What Is the Scott Monument?

The Scott Monument is a Victorian Gothic spire in East Princes Street Gardens, built as a memorial to the novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott after his death in 1832. A public design competition was won by George Meikle Kemp, a self-taught architect and joiner who entered under the pseudonym "John Morvo." The foundation stone was laid in 1840 and the structure was largely finished by 1844, though Kemp died before it was completed; the monument was formally opened in 1846. At 61 metres (200 feet 6 inches) tall, it's regularly described as the largest monument to a writer anywhere in the world.

At the base sits a white Carrara marble statue of Scott with his deerhound, Maida, carved from a single block. Around the tower, more than 60 statuettes set into niches depict characters from Scott's novels and poems — from the Waverley novels to Ivanhoe — sculpted by more than a dozen Scottish sculptors over several decades. The monument stands directly across from Edinburgh Waverley train station, itself named after Scott's debut novel.

Scott Monument Tickets & Prices 2026

As of mid-2026, published pricing for the climb runs around £8 for an adult and £6 for a child or concession (student, senior, or unemployed). Tickets are sold exclusively at the kiosk beside the monument on the day of your visit — Culture Edinburgh, which runs the site, does not currently sell them online. Because prices are reviewed periodically, treat these as a planning estimate and confirm the fare at the kiosk or on the official Culture Edinburgh listing before you climb.

If you're comparing paying per attraction against a multi-site pass for a short Edinburgh trip, our guide to whether the Edinburgh Pass is worth it walks through when bundling admissions actually saves money.

There's no charge to walk through Princes Street Gardens or view the monument from outside — the ticket only covers the climb up the internal staircase to the viewing platforms.

Opening Hours & Best Time to Visit

The Scott Monument is open daily, starting at 10:00. Closing time varies by season — expect somewhere in the range of mid-afternoon to late afternoon in winter, with longer hours in spring and summer — and the monument reliably closes for a midday break around 12:30 to 13:45 regardless of season. Because published closing times differ slightly between sources, check the current day's hours on the official Culture Edinburgh listing (linked below) or call ahead before you set off.

Arrive close to 10:00 if you want the staircase to yourself — it's a single narrow spiral used for both ascending and descending traffic, so it backs up quickly once tour groups and cruise-ship crowds arrive from late morning. Late afternoon, just before closing, is the other quiet window. Clear days are worth prioritising: the payoff at the top is the view, not the climb itself, and Edinburgh's weather changes fast enough that a hazy morning can turn into a sharp, photogenic afternoon.

How Long Do You Need?

Budget 30 to 45 minutes total: 5 to 10 minutes to climb the 287 steps at a normal pace, plus time on the viewing platforms and the inevitable wait for a two-way single staircase to clear when it's busy. It's a stop, not a half-day outing, which makes it easy to slot into a short walk along Princes Street rather than a dedicated trip.

If you're building out a longer stay, our 2-day Edinburgh itinerary shows where a quick climb like this fits alongside the bigger half-day stops in the Old and New Towns.

How to Get to the Scott Monument

The monument sits in East Princes Street Gardens, right on Princes Street and directly opposite Edinburgh Waverley station — it's about a two-minute walk from the station's Princes Street exit, making it one of the easiest attractions in the city to reach on foot for anyone arriving by train.

Lothian Buses and trams stop along Princes Street a short walk from the entrance, and it's an easy 10-to-15-minute walk down from the Royal Mile or across from the New Town's shopping streets. There's no dedicated visitor parking at the monument itself, so arriving on foot, by bus, or by tram is the practical option in the city centre.

Visit Tips: Queues, Booking & Mistakes

• Don't expect to book online — tickets are sold at the kiosk on the day only, so there's no way to reserve a slot in advance.
• Arrive near opening (10:00) or in the last hour before closing to avoid the worst of the staircase congestion.
• Wear flat, closed shoes — the spiral stone staircase narrows considerably on the upper two levels and can be uneven underfoot.
• The climb is stairs-only with no lift, and parts of the interior have low lighting, so it isn't a realistic option for visitors with mobility issues or a fear of tight, enclosed spaces.
• Don't skip the ground-level detail while you're there — the statuettes and the Scott-and-Maida statue at the base are worth a few minutes even if you decide not to climb.

Nearby Attractions

The Royal Mile starts a short walk south of the monument and is worth combining with a stop here on the way up toward the Old Town. Edinburgh Castle, at the top of the Mile, gives a higher and broader view of the city for those who want a second, longer climb the same day. For a free alternative viewpoint without the narrow staircase, Calton Hill is a short walk east and offers open hilltop panoramas rather than an enclosed spiral climb.

For the full range of things to see nearby, the Edinburgh attractions hub covers the rest of the city's major sights.