Visitor terms & conditions

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Who are we?

St Giles Cathedral is The High Kirk of Edinburgh and has been a site of worship for over 900 years. St Giles’ is a Church of Scotland congregation and worships according to the Presbyterian tradition. We welcome people of all faiths and none to enjoy the peace of the building and participate in our services. Alongside regular services of worship, St Giles’ Cathedral hosts a wide range of concerts, community events, and national civic ceremonies. St Giles’ Cathedral (High St, Edinburgh, EH1 1RE) is a registered Scottish charity, No. SC003565.

St Giles’ Cathedral Visitor Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions apply to tickets purchased and passes obtained to visit St Giles' Cathedral. By purchasing or using a ticket, you agree to these Terms and Conditions and to abide by our Safer Spaces Policy.

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1. Tickets and Admission

• Tickets are valid for 365 days from the date of your first visit.

• Each ticket permits admission for one visitor.

• Tickets must be presented on arrival.

• Tickets may not be resold or transferred for commercial purposes without St Giles' Cathedral’s prior written permission.

• St Giles' Cathedral reserves the right to refuse admission where a ticket has been obtained fraudulently, altered, duplicated, or otherwise misused.

• Children and young people aged 16 or under must be accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket.

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2. Refunds

• Tickets are generally non-refundable unless otherwise stated at the time of purchase.

• Where St Giles' Cathedral cancels a visit, closes unexpectedly, or is unable to provide the admission for which the ticket was purchased, ticket holders will be offered a refund or the opportunity to transfer their booking to another available date, and no additional compensation will be available.

• Refunds will be made to the original payment method.

• St Giles’ Cathedral retains the right to cancel tickets purchased online within 14 days of the date of purchase.

• Nothing in these Terms and Conditions affects your statutory rights.

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3. Cancellations and Changes

• Cancellation rights, including any applicable refund will depend on the type of ticket purchased and the terms communicated at the time of booking.

• Subject to availability, St Giles' Cathedral will allow tickets to be transferred to another date.

• St Giles' Cathedral may change opening hours, exhibitions, facilities, activities, or visitor arrangements where reasonably necessary. We will make reasonable efforts to notify affected

ticket holders of significant changes via email.

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4. Group Bookings

  • Group bookings are bookings made for 7 or more adult visitors.

  • St Giles' Cathedral retains the right to turn away unbooked groups of 7 or more visitors.

  • Group bookings are subject to separate booking procedures, payment deadlines, cancellation terms, and minimum or maximum group sizes.

  • The person making a group booking is responsible for ensuring that all members of the group are aware of these Terms and Conditions and comply with visitor requirements and Safer Spaces Policy.

  • Groups must arrive at the time stated on their booking and follow any instructions given by St Giles' Cathedral staff.

  • St Giles' Cathedral may require groups to be divided into smaller groups or to follow a particular route through St Giles' Cathedral for operational, safety, or conservation reasons.

  • Schools, educational groups, community groups, and other organised visits may be subject to additional terms communicated at the time of booking.

  • Where the number of visitors changes after booking, please contact St Giles' Cathedral as soon as possible. We cannot guarantee that additional visitors can be accommodated.

  • It is important that your information is filled out correctly during the booking process, as without all the necessary information we cannot book your group in.

  • We will assume that the number of people in your group you have put on the form is correct, and invoice you accordingly. If you would like to make a change to the numbers, please do so via email or by phone 48 hours in advance.

  • We understand that sometimes groups are a little late, especially when transport is involved, so please keep in contact with us and we will work to make sure you are accommodated where

  • possible.

  • Payment for your visit can be made via invoice no more than 14 days after the invoice has been sent. Full pricing for commercial groups can be found on our booking form.

5. Resident Passes

  • Resident Passes are available for all residents in Scotland aged 16 or over.

  • To activate your Resident Pass, first apply on our website, then bring a proof of address to St Giles’ Cathedral on or before your visit, so that the pass can be activated by our front-of-house staff. This proof of address could be a:

    • Driving Licence, or other ID featuring your postcode.

    • Piece of mail featuring your postcode

    • Official Letter confirming proof of residence or confirmation of asylum status.

    • Matriculation Letter from a Scottish University or College

  • With an active Resident Pass you are welcome to visit St Giles’ Cathedral during regular visiting hours, without reserving a specific date or timeslot.

  • St Giles’ Cathedral reserves the right to delay or deny entry, due to unforeseen circumstances, closure for events or ceremonies, or restrictions on building capacity.

6. Audio Tours

  • Audio tours are included free of charge as part of your visit. They provide an engaging way to explore the

  • Cathedral at your own pace and operate similarly to an audiobook. Full details and instructions can be

  • provided on request. These are currently available in English, German and Ukrainian.

7. Safer Spaces Policy and Visitor Conduct

We want St Giles’ Cathedral to be a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment for everyone. All visitors are expected to comply with our Safer Spaces Policy, which forms part of these Terms and Conditions. The policy sets out the standards of behaviour expected from visitors and how we respond to behaviour that may make others feel unsafe, unwelcome, harassed, or excluded. St Giles’ Cathedral reserves the right to ask a visitor or group to leave, without a refund, where their behaviour breaches these requirements or our Safer Spaces Policy, subject to applicable law. Please read our Safer Spaces Policy before your visit.

8. Accessibility and Additional Requirements

We aim to make St Giles' Cathedral accessible and welcoming to all visitors. If you have accessibility requirements or need reasonable adjustments for your visit, please contact us before your visit where possible so that we can discuss how best to support you. Access tickets are available for visitors who have a disability or access requirement and may require reasonable adjustments or additional support during their visit. Where a visitor requires an essential companion, personal assistant, carer or support worker, the accompanying person should purchase a free Companion Ticket with the Access Ticket, subject to availability.

9. Rules and Safety

Visitors must comply with all rules, safety requirements, and reasonable instructions from staff. Please refer to our Safer Spaces Policy for details on prohibited items, and our photography and filming policy.

10. Changes to These Terms

St Giles' Cathedral may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The terms applying to your booking will normally be those in effect when you purchased your ticket, unless a change is required by law or is necessary for safety, security, or operational reasons.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about your ticket, cancellation, accessibility, or these Terms and Conditions, please contact:

Last updated: 27-10-26