Short answer
The Royal Mile in Edinburgh is the historic street of the Old Town running from Edinburgh Castle down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It is made of four named streets in a row, and Cockburn Street drops from it towards Waverley station.
The Royal Mile in Edinburgh is the historic main street of the Old Town, running downhill from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It is a chain of four streets, packed with closes, churches and museums, and it is best walked slowly with a coffee stop planned in the middle.
What is the Royal Mile in Edinburgh?
The Royal Mile is the name for the long route through the Old Town that links Edinburgh Castle with the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It is called a mile because the Scots mile of the past was a little longer than the modern one, and the route is roughly that length.
It follows the spine of a volcanic ridge, with the castle on the rock at the top and the palace on low ground at the bottom. The street is lined with tall stone buildings, narrow closes running down each side, and a mixture of historic buildings and modern shopfronts.
What are the four streets of the Royal Mile?
The Royal Mile is made of Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate, joined end to end. From the castle, you meet them in that order as you walk downhill.
| Section | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Castlehill | Top, below the castle | Starts at the castle esplanade |
| Lawnmarket | Second | Continues the descent |
| High Street | Third, the middle | Home to St Giles’ Cathedral |
| Canongate | Bottom | Ends near Holyrood |
The names appear on street signs, so you can track your progress. Cockburn Street branches off the High Street part, which is why many walkers meet it halfway along the route.
What are the main sights on the Royal Mile?
The main public landmarks are Edinburgh Castle at the top, St Giles’ Cathedral on the High Street, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament at the bottom. Between them are museums, closes and historic buildings.
This guide names public landmarks only. Opening times and ticket rules for the castle, cathedral and palace are set by those sites, so check their official pages before you plan a day around them.
How do you walk the Royal Mile?
Walk it downhill from the castle to Holyrood, because that is easier on the legs, and plan at least half a day if you want to stop in the sights.
- Begin at the castle esplanade, where the street starts.
- Walk down through Castlehill and Lawnmarket, looking at the tall buildings.
- Reach the High Street and take in St Giles’ Cathedral.
- Pass the turning for Cockburn Street on your left as you walk down, and think about a break.
- Continue through Canongate to the palace and the parliament building.
If you want to avoid the uphill return, take a bus or walk back along a parallel street, or finish your day in the lower Old Town near the station.
What are the closes and wynds off the Royal Mile?
Closes and wynds are narrow lanes running down the sides of the ridge from the Royal Mile, and there are dozens of them. They are a defining feature of Old Town Edinburgh.
Many are stepped and steep. Some open to small courtyards and some lead to private doors, so treat them as public passages with care. Fleshmarket Close, beside Cockburn Street, is one of the stepped ones. Walking down a close is a good way to see how tightly the Old Town was packed.
How does Cockburn Street connect to the Royal Mile?
Cockburn Street leaves the High Street part of the Royal Mile and curves downhill towards the area near Waverley station. It is a Victorian street cut into the slope, in contrast to the older closes.
Southern Cross Cafe is on this street, at number 63A, on the corner of Fleshmarket Close. That puts it a short walk from the Royal Mile and a short walk from the station, which suits a mid-walk coffee stop. See the hours and location page for the address and map.
Where can you stop for coffee near the Royal Mile?
Because this guide does not rate other businesses, it describes only Southern Cross Cafe, which Google Maps lists at 63A Cockburn Street. It shows opening hours of 9 AM to 5 PM on weekdays and 8 AM to 5 PM at weekends, while OpenTable shows 8 AM to 5 PM daily.
The menu recorded for the cafe comes from a 2015 blog and visitor mentions, and it may have changed. It lists a cappuccino, a Biscoff latte, tea, coffee, soup, sandwiches, wraps, ciabattas and home-made cakes, including scones with clotted cream, lemon cake and coffee and peanut cake. No prices were found. Check the menu page and call ahead for current details.
How long should you spend on the Royal Mile?
Allow a minimum of one hour just to walk it, and half a day if you plan to enter even one attraction. A full day suits anyone who wants to see the castle, the cathedral and the palace.
Weather matters. The street is exposed, and a cold or wet day shortens the time most people want to stay outdoors, which makes a cafe break more welcome. Festival periods in Edinburgh make the street much more crowded, so build in extra time.
What is the difference between the Old Town and the New Town?
The Old Town is the medieval ridge-top district around the Royal Mile, and the New Town is the planned Georgian district to the north. Both are part of the same World Heritage site in Edinburgh.
The Old Town has narrow, tall buildings, closes and winding streets. The New Town has straight streets, squares and wider pavements, laid out in the eighteenth century. Cockburn Street and the Royal Mile belong to the Old Town side, while the Scott Monument and Princes Street gardens mark the boundary between the two.
What should you wear and bring?
Wear comfortable shoes with grip, because cobbles and steps are common. Bring a layer even in summer, as the weather in Edinburgh changes quickly.
A small bag is easier to carry than a large one in the crowds. A phone or paper map helps with the closes, and a bottle for water is useful on a long day. Take care of your belongings in crowded sections, as in any busy tourist area.
Common questions
How long is the Royal Mile?
It is about a mile in Scots measure, which is slightly longer than a modern mile, and runs downhill from the castle to Holyrood. Walking it without stops takes under half an hour, but most visitors spend far longer.
Is the Royal Mile free to walk?
Yes, the street itself is public and free to walk. Entry to individual attractions along it, such as the castle and the palace, is charged separately by those sites.
Where does the Royal Mile start and finish?
It starts at Edinburgh Castle at the top of the ridge and finishes at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament area at the bottom.
How many streets make up the Royal Mile?
Four: Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate, in that order from the castle downhill. They run together as one continuous route.
Is the Royal Mile suitable for wheelchairs?
The main road is paved and passable, but it is steep and cobbled in sections, and many closes are stepped. Check the route and the access details of any building you plan to enter.
Planning a visit? Start with Southern Cross Cafe Edinburgh: address, opening hours, menu and directions in one place.
This article is general information from an independent guide, not from Southern Cross Cafe itself. For the store’s current details see hours and location.