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Edinburgh guide

The area around Greyfriars: Old College, the museum and the Meadows

A walk through Edinburgh's Southside, from Old College and the National Museum of Scotland to Greyfriars Kirk, Bobby's statue and the Meadows. It suits first-time visitors who want a quieter side of the city.

South of the Royal Mile the city changes. The streets are student streets, the buildings are university and museum, and a park opens at the end. This short walk crosses that ground from a college quad to the Meadows, with a famous dog on the way.

It suits a first visit. Allow longer if you go into the museum.

Old College: Adam's quad

Start on South Bridge at Old College. Robert Adam drew the plan in 1789, and William Playfair finished the building in 1827 with changes of his own. Adam's dome was left out to save money. It went up in 1887, and a gilded figure of Youth stands on top.

Look up at it from the street, then walk through the arch if the gate is open. Leave by Chambers Street, which runs straight on to the museum.

Old College
Old CollegeAttractionLook up at the dome and its gilded figure, added in 1887. The building is a working university site, so treat the quad as a look-in rather than a stop.Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0

National Museum of Scotland: choose one gallery

The National Museum of Scotland is free to enter, and it is too big to do in an hour. Pick one thing. Dolly the sheep is in the science and technology galleries, and the roof terrace is worth the climb for the view over the Old Town. The terrace closes a little before the museum does, so go up first.

Come out and follow Chambers Street west to its end.

National Museum of Scotland
National Museum of ScotlandMuseumEntry to the permanent galleries is free. Go in for Dolly the sheep in the science and technology galleries, then take the stairs or lift to the roof terrace, which shuts a little before the rest of the museum.Photo: Maccoinnich~commonswiki, CC BY-SA 3.0

Greyfriars Kirk and Bobby

The little statue of Greyfriars Bobby stands at the corner of Candlemaker Row, opposite the kirkyard gate. The terrier sat by his owner John Gray's grave for fourteen years, until he died in 1872. William Brodie made the statue that year.

Then go through the gate to Greyfriars Kirk. It was built between 1602 and 1620. In 1638 the National Covenant was signed in front of its pulpit. The kirkyard is open all day and all night. The church itself keeps shorter hours, and not on every day.

Greyfriars Kirk
Greyfriars KirkPlace of worshipWalk the kirkyard first, then go into the church if it is open. Bobby's statue is across the road at the corner of Candlemaker Row, and his grave is just inside the gate.Photo: Carlos Delgado, CC BY-SA 3.0

The Meadows: a drained loch

Cross to The Meadows. This was once the Burgh Loch. In 1722 Thomas Hope took a lease on it, and the loch was drained. His tree-lined Middle Meadow Walk still crosses the park. Take it, find a bench, and watch the students.

There is no next stop. This is where the walk ends.

The Meadows
The MeadowsParkWalk the length of Middle Meadow Walk, then sit down. The park is open ground with no ticket or schedule.Photo: Benjamin Brock, CC BY-SA 3.0

On this walk you have gone from an unbuilt dome to a drained loch. The area has been about learning, loyalty and open space, and it all sits within a few minutes' walk of the Royal Mile.