Edinburgh Castle - Mons Meg

Edinburgh Castle is full of history so do other things sitting inside Castle boundary and Mons Meg is one of them. Mons Meg is a cannon with 50cm diameter barrel which can smash castle walls. It’s one of the largest cannon in the world. French Duke of Burgundy ordered this cannon in 1449. Its an impressive piece of history. This massive medieval cannon is fascinating and the information provided about its history and use is very interesting. It arrived 1457 to Scotland as a gift to James II wedding. This area in castle always crowded quickly so make your move and get some pics as well as get some info.

This canon is very impressive. It’s huge and has some interesting history. Don’t miss checking it out.

Mons Meg at Edinburgh Castle is an impressive piece of history. This massive medieval cannon is fascinating to see up close, and the information provided about its history and use is very interesting. The only downside is that it can get crowded around the area, but it's definitely worth a visit. Overall, Mons Meg is a highlight of the castle and a must-see for history enthusiasts.

Truly the mother of all cannons. This one shoots cannon balls the size of stones thrown by Catapults in earlier centuries. Capable of smashing castle walls or smashing timbers and broaching ships.

Absolutely amazing alot of walking up the hill towards the castle but we'll worth it .Make sure you wear good trainers or shoes and get there for the 1 o'clock canon blast. Awesome

" Mons Meg, with her 20 inch (50 cm) with wide barrel, was built to smash castle walls. The French Duke of Burgundy paid the gunsmith Jehan Cambier to make the gun in 1449. The barrel was formed from iron rods bount together with 37 white - hot iron hoops that were hammered into position " In 1457 Mons Meg arrived in Scotland as a 🎁 to ( wedding ) James ll.

This is one huge cannon and I can’t imagine moving it. It was built in 1449 and transported from Mons in today's Belgium. It took teams of men and horse/oxen to move this (only 9 miles a day 😱). When she was in action, the walls fell and I ran.

Lovely views and would recommend a visit. Only problem I had was when I wanted to purchase something, there was no one around to take payment so ended up leaving my items.

Incredible, one of the highlights of our trip to Scotland! This is an absolutely beautiful castle in a beautiful setting. We paid extra for the guided tour, which was completely worth it. We enjoyed everything about the tour, from the incredible history to the views.

Another amazing Scottish castle overlooking Edinburgh. Parts of it date from the 1100s. God bless 'em they provided motorized transport and a wheelchair for my mobility challenged sister. Centuries of Scottish history and amazing views. One of the highlights of the trip.

Such a cool place to explore! There are a couple of museums on the premises with suggested donations as well as a tea room, which my friends and I made a reservation for. We booked our tickets online in advance for 9am and even then, it was busy. We spent about 3 and a half hours at the castle and by the time we left, it was even busier. There are public restrooms available on premise. It's a good spot for kids and you can explore the dungeon as well. The view is really pretty as you can see the city skyline.

Gorgeous castle. The historical aspects are fantastic. We were able to join a tour and our tour guide was great. The only issue I had was the steepness of the location and the stairs. That's not reflective of my review since that's my problem. Just noting it for anyone with mobility issues. Loved it!

Everyone awes at the castle from the outside, so why not take a peek inside? It was essential to pre book tickets as there was a sign clearly stating that there were no same day tickets available. We booked the first slot of the day and enjoyed a quieter space as we navigated around the ground. The castle has much to explore and we went through a variety of rooms looking at the history of the castle. I can admit that I'm not a big history gal, so it's hard for all of the information to really catch my attention, but I enjoyed touring for the hour or two we were there. What I loved most were the views of the city. The castle is high up on the hill and has incredible views!

There's a little bit of everything here. History, architecture, city views, gifts shops and afternoon tea. Wandering around the castle grounds was more enjoyable than expected. The Crown Jewels are so cool. But the highlight was the afternoon tea. Make sure to schedule a reservation and then be prepared to be stuffed with the most delicious and beautiful, sweet and savory treats. I was full for hours after this dining experience and as an American it was particularly magical to have tea at a castle. This is an absolute must for everyone!

Certainly a must do when you are in Edinburgh. There's so much to do in this area like the Royal Mile and tons of other historical sites but this is the main place to visit...so much to learn... history, a war museum, and stunning views of the city from here. Make sure to take your time and bring a lot of water, the walk can actually be quite strenuous with the slopes and the stairs.

