Greyfriars Kirkyard - Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard (Edinburgh)
Edinburgh
Greyfriars Kirkyard is a world-famous and locally-loved historic graveyard. It is the second most popular free tourist attraction in the whole of Scotland. Ground for the graveyard was gifted by Mary Queen of Scots to the people of Edinburgh in 1561 and it was laid out on the site of a former Franciscan Friary. It contains the nation's finest collection of 17th and 18th century stone carvings and monuments, created by the leading architects and craftsmen of the day. The museum quality collection of tombs is located within an award-winning greenspace, with links to historic events of national importance and the popular cultural interests of Greyfriars Bobby and Harry Potter. The Covenanters Prison Area will be open and needs no booking.
The Covenanter Prison area is normally closed to the public but the Friends will be opening the area for visitors at the times stated. We will be available to answer any questions about the Kirkyard. Look for us in our green tabards, we love to talk about this place!
Digital Resources
Virtual tour of Greyfriars Kirkyard
If you wish to visit from the comfort of your armchair instead, Edinburgh’s Parks and Greenspaces team and reality capture specialists Captured Realities have created below a wonderful immersive virtual tour that allows you to have a wander among the many magnificent and unique tombs to be found in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Of particular interest to many will be the visual access this 360° tour affords to the normally locked section, the so-called “Covenanter’s Prison.
Go on a virtual guided tour!Facilities
Gallery
Key Information
Where to find us
Address
- Greyfriars Kirkyard
- Greyfriars Place
- Edinburgh
- EH1 2QQ