Sights · Our pick in Edinburgh
St Giles’ Cathedral
On the Royal Mile
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Michael D Beckwith · CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Gary Campbell-Hall from Edinburgh, UK · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons1 / 2
About St Giles’ Cathedral
St Giles’ Cathedral stands on the High Street, the heart of the Royal Mile, and is a working church with services, music and visits, in its own words.
Why it's on our list
- Crown spire
- Thistle Chapel
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with St Giles’ Cathedral before you go.
Hotels nearby
The closest hotels in our guide to St Giles’ Cathedral, as the crow flies.
- Market Street Hotel200 m3 min walk
- The Scotsman Hotel250 m3 min walk
- The Witchery by the Castle300 m4 min walk
- Hotel du Vin Edinburgh400 m5 min walk
- The Balmoral400 m5 min walk
What’s nearby
Distances from St Giles’ Cathedral are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 14 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest tram stops and railway stations
- Edinburgh WaverleyRail250 m3 min walk
- Princes StreetTram500 m6 min walk
- St Andrew SquareTram600 m7 min walk
Key sights
- National Museum300 mWalk 4 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Edinburgh Castle600 mWalk 8 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Holyroodhouse1.3 kmWalk 16 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Arthur’s Seat1.9 kmWalk 24 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Royal Botanic Garden2.1 kmWalk 26 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Britannia3.7 kmCycle 16 minCar or taxi 15 min
- Edinburgh Airport10 kmCycle 45 minCar or taxi 34 min
Main railway stations
- Edinburgh Waverley250 mWalk 3 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Haymarket1.8 kmWalk 23 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 10 min