We had a blast visiting the Edinburgh Castle which is one of the oldest fortified places in Europe. With a long rich history as a royal residence, military garrison, prison and fortress, it is alive and well with many exciting tales. The Governor of the castle and resides on site. The Scottish royal jewels are exhibited in one of the main building. You can also visit the war museum and the royal Scotts guards regiment museum.

I think if we went in a warmer day we would have enjoyed it more. It's a mediaeval castle so I guess nothing fancy inside it. They did transfer some of the building into gift shop and cafes. The tour is a historical landmark with lots of history to know. The view from the top of you get clear sky is stunning but be prepared to a weather change in seconds. We went up and it was 72 degrees and within a min it went down to 50 degrees with very cold wind. And nope none of us was ready. This tour isn't good for little kids as there is nothing to do for them. In our tour we had few elementary school kids who weren't interested in anything our tour guide was saying. They do have afternoon tea you can book it straight from their website and it gets sold out so book it early enough. We did go to the afternoon restaurant without reservations and they weren't serving it anymore. Anyway we got their hot chocolate and it's the best I have ever had in my life I took it with coconut milk So overall if you don't mind the sudden wind and rain and a history lesson then this place is a must for you to visit. I think for me it's a once in a life time place as yes I love history but the sudden weather change which isn't their fault was a nightmare. As well not being able to go inside the army hospital or any building that isn't transferred to be a cafe or a gift shop isn't fun for me. As I love knowing the history yet I want to see inside the buildings!

She's Olllldddddd!!!! They started building Edinburgh Castle in the 11th century and I'm not certain they are done building her. Home of Scotland's Crown Jewels. She's been a prison, a royal residence, a fortress, and a military garrison. Even though she's up on the most strategic hill, she's been the most besieged place in Britain. Queen Margaret (who was later made a saint) died here in 1093. The chapel built in her honor by her son, King David I, is Edinburgh's oldest building.

Edinburgh Castle has incredible history and geography. What could be more intimidating than a castle fortress built on top of a 350 million year old extinct volcano?! The castle dominates the city skyline and provides a point of reference for navigating the city.

One of the most iconic landmarks in Scotland. This is not to be missed. Purchase tickets online and avoid the crowds. Timed tickets are around $22 US and worth every penny. The historic fortress is located on Castle Rock, in the heart of Edinburgh. The castle features the Crown Jewels of Scotland, the Stone of Destiny (a symbol of Scottish kingship), St. Margaret's Chapel, the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh, and the Great Hall. At 1:00, every day except Sunday, the One O'clock gun is fired. A tradition since 1861. So rich in history, the beautiful architecture and breathtaking views make for a perfect day and memory making photos.

Historic castle in the center of Edinburgh. Tickets sell out in advance so buy early.

Beautiful castle. Nearly 1000 years of history you get to be immersed in. War memorials, chapels, cannons. doesn't get better.

We purchased timed tickets in advance on line it was 65 lbs per person. Edinburgh castle is from the 12th century with Margaret's chapel, the crown room, Ramparts, The great hall, Half Moon Battery, Esplanade and Parade grounds were not to be missed. This is the world famous icon of Scotland, and part of the old and new towns of Edinburgh's World Heritage Site. It is considered the most famous Scottish castle. This castle houses, that Crown Jewels of Scotland, the stone of destiny, the 1 o'clock gun, the National War Museum of Scotland, and the famous 15th century gun Mos Meg.

