Edinburgh Castle

City of Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Freely accessible

Public space — no opening hours to check.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

Opening hours: Apr 01-Sep 30 09:30-18:00; Oct 01-Dec 23,Dec 27-31,Jan 02-Mar 31 09:30-17:00; Dec 24 09:30-16:00; Jan 01 11:00-17:00; Dec 25-26 off
Admission: Ticketed
Wheelchair access: Partly accessible
Phone: +44 131 225 9846

From OpenStreetMap — confirm before travelling

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Edinburgh Castle stands on Castle Rock in Scotland's capital city, a fortress with roots extending back to at least the Iron Age and a royal residence since the 11th century under Malcolm III. Though constructed formally around 1200, most visible structures post-date the Lang Siege of 1573, when artillery destroyed medieval defences; notable exceptions include St Margaret's Chapel from the early 12th century—Edinburgh's oldest building—the Royal Palace, and the early 16th-century Great Hall. The castle served variously as royal residence, arsenal, treasury, mint, prison, and military garrison, and held the Honours of Scotland, the nation's regalia. Its strategic importance made it the focal point of numerous conflicts, from the Wars of Scottish Independence through the 1745 Jacobite rising; a 2014 study documented 26 sieges across its 1,100-year history. Now cared for by Historic Environment Scotland and designated a scheduled monument, the castle houses the Scottish National War Memorial and National War Museum, along with regimental museums, while the British Army maintains a largely ceremonial presence.

Built: 1200
Type: castle, museum, archaeological site
Heritage: scheduled monument
Place: City of Edinburgh, United Kingdom