📌 Old Town, City of Edinburgh
★★
Attend a Sunday service at this little church on Edinburgh‘s Royal Mile, and you might rub shoulders with celebrity guests. Canongate Kirk is the official place of worship for both the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle, with both buildings lying within the parish boundary. Front row pews decorated with their relevant coats of arms are reserved for possible congregants, though we assume they often remain empty. Beyond the famous connections, the interior is wonderfully bright and airy, with unusual blue pews and even a row of rainbow seating under the apse. Pop in if you’re in the area – the church is open daily over the summer months. The kirkyard is also the final resting place of several famous figures from history, including economist Adam Smith and poet Robert Fergusson.
🌍 Location
📌 153 Canongate, Royal Mile, 15-min walk east of Edinburgh Waverley station
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 264739
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.951890,-3.179617
🚌 Canongate | 🚆 Edinburgh Waverley | 🚋 St Andrew Square (0.5 mi)
🚗 Car parks / street parking nearby (both charge)
📝 Key info
⌚ Sunday afternoons
🎫 Free
