Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle occupies Castle Rock, an extinct volcanic plug at the top of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland, and dominates the city's skyline from almost every direction. Entry is through the Esplanade, the parade ground used for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and over the drawbridge past statues of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace. Inside, the complex is a cluster of buildings from different centuries rather than a single structure. The Crown Room holds the Honours of Scotland, the oldest crown jewels in the British Isles, alongside the Stone of Destiny. The Royal Palace includes the small room where Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to the future James VI. St Margaret's Chapel, dating from the early twelfth century, is regarded as the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh. Mons Meg, a fifteenth-century siege gun, and the Great Hall with its hammerbeam roof are further stops, and the National War Museum and regimental museums fill other buildings. The batteries on the ramparts give the best views across the New Town, the Firth of Forth and Arthur's Seat, and are the strongest photographic vantage points. The One O'Clock Gun is fired daily except Sundays, with visitors gathering at the Argyle Battery shortly before. A visit typically takes two to three hours, longer with a guided tour or audio guide. Queues form at the gatehouse and the Crown Room, so pre-booked timed tickets are strongly advised, particularly from June to August and during the Edinburgh festivals in August. Early morning on a weekday and the last two hours before closing are quietest. The site is steep and cobbled, and the weather on the rock can be windy even on clear days. Planning the order of the visit saves time. Many visitors head first to the Crown Room, to reach the Honours before queues build, and then move to the Great Hall and the batteries. Guided tours led by castle staff depart regularly from near the entrance and cover the history of the rock. The castle shop and tearoom sit near the Half Moon Battery, and the walk back down the Royal Mile passes many museums, shops and closes.