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| '''The Royal Mile''' is |
'''The Royal Mile''' is the colloquial name for the succession of streets which form the main thoroughfare of the Old Town of ]. As the name suggests, it stretches for a mile between the two foci of royal history in Scotland, from ] at the top of the Mound down to the ]. Along the way, the actual name of the street changes from "Lawnmarket" to "High Street" to "Cannongate". The Royal Mile is Edinburgh's busiest tourist street, rivalled only by ] in the New Town. | ||
| ⚫ | About a third of the way down the mile from the castle toward the palace is Parliament Square, named for the old Parliament House (which housed Scotland's assembly between the 1630s and its dissolution in the ] of 1707; today it is used for law courts). ], the High Kirk of Edinburgh, also stands in the square, as well as the Mercat Cross from which royal proclamations are read. Behind St Giles is the ], a heart-shaped mosaic built into the pavement. Tolbooth prisoners used to spit as they entered the prison, and this tradition is maintained by some people, who spit on the Heart for good luck as they walk past. | ||
| ⚫ | During the annual ], the street becomes the city's central focus, and is crowded with tourists, entertainers and buskers |
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| Further down the Royal Mile are the site of the old Tolbooth prison and the new ] building. | |||
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| ⚫ | During the annual ], the street becomes the city's central focus, and is crowded with tourists, entertainers and buskers. | ||
| The street bisects the Bridges, forming North Bridge (leading to the New Town) and South Bridge (leading to the Old Town). | |||
Revision as of 15:27, 23 April 2004
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The Royal Mile is the colloquial name for the succession of streets which form the main thoroughfare of the Old Town of Edinburgh. As the name suggests, it stretches for a mile between the two foci of royal history in Scotland, from Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Mound down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Along the way, the actual name of the street changes from "Lawnmarket" to "High Street" to "Cannongate". The Royal Mile is Edinburgh's busiest tourist street, rivalled only by Princes Street in the New Town.
About a third of the way down the mile from the castle toward the palace is Parliament Square, named for the old Parliament House (which housed Scotland's assembly between the 1630s and its dissolution in the Act of Union of 1707; today it is used for law courts). St Giles Cathedral, the High Kirk of Edinburgh, also stands in the square, as well as the Mercat Cross from which royal proclamations are read. Behind St Giles is the Heart of Midlothian, a heart-shaped mosaic built into the pavement. Tolbooth prisoners used to spit as they entered the prison, and this tradition is maintained by some people, who spit on the Heart for good luck as they walk past.
Further down the Royal Mile are the site of the old Tolbooth prison and the new Scottish Parliament building.
During the annual Edinburgh Festival, the street becomes the city's central focus, and is crowded with tourists, entertainers and buskers.