, Edinburgh (2 min walk).

How to get to Old Town by public transport?

The nearest stations to Old Town:

Bus

Chambers Street • Lines: 41 (2 min walk)
Victoria Street • Lines: 23, 27, 41 (2 min walk)

Train

Edinburgh Waverley (8 min walk)
Haymarket (28 min walk)

Tram

Princes Street • Lines: Edinburgh Trams Eastbound, Edinburgh Trams Westbound (10 min walk)
St Andrew Square • Lines: Edinburgh Trams Eastbound, Edinburgh Trams Westbound (13 min walk)