Another must visit when in the area. Sorry all, I guess that most of my Scotland pictures did NOT get uploaded. I was able to recover a few, so if you have checked out my pictures previously, there are a few more now. Quality/Quantity - Another venue that SELLS out quickly, I recommend ordering in advance! We got so lucky and were able to buy our tickets from our hop on hop off bus. So, FYI, if you are unorganized like me, there can be other options. And on top of that, the tour company gave us a DISCOUNT! So LUCKY. Huge castle, I wish I was able to recover more pictures to share. Anyways, the pictures do not do it justice, a highly recommended visit. Plan for a minimum of 2 hours, if you plan to read, you will need a full day. Whisky tastings. Afternoon tea experience - They would not even let us inside to check out without a reservation, so if you enjoy or want to experience afternoon tea at the castle, MAKE reservations. Atmosphere - Huge castle. Very organized and prepared for us tourists. Cafe - If you get hungry or thirsty. Too many exhibitions to name, see the few pictures I recovered. Very beautiful and scenic. Crazy busy but organized. The team did a good job managing the traffic. Started with the limited # of visitors, so again, book your tickets in advance. Events held here and right outside the castle. Look forward to planning my next visit on the same day as an event. Open 7 days a week from 9:30am to 5pm or 6pm depending on the season. See Yelp or website. Service - 5 stars, great job managing the tourists. Price - 22 pounds for the general public, I think I paid 18.50 pounds through the hop on hop off bus. Online, a prepaid discount for 19.50 pounds, see website. Audio guides from 3.50 pounds each. Membership or explorer pass prices, see website. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success since pre 1314...

I was underwhelmed. It's a big old castle with a zillion tourists during off season. I can't imagine what it would be like during the summer. Sure, it has its charm, but that's about it. There is a small museum with war artifacts and such and you can see the crown jewels. My favorite part was the cafe. Great food and drink.

I would highly recommend coming to Edinburgh Castle and taking in the rich history that this place has to offer. However, I would HIGHLY recommend buying your tickets ahead of time. I didn't think it would be an issue, but it was sold out for the day when we came up on a Wednesday around 11am. We looked online for the next day and it was sold out too. Luckily, I was able to score tickets for the following Monday. At first, I wanted to skip seeing the castle, given we couldn't get tickets the first 3 days we had in Edinburgh and I had plans for the second half of our trip. But this was my mans first time in Europe, first time outside of the US, and he had never seen a castle. We had to do this activity and honestly, I'm glad we did. Well worth the ticket price to be able to see all the interesting things this castle has to offer. It's quite a climb once you're inside but even our bums were able to walk up and down a few times without getting to tired so it's not that taxing. We saw St Margaret's Chapel, gorgeous, and came back down for the 1 o'clock gun. They aren't lying when they say this fills up quickly. Thankfully, there is a slope that you can stand on and see the whole thing without being up front. We were about 3 people deep from the front but I decided to move when people started putting their kids on their shoulders. I'm glad I did as we were able to see if very well from about halfway up the hill. Another super interesting spot here is the prisons. They have one of the earliest depictions of the Stars and Stripes and it was really interesting to see another side to something we as Americans know fairly well, the Revolutionary War. The line to the Crown Jewels and the Stone of Scone was long but moved fairly fast. You don't really get to linger but the person in there will answer any questions for you. We joked about how lucky we were to be able to see it as it just got back from holiday in England (the king's coronation, lol!) The Great Hall shows a replica of the stone as it would have been in the past and they used it in place of the real one while it was gone. Super interesting! The views from this castle are breathtaking as well. Overall, a great place to spend some time in Edinburgh.

This was a highlight of our brief time in Edinburgh. I would leave at least half a day to walk through if you plan to explore it much. Especially if you have young children. They fire the 1 o' clock gun at 1pm (obviously), but the best place to see it fire is from the area above where they have The Meg cannon. Get there at least 15 min early if you want to see it fire. My favorite areas were the great hall, Honours of Scotland exhibit and the site of The Black Dinner. It's worth doing the audio tour, and also don't miss the prison areas!

I really enjoyed touring Edinburgh Castle. There is so much rich history to see and learn about here. I really think I could've spent 1/2 a day exploring and reading up on everything. Unfortunately for me, my visit was extremely crowded and some areas of the Castle were so uncomfortably over-populated that people were squeezing in like sardines. My favorites are the Great Hall (where the Armor and Swords are housed), as well as The Honours (where the Scottish Crown Jewels are displayed). I really would've loved to look at the Crown Jewels longer than I was allowed to (about 30-Seconds), but it was so crowded that we were ushered in/out like cattle, so I only got a glimpse of them. Parking for the Castle is an absolute nightmare and Castle Staff was no help in offering parking suggestions. There is street parking within a 5-minute walk of the Castle, however, those spots fill up very fast and you have to be very careful that you are parking in the right areas or you will receive a citation. I saw several cars parked in wrong areas with citation cards on them. I ended up driving around for about 45-minutes until I finally found a pay-per-use parking garage within a 15-20 minute walk to the castle. To avoid the parking frustration and confusion, I highly suggest you Taxi from your hotel/area directly to the Royal Mile and just walk to the Castle. It's just much easier and cost efficient that way. Lastly, I highly suggest that you purchase your tickets online before your visit, this way you can just scan them at the gate and walk on in. Tickets are on a timed entry and can sell out quickly. This way you guarantee your spot. Overall, I highly recommend a visit to Edinburgh Castle. The Artifacts on display are pretty awesome to see and learn about. I'll definitely come back again during off-season so I can take my time seeing all the things I missed.

