The Royal Mile is named so because it rolls down Castlehill from Edinburgh Castle and connects it with Holyrood Palace at the base of the hill.
Although slightly longer than a mile, most visitors will not notice as their senses are overloaded: magnificent architecture lining both sides of the street, loud and boisterous souvenir shops selling their wares, tiny nooks and alleyways sprinting off in all directions with their hidden secrets.
A walk down the Royal Mile is a classic Edinburgh experience in itself, mingling with the other tourists, street performers, and roadside vendors on the edges of empty pavement.
Upon closer inspection, the Mile has a number of quite good shops that can easily be overlooked. The route can be split up in to sections, starting from the castle and heading downhill.
Top of the Mile
Many of the city's most popular historic attractions are at the top of the mile, and each of them has a very good souvenir shop: Edinburgh Castle, the Tartan Weaving Mills, The Scotch Whisky Experience and Camera Obscura. With the exception of the castle, you can visit each of the shops without buying a ticket for the attraction itself.
Lawnmarket
The Lawnmarket, named after the "lawn merchants" who used to sell cloth and materials here, houses a couple of important historical attractions, including the Gladstone's Land - an old merchant house - and the Writer's Museum. You will also find a number of pubs and restaurants hidden down the closes beyond the main street. The shops here are mostly souvenir shops, but Gladstone's Land has an excellent used bookstore which you can explore without a ticket for the attraction.
The High Street
The next portion of the Royal Mile, which extends down several blocks, is called the High Street and is packed with sightseeing, shopping, food and drink. St Giles Church has an excellent gift shop that supports the ongoing needs to maintain the beautiful cathedral, and don't miss the many wares available in the Mary King's Close shop.
Along this section of the street as well you will find several popular shops to purchase liqueurs and whiskies. After passing the Tron Kirk and the "bridges" you will then find a number of nice jewellery shops on both sides of the street, as well as some fun gifts at the Museum of Childhood and the Scottish Storytelling Museum.
Canongate
The last section of the Royal Mile, which brings it to the base of the Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Palace, is a bit more quiet and reserved than further uphill. Don't let this fool you - some of the best shops are down here, such as a local soap company, several custom t-shirt sellers, a sweet shop, and even a year-round Christmas shop which has a celebrity fan following. You can also find some interesting gifts in the palace shop as well as the shop inside the Scottish Parliament. Stop for a pint and soak up the atmosphere at the Tolbooth Tavern on your way downhill.
While You're Here
If you should get hungry during your jaunt down the Royal Mile, why not pop into one of our recommended restaurants - you can top up on tea and scones at Always Sunday or Clarindas. For a hearty pub meal, try the restaurant upstairs at Deacon Brodie's Tavern.
Don't miss any of our other Edinburgh shopping recommendations.
