The Royal Mile

Eating, drinking and shopping on the Royal Mile

Most shops on the Royal Mile are specialized and many are family-owned. You can buy virtually anything on the Royal Mile: whiskies, tartan and kilts, knitwear, Scottish gifts, bagpipes, antiques, old-fashioned candy and traditional fudge, Celtic jeweler, Scottish music, books, art and prints.

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There are also exchange offices, ticket office for the Edinburgh Festival and it's also the place where most bus tours leave from. Most ghost and history walking tour companies have their offices on or near the Royal Mile and there is also a bicycles hire shop.

There are numerous pubs, restaurants and coffee shops on the Royal Mile. You can sit both inside and outside when the weather is nice.

Places that stand out on the Royal Mile

Shops

Pubs, eating places

Bus Tours

>> Back to Royal Mile guide index

All Edinburgh Royal Mile articles:

Edinburgh Old Town An introduction to historic Edinburgh.

Highlights of the Royal Mile Overview of the most important visitor attractions on the Royal Mile.

Other tourist attractions on the Royal Mile Brief description of other places and things of interest on the Royal Mile.

Wynds and closes of the Royal Mile Description of the most picturesque narrow streets off the Royal Mile.

Royal Mile during Edinburgh Festival Information on the Royal Mile during August's Fringe Festival.

Royal Mile shops and pubs Some particularly attractive shops and pubs on Edinburgh's historic street.

St Giles Cathedral Picture and information on the High Kirk of Edinburgh.

Mary Kings Close The allegedly haunted street beneath the Royal Mile.

Scottish Parliament Pictures and information on the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood.

Photos of the Royal Mile Pictures taken along the Royal Mile.

Attraction Details - Royal Mile, Edinburgh Old Town Practical information on the Old Town and the Royal Mile including the Hub and Tourist Information Centre.

Royal Mile and Old Town on the web Web links and information on the Old Town and its attractions.

Also see:

Ghost walks in the Old Town Tourist information on day and evening ghost tours in Edinburgh's Old Town

Edinburgh attractions and sightseeing All of the best attractions in Edinburgh plus pictures and sightseeing tips.

Plan the Best Edinburgh Holiday:

Edinburgh Travel Essentials

Day Trips from Edinburgh to see Loch Ness, the Highlands and more. Guided 5-star tour by luxury mini-coach, from £26. Day Tours & Trips

Beautiful Photos from Edinburgh

Thistle Chapel in St Giles cathedral, Edinburgh Old TownImage of the ceiling of the Thistle Chapel of the Order of the Thistle in St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh. Photo #G4576

Edinburgh Old Town from Princes Street GardensPhotograph of old Town buildings and rooftops taken from the National Gallery of Scotland in evening light. Photo #3725

Greyfriars Kirkyard, EdinburghPhoto of Greyfriars Kirkyard, one of the most famous churchyards in Edinburgh with an unusual view of Edinburgh Castle in the background. Photo #3869

Origin of 'Edinburgh'

Tourists have problems with the name of Edinburgh. There are hundreds of ways people write it and the most common writings include 'edinburg', 'edinborough', 'edimburgh', 'edinbourgh', 'ediburgh', 'edinbugh', 'edinboro', 'edingburgh', 'edinbrugh', 'edimburg', 'edinburugh', 'edingurgh', 'edinbrough', etc.

According to the Scottish Place Names dictionary, the name Edinburgh means 'Fort of the Rock Face'. The 'edin' part comes from Scottish Gaelic and means 'rock face', while 'burgh' comes from Old English meaning stronghold.

Some more obscure (and quite funny) ways of writing Edinburgh include: edinburough, edingburg, edinbourg, edinburh, edinurgh, edenburg, edinbough, edinbourough, edinbrgh, edingborough, edenburgh, edinberg, edinborgh, edinborugh, edinburge, edinburhg, edingbourgh, etc.

Edinburgh is spelt Edimburgo in Spanish and Italian and Édimbourg in French.

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