Four streets – Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High St and Canongate – joined end-to-end connect Edinburgh Castle with the Palace of Holyroodhouse in about a mile, explaining the name Royal Mile.

It might only be a mile but you can easily spend half a day wondering the strip, particularly if you explore some of the 66(!) medieval closes and wynds (alleys and passageways) that branch out along the way.

The Mile's also dotted by a few too many tacky souvenir shops that have been slotted between more authentic attractions and a series of more minor museums. These include:

• The kid-friendly illusion-packed Camera Obscura museum.
• Gladstone’s Land, a preserved town-house.
• The Museum of Childhood with its many antique toys.
• The People's Story, a museum of social history.
• Museum of Edinburgh, the city's museum on itself.
• The Scottish Parliament, with its good free tours.
• St Giles' Cathedral, the capital’s most important church. Behind stands the Mercat Cross, traditionally concidered the very centre of the city and where Bonnie Prince Charlie proclaimed his father king in 1745.
• The Writers’ Museum, which retells some of Edinburgh's literary history.
• The Scotch Whisky Experience – an essential stop for whisky fans not bound for the Highlands (where better visitor centres exist).
• The Scottish Storytelling Centre – which has exhibits on Scottish fiction, but is as interesting as the house of 16th-century firebrand protestant preacher John Knox and has a good museum on him. Moubray House - next door – was initially intended as the site for signing the Act of Union in 1707. However, presence of a wild mob sent the authorities to a secret venue.