St Giles' Cathedral

St Giles' Cathedral (High Kirk of Edinburgh)

Under the crown spire, hunt for the bagpipe-playing angel

⚠ £12 entry from Oct 2026

Hours

Mon–Wed & Fri 10am–6pm, Thu 10am–5pm, Sat 9am–5pm (9–10am quiet hour), Sun 1pm–5pm; last admission 1 hour before closing (official, Oct 2026)

Tickets

Ages 16+ £12, under-16s free, Access Ticket £10 with free companion; free Resident Pass for Scotland residents. Book at tickets.stgilescathedral.org.uk (official, Oct 2026)

Address

High Street on the Royal Mile, by Parliament Square

The stone crown spire is the Royal Mile's most recognisable shape. Inside it's darker than you'd think, grey pillars rising into the gloom and stained glass throwing red and blue light across the floor. John Knox preached here, which is why it's called the mother church of Presbyterianism. In the corner, the Thistle Chapel is crammed with carved canopies, and spotting the little angel playing bagpipes among them is the game everyone plays.