The castle is a must-do if you're in Edinburgh. There are so many mini museums packed into the castle. You can easily spend half a day here and not get bored. We came right at 9:30 when it opened and we left around noon. It was getting super crowded when we left - especially with school tours - so I'd recommend the early entry time. We pre-booked our tickets online and I'm really glad we did!

I'm very grateful to be able to visit this place for my trip. We were visiting Edinburgh and was told this castle is a must. The castle is really popular tour spot for sure as they were fully sold out when we got there. Thankfully, we booked the tickets ahead of time to explore. The view at the top was amazing and we were able to get a lot of nice pictures. They also have snack/drink areas so you can get something there. There is a lot of history to read up here and cool things they preserved to look at. We also saw crown jewels there but couldn't take a picture of them. It's definitely a must to visit here if you're into history. Expect to walk a lot for sure.

The castle is so cool with so many great stories. We also had afternoon tea and while it wasn't the castle vibe I expected it was a great break to walking by around the castle and the food was good too

Buy your tickets for a timed entry online. The castle overlooks the city and has spectacular views. The audio tour explains the most significant locations and brings much of the history to life.

The self guided tour from the mobile link was great but I forgot my headphones! We enjoyed milling about on our own. It was interesting to see. It's a hike to get up to the castle and it's a fun walk. It would be a good idea to have some filtered water fountains around so people can refill their water bottles. -- help folks to stay hydrated while at high altitudes and climbing.

I've been here twice, the most recent trip we had advance tickets which really made a difference. Beautiful, fascinating place loaded with history. I especially loved the pet cemetery.

To say that this castle embodies the pride of the Scots in their history and people would be as simply put as could be. This magnificent structure is well-preserved and serves as an active military barracks, a castle, and a location for impressive museums and the awe-inspiring National War Monument. We thought we would only spend a couple of hours here, but we ended up putting in a full day. We moved quickly, too, because of the cold and icy weather - so on a nice day, we would have meandered even more. The views of the area from here are magnificent, and the views of the castle from below are just as impressive. Try to get here as soon as it opens and prepare yourself for a full day of history, taking in some unforgettable sights and being blown over by tales of Scottish military bravery and honor.

Glad we came here for our first trip to Edinburgh to learn about the castle, but could skip on our next visit since it was so crowded. Through our trip, we learned a lot of history including the Jacobite revolt, and the history of the Highlands. The castle was so interesting because its history predates centuries. We ended up renting audio guides to listen throughout the castle. Great views of the surrounding city as well.

How could we go to Edinburgh and not see the castle? There is a pretty good uphill walk to see the castle. The castle has several exhibits, shops, cafes, and panoramic views. I enjoyed seeing the Crown Jewels and the Scottish Memorial to their fallen soldiers. The cafe was also really good! We spent about 4 hours at the castle.

An enchanted history with a unique structure that you should not miss when you are in Edinburgh. It was drizzling and raining the whole day when we visited but we could still explore enough. It is a great experience being here and the staff in general is very helpful. They do have a restaurant inside where many options to eat including some Scottish food. Soup is worth trying. Unique take on food. Few small museums and also they do canon fire ceremonies I guess at every hour interval. We could see one and it was good to spend 10 mins seeing guards marching and firing the canon.

It's a world class historical site and is worth a visit but it is really almost too busy to fully enjoy. Even with limited tickets (buy them in advance!!!) it feels like it's wall to wall people in every corner of the site with lines to get in every exhibit, crowds at every photo spot, etc. We weren't there on a peak day but it really felt like it. It's a lot of walking up and down but it is pretty simple to explore when you follow the audio guide. Many areas outside are a bit light on details but still worth seeing. There are toilets, snacks and a very large gift shop. Just bring your patience as exploring the castle can seem more like a stressful day in a theme park than a relaxed stroll.

