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Upward angle of the Gothic style rocket-shaped Scott Monument

Scott Monument


Towering above Princes Street Gardens, the Scott Monument stands as one of Edinburgh's most beloved landmarks. Completed in 1846, this monument to the writer Sir Walter Scott was designed by George Meikle Kemp in the Gothic style. The monument contrasts spectacularly with the restrained architecture of the New Town and would have looked strikingly modern when it was erected.


The Scott Monument houses a museum room featuring magnificent stained-glass windows, and offers visitors stunning city views from its viewing platforms. At the monument’s heart sits Sir John Steell's marble statue of Scott with his faithful hound Maida that took more than six years to carve.


Visitors can climb nearly to the top of the monument on guided tours, gaining incredible views across the city.


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