Churches and Cathedrals in Polmont

"The Canongate Kirk is a relatively simple building at the bottom of the Royal Mile. The church has many royal connections: in 1952, recently crowned Queen Elizabeth II was the first reigning monarch to visit while her granddaughter, Zara Philips, married here in 2011. Take a look at the coats of arms on the front two pews - these are the Royal Pew and the Castle Pew, reserved for visitors from the Royal family or Edinburgh Castle."

"In 1688 King James VII of Scotland (also King James II of England) ordered the construction of the Kirk of the Canongate and it was completed in 1691. Residents nearby had been using the Abbey Church but the King wanted to us that as a Chapel for the Order of the Thistle. The Kirk is architecturally unusual for Scotland with a Dutch-style end gable and a cruciform layout inside."

"If you’ve already seen St Giles’, you will notice that Canongate is designed in a very different style, much simpler and more austere, tipically Presbyterian."

"Address: Lothian Road, Edinburgh, EH1 2EP, Scotland, UK Tel: +44 (0)131 229 1142 St. Cuthbert's stands alongside the West Princes Street Gardens and just up from the Royal Lyceum Theatre, where it was built on the remains of six previous historic churches. Visitors will be able to admire a stunning marble pulpit, colourful stained-glass windows, war memorials and an Italian Renaissance-style interior."

"St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, located at the west end of Princes Street, has several theories surrounding its origins. One is that St Cuthbert sheltered in a hollow below Castle Rock while journeying from Melrose. Whatever the true origin, this is the most ancient religious site in Edinburgh, although the present church building dates back to 1892-4."

"Address: 28 Manor Place / Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, EH12 5AW, Scotland, UK Tel: +44 (0)131 225 6293 Designed by George Gilbert Scott, the Cathedral Church of St. Mary the Virgin is located on the western side of the city centre. Construction of the cathedral began in 1874 and whilst the nave was opened just five years later, the twin spires on its western side were not actually completed until 1917. Highlights include impressive neo-Gothic architecture, well-preserved stained-glass windows, murals and an outstanding art collection, as well as daily choral services."

"St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral is a short walk from Princes Street towards Haymarket. Its spires are visible from most places in Edinburgh, especially looking west from Princes Street. Not only does this cathedral offer a place of stillness in the bustling Scottish capital, there are also opportunities such as learning to be a stonemason in the Cathedral Workshop or a Cathedral Chorister at St Mary’s Music School."

"The neo-Gothic St. Mary's Cathedral is a striking building set in large grounds. Designed by George Gilbert Scott, it was consecrated in 1879. St. Mary's is the largest ecclesiastical building to be built in Scotland since the Reformation."

"Also dating back to the 1800s, Old St Paul’s has since been renovated multiple times – the nave extended and the chancel floor raised with marble. Nearly all of the many panes of stained glass, ornaments and vestments were made possible by fundraising or donations. Unusually, the gargoyles at Old St Paul’s are located inside, not on the exterior of the church as is common on buildings of this period."

"This category A listed church dates from 1875/6, it was designed by one of Scotlands most prolific architects of the time, Sir Robert Rowan Anderson. In 1920 Sir Robert Lorimer was commissioned to convert the east end of the north chapel. This chapel has many interiors of note, in particular, fine examples of stained glass windows mostly from the twentieth century, but some that were transferred from the church's original building in Barnton Street Stirling."

"Address: 61 York Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3JD, Scotland, UK Tel: +44 (0)131 556 1798 This popular Roman Catholic church dates back to 1814, being designed by James Gillespie Graham. Each month on the third Tuesday, look out for the organ and choir recitals. The adjacent Cafe Camino provides a rather tempting menu, offering bacon sandwiches, freshly made soup, lunchboxes for children, a choice of beverages (including coffee, tea, wine, beer and cider) and tubs of locally produced ice cream."

"St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, originally called the Chapel of St Mary’s, held its first masses in August 1814. The Cathedral houses the National Shrine of St Andrew, Scotland’s patron saint, and even has an underground passage leading to a priest’s house in York Place. It wasn’t until the 1970s that passers by could see the Cathedral in its full splendor when tenements in front of the building were demolished."

"Address: East London Street, Edinburgh, EH7 4BL, Scotland, UK Mansfield Place Church is to be found within the New Town area, standing close to the bus depot and the King George V Park. Built in 1872 by Robert Rowand Anderson, this old church has had many uses over the years and once even functioned as a nightclub. Today, it is owned by the Mansfield Traquair Trust, a conservation group who have actively restored the building over a number of years."

"Belushi's is best known for hosting awesome sports events and quirky, raucous parties throughout the week. But that's not all they offer: come here for Scottish food and delicious whisky, and you'll do all of it with the best atmosphere in town."

"In the middle of Cowgate, a street that cuts through the heart of Old Town, Three Sisters is a popular venue for students, sports fans, and travelers. A spacious Irish pub, Three Sisters is known for its cheap drinks and its large outdoor beer garden, which often hosts food festivals, comedy shows, or major sporting events on a large projector screen. The pub doubles as a hotel, and therefore is always bustling with a blend of tourists and locals."

"The Three Sisters is a must for summer cocktails in the sun. Whether you're sharing a martini tree, sipping spritzes craving a bite to eat or feel like delving into their selection of wood fired pizza, this bar has a charming garden for all of your alfresco needs."

"This Cowgate institution in the heart of the Old Town has a number of benches set up with table and app service for drinks order. Booking is essential."

"Hemingway’s, a brand-new bar and restaurant overlooking The Shore, is set to become the go-to place for sophisticated yet relaxed drinking and dining in Leith. Hemingway’s offers a regular menu of speciality cocktails and seasonal small plates from their luxurious library-inspired bar and restaurant. The drinks menu is equally as inspiring, with a selection of bespoke house cocktails served alongside premium spirits and speciality wines and beers."

"This small and cosy museum across the road from The People’s Story is another free Edinburgh attraction. It tells the story of the Scottish capital from gruesome details to bizarre facts. There are plenty of iconic items inside including the collar and dog bowl of famous Greyfriars Bobby (more on him later!)."

"Highlights include the bowl and collar worn by Greyfriar’s Bobby!. The Museum of Edinburgh is located in a 16th century building on the Royal Mile. If you want to learn about the history of Edinburgh, this is the place to go!"

"The museum of Edinburgh is in the 16th century Huntly House. Today, this historic building has been painted yellow, as a result it’s a top Edinburgh Instagram spot. Additionally, entry to the museum is free."

"Whether you are looking for fine dining in Edinburgh or the latest pop-up restaurants and the coolest bars, you will find something to suit your style in our comprehensive directory of Edinburgh restaurants. Scotland's Capital and the country's second biggest city is home to some of the most fantastic restaurants - if you are looking for cheap eats and fantastic food on a budget then the Old Town's array on small independant eateries will suit you. Or for some style and sophistication, Leith offers gourmet dining at its best."

"Checkpoint is a trendy restaurant around the corner from the National Museum of Scotland. It is close enough to the Old Town centre of Edinburgh, to be convenient for lunch or dinner on a city trip, but also far enough from the Royal Mile to have a more local feel to it. They offer a full vegan breakfast and several vegan options on their day time menu, but since I went there for dinner, I’ll tell you more about that."

"A post shared by Checkpoint (@checkpointedi) on May 12, 2018 at 9:34am PDT. The Checkpoint is a classy restaurant with a sense of humor - just check out their website and social media posts for a sample of their subtle, self-effacing personality. The restaurant is basically Edinburgh in a mini form."