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Greyfriars Bobby

4.3 (93 reviews)
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Greyfriars Bobby Photos

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Reviews With Photos

M K.

So glad we came over here! If you come to Edinburgh, this is a must! Getting a photo is iconic. highly recommend!

Nachos!
Shaun T.

We popped in for a couple pints and a quick snack. We had hand cut nachos! As billed, a requisite order!! Very lively inside and out. Bartenders were very friendly. The little statue of a dog, namesake for the pub, is a real fan favorite with steady streams coming by for pics and to rub the nose.

Greyfriars Bobby
Maria P.

Bobby was the name of a Skye Terrier dog owned by John Gray, a night watchman for the Edinburgh Police. The two were inseparable up until Gray died of tuberculosis. He was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard and it is said that for 14 years, Bobby faithfully kept constant watch and guard over his grave and never spent a night away from him. He was taken care of by residents throughout those years and was buried just inside the gate of Greyfriars Kirkyard, not far from his master's grave. In honor of Edinburgh's most famous and faithful dog, William Brody sculpted this statue of Bobby and it was unveiled in November 1873, opposite Greyfriars Kirkyard. Bobby's headstone reads "Greyfriars Bobby - died 14th January 1872 - aged 16 years - Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all". If you look closely, his nose is a bit lighter due to tourists have started rubbing his nose for luck. It's a very cute, endearing story that reminded me of Japan's Hachiko.

Steven B.

A historic establishment in a tourist popular area adjacent to Greyfriars Kirkyard it has a great vibe inside and out with a busy and lively atmosphere. All of out orders were good at prices one would expect but not overly inflated.

Martine K.

It is such a cute story. I'm not sure if all my facts are straight but the gist of it is this dog's owner, John Gray, was a night watchman who took the dog with him to work all the time. Even when John died of tuberculosis the dog would not leave his grave. For 14 years the dog was faithful in guarding the grave and townspeople helped the dog providing him with shelter in the graveyard. With a touching sentimental story like that who wouldn't want to take a picture of this sculpture and give him a pat on the head for being so loyal.

Inside the restaurant has more info too!
Gayl B.

Statue review: some people were rubbing the nose of Greyfriars Bobby statue. I did not, but I did visit the grave and the restaurant for lunch after seeing the statue. Pub review: Love this pub! The two gals were really working hard to serve everyone. This is a popular place. We didn't have trouble getting a table at exactly noon when it opened, but it was completely full when we left. I had a half pint of Guinness and a lovely Chicken and Brie pie. The waitress recommended it, so go with her recommendations because the pie was excellent. I also shared a Cranachan (Scottish dessert) with the hubby because, well, when in Scotland, drink Guinness and eat dessert. Really, the saying is true, Guinness just doesn't travel well, so drink it in Ireland and the UK. The Cranachan was interesting, probably not something that I'd order a second time, but it is now off my bucket list. Great pub, interesting story about Greyfriars Bobby. Don't forget to go inside the cemetery and visit the graves too.

Hannah S.

Such a sweet tribute to a loyal puppy! It's a statue of a little doggie that guarded its owner's grave until he passed away himself! It's in a nice area by a good pub of the same name (in a separate review), so if you're in the area, it's worth a visit. I wouldn't go out of my way to visit just the statue itself unless you're just really into the story etc. but it seems to be in a main touristy area so not hard to stop by and see the sweet pup!

Makenzie Y.

What an emotional thing to see - this sweet pup. Definitely a must see and to read about this story! The reason the dogs nose is gold unlike the rest of his body is because people touch it for luck. He was a loyal pup and deserves to be seen by all for sure - also the gift shop that is in his name was cute too, cute stuff and nice workers!

The picture I took from my visit to Edinburgh in July 2010.
Bruce K.

One of the landmarks of Edinburgh that makes up the history of this wonderful city, if you're doing the tour then you need to make a stop here and pay tribute to the wonderful devoted dog behind the story. Admittedly, it's just a dog statue but I'll bet you would be hard pressed to name any other famous dogs from history that weren't simply Presidential pets or television stars. Laika, the Russian space dog is the only one that comes to mind. Maybe you can think of others?

Lard Belly E.

I love a good story, especially one with a dog in it. Bobby was an old policeman's dog, who decided to get a small cute dog instead of a big one to cajole troublemakers into acting right instead of scaring them into it. Bobby means policeman in English slang. As a story with a twist, our tour guide said this isn't even Bobby, it's a likeness of his girlfriend. Once Bobby's girlfriend found out Bobby was getting fixings and such from the butcher at his old master's gravesite she started sitting vigil with him. After the priests gave up trying to run him off they recognized the moneymaker of him sitting next to his master's grave they let him stay. After he passed away the priests had the girlfriend take his place and still fed her, and she continued to draw in people who would donate money. One last thing. Bobby isn't buried there since he's a dog, but that the priests placed a marker for him. Dogs aren't allowed to be buried on hallowed ground, or so says the tour guide. It's a great story. What annoyed me to no end is the pub across the street from Bobby. They turned the statue around so that the pub is in the background when you take a photo, sort of like free publicity. I found this so tasteless I may just 1 star that pub on yelp.

