Tickets to the Festival or the Festival Fringe; a trip to the Castle or the Palace of Holyroodhouse– these are often seen as essentials for the visitor to Edinburgh. The problem is that these apparent essentials don’t come cheap. With a little planning, however, it’s possible to get the full flavour of Edinburgh’s turbulent past and vibrant present without spending money on anything other than food and the odd souvenir.
City Walks in Edinburgh
Walking is free, except for the cost of shoe leather. Edinburgh is a small city and most of its sights are close together in either the compact Old Town spilling off the castle ridge, or the sprawling New Town which lies to the north. These offer plentiful opportunities for walkers, whether they’re looking for a half-hour stroll or a full day of ambling around.
A walk along the city’s Royal Mile from the Castle to Holyrood should be a must-do even for those with money to burn. Cut back through some of the many closes which dive down from the main route; or follow the narrow abyss of the Cowgate up into the Grassmarket with its pavement cafes and haunted pubs. In the New Town, stroll through the graceful Georgian streets and leafy squares.
The city offers a plethora of guided walking tours on many themes from ghosts to famous literary haunts. While the majority charge a fee, at least one company runs a free thee-hour-long walk, departing from Starbucks Café at the Tron (on the Royal Mile) leaving at 11 am, 1pm and 3pm daily.
For a more rural walk, keep going at the bottom of the Royal Mile and head to Holyrood Park. One of Europe’s largest city centre parks, it’s dominated by the extinct volcano of Arthur’s Seat and the curved rim of Salisbury Crags. It’s a great place for walking, feeding ducks or watching some of the many events which take place there annually – or just looking at the stunning city skyline.
Places to Visit in Edinburgh For Free
Edinburgh is blessed with many museums which have no admission charge. None of the city’s Council-run museums charges a fee, and four of them – the Museum of Childhood, Writers’ Museum, People’s Story and Huntly House Museum – are located on or very close to the Royal Mile itself. Between them, these tell the story of the city and its residents – whether they were famous, infamous or downright ordinary.
Admission to Scotland’s national museums and galleries is also free (although there is usually a charge for special events). The National Gallery on the Mound, the National Portrait Gallery on Queen Street (currently closed for refurbishment) and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art at Ravelston are connected by a free bus service. In the centre of town in Chambers Street, the Royal Museum of Scotland covers Scotland’s social and political history.
There are plenty of other buildings open to the public. Edinburgh has long been a centre of religion and religious dispute, and its many churches are often open to visitors. The surrounding graveyards, too, are of interest and many famous people are interred in them. Among the more notable churches are:
- St Giles Cathedral, the High Kirk of Scotland, its coroneted spire a dominant feature of the city skyline
- Canongate Kirk, further down the Royal Mile, the church attended by the Queen on her visits to Holyrood. Mary Queen of Scots’ murdered secretary, David Rizzio, is reputedly buried in its graveyard
- Greyfriars Church (access from the top of Candlemaker Row). In its churchyard Scotland’s National Covenant was signed, and where the faithful terrier Greyfriars Bobby is buried alongside his master.
A little further afield, about a mile to the north of Princes Street, the Royal Botanic Garden offers a place for more wandering. Although admission to the glasshouses costs money, there is no charge for wandering about is many themed areas; and a series of events, many free, is scheduled throughout the year.
Free Events in Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s festivals are almost legendary. There are twelve of then throughout the year – not just the international arts festival and its legendary Fringe, but festival for jazz, science, books and children among others. While many of the events put on are ticketed, many others are free. In addition, the High Street is sealed off during the Festival and hosts a range of street theatre and entertainment. And there are plenty of places to go and watch the city's famous New Year and Festival fireworks.
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