Skip to content
WordPress site playing up? Vincony fixes it — today, from $5.Get it fixed →
The Great Britain Guide logoThe Great Britain Guide

Memorials & monuments · Central Scotland

Scottish National War Memorial

In or near Edinburgh.

ModernFree admission🐾 Dog-friendly👪 Family-friendly

Scottish National War Memorial is a memorial in the United Kingdom.

Scottish National War Memorial, memorials & monuments in Central Scotland

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
15 min–45 min
Nearest railway station
Edinburgh Waverley · 0.7 km
  • Free entry
  • Family-friendly
  • Dog-friendly

Getting there & planning your visit

The Scottish National War Memorial is located in the City of Edinburgh, postcode EH1 2NG. The nearest railway station is Edinburgh Waverley, which is 0.7 km away. Entry to the memorial is free.

Directions on Google Maps →

About

Scottish National War Memorial is a public memorial or monument in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to 1924. Coordinates: 55.9484°, -3.1997°.

Photo gallery

See it from the streetimagery from 2024

Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0

From the Wikipedia article

The Scottish National War Memorial is located in Edinburgh Castle and commemorates Scottish service personnel and civilians, and those serving with Scottish regiments, who died in the two world wars and subsequent conflicts. Its chief architect was Robert Lorimer, commissioned in 1919, and the monument was formally opened in 1927. It is housed in a redeveloped barrack block in Crown Square, at the heart of the castle, and incorporates numerous monuments. The Rolls of Honour kept in the memorial include the names of those Scots servicemen and women and Scots civilians that died in all wars after 1914. This includes all Scots who were killed as a result of enemy action or who died as a result of wounds, diseases, or injuries while serving in the British Armed Forces, the Merchant Navy, the armed forces of the Dominions, the women's services, and the nursing services, together with all members of Scottish regiments. The Rolls of Honour include those who died between 4 August 1914 and 31 August 1921 as having died in the First World War and those between 3 September 1939 and 31 December 1947 as having died in the Second World War. Those not serving in the Scottish regiments must either have been born in Scotland or have at least one parent born in the country. The memorial rolls list close to 135,000 casualties of the First World War and over 50,000 of the Second World War. More casualties from later wars are also inscribed, including from the Malayan Emergency, the Korean War (1950–1953), Operation Banner (1969–2007) during The Troubles, the Falklands War (1982), and the Gulf War (1990–1991). Most recently casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan have been added to the Rolls of Honour.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

Description

The exterior of the building is decorated with gargoyles and sculpture by Pilkington Jackson, John Marshall and Phyllis Bone, whilst the interior contains elaborate wall monuments commemorating individual regiments. The stained-glass windows are by Douglas Strachan. The original aim behind the Memorial was to commemorate Scots and those serving with Scottish regiments who had died in the First World War, from the declaration of war on 4 August 1914 to the Treaty of Versailles of 28 June 1919 (confirmed military suicides and those tried and executed excepted). Upon the altar within the Shrine, placed on the highest part of the Castle Rock emerging through the floor, stands a sealed casket…

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
55.9484, -3.1997
Postcode
EH1 2NG
Parliamentary constituency
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
Established
1924
Nearest railway station
Edinburgh Waverley0.7 km

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

Johnston Terrace from Edinburgh Castle - geograph.org.uk - 2179396📷 5

Vineyards · Central Scotland

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle — a UK vineyard in scotland central, producing English or Welsh wine from cool-climate grape varieties.

Castle Rock📷 3

Mountains & hills · Central Scotland

Castle Rock

Castle Rock — Named summit at 130 m.

Free🐕👶
Edinburgh , Edinburgh Castle - Portcullis Gate - geograph.org.uk - 4959151📷 3

Natural landmarks · Central Scotland

Forewall Battery

Forewall Battery — a other in scotland-central, United Kingdom.

Free🐕👶
At Edinburgh Castle - Royal Palace - geograph.org.uk - 6775275📷 3

Natural landmarks · Central Scotland

Queen Ann Building

Queen Ann Building — a other in scotland-central, United Kingdom.

Free🐕👶
Edinburgh Castle - Fireplace in Royal apartments - geograph.org.uk - 3118735📷 3

Palaces · Central Scotland

Royal Palace

Royal Palace — a palace in scotland-central, United Kingdom.

👶
At Edinburgh Castle - Royal Palace - geograph.org.uk - 6775275📷 3

Museums · Central Scotland

Prisoners of War Museum

Prisoners of War Museum — a museum in scotland-central, United Kingdom.

Free👶

Where to eat & stay near Scottish National War Memorial

Places to stay

Fiddler's Arms, Grassmarket, Edinburgh - geograph.org.uk - 7340871📷 5

Hostels · Central Scotland

Kick Ass Hostels

Kick Ass Hostels — a hostel in scotland central.

