Nelson Monument

Reopening soon

An architectural curiosity on Calton Hill

This commemorative tower by the architect Robert Burn is said to resemble an upturned telescope, and was built between 1807 and 1815 to mark Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar. In 1853, a large time ball was added. This is lowered each day, precisely as the one o'clock gun is fired in Edinburgh Castle. Climbing the monument rewards the visitor with stunning views.

“The views from the top are spectacular.” Visitor

The Monument’s viewing platform offers some of the finest panoramic prospects of the city. On a clear day, you can see the new Queensferry Crossing spanning the Forth estuary to the west, and Berwick Law and the Bass Rock to the east. The Kingdom of Fife stretches out to the north, and the Pentland Hills and Scottish Borders to the south.

Inside the base of the monument is a series of displays and an exhibition exploring the life of Charles Piazzi Smyth, photographic and spectrographic pioneer, inventor of mountain top astronomy, popular author, Egyptologist and originator of the One O’Clock Gun and Time Ball.