Grassmarket
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
The triangular market was established in 1477 by decree of King James III as a marketplace for cattle and horse trade. Between 1661 and 1688, public executions of Covenanters took place in the square, commemorated by the stone Covenanters Memorial cross. From the cobbled market square, there is a perspective of the vertical rock cliffs of Edinburgh Castle. Today, independent bookstores, artisan ice cream parlors, and ancient pubs operate along the frontages. The space is filled with outdoor dining areas open during the summer season.
- Visit time: 1 h
What to look for
- Stone Covenanters Memorial in the western part of the market
- Medieval trade route West Bow connecting the square with the Royal Mile
- Colorful facades of Victorian tenements housing craft galleries
- Perspective of the castle's defensive walls rising directly above the square
How long does it take to visit Grassmarket?
Plan about 1 h.
Nearby
- The White Hart Inn — 40 m
- The Scotch Whisky Experience — 150 m
- The Witchery by the Castle — 150 m
- Camera Obscura and World of Illusions — 170 m
- Oink — 170 m
- Maison Bleue — 190 m
Things to do in Edinburgh — all places with visit times
Edinburgh — 1 day · Edinburgh — 2 days · Edinburgh — 3 days
Add this place to a trip notebook in RouteMarket — see it on the map with the rest of your plan and open the route in Google Maps.
Ready-made notebooks for this city
- Edinburgh business trip — 1 day
- Edinburgh active — 2 days
- Edinburgh solo and photography — 2 days
- Edinburgh with kids — 2 days
- Edinburgh with friends — 2 days
- Edinburgh as a couple — 2 days
Other languages: Polski · Deutsch · Français · Español · Italiano · Português · Nederlands · 日本語 · 中文 · 한국어 · العربية