Freekickasshostels.co.uk
Tattoo Seating and Edinburgh Castle - geograph.org.uk - 3935114📷 5

Hostels · Central Scotland

Castle Rock Hostel

Castle Rock Hostel — a hostel in scotland central.

Freecastlerockedinburgh.com
Edinburgh Castle - geograph.org.uk - 374175📷 5

Hotels · Central Scotland

Apex Edinburgh International

Apex Edinburgh International — a hotel in scotland central.

A blue or eastern cafe, West Port - geograph.org.uk - 5582905📷 5

Hotels · Central Scotland

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Edinburgh City Centre

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Edinburgh City Centre — a hotel in scotland central. 4-star. Brand: DoubleTree.

hilton.com
George IV Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 6582319📷 5

Hostels · Central Scotland

Kick Ass Hostels

Kick Ass Hostels — a hostel in scotland central.

Sign for The Rose St Brewery - geograph.org.uk - 6195309📷 5

Hostels · Central Scotland

Code

Code — a hostel in scotland central.

Places to eat & drink

OS benchmark ^ bolt - Edinburgh, top of Ramsay Lane - geograph.org.uk - 7902775📷 5

Restaurants · Central Scotland

The Witchery

The Witchery — a restaurant in scotland central.

thewitchery.com
The tour must go on, Edinburgh - geograph.org.uk - 6116211📷 5

Cafés · Central Scotland

Hideout Cafe

Hideout Cafe — a café in scotland central.

Freehideoutcafe.co.uk
Clydesdale Bank Plaza - geograph.org.uk - 2675361📷 7

Historic pubs · Central Scotland

Caley Picture House

Caley Picture House in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.

jdwetherspoon.com
The Kenilworth - geograph.org.uk - 6194706📷 5

Historic pubs · Central Scotland

152, 154 Rose Street, Edinburgh

152, 154 Rose Street, Edinburgh in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.

The Odeon Cinema, Edinburgh - geograph.org.uk - 2675385📷 5

Historic pubs · Central Scotland

Public House, 133 Lothian Road, Edinburgh

Public House, 133 Lothian Road, Edinburgh in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.

The Creepy wee shop in the graveyard - geograph.org.uk - 2473109📷 5

Historic pubs · Central Scotland

Public House, 30, 32, 34 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh

Public House, 30, 32, 34 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.

Other memorials from this era

1st Surrey Rifles War Memorial📷 5

Memorials & monuments · London

1st Surrey Rifles War Memorial

1st Surrey Rifles War Memorial is a memorial in the United Kingdom.

Free🐕thebower.org.uk
24th East Surrey Division War Memorial📷 5

Memorials & monuments · London

24th East Surrey Division War Memorial

24th East Surrey Division War Memorial is a memorial in the United Kingdom.

Free🐕
Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke📷 5

Memorials & monuments · London

Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke

Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke is a memorial in the United Kingdom.

Free🐕english-heritage.org.uk
All Saints Fulham war memorial📷 5

Memorials & monuments · London

All Saints Fulham war memorial

All Saints Fulham war memorial is a memorial in the United Kingdom.

Free🐕

More memorials in this region

Cairn on Pyatshaw Ridge - geograph.org.uk - 375408📷 3

Memorials & monuments · Central Scotland

Mutiny Stones

Mutiny Stones in England North East, United Kingdom.

Free🐕
Augusta, Princess Dowager of Wales Monument📷 3

Memorials & monuments · Central Scotland

Augusta, Princess Dowager of Wales Monument

Augusta, Princess Dowager of Wales Monument is a memorial in the United Kingdom.

Free🐕mountstuart.com
The Pencil, Largs - geograph.org.uk - 3604686📷 3

Memorials & monuments · Central Scotland

Battle of Largs Monument

Battle of Largs Monument — Monument, dating to 1912.

Free🐕
Railway Bridge, Arbroath - geograph.org.uk - 744261📷 3

Memorials & monuments · Central Scotland

Declaration of Arbroath Monument

Declaration of Arbroath Monument is a memorial in the United Kingdom.

Free🐕

Frequently asked questions

Where is Scottish National War Memorial?
Scottish National War Memorial is in central Scotland, United Kingdom (postcode EH1 2NG).
What is Scottish National War Memorial?
Scottish National War Memorial is a memorial in the United Kingdom.
How do I get to Scottish National War Memorial?
The nearest railway station is Edinburgh Waverley, about 0.7 km away. Drivers can use postcode EH1 2NG.
When was Scottish National War Memorial built?
Built or established in 1924.
Is Scottish National War Memorial free to visit?
Yes, Scottish National War Memorial is free to enter.
How do I get to Scottish National War Memorial?
The nearest railway station is Edinburgh Waverley, about 0.7 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode EH1 2NG.