Royal Mile
Edinburgh
The Royal Mile is the main street of the Old Town of Edinburgh. It links the castle to the royal Palace of Holyroodhouse and is about a mile long.
The backbone of the Old Town
The Royal Mile runs down from the castle rock to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It is made up of several streets, one after another: Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate. Very tall houses rise on both sides. Between them open the closes, the steep and narrow little alleys of the Old Town.
A very old house
John Knox House dates back to 1470 and is among the oldest medieval buildings left on the street. It is named after John Knox, a preacher who changed the Church of Scotland. He may have lived here for a short time. In the 1840s the house was due to be demolished. Its famous name saved it, and today it is a small museum next to a centre devoted to stories.
The city gate
The city was closed in by walls, with gates to go in and out. The most important was the Netherbow Port, halfway along the street. Beyond it lay Canongate, which was then a separate town. The gate was pulled down in the 1700s because it blocked the traffic. Its outline is marked on the ground with brass plates.
A street in festival mood
Every summer the Royal Mile fills with street performers, musicians and shows. It is one of the best-loved stages of the festival.
