Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh
If you wander to the far end of Edinburgh鈥檚 Royal Mile, you鈥檒l stumble upon the hauntingly beautiful remains of Holyrood Abbey鈥攁n epic blend of crumbled stone, royal drama, and deer-related miracles. Founded in 1128 by King David I, the abbey takes its name from an old Scottish term for the "Holy Cross" on which Jesus was crucified. Legend says that the king had a brush with death while hunting when a stag with a glowing crucifix between its antlers (or maybe just a particularly shiny sun reflection) charged him. Divine intervention or optical illusion, but the king took it as a holy sign and built an abbey right there in gratitude.
The original abbey evolved a lot over the years. Between 1195 and 1230, it went from simple sanctuary to Gothic grandeur. It played host to more than just monks, housing royal ceremonies, meetings of the Scottish Parliament, and even seeing the signing of the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton in 1328, which ended the First War of Scottish Independence. So yes, this abbey has receipts.
Charles I had the place spruced up in 1633 for his Scottish coronation, but things went downhill after 1688, when a post-Glorious-Revolution mob gave the building a not-so-glorious makeover, desecrating it. By 1768, the roof had given up entirely and collapsed, turning the abbey into the picturesque ruin it is today. Restoration plans have come and gone, but so far, Holyrood Abbey remains roofless and moody鈥攋ust how romantics like it.
Right next door is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and surrounding it all is Holyrood Park鈥攈ome to Arthur鈥檚 Seat, scenic trails, and a recurring cast of joggers, photographers, and mildly confused tourists.
The original abbey evolved a lot over the years. Between 1195 and 1230, it went from simple sanctuary to Gothic grandeur. It played host to more than just monks, housing royal ceremonies, meetings of the Scottish Parliament, and even seeing the signing of the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton in 1328, which ended the First War of Scottish Independence. So yes, this abbey has receipts.
Charles I had the place spruced up in 1633 for his Scottish coronation, but things went downhill after 1688, when a post-Glorious-Revolution mob gave the building a not-so-glorious makeover, desecrating it. By 1768, the roof had given up entirely and collapsed, turning the abbey into the picturesque ruin it is today. Restoration plans have come and gone, but so far, Holyrood Abbey remains roofless and moody鈥攋ust how romantics like it.
Right next door is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and surrounding it all is Holyrood Park鈥攈ome to Arthur鈥檚 Seat, scenic trails, and a recurring cast of joggers, photographers, and mildly confused tourists.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Edinburgh. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 黑料吃瓜网 App
Holyrood Abbey on Map
Sight Name: Holyrood Abbey
Sight Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (See walking tours in Edinburgh)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (See walking tours in Edinburgh)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Edinburgh, Scotland
Create Your Own Walk in Edinburgh
Creating your own self-guided walk in Edinburgh is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Edinburgh Pub Crawl
Edinburgh is rich in pubs, both old and new, spoiling their patrons with the best in town drinks and food. Although most traditional pubs in the city are laid back, with a quiet and relaxing atmosphere, some have dance floors and double as nightclubs. This self-guided adventure takes you to several such spots, each with its own story to tell.
Our journey begins at the World's End Pub, a... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Our journey begins at the World's End Pub, a... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Old Town Walking Tour
The historical center of Edinburgh, popularly known as the Old Town, is indeed the oldest part of the Scottish capital. Most of the buildings here, made of stone and characterized by numerous tall windows, have been around since the Middle Ages and are covered with soot, left over from the days long gone, when houses were heated with hard-coal and wood. Hence the prevailing gray color in the area.... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Edinburgh Introduction Walking Tour
If you like cities with a split personality, Edinburgh is definitely one such, featuring a striking mix of medieval and Georgian architecture. Indeed, here medieval grit meets Enlightenment wit, and every cobbled incline has a story to tell鈥攚hether your legs are ready for it or not. Perched (or more like wedged) across volcanic hills, the city has been Scotland鈥檚 capital since the 15th century... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
New Town Walking Tour
Rightly regarded as the historic masterpiece of city planning, the New Town of Edinburgh has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. The area forms a significant part of the Scottish capital and is known for its elegant Georgian architecture, abundant shopping opportunities, and many other delights firmly associated with this city.
One of the prominent landmarks in the New Town is... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
One of the prominent landmarks in the New Town is... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Literary Landmarks Tour
For centuries, Edinburgh has been home to numerous writers. The likes of Robert Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson, and JK Rowling, just to name a few, have given pride to this city. Fortunately, the tradition doesn't seem to die out any time soon, as Edinburgh keeps producing more and more authors and literary heroes in whose footsteps people still wish to tread.
Naturally, there is a wealth... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Naturally, there is a wealth... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Famous Squares and Streets Walking Tour
Being in Edinburgh, it is only natural to be curious about the avenues, boulevards, and streets leading to (or stemming from) the city's picturesque squares. There, you can find a copious amount of historic and religious sites, fashion stores, classy restaurants, and marketplaces, not to mention some hidden gems, exploring which is well worth the time spent.
One of Edinburgh's most... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
One of Edinburgh's most... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Scottish Souvenirs: 15 Authentic Scottish Things to Buy in Edinburgh
The popularity of Scotland stretches far beyond its geographical borders, fueled, in large part, by Hollywood's interest in the Scottish theme - Sean Connery (as James Bond), "Braveheart", etc. Indeed, the cultural spectrum of this part of Britain is enormous and comprises great...
19 Best Pubs in New Town, Edinburgh
A guide to the pubs that make up the area that is called Edinburgh's New Town. A description about what you can expect from each of the locations in the directory. A fantastic directory if you are a tourist or even a...
Top 12 Pubs On and Around Royal Mile in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a vibrant city with abundant nightlife and no shortage of places to go after dusk. The Royal Mile alone, in the very heart of Edinburgh, is laden with character spots craving to be discovered by the first time visitors to the city. This is the highlight of some of the most notable bars...