Edinburgh Old Town and the Royal Mile from Twin Lions Hotel

Edinburgh Old Town is the historic centre, and the Royal Mile is its central route, running between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The name refers to the route’s traditional connection between the castle and the royal residence at its eastern end.

Start at the Castle end and walk down the Mile towards Canongate. St Giles’ Cathedral sits along the way, making it a natural stop before continuing to the Palace. The route brings together major landmarks in a compact historic area; allow time for the cathedral and Palace if you plan to go inside.

The Royal Mile’s lower stretch leads into Canongate, where the Palace of Holyroodhouse stands at the end of the route. The Palace is the King’s official residence in Edinburgh. The Royal Collection Trust describes its story as spanning 10 centuries, from its foundation as an Augustinian monastery to its present role as a working palace.

Edinburgh city centre is about 15 minutes by car from Twin Lions, or about 54 minutes on foot. The hotel is a hotel in Murrayfield.

The bus stop is right outside the hotel, and the hotel says the bus takes about five minutes to reach Princes Street shops and gardens and Edinburgh Castle. If you take this route, you can begin at the Castle and continue down the Royal Mile. Check current transport details before setting out.

The hotel lists on-site private parking for guests and says ramp access is available. For a fuller day plan that includes other parts of the city, use this one-day Edinburgh itinerary.

St Giles’ Cathedral is on the Royal Mile at High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1RE. Known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, it has been a site of worship for over 900 years. Its position makes it a straightforward stop on a walk from the Castle towards Canongate.

St Giles’ Cathedral gives visitor hours as 10am–6pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Thursday; 9am–5pm on Saturday; and 1pm–5pm on Sunday. Saturday from 9am to 10am is Quiet Hour, and visitor admission ends one hour before the stated closing time.

General admission applies to visitors aged 16 or over who are not residents in Scotland. The visitor ticket is £12 for visitors from outside Scotland aged 16 or over. Advance booking gives fast-track access on arrival, and general-admission tickets are valid for 12 months. A self-guided audio tour takes 25 minutes and is available in English, German and Ukrainian.

For background and practical details about the Castle stop, the Edinburgh Castle visitor guide covers tickets, opening hours and the route from the hotel.

Continue east from St Giles’ along the Royal Mile into Canongate, then follow the route to the Palace of Holyroodhouse at its end. The Palace is generally open Thursday to Monday throughout the year, except in summer, when it is open daily.

Opening arrangements and admission details can change, so check the official site before you go. The Royal Collection Trust is the operator to consult for Palace visiting information. For a closer look at tickets and access, see this Palace of Holyroodhouse visit guide.

Plan the Royal Mile as a walk between the Castle end and the Palace end, with time for any interior visits. For St Giles’ Cathedral, note the daily variations in visiting hours and the Saturday Quiet Hour when choosing when to stop.

The cathedral’s main floor is wheelchair accessible via ramps, but the Thistle Chapel and some side aisles are not. Public toilets are on the lower ground floor and accessed by stairs; the cathedral does not currently have an accessible toilet.

There is no bus stop directly outside St Giles’. The nearest bus stop is on Victoria Street at George IV Bridge; reaching the Princes Street bus or tram stops involves an uphill walk up the Mound.

There is no parking at the cathedral, though two Blue Badge parking bays are behind the building beside the Mercat Cross in Parliament Square. They cannot be booked.

Check St Giles’ Cathedral’s official visitor information before you go for current hours, admission and access arrangements. For the Palace, consult the Royal Collection Trust’s official information.