You can’t miss St Giles’ Cathedral on a trip to Edinburgh. This beautiful church on the Royal Mile has played a central role in the religious history of Scotland, and its architecture, its history and its concerts will captivate you. It’s also one of the stops on our free walking tour of Edinburgh’s Old Town.
Is St Giles’ really a cathedral?
Everyone in Edinburgh calls St Giles’ the cathedral, and you can even read it on a large sign next to the main entrance, but despite its name, St Giles’ is not actually a cathedral, as services are led by a minister, not a bishop!
Scotland was largely Catholic until the 16th century, when John Knox led the Reformation. Since then, St Giles’ has been a Protestant church, and it was only a cathedral for two brief periods in the 17th century, when Episcopalism was imposed on the country.
Beautiful architecture
The first thing you will notice is the tower, topped by a beautiful crown spire added in the 16th century, which gives it a very distinctive look.
Practical information
Opening hours
- Monday–Friday
- 10am–6pm
- Saturday
- 9am–5pm
- Sunday
- 1pm–5pm
Entry
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Entry | Free (donations welcome) |
| Photography permit | £2 |
Groups of more than 5 people need to book in advance.
If you thought Presbyterian churches were austere, St Giles’ will surprise you with both its exterior and its richly decorated interior. Inside, the four central pillars are the only features remaining from the original 12th-century church, much of which burned down in 1385 and has been remodelled many times since.
If you want to see a typical Presbyterian church, with the simple design favoured after the Reformation, head down the Royal Mile to Canongate Kirk.
Free concerts at St Giles’
One of the best experiences at St Giles’ is attending one of the free concerts held throughout the year. Most take place on Sunday evenings and include solo performers, chamber music, choirs and orchestras.
St Giles’ is a working church, with services every Sunday morning. For concerts and other upcoming events, check the official website.
John Knox and St Giles’
When it comes to religion in Scotland, everything revolves around John Knox, the undisputed leader of the Protestant Reformation. A powerful speaker, he was minister of St Giles’ from 1559 to 1572 and used its pulpit to promote Presbyterianism, a far humbler form of worship, without the wealth and hierarchy of the Catholic Church.
You can see a statue of Knox inside St Giles’. In Parliament Square, behind the church, you can also find his grave, strikingly simple in keeping with his beliefs, and the only one left from the cemetery that once stood here.
The Thistle Chapel
You definitely shouldn’t miss the Thistle Chapel, added to the south-east corner of the building in 1911. It is the chapel of the Knights of the Order of the Thistle, the highest order of chivalry in Scotland and one of the oldest.
Its seventeen hand-carved Gothic oak stalls show the influence of this ancient order, whose meetings are presided over by the monarch.
The monarch’s stall is the most imposing, but all of them are exquisitely decorated, topped with the helmets and coats of arms of the sixteen knights. Among the many carvings, look out for the angel playing the bagpipes!
Location
You can find St Giles’ Cathedral in the heart of the Old Town, on the High Street section of the Royal Mile, next to Parliament Square, a ten-minute walk down from the Castle.
Get directions to St Giles’ Cathedral.