Edinburgh is one of my favorite cities in the United Kingdom. This historic capital of Scotland has all of the charms of a medieval town with the bustle and culture of a major city. With narrow winding streets and classic architecture, there is never a moment where there isn’t something new to experience or see. One of the most popular areas in the city of Edinburg is the Royal Mile. The Royal Mile measures as you can very well assume, nearly one mile, it stretches from two of the most well-known locations in the city, Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat which makes it the perfect tourist locale.

Defined by its signature shops, beautiful architecture, and an array of ongoings it is no surprise that the Royal Mile is a favorite place to visit for both locals and visitors alike. Even if you aren’t one who normally takes a fancy to spend hours roaming shops while traveling this inviting area with cobblestone streets and unique shops is well worth a short jaunt while in the city. One of my favorite things about The Royal Mile is the views of Edinburgh, which are nothing short of stunning. Due to this street’s unique structure,  it is lifted above lower parts of the city, in certain locations (especially near Edinburgh Castle) visitors can get a stunning birds-eye view of the city, its architecture,  and all of the beauty that it holds. 

Though now used for entertainment and tourism the Royal Mile has a rich history that helps define Scotland itself. The Royal Mile itself is lined with historical architectures and landmarks that date back hundreds of years. Two of the most notable of these are Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s chair located on each end of the Royal Mile. The name Royal Mile itself is even rooted in history since it got its name due to its frequent usage as the processional route for the royal family during their visits to the city for hundreds of years.  Another significant location on the Royal Mile is the crossing of St Mary’s Street and the Royal Mile. This marker is a significant location in Scottish history, showing where the Flodden Wall was raised after the defeat of the Scots in the Battle of Flodden Field during the early 1500s. If architecture is more your thing, a stop at  St. Giles Cathedral is a must, this breathtaking church dates back to the early 1100s with stunning architecture and stonework this beautiful building can easily be seen from most parts of the mile. 

If you do wish to do a little shopping during your trip, the Royal Mile is one of the best places to do so. Unlike many cities in Europe where you will find only high-end world-renowned shops in their main shopping area the Royal Mile tries to keep things a little more localized offering shoppers a taste of more local offering such as Scottish whiskey, handcrafted goods, jewelry, wools, and other delicacies that you won’t find outside of Scotland. In addition to more mainstream shops, you will find an array of small locally owned shops to cater to pretty much anyone with any taste or style. Oddity is not something that shys away in this area either,  one of the more interesting that I found was one called The Wyrd shop which is dedicated to the occult and witchcraft which has a rumored book made of human skin. Another few other (less quirky) shops that caught my interest were that of a Scottish whiskey shop where I was able to find a small collection of unique bottles, a wool shop where I found some handcrafted scarfs, and a candy shop that allowed me to indulge my inner child with an array of sweets, some that I had not found it any of my other ventures in the UK.

As for most locations that draw in tourists it is often best to avoid peak times such as weekends or late afternoon into the evening. The nightlife in this area is often bustling so don’t expect a quiet walk once the sun goes down. I found that early morning to mid-afternoon is your best time to visit this location, with fewer visitors you will be able to enjoy all the things that this area has to offer without the swarms of people and long lines. Also, visiting during the off-season, avoiding busy tourist times from the end of April until the beginning of September will allow you to get the most out of your trip and be better on your wallet as well. No matter when you decide to visit Edinburgh take a little time out of your schedule to stop by the Royal Mile and see some of the best that Edinburgh has to offer.

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