The attraction has a history dating back centuries.
The historic destination is a hive of activity(Image: Xavier Arnau Serrat / Getty Images)
One of Scotland’s most iconic streets was recently named one of the world’s worst tourist traps – and it’s not hard to see why, with more than 70 gift shops running the length of it.
With Scotland a popular destination for holidaymakers, thanks to its incredible scenery and renowned whisky distilleries, there are countless places that are worth seeing, but some attract significantly more visitors than others.
As we reported last week, a recent list picked out the biggest tourist traps in the world. Placing at number five on the global ranking was the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.
Situated in the heart of the Scottish capital, The Royal Mile is comprised of streets that form the primary thoroughfare of Edinburgh’s Old Town. Approximately a mile in length, it runs from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace.
The history of the Royal Mile goes back to the 12th century, when Edinburgh was a small town that surrounded the castle. The street that linked the castle to the town was named the High Street.
Over the following centuries, Edinburgh grew and grew. The High Street developed with it, becoming a hive of activity that was home to a variety of taverns and other local businesses.
How the Royal Mile looked in 1865(Image: Hulton Archive/Getty Image)
As reported by the BBC, today the Royal Mile is home to more than 160 premises, including a whopping 72 gift shops. These sell everything from souvenirs to whisky and fudge – with two exclusively flogging Christmas products.
Many of the stores that line the Royal Mile are specifically catered towards tourists. These include businesses that stock products such as postcards, fridge magnets, and plush toys and clothing branded with the national flag of Scotland
Additionally, the historic spot is also home to many international chains. Walking its streets, you will find Starbucks, Caffè Nero, and more.
The Royal Mile is known for its many souvenir shops catered towards holidaymakers(Image: Ken Jack/Getty Images)
Today, the Royal Mile features global chains such as Caffè Nero(Image: Google Maps)
The Royal Mile becomes particularly busy each August, when the city welcomes millions of visitors from around the globe for the Edinburgh Fringe.
As part of the world’s largest arts festival, the historic streets host performers who put on free shows for tourists.
Speaking to the BBC, longtime local Jimmy Robertson said that the Royal Mile used to be home to “useful” shops. Among these were a hairdresser, a butcher, a grocer, and a doctors’ surgery—the latter of which is now a whisky shop.
Robertson stated: “It was probably in the 1980s you saw a lot of people moving out and the street beginning to change. I would sit on that bench and you’d watch the world go by, saying hello to folk you knew coming by.
“Now I sit there and it feels like it is just tourists that pass me by. I’m not against tourism, I just think it has gone far in how it affects people who live here.”
The Royal Mile still features a number of beauty spots and attractions that celebrate its long history. These include The Real Mary King’s Close—where real people lived and worked hundreds of years ago—and The Writers’ Museum that is dedicated to Scottish writers Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson.
In 2026, Edinburgh is set to introduce a tourist tax that will be set at 5 per cent of accommodation costs. The levy is being introduced to help fund local services and infrastructure.