Edinburgh Castle

Experience centuries of thrilling history on a family visit to world-famous Edinburgh Castle. This top tourist attraction dominates the city skyline and has so much to see and do! A castle, a palace, a fortress, a museum, chapel, location for the world famous annual Military Tattoo and home to the oldest Crown Jewels in the United Kingdom.

The rediscovery of the “Honours of Scotland” (or Scottish Crown Jewels) by Sir Walter Scott among others, led to them being put on display in the Crown Room in the castle in 1819. They have been there since apart from being removed during World War 2.

Don’t miss:

• The Great Hall, completed in 1511 for James IV and standing at the heart of the castle. Its magnificent wooden roof is one of the most remarkable in Britain. Giant beams rest on stones engraved with heads and important symbols such as the thistle.
• The Royal Palace, a richly decorated and furnished place of comfort for the Kings and Queens of Scotland
• St Margaret’s Chapel, built around 1130 by David I and dedicated to his mother Queen Margaret.
• Mons Meg. Capable of blasting a 150kg gunstone for 3.2km  Mons Meg was at the cutting edge of 15th-century military technology. She ended her days in James V’s navy being retired around 1550.
• National War Museum. It contains a wealth of material that ranges from letters home from foreign campaigns to Highland broadswords and chemical warfare suits. It is housed in a former storehouse for ordnance, built in the 1700s and later used as a military hospital.

Be prepared – the firing of the One o’clock Gun dates back to 1861 when ships in the Firth of Forth set the maritime clocks they needed to navigate the world’s oceans. The gun is fired at 1pm every day except Sundays, Christmas Day and Good Friday.

Please see Edinburgh Castle’s website to find out more and plan your day out.