Historic churches · Central Scotland
St Margaret's
In or near Edinburgh.
St Margaret's — chapel in Edinburgh Castle, Scotland.

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 30 min–1 h
- Nearest railway station
- Edinburgh Waverley · 0.7 km
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit St Margaret's, the nearest railway station is Edinburgh Waverley, which is 0.7 km away. Entry is free.
About
St Margaret's is a historic church in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to 1101. Built in the Romanesque architecture style. Heritage designation: category A listed building. Affiliated with Church of Scotland. Named after Saint Margaret of Scotland. Part of Presbytery of Edinburgh. Wikidata describes it as: "chapel in Edinburgh Castle, Scotland". Coordinates: 55.9487°, -3.2001°.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2024
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Heritage listing
St Margaret's Chapel, in Edinburgh Castle, is the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh, Scotland. An example of Romanesque architecture, it is a category A listed building. It was constructed in the 12th century, but fell into disuse after the Reformation. In the 19th century the chapel was restored and today is cared for by the St Margaret's Chapel Guild.
From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.
Official information
Mons Meg is a historic six-tonne siege gun that was gifted to King James II in 1457. It has a rich history of military use and was eventually retired around 1550, making a notable return to Edinburgh Castle in 1829.
From the Wikipedia article
St Margaret's Chapel, in Edinburgh Castle, is the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh, Scotland. An example of Romanesque architecture, it is a category A listed building. It was constructed in the 12th century, but fell into disuse after the Reformation. In the 19th century the chapel was restored and today is cared for by the St Margaret's Chapel Guild.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
Saint Margaret of Scotland () was an English princess of the House of Wessex, the sister of Edgar Ætheling. Margaret and her family fled to Scotland following the Norman conquest of England of 1066. Around 1070 Margaret married Malcolm III of Scotland. She was a pious woman, and among many charitable works she established a ferry across the Firth of Forth for pilgrims travelling to Dunfermline Abbey. According to the Life of Saint Margaret, attributed to Turgot of Durham, she died at Edinburgh Castle in 1093, just days after receiving the news of her husband's death in battle. In 1250 she was canonised by Pope Innocent IV.
Architecture
The small irregular stone building has some similarity to earlier Scottish and Irish Celtic chapels. The rectangular structure with an internal width of 3 metres (10 ft) has an entrance door at one side near the back of the nave which is 4.87 m (16 ft) long, then a typically Romanesque round chancel arch 1.52 m (5 feet) wide with chevron mouldings decorating the arch above columns on each side leads into an apsed sanctuary 3 m long, with the apse having a radius of 1.52 m. The north wall has been renewed, and the three surviving outer walls are 61 cm (2 ft) thick, as is the chancel wall. Five small round-headed windows and the round arch above the entrance door confirm the Romanesque style.…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 55.9487, -3.2001
- District
- City of Edinburgh
- Postcode
- EH1 2NG
- Parliamentary constituency
- Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
- Established
- 1101
- Nearest railway station
- Edinburgh Waverley — 0.7 km
- Official site
- www.edinburghcastle.scot
Sources
- wikidata: Q2061784 (CC0)
- wikipedia: St Margaret's Chapel, Edinburgh (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: St Margarets Chapel.JPG (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby

Mons Meg
Natural landmarks · 0.0 km

Portcullis Gate and Argyle Tower
Natural landmarks · 0.0 km

Forewall Battery
Natural landmarks · 0.0 km

Edinburgh Castle
Castles · 0.0 km

Argyle Battery
Natural landmarks · 0.0 km
Scottish National War Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 0.0 km

Museum of the Royal Regiment of Scotland
Museums · 0.0 km

Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum
Museums · 0.0 km

Edinburgh Castle
Vineyards · 0.1 km

The Royal Scots Regimental Museum
Museums · 0.1 km

Governor's House, Edinburgh Castle
Historic houses · 0.1 km

One O'Clock Gun
Natural landmarks · 0.1 km
Nearby
Natural landmarks · Central Scotland
Mons Meg
Mons Meg — a other in scotland-central, United Kingdom.
Natural landmarks · Central Scotland
Portcullis Gate and Argyle Tower
Portcullis Gate and Argyle Tower — a other in scotland-central, United Kingdom.
Natural landmarks · Central Scotland
Forewall Battery
Forewall Battery — a other in scotland-central, United Kingdom.
📷 5Castles · Central Scotland
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle — castle in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
Natural landmarks · Central Scotland
Argyle Battery
Argyle Battery — a other in scotland-central, United Kingdom.
Memorials & monuments · Central Scotland
Scottish National War Memorial
Scottish National War Memorial is a memorial in the United Kingdom.
Where to eat & stay near St Margaret's
Places to stay
📷 5Hostels · Central Scotland
Castle Rock Hostel
Castle Rock Hostel — a hostel in scotland central.
Hostels · Central Scotland
Kick Ass Hostels
Kick Ass Hostels — a hostel in scotland central.
📷 5Hotels · Central Scotland
Apex Edinburgh International
Apex Edinburgh International — a hotel in scotland central.
📷 5Hotels · 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.
📷 5Places to eat & drink
📷 5Restaurants · Central Scotland
The Witchery
The Witchery — a restaurant in scotland central.
📷 5Historic pubs · Central Scotland
152, 154 Rose Street, Edinburgh
152, 154 Rose Street, Edinburgh in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
📷 7Historic pubs · Central Scotland
Caley Picture House
Caley Picture House in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
Cafés · Central Scotland
Hideout Cafe
Hideout Cafe — a café in scotland central.
📷 5Historic pubs · Central Scotland
Public House, 133 Lothian Road, Edinburgh
Public House, 133 Lothian Road, Edinburgh in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
Other places from this era
📷 5Historic churches · London
All Hallows Staining
All Hallows Staining — church in City of London, UK.
📷 5Historic churches · London
All Hallows' Church, Tottenham
All Hallows' Church, Tottenham — church in Tottenham, London.
📷 5Historic churches · London
All Saints Church, Kingston upon Thames
All Saints Church, Kingston upon Thames — church in Kingston upon Thames, London.
📷 5Historic churches · London
All Saints' Church, Edmonton
All Saints' Church, Edmonton — church in Edmonton, London.
More places in this region
📷 5Historic churches · Central Scotland
Castle Semple Collegiate Church
Castle Semple Collegiate Church — church building in Renfrewshire, Scotland, UK.
📷 3Historic churches · Central Scotland
Chapel of St Fyndoca, Inishail
Chapel of St Fyndoca, Inishail — architectural structure in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK.
📷 3Historic churches · Central Scotland
Chapel of St. Oran, Colonsay
Chapel of St. Oran, Colonsay — chapel on Colonsay, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK.
📷 3Historic churches · Central Scotland
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Arbroath
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Arbroath — church in Arbroath, UK.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is St Margaret's?
- St Margaret's is in central Scotland, United Kingdom (postcode EH1 2NG).
- What is St Margaret's?
- St Margaret's — chapel in Edinburgh Castle, Scotland.
- How do I get to St Margaret's?
- The nearest railway station is Edinburgh Waverley, about 0.7 km away. Drivers can use postcode EH1 2NG.
- When was St Margaret's built?
- Built or established in 1101.
- Is St Margaret's a listed building?
- St Margaret's is officially recognised as category A listed building listed.
- Is St Margaret's free to visit?
- Yes, St Margaret's is free to enter.
- How do I get to St Margaret's?
- The nearest railway station is Edinburgh Waverley, about 0.7 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode EH1 2NG.