Scott Monument

A soot-black Gothic spire with 287 narrow steps

⚠ Closed until 17 Oct

Hours: Usually daily from 10am, closing time varies by season (check). Closed for maintenance until 17 Oct 2026
Tickets: About £8 adults, £6 children/concessions (2026 travel-site figures; check officially)
Address: In East Princes Street Gardens, right above Waverley station

A 61-metre black Gothic spire on Princes Street, built for the writer Sir Walter Scott. Its sandstone was blackened by the smoke of steam trains, and the dark colour has become its signature. At its base sit Scott and his dog Maida, carved in marble. The spiral stairs inside narrow until your shoulders brush the walls, and after 287 steps the top gallery looks out on the castle, Old Town and Calton Hill.