Mercat Cross

The Mercat Cross of Edinburgh is a market cross, which stands in Parliament Square next to St Giles' Cathedral, facing the High Street in the Old Town of Edinburgh.

Photo: Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Type: Monument
Description: Market Cross in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Also known as: “Edinburgh, High Street, Market Cross” and “Mercat Cross, Edinburgh”

Places of Interest Nearby

Highlights include St Giles’ Cathedral and National Library of Scotland.

St Giles’ Cathedral

Church

Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0.

St Giles' Cathedral, also known as High Kirk of Edinburgh, is one of three cathedrals in Edinburgh, Scotland. The existing building was begun in the 14th century and extended until the early 16th century; significant alterations were undertaken in the 19th and 20th centuries, including the addition of the Thistle Chapel.

National Library of Scotland

Library

Photo: Marcok, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The National Library of Scotland is one of Scotland's National Collections. It is one of the largest libraries in the United Kingdom. As well as a public programme of exhibitions, events, workshops, and tours, the National Library of Scotland has reading rooms where visitors can access the collections. National Library of Scotland is situated 490 feet southwest of Mercat Cross.

National Museum of Scotland

Museum

Photo: Maccoinnich, CC BY-SA 3.0.

The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland, is a museum of Scottish history and culture. It was formed in 2006 with the merger of the new Museum of Scotland, with collections relating to Scottish antiquities, culture and history, and the adjacent Royal Scottish Museum, with international collections covering science and technology, natural history, and world cultures. National Museum of Scotland is situated 950 feet south of Mercat Cross.

Places in the Area

Nearby places include Old Town and Quartermile.

Old Town

Photo: PerryPlanet, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Old Town is the original settlement of Edinburgh. At its core is the Royal Mile, the long street descending east from Castle Crag to Holyrood Palace. This medieval city was cramped for space so it built higher and higher, and stank higher still, hence its nickname of "Auld Reekie".

Quartermile

Neighborhood

Photo: Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Quartermile is the marketing name given to the mixed use redevelopment of the former Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh site, in Lauriston, Edinburgh. It was master-planned by architect Foster + Partners and takes its name from the fact it is a quarter mile from Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile and measures a quarter mile from corner to corner.