Awesome mac n cheese and pea mash
V M.

What can I say...typical bar food with bar food quality. Nothing to write home about. Good location but I would eat somewhere else if I were a visitor.

Game Pie
Juliana A.

On our way to the museum of Scotland we stopped by here for lunch. No wait. Quaint space. Friendly staff. Tried the Game Pie and Lamb Pie. Both were delicious, right out of the oven.

Get out of the rain for a beer
Mary M.

Nice bar. We just stopped for a drink. It was a nice stop after a wet and rainy stop at the Greyfriers cemetary. Take a picture with the dog statue outside for luck.

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Greyfriars Bobby Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - Greyfriars Bobby

After John's untimely death in 1858, Bobby refused to leave his master's grave until the day he died himself.

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Royal Mile - The Royal Mile

Royal Mile

(153 reviews)

Old Town, Royal Mile

Let this review slip through the cracks but brought it back to life after scrolling through my pics…read moreof Scotland on my phone. Traveling through Scotland it is mandatory to take a stroll in the Royal Mile to see all the historic landmarks and whiskey stores. #1 See the iconic retro red British phone booths with the cool stickers. #2 Take a few pics with the Scottish guy in his kilt playing the bag pipes. #3 walk to the top of the Edinburgh Castle for a 360 degree view of the area. #4 Find the hidden Devil's Advocate Bar and have a cold craft beer. Great experience at the Royal Mile and cant wait to visit here again.

What's the first thing that pops into your head when you hear Royal Mile.... If you know Edinburgh,…read morethen you know it's here that lies the fame Edinburgh Castle. At the top of the cobble stones sits the majestic castle that's a staple to Scotland. If you haven't been it's great to check it out. Purchase tickets ahead of time as they do sell out and are limited everyday. But if you can't make it, you'll still hear the canons being shot often from up there. The views are amazing from top looking out to the new town and even the waterfront. Plenty of souvenirs shops along the mile. They tend to caters to the holiday makers as locals tends to have their regular spots that they go to. There's loads of restaurants as well as hotels pretty much near the mile. Just over the over side you have old town where more of the gothic building are. To the other end is new town where you'll have the fancier designer shopping as well as the bigger more fancier dining. Plus loads of the bigger upscale hotels are located there. Edinburgh Waverley train station is nearby. It's a staples of Scotland where yearly it brings people. No matter what the wether is like, it'll alway brings holidays makers out to enjoy. During the summer months of August, the streets are line with performers as well as loads of show. That's the month of the Fringe Festival. One of the biggest attractions during the summer. There's also plenty of whiskey tasting which they're known for. Tons of tours that's will actually show you around the area more. Scotland is beautiful and there's loads to see. It's not just green...

Advocate's Close - Loved this shot with Sir Walter Scott Monument peeping out

Advocate's Close

(9 reviews)

Old Town, Royal Mile

It's just one of many interesting closes along the Royal Mile. This one is named after the Lord…read moreAdvocate's House. The house of Sir James Stewart used to be at the lower end the stairs near Cockburn St. It's literally steps away from the Supreme Courts building in Parliament Square. Well, about 70 steps up. Today, it's more of a shortcut between Market Street and the Royal Mile. The best feature of Advocate's Close is actually the perfectly framed view of the Scott Monument through the archway. You'll also see how high you are on the hill when walking up or down this steep & worn set of stairs. Hopefully they will add handrails to it one day like others that we've seen throughout the city. I mean, they don't call them "Death Stairs" for nothing. Oh, and theres's a very popular gastropub called the Devil's Advocate near the bottom of the steps. We didn't get to visit it, but it came highly recommended. It's just another reason to visit it.

Edinburgh is riddled with closes and Advocate's Close is a fine example of these narrow lanes that…read moreconnect streets throughout and behind the Royal Mile. The tall buildings that line the path give many closes a canyon-like feel with many of them sloping steeply down from the Royal Mile. It's like walking into the underground! Advocate's Close is particularly popular with tourists and I can see why. At the top, it offers a beautiful peek-a-boo view of the Sir Walter Scott Monument in the distance and some of Edinburgh's central buildings. Walk all the way down and it connects you to Cockburn Street below. Definitely try walking through a close or two as they are great shortcuts to get from one street to another along the Royal Mile.

Sir Walter Scott Monument - Scott Monument_Yelp_Sanju-6

Sir Walter Scott Monument

(55 reviews)

Old Town

Standing just over 200ft (61m) high, and known as the Gothic Rocket, the Scott Monument is often…read moremistaken for a church - understandably, perhaps - and dominates the view of the eastern section of New Town along Princes Street. Following Scott's death in 1832 the people of Edinburgh decided that a monument should be built in memory of one of Scotland's best-loved literary figures. At the time he was probably the most widely read British author of the era. The Scott Monument is the largest monument to a writer in the world. some data says, its 2nd largest though. This is especially fitting, given that Edinburgh is a UNESCO City of Literature, having been home to many notable writers, such Scott, Burns, Stevenson, Conan Doyle and many more! There are 287 steps to the top of the Scott Monument, from where you can enjoy breathtaking views of Edