Monuments/ Statues in Edinburgh

THE 10 BEST Edinburgh Monuments & Statues

Monuments & Statues in Edinburgh

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What travelers are saying

  • RiSha
    London, UK444 contributions
    Came here recently during my visit to Edinburgh. Very impressive structure, which made for a great photo opportunity! It was cool to learn about the history of one of the main landmarks of Edinburgh - a must-see if you're visiting the city!
    Written July 20, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Terry W
    Hamilton, Canada113 contributions
    Finally got to pay homage to the Bobby. Made sure I took the advice of the locals and didn't rub Bobby's nose as they hate it when tourist's do that. A busy place to get you're photo taken as everyone else wants to do the same. The statue is right across the street from the kirkyard.
    Written August 8, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • michaeljamesgamm2018
    Arbroath, UK51 contributions
    it is the first monument you see when you walk up calton hill and nice views of Edinburgh and the surrounding area of Edinburgh and over to fife
    Written March 18, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Charlie
    Brisbane, Australia58 contributions
    liked the statue and the history, wish the information there was more legible and available

    considering its listed as somewhere to visit and Wojtek was so important to Polish soldiers and himself was a part of history, there should be a plaque for him with his story
    Written December 18, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • HINA W
    Islamabad, Pakistan6,566 contributions
    This monument was initiated in 1816 one year after Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated at Waterloo. The acropolis was built to honour those who perished in the Napoleonic Wars. It is located on the Carlton Hill. It was planned to be a copy of the Parthenon in Athens. Sadly the funds ran out in 1829 so only the facade of the structure could be completed with 12 pillars. It was never completed, hence it was nickname "Edinburgh's shame". I still felt that the structure added a lot of grace to the area.
    Written July 17, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Edith
    14 contributions
    This is one of the prettiest and most impactful things to see in Edinburgh. I would recommend this for anyone visiting the area. I cannot wait to return and view this all again!
    Written July 29, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • IAN D
    Wigan, UK19,387 contributions
    As an avid Church visitor this is a most strikingly beautiful church inside. The decor is stunning with magnificent ceiling and beautiful stained glass windows. A very serene church.
    Written January 26, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Malgorzata
    12,108 contributions
    A lot of tourists passes through the gates at Edinburgh Castle every day. As they arrive at the gate, only few stop to notice the statues situated on either side of the main entryway. These are statues of two Scottish freedom fighters, William Wallace and Robert Bruce, added in 1929. Sir William Wallace (the statue on the right), depicted in the movie Braveheart, was among the first Scottish leaders to revolt against King Edward I of England. After winning the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, he was knighted and named a Guardian of the Kingdom of Scotland. He continued fighting against the English reign until his capture and brutal execution in 1305. Now he look upon all of tourists who enter Edinburgh’s famous attraction each year.
    Written February 1, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • James P
    Cambridge, UK2,416 contributions
    An impressive octagonal stone structure with a unicorn on the top.
    Traders gathered here - gossips spread their news - and important public announcements made from here.
    Written August 8, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • James P
    Cambridge, UK2,416 contributions
    Impressive statue of the Duke of Wellington, mounted on a horse, commemorating the victory against France.
    Written August 11, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Malgorzata
    12,108 contributions
    A statue of James Clerk Maxwell, the most famous Scottish physicist and one of the greatest physicists in history. It is good to see an acknowledgment to one of the greatest minds in history. Whole new epoch has started because of Maxwell. Definitely worth visiting. The statue is in the middle of the road.Therefore, be careful when taking pictures.
    Written September 2, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • It was hard to find. It is located not far from York Place. But well worth it once I found it. 5 stars and one of my favorites.
    Written October 9, 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • weekak
    Edinburgh, UK1,030 contributions
    Dean cemetery is in a beautiful location near Dean village but is a bit of a hike uphill. This is a huge cemetery with lots of influential, important, interesting people like Elsie ingles, John Bellamy, Henry Cockburn, Agnes Henderson Brown, people involved with Queen Victoria, people involved with William Burke are all buried here and many more. It is worth doing a bit of research beforehand to find out exactly who is buried here and seeking them out. I wish there was a map or something as a guide, I visited at least 5 times, in search of specific memorials and still haven't found them all but there are beautiful interesting monuments but it's the ones that don't necessarily stand out that are worth seeking. There are no toilets that I could see in or around Dean cemetery so I was always on a mad dash to Princess street to find a loo, sometimes having to cut my visit short which was frustrating. But if your into historical graveyards, this is a must see.
    Written November 1, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • James P
    Cambridge, UK2,416 contributions
    Imposing statue to the 'father of capitalism' - didn't realise he was Scottish until our visit to Edinburgh.
    Written May 31, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Brian T
    London, UK6,782 contributions
    Edinburgh’s Calton Hill is a very interesting place to visit as there are a number of fine buildings and monuments on its crest, as well as some great views of Edinburgh, the Firth of Forth, and the crags and hills beyond.

    Some of these monuments commemorate famous people. Perhaps the most mysterious of them is the circular Dugald Stewart Monument. Completed in 1831, it’s apparently modelled on the Choragic Monument of Lysicrate in Athens, and is one of a number of Greek Revival structures in the Calton Hill area.

    Dugald Stewart was a Scottish Enlightenment Philosopher who was responsible for the predominance of Scottish Philosophy in Europe at the early 19th century. In his day he was highly respected for his views; today they are likely to be considered out of date today, and for that reason the philosopher is largely forgotten.

    The monument features prominently in photographs of Edinburgh’s cityscape from Calton Hill; it provides a nice foreground subject to the wider landscape views in which it sits. You can’t miss it after the 143 steps to the top of Carlton Hill. It’s worth an inspection if you’ve climbed Calton Hill for views and to see all of its monuments.
    Written November 5, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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