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The top of the Burns monument showing statuettes

Burns Monument


The Burns Monument stands on Calton Hill as a tribute to Scotland’s most celebrated poet, Robert Burns. It was designed by renowned Greek Revival architect Thomas Hamilton in 1831.


The Burns Monument was originally designed to house a statue of Burns by John Flaxman. That statue is now in the care of the National Portrait Gallery, as the conditions in the monument were affecting its surface.


Hamilton’s design for the monument is based on an ancient Greek example built in Athens. It uses Corinthian columns as opposed to the simple Doric style columns used in many of the surrounding monuments and buildings. These stylistic flourishes were understood and appreciated by those interested in classical architecture.


The Burns Monument is not normally open to the public, but can be viewed from the outside, alongside epic views across the city.