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Craigmillar Castle, Edinburgh

4.7
Castle · Hidden Gem · Architectural Building
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Although Craigmillar Castle is a ruined medieval castle, this site is one of the best preserved medieval castles in Scotland. When you explore, you will find a spacious courtyard in the middle, while picturesque gardens and small ponds surround the castle. Don’t miss the walls of a chapel and a dovecot in the northeast corner as well. The castle is best known for its association with Mary, Queen of Scots, who arrived there following an illness after the birth of her son, James VI. To plan Edinburgh vacation without wasting time, ask Klarna Trips to design an itinerary.
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Craigmillar Castle reviews

TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
952 reviews
Google
4.7
TripAdvisor
  • We have just joined Historic Scotland and this is a place which is free to members. Historically interesting place, and the visit was enhanced by a calligrapher/historian who was making bookmarks... 
    We have just joined Historic Scotland and this is a place which is free to members. Historically interesting place, and the visit was enhanced by a calligrapher/historian who was making bookmarks...  more »
  • We wanted to visit a castle whilst we were in Scotland and this one didn't disappoint. It's a lot bigger than it looks and there is lots of information to tell you about the Castle's history. I'd... 
    We wanted to visit a castle whilst we were in Scotland and this one didn't disappoint. It's a lot bigger than it looks and there is lots of information to tell you about the Castle's history. I'd...  more »
  • Lived in Edinburgh for 34 years and never visited. Purchased historic Scotland memberships and decided to make the most of it and visit. We prebooked and got parked there is probably about 8 spaces... 
    Lived in Edinburgh for 34 years and never visited. Purchased historic Scotland memberships and decided to make the most of it and visit. We prebooked and got parked there is probably about 8 spaces...  more »
Google
  • What a wonderful castle! Easy to reach by city bypass and not far from the city centre. Small car park just upfront the main entrance. Very quiet and easy walking natural park all around the castle. The site is very well maintained. To entry into the castle there's a ticket to pay of 7 pounds. It's easy to visit inside, not suitable for disabled people unfortunately. Toilets available inside. Lot of ancient,secret and tiny rooms and tight stairs but the landscape view from the top of the walls is fantastic. The visit of the whole castle takes 20/ 30 minutes. If you like medieval buildings this place deserves a visit.
  • We had visited Craigmillar Castle some years ago, bit never brought our kids, now 3 years and 6 years old. We visited on a Sunday morning, managed to park just outside and then headed in to purchase the tickets, which can also be pre-purchased online, we however decided to buy them on arrival. The lady serving us was really helpful and also advised there would be a quiz for the kids as we walked around. When we got to the Castle entrance we were welcomed by two gents who told us a little about the recent developments and what was open, along with giving our eldest her quiz sheet. We then spent about an hour walk around and through the castle. Absolutely fascinating and both kids loved their first ever castle experience, although our youngest was concerned it was pretty ruined 😀 At the end the gent told how they have lots more activities planned for the coming months and suggested we kept an eye on their website. All round a really exciting visit for all of us and definitely recommend it for families even with relatively small children. There are several stairs where I had to carry our youngest, but was no issue for us certainly. Thank you!
  • Craigmillar Castle has a nice scenic view of Edinburgh and the staff were really friendly and welcoming. Some areas were closed to pending repairs but was still enjoyable. Also dog friendly as well as you can see my pooch loved it. Recommend when visiting.
  • This was a bit of an unexpected experience. You pay for admittance, but then you're just free to explore. It's really fun to crawl through the bones of the castle, and read the sparse information they've posted around the various rooms. Bonus: you can sit in the same spot that Mary Queen of Scots once sat. It's her throne, but perhaps not the throne you're imagining. Have fun!
  • We went for an Easter egg hunt. It was my first time at the castle and I'm very impressed. Its really well looked after and has lots of nooks and crannies, staircases, turrets, and other castley stuff. Great views of Edinburgh from the roof!

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