The Royal Mile

The Royal Mile is the popular name for the succession of streets which form the main thoroughfare of Edinburgh's Old Town.

As the name suggests, the Royal Mile is approximately one Scottish mile long, and runs between two important buildings in the history in Scotland. From Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Castle Rock down to Holyrood Abbey, It is referred to by locals as "The High Street", but properly, this is the name of only one stretch.

The streets which make up the Royal Mile are (west to east) Castle Esplanade, Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, Canongate and Abbey Strand. The Royal Mile is Edinburgh Old Town's busiest tourist street, rivalled only by Princes Street in the New Town.