What is the Royal Mile?
The Royal Mile is a mile long road that connects the Palace of Holyroodhouse to Edinburgh Castle. The strip is filled to the brim with gorgeous old architecture, tons of souvenir shops and eateries, and buskers. My favorite being a man who was juggling and eating fire. It does have its fair share of tourist traps. However, it also features many genuine establishments and eateries. These places are brimming with life and history.
Impressions
We started bright and early. We had a small delay in the amount of time we’d have to explore Edinburgh due to a winter storm, but the cold and rain wasn’t going to stop us from exploring the capital’s old town. We hailed an Uber and made our way to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. There were options to take a tour of the Palace, but we elected against it due to time constraints. Myself, mom, and little brother were all pretty hungry, so after falling for a few tourist trap like shops we ended up at a diner called Cafe Vivo. It was simple, at a great price point for the area, and easy.
After we satiated our hunger, we continued until we hit the main strip. The road is closed off for pedestrians near St. Giles’ Cathedral. Even during the rain and cold there were many people from all around the world exploring, and enjoying Edinburgh’s Old Town. We continued meandering through until it started to get dark, and we reached Edinburgh Castle. The Castle’s exterior was gorgeous, and they were having a seasonal light show at the time to celebrate the holidays.
Recommendations and Tips
From my experience I learned a few things. The first was to save your souvenir shopping until you get to Edinburgh castle. There is a massive souvenir store that sells all the same things you would find at all the other generic souvenir stores along the Mile, but at a far better price with increased variety. It was called “Tartan Weaving Mill and Exhibition”. The second was to check out the Tron Kirk Market. It features a slue of local artists in small booths selling unique, one of a kind souvenirs and goods. It’s located in an old cathedral that had been renovated into a local market. I would also recommend making a reservation in advanced if there is a restaurant you are interested in, as many are reservation only. Another fun spot was the World’s End Pub (Open since the 16th Century. It tends to be a bit busy, but it’s a charming spot with nice beverages.
Conclusion
Edinburgh’s Royal Mile is a must see in Scotland. It’s unique, full of charm, and a wonderful way to spend a day in Edinburgh. Be ready for the cold and rain (especially if you go in December like we did) but it was just so much stimulus that we hardly had any time to complain about it. Enjoy the sights, sounds, goods, food, and general atmosphere of this excellent location in the UK.
Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays everyone!
Bonus Haiku
A jaunt of holly
A jolly, lovely quarter
A Merry Christmas!
Someone Who Wanders 
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