Visitor Information

Welcome to St Giles’ Cathedral

We offer a range of tickets to visit the Cathedral. General Admission applies to all visitors aged 16 or over, who are not residents in Scotland. Your admission fee directly supports the future of the Cathedral.

Book your ticket to visit St Giles’ Cathedral

GENERAL ADMISSION

Book your tickets to visit with a group (7 or more visitors).

GROUP VISITS

Book Access Tickets and Companion Passes here.

ACCESS TICKET

Apply here for free year-round access for residents in Scotland.

General Admission tickets

  • General admission tickets include access to the Cathedral floor and Thistle Chapel, as well as our guided tours.

  • Book in advance for fast-track access on arrival.

  • Tickets are valid for 12 months.

Resident Pass admission

  • 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.

Group Bookings

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

Access Tickets

  • 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 reserve a free Companion Ticket with the Access Ticket.

Terms and Conditions & Policies

RESIDENT PASS

Opening hours

Monday: 10am - 6pm

Tuesday: 10am - 6pm

Wednesday: 10 am - 6pm

Thursday: 10am - 6pm

Friday: 10am - 6pm

Saturday: 9am - 5pm (Quiet Hour: 9am - 10am)

Sunday: 1pm - 5pm

AUDIO TOURS

This tour will lead you through the building, revealing secrets and stories about St Giles’ as well as explaining our rich history and architectural features. This tour is accessed on your phone via a QR code, which means you can be in charge of your own tour, stopping and starting as it suits you.

The tour lasts 25 minutes. You will need a smartphone, headphones for best experience (not mandatory) and 25MB of download space.

The audio tour is currently in English, German and Ukrainian.

accessibility

St Giles’ Cathedral is wheelchair accessible from the West Door (main entrance). Currently the Thistle Chapel is not accessible via wheelchair, and we do not have an accessible toilet. We are currently planning works to fix both of these issues, and we appreciate your patience and understanding in the meantime.

We want to make sure everyone is able to visit St Giles’ and enjoy the building’s atmosphere and history. Please visit our Access page for more information.

QUIET HOUR at St Giles’

Saturday Morning: 9am - 10am

What is a Quiet Hour?

This is a dedicated time in which we will intentionally reduce sensory stimulation around the Cathedral to offer a more comfortable and predictable visit to those who need it.

Why are we introducing Quiet Hour?

People experience busy environments in very different ways. For some, the usual opening hours of the Cathedral could seem overwhelming or inaccessible to them. This could be due to the noise levels, the lighting, the number of people and any unpredictability.

A Quiet Hour is a step towards becoming a more accessible heritage site. More specifically, it aims to welcome those with neurodivergence, sensory sensitivities, anxiety and anyone else who might find it useful.

Digital visitor guide

Every stone and aisle here has a story to tell. Our digital visitor guide brings the heritage of St Giles' directly to your screen with an interactive map and detailed insights. The guide can be easily accessed at our Welcome Desk - simply scan the labelled QR code with your phone's camera. We are pleased to offer the digital guide in the following languages:

  • English

  • French

  • Gàidhlig

  • Portuguese

  • Spanish

  • Ukrainian

  • German

  • Mandarin

  • Italian

  • Japanese