List of closes on the Royal Mile

The Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, consisted originally of the Royal Mile, and the small streets and courtyards that led off it to the north and south. These are usually named after a memorable occupant of one of the nearby apartments, or by the occupations of those that traded therein. Generically they are termed closes (English pronunciation: /ˈkloʊs/), although individually they may be named entries, courts and wynds, all of which are Scots terms for an alley. A "wynd" was one wide enough to take a cart, a "close" was too narrow for a cart. Most slope steeply down from the Royal Mile. Many have steps and form huge flights of stairs.

To be a true "close" it requires to be built on both sides, giving a canyon-like atmosphere.

The Royal Mile comprises four, linear, conjoined streets: Castle Hill; Lawnmarket; High Street; and Canongate. Closes are listed below from west to east, divided between the south and north sides of the streets.

The list below is a list as currently exist. Since the Council encourages recreation of closes in new developments the list is not static. New closes are encouraged to adopt the name of that close historically on that line.

Contents

Castlehill

Castlehill forms the western end of the Royal Mile, running from the Castle Esplanade to the junction of Johnstone Terrace.

South

  • Castle Wynd (in two sections, North and South). This connects to the Grassmarket via Johnstone Terrace. Technically, with buildings only on one side, this is not a "close" at all.
  • Old Distillery Close
  • Boswell's Court

North

  • Skinner's Close (sign only/ no route remains)
  • Semple's Close (sealed/ private dead end)
  • Jollie's Close (sealed/ private dead end)

Lawnmarket

Lawnmarket is the section between Johnstone Terrace and George IV Bridge/Bank Street.

South

  • Riddle's Court
  • Fisher's Close
  • Brodie's Close
  • Buchanan's Close

North

High Street

High Street runs from George IV Bridge to St Mary's Street, the location of the Netherbow, and the limit of the pre-19th century burgh of Edinburgh.

South

  • Barrie's Close (dog-leg connecting Parliament Sq. to Old Fishmarket Close)
  • Old Fishmarket Close (public connection to Cowgate/open to vehicles)
  • Borthwick's Close (leading to Tron Square)
  • Old Assembly Close, location of the original assembly rooms
  • Covenant Close (dead end)
  • Burnet's Close (dead end)
  • Bell's Wynd (leading to Tron Square)
  • New Assembly Close, location of the later assembly rooms
  • Stevenlaw's Close (connecting to Cowgate)
  • Marlin's Wynd (preserved on view under the Tron Kirk)
  • Dickson's Close (sign only, erected 1990)
  • Cant's Close (sign only, erected 1990)
  • Melrose Close (sign only, erected 1990)
  • Toddrick's Wynd (sealed/private)
  • South Gray's Close (connecting to Cowgate/ vehicle access from Cowgate)
  • Hyndford's Close (links to South Gray's Close)
  • Fountain Close (links to South Gray's Close)
  • Tweeddale Court, named for the Marquess of Tweeddale
  • World's End Close

North

  • Byer's Close (private/ dead end)
  • Advocate's Close (connecting to Cockburn Street)
  • Roxburgh Close (upper section accessible/ lower section private and blocked)
  • Writer's Close leading to Warriston Close (connecting to Cockburn Street)
  • Mary King's Close
  • Craig's Close (accessed only from Cockburn Street).
  • Anchor Close (connecting to Cockburn street)
  • Geddes Entry (private/ dead end)
  • North Foulis Close (private/ dead end)
  • Old Stamp Office Close (private/ dead end)
  • Lyon's Close (private/ dead end)
  • Jackson's Close (connecting to Cockburn Street)
  • Fleshmarket Close (connecting to Market Street via Cockburn Street)
  • Carrubber's Close (connecting to Jeffrey Street)
  • Bishop's Close (sealed/private dead-end)
  • North Gray's Close (connecting to Jeffrey Street)
  • Morrison's Close (sealed/ private dead end)
  • Bailie Fyfe's Close (dead end)
  • Paisley Close (dead end)
  • Chalmers' Close (connecting to Jeffrey Street)
  • Monteith's Close (private/ dead end)(sign on ground only)
  • Trunk's Close (accessible but private/ dead end)
  • Baron Maule's Close (private, leads to private garden)

Canongate

Canongate is the section from St Mary's Street to the foot of the Royal Mile at Holyrood, which ran through the former burgh of The Canongate.

South

  • Gullan's Close (connecting to Holyrood Road)
  • Gibb's Close (sign only/ serves solely as access to a shop)
  • Pirrie's Close (connecting to Chessel's Court)
  • Old Playhouse Close (sealed/ private dead end)
  • Sugarhouse Close
  • Bakehouse Close
  • Wilson's Court
  • Cooper's Close
  • Crichton's Close
  • Bull's Close (connecting to Holyrood Road)
  • Reid's Close (currently no sign/ connects to holyrood Road))
  • Vallence's Entry (no sign/ private dead end)

North

  • Midcommon Close (sealed/ private dead end)
  • Bowling Green Close (leading to Gladstone's Court)
  • Old Tolbooth Wynd (vehicle access from Calton Road)
  • Dunbar's Close (leading to a knot garden)
  • Panmure Close (partly sealed over newly built extension)
  • Brown's Court (dead end)
  • Lochend Close (vehicular access from Calton Road)
  • Gladstone's Court (private/ dead end)
  • Reid's Court (the old Canongate manse)
  • Campbell's Close (cranked connection to Calton Road)
  • Brown's Close (dead end)
  • Forsyth's Close (sealed/ private dead end)
  • Galloway's Entry (dead end)
  • White Horse Close a very atmospheric courtyard