Hidden Scotland
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The stone arch at the foot of Fleshmarket Close, its name above and steps climbing away, people walking up.
Edinburgh

Fleshmarket Close

A steep stepped close from Market Street up to the High Street, named for the meat market that stood on it, and the title of an Ian Rankin novel.

Welcome

Stand on Market Street, across from Waverley, and look up through the stone arch with the name cut above it.

Fleshmarket Close climbs away from you in flight after flight of steps, squeezed between tall tenement walls, all the way up to the High Street.

It is one of the steepest of the Old Town's closes, and one of the most photographed. Its name is plain Scots for a butcher's market: a meat market once stood here, and the lane ran down towards the loch that filled the valley before the railway and the gardens took its place. Halfway up, the close crosses Cockburn Street, and there are pubs and cafes tucked into its walls on the way.

Ian Rankin gave its name to one of his Inspector Rebus novels. Climb it for the views down onto the station roofs, or simply for the quickest way from Waverley to the Royal Mile.

Round the cornerBrewhemiaA beer hall under the old Scotsman building on Market Street, opened in 2017, with twelve copper tanks of Czech and Scottish beer.1 min by roadSee itBrewhemia
Before you go

The close is a public way, open at all hours.

It climbs steeply by flights of steps from Market Street, across Cockburn Street, to the High Street.

From
Market Street, opposite Waverley station.
To
The High Street, the Royal Mile, crossing Cockburn Street halfway.
Where it is

Between Market Street and the High Street, crossing Cockburn Street, by Waverley station.

Close byThe streets and galleries at its foot.
  1. The Scotsman StepsThe Scotsman StepsA stair of 1899 from North Bridge down to Market Street, every step a different marble.Under a mile1 min by road
  2. City Art CentreCity Art CentreThe city's own gallery of Scottish art, six floors on Market Street.Under a mile1 min by road
  3. The Fruitmarket GalleryThe Fruitmarket GalleryA free gallery of contemporary art on Market Street.Under a mile1 min by road
  4. Gloved hands hang black and white photographic prints on a darkroom lineStillsA centre for photography on Cockburn Street since 1977.Under a mile1 min by road
  5. Cockburn StreetCockburn StreetA curving Victorian street of turreted tenements, built in the 1850s.Under a mile2 min by road
Directions
CafeBrewhemiaA step away
Mimi's shopfront with award chalkboards for Scottish Bakery and Café of the YearCafeMimi's BakehouseA step away
The blue front of Stills on Cockburn Street.AttractionsStillsautomatA step away
Marble café table with iced coffee, latte art and a cameraCafeGordon Street CoffeeA step away
The old sweetshop front of The Milkman on Cockburn Street, CONFECTIONS cut in the stone above.CafeThe MilkmanA step away
Stone-walled café nook with macramé plant hangers and a window seat overlooking the streetCafeThe MilkmanA step away
Guide leads a whisky tasting group seated at a long purple-clothed tableToursEdinburgh Gin Distillery0.2 miles
Sugared doughnuts topped with cream and blueberries sit in a bakery trayCafeRoom & Rumours0.2 miles
World's End Close sign above a dark tunnel entrance on Edinburgh's Royal MileAttractionsWorld’s End Close0.2 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near the close, and when each is next free.

A man walks past Bucken Booths entrance flanked by black lamp postsOld Town Chambers
  • To stay
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from Fleshmarket Close
Check datesA round table and chairs stand before tall curtained windows looking onto stone buildings, a sofa and mounted television to the right.Moment George IV Bridge
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from Fleshmarket Close
Check datesWest End Muse
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from Fleshmarket Close
Check datesA turreted sandstone building with conical spires catches the evening light above rooftops, a large pine tree standing beside it.The Scott Hotel
  • A hotel
  • In Edinburgh
  • A mile from Fleshmarket Close
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in EdinburghAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
Hidden Scotland, the magazine

Scotland, in print.

Every photograph commissioned, every word written by somebody who went. Printed twice a year, made in Scotland.

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Find out more

For further reading, before you go.