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Attraction · Edinburgh · Updated on 1 November 2026.

Royal Observatory, Edinburgh

Royal Observatory, Edinburgh is an attraction in Edinburgh. This place has a story in the app. 1 of the 50 well-known points of interest nearby is within 1 km. Within 530 m you'll find a bench and a water point.

Directions in Google Maps
Royal Observatory, Edinburgh
Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, photo 2
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Photo: Mehmet Karatay · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons
Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, photo 3
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Photo: Chi And H · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

The story

Wikipedia ↗Official website ↗

Story · Royal Observatory, Edinburgh

  • en
  • nl

You're standing on Blackford Hill, at the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh. Have a look at the building in front of you. On top of the East and West Towers sit two copper domes. They aren't round like you might expect, but shaped like cylinders. The building dates from 1894, and the domes were restored in 2010.

Read the whole story in the Outdoor Pitstop app: check in at this place and it is yours (with Pro; new users are Pro for the first 4 weeks).

Opening hours and admission

Wheelchair
Accessible

Source: OpenStreetMap and Wikidata.

Photos

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons. In the app you add your own photo when you are there.

Royal Observatory, Edinburgh
1 / 10

Facilities near Royal Observatory, Edinburgh

The nearest pitstop of each kind within 1 km, as the crow flies.

Well-known points of interest nearby

50 well-known points of interest nearby, those with an audio tour first. 1 of the 50 well-known points of interest nearby is within 1 km.

National Museum of Scotland
MuseumAudio story · 2 min

National Museum of Scotland · 2.7 km

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Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Maccoinnich~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons
Edinburgh Castle
AttractionAudio story · 2 min

Edinburgh Castle · 3 km

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Photo: Stephencdickson · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons
Rosslyn Chapel
AttractionAudio story · 2 min

Rosslyn Chapel · 7.7 km

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Photo: Syrio · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons
Holyrood Abbey
AttractionAudio story · 2 min

Holyrood Abbey · 3.5 km

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Photo: LASZLO ILYES from Cleveland, Ohio, USA · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons
Craigmillar Castle
AttractionStory

Craigmillar Castle · 3 km

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Photo: Photograph by Stuart Yeates, from en:Flickr · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

Hear the story of National Museum of Scotland on the spot with the app

All 145 points of interest in Edinburgh →

Explore further

More in Edinburgh

More points of interest

Frequently asked questions

Is Royal Observatory, Edinburgh wheelchair accessible?

Yes, according to OpenStreetMap it is wheelchair accessible.

Is there a toilet or drinking water nearby?

Yes: a water point at 530 m.

Nearby

More well-known points of interest nearby

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