Scott Monument East Princes Street Gardens , Edinburgh Old Town EH2 2EJ | |
01315294068 | |
Scott Monument Website | |
Follow EdinCulture on Twitter | |
Facebook information can be found here | |
Follow museumsgalleriesedinburgh on Instagram | |
Dedicated to Sir Walter Scott, it is one of the largest monuments to a writer anywhere in the world.
There are 287 steps to the top of the Scott Monument, from where you can enjoy breathtaking views of Edinburgh and the surrounding countryside. Find out about Sir Walter Scott and the monument in the museum room.
The monument was designed by George Meikle Kemp (1795 - 1844) who was inspired by the architecture of Melrose Abbey and Roslin Chapel. It is over 200 feet (61 metres) high, with 287 steps to four levels from which you can have spectacular views. The foundation stone was laid on August 15th 1840, Scott's birthday, and the inauguration ceremony was held six years later on the same date.
Look out for the 64 statues of characters from the books of Sir Walter Scott, the Edinburgh-born writer famous for his historical novels. Learn more of his story and how George Meikle Kemp designed this amazing Gothic structure - a prodigious building feat of its time. Some of the earliest photographs ever taken show the building of the monument in the 1840s.
The statue at the base of the monument is of Scott, with his dog Maida, by sculptor Sir John Steell, who carved it from Italian Carrara marble.
During adverse weather conditions (high winds especially) please check our social media accounts before travelling as the monument may be closed at short notice for safety reasons.
The Writers’ Museum celebrates the lives of three great Scottish writers – Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.Visitors can...
READ MOREThe beautiful, elliptical St Cecilia's Hall dates back to 1763, making it the oldest purpose-built concert hall in Scotland.
READ MOREDiscover the story of Scotland at war within the walls of Edinburgh Castle with a visit to the National War Musuem.
READ MOREEdinburgh Castle dominates Scotland's capital city from its great rock. Its story has helped shape the nation's story.
READ MOREThe National Mining Museum Scotland, a 5 Star visitor attraction housed in the wonderfully restored Lady Victoria Colliery in Newtongrange!
READ MOREDating back to 1470 John Knox House is one of Scotland's greatest cultural treasures and is associated with the most dramatic events in Scotland's turbulent history!
READ MOREThe Museum on the Mound is located in the heart of Edinburgh's city centre, just 500 metres from Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street!
READ MOREHead off on a journey of discovery at this former airfield as you explore the history of aviation from the First World War to the present day
READ MORESurgeons' Hall Museums is home to one of the largest and most historic collections of surgical pathology in the World, open to the public since 1832.
READ MOREA free museum, perfect for locals and visitors alike. Find out about our Royal connections, the trades of the town, the ordinary - and extra-ordinary! - people.
READ MORENo day out on the Royal Mile is complete without a visit to the Museum of Edinburgh, where the City’s past is brought vividly to life.
READ MOREThe Museums Collections Centre is an amazing treasure trove of objects spanning a wide range of subjects.
READ MORE