Scott Monument

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) re-invented Scotland. In the late Georgian era, he popularised tales of its medieval and Jacobean tumults, and created the clan tartans you buy on Princes St. This grand Gothic memorial, part cathedral part moon rocket, was completed in 1846 to dominate the east end of Princes St. It's 200 ft 6 in / 61.1 m tall, and guided tours take you up 287 steps (no lift) to the top platform, for a closer look at many of the statuettes of characters from Scott's works. The man himself and his dog sit in state at the base. In the 1990s the curators considered cleaning the monument but realised that the Victorian grime was holding it together, so replacement stonework is prominently white.

• Built 1844

• history

Address

East Princes Street Gardens EH2 2EJ

Hours

Daily 10-12:30AM, 2-4PM

Price

Adult £8, child £6

Phone

+441315294068

Website

edinburghmuseums.org.uk (opens in a new tab)