Reflecting on my trip to the UK especially right after the Queen's passing. Edinburgh Castle is amazing - how they built it during the time is beyond belief! The views of Edinburgh are excellent. The Scottish jewels are no where near as brilliant as the Crown Jewels in London, but still important to see. Make sure you book tickets ahead of time to get a day/time that you want!

Edinburgh Castle rises above the rest of the Edinburgh landscape, except for some of the volcanic remains protruding high as well. It is a very aesthetic castle and useful for navigating in terms of serving as a landmark for finding one's way in the streets of Edinburgh below. Interestingly, it is not the highest point in the city and can be viewed from higher elevation in Holyrood Park. Noticed it when I zoomed in on one of my pictures in the park to see it beyond some grassy and sloped rocks. I was on my way up to the summit of Arthur's Seat and realized that was part of why the volcanic rocks were called Arthur's Seat... highest point in Edinburgh. The grounds are on the larger side and is composed less of ruins than most of the castles I visited on my Scotland heritage travel trip in July 2019. Beautiful place, though can be very crowded even early in the day on a weekday in the summer.

Definitely worth a trip going. I'm glad we booked our tickets ahead of time online. They sold out when we went. Upon entering you are greeting with a huge entry way. (Also, they were setting up a stadium like structure around the castle for an event in August.) This castle was beautiful. There is a lot of walking involved, small spaces, narrow steps, and steep inclines. There is a lot of history here. If you come it's an awesome experience. However, there is a lot to see that can't all be done in one day. I really enjoyed our visit. There are plenty of photo opportunities, small museums, Crown Jewels, a church and more. There are some areas that you're not allowed to take photos, or video so just be mindful. Add this place on your list as it is a must have experience.

Honestly, this was disappointing. There's some decent things in the exhibits, but it's very cramped and the story isn't told very coherently. Nice views from the top, but not enough. Biggest gripe; there were far too many people there on the day we visited. Exhibits were difficult to navigate and frustrated by severe overcrowding. For a premier attraction, this just wasn't worth the time and effort. Many other castles and attractions in Scotland were far superior in quality of experience delivered.

Really great! Make sure to buy tickets in advance and show up at opening. It gets really busy really fast. We did the tour by the castle employees which was maybe 5£? 100% worth it. Sean was our tour guide and he did such a great job. Highly suggest!

The castle itself is a must do but skip the guided tour part. The guided part is fairly short and you only walk through the outside of the buildings. You can do this all yourself and not be constrained by the guided tour meeting time. All you need is the entry ticket and you can walk through everything on your own. If you truly want to see the inside of the buildings you need to do this anyways. Personally, I would skip the guided tour and just walk it on your own. What you want to see is on the insides of the buildings.

Loved it. But I'm a castle nerd sooooooo..... The Scottish Crown Jewels were amazing. The stories the castle tells are incredible. Like you're walking through history.

The good: Amazing history and who doesn't love a grand old Scottish castle? The bad: Be ready for crowds! Make sure you secure tickets ahead of time. You cannot just walk up and get in.

Edinburgh Castle is a stunning historic castle, right at the top of the Royal Mile and Castle Hill, in the city centre. It overlooks the whole city and can be seen from a distance while walking around Edinburgh, and adds great character to a great city. It is home to St Margaret's Chapel, which is the oldest surviving building in Scotland's capital, dating back to the 11th century. It is easy to understand why this is the number one paid tourist attraction in Scotland, attracting over 2 million visitors in 2019. The castle feels almost majestic through its medieval build. PRO TIP: Book tickets online and well in advance to avoid disappointment. It can get very busy at peak times, but once inside you are able to roam the rooms at your own speed without a time limit, within the opening hours. Well worth a visit while in Edinburgh, even if it's to admire the architecture. 4*

While often very crowded and with some rather long lines, the castle can be a great way to take a break from a long day of exploring the streets of the historic city. The level of history on display here is truly wonderful, and the way the guided audio tour (available for an additional £3 fee) explains it all is very in depth and immersive, communicating how important certain parts are without getting too bogged down with random, uninteresting details. Great views for the most part but it is often crowded so book your entry time a few days in advance of your visit

If you are a history buff, you should definitely make a visit to this castle. Worth the money and worth your time. A guide book sold separately (around 5-6 bucks) or you can rent an audio guide tour. Even though you get keep the book, I would have preferred the audio since I was not looking at the book as I walked around. The castle itself is not as showy or ornate as the the ones we visited in England but it definitely has its charm and beauty. Impressive to see where it is located and you will not find better views from anywhere else in the city. Their cafe is also good if you are in need of refreshments half way through your tour. I highly recommend getting. Tickets early on in the day as it can get crowded.

Most people come here for tourism but I went for a concert and it was brilliant. The only problem was the toilets. Somebody should monitor it

More than just a castle, this fortress, standing sentinel atop a rocky plateau and casting its protective eye upon the bustling streets below, dominates the skyline of Edinburgh. It is the crown jewel of an already noble and regal city filled with incredible heritage and history. There is so much to see here, it's honestly overwhelming. From a comprehensive military museum in the lower levels, a working cannon that fires six days a week at 1pm, several fantastic dioramas of medieval kitchens and workspaces, a walkthrough dungeon and barracks, a gorgeous chapel, great hall, gatehouse, and more ramparts, baileys and cloisters than you could possibly see in a single day's worth of exploration, you are not likely to find a more thorough castle experience anywhere in the world. And that's not even mentioning the café and gift shop! And those city views! I've seen a lot of castles, but Edinburgh takes the cake. And while this may no longer be true, I always laugh at one of my favorite comedian's sole critique of this incredible edifice (Kyle Kinane, for the curious): "I said the whitest thing I've ever said in my life, in Edinburgh, Scotland. I said, out loud: 'I can't believe this castle doesn't have wi-fi!'" So yeah, if you disagree that Edinburgh Castle isn't worth the price of admission, and then some, you're probably better off staring at your cellphone all day instead, wi-fi or not...although you may need to step outside the walls.

The most awful coffee literally possible to find in Edinburgh, maybe even the whole world. That dookie tasted like sour milk from hell, but it wasn't even cows milk so how did they make it taste like that. Oat milk latte? More like oat milk fart, ay? Would not feed it to my worst enemy to be honest. Castle was really cool tho.

I loved visiting the Edinburgh Castle. This castle is overlooking all of Edinburgh so the views are incredible but there is just so much history to learn and see. I'm especially partial to Queen Mary of Scots so I loved getting to see more about her as well. The dog cemetery is also so touching This is a must stop on any trip to Edinburgh!

There are so many wonderful castles to see in Scotland, but this one was our least favorite. You have to reserve your tickets online way in advance, as it gets very crowded. So, we bought our tickets for as soon as they opened to beat the crowds, and we set aside a morning to explore the Edinburgh Castle. Even with timed entry tickets, we had to wait in three different lines to get in, the main entry, the moat entry, and the line to get a guide tool to listen with, all while tons of other tourists are pushing their way in. Once you get inside, you then have to line up again to see the Crown Jewels, which was the best part of this experience, but the line moves very slow as the room can only hold a half a dozen people at a time. The actual castle only has two rooms open for you to walk through, and they are set up with vendors trying to sell you things. When I tried to ask the staff questions, they were very unwilling to interact with you. The great hall was incredible to see, but again six staff members huddled together complaining about tourists is a turn off. We tried to see the dungeons, but the crowds are so pushy you don't even have time to read the display boards without being pushed to the next display. On our way out, we tried shopping in the gift shop, but the crowds were overwhelming, and we gave up. Unless you want to spend an entire day at Edinburgh Castle, use your time to see any of the other amazing things the city has to offer.

Of course no trip to Edinburgh is complete without a visit to the castle. It can be EXTREMELY windy so take caution with outfits and layer!! The on-site cafe is tasty though the layout is completely bonkers- creates chaos from hot bar to cashiers line for no reason. There is no way to see and learn everything in a single visit but all the more excuse to return!

It's a Great looking castle that has been nicely preserved. Fun walk that talks a few hours. Eye candy everywhere. Views of the city at 180°....breathe taking! Great helpful employees, too. I'd say to start with the tour and then explore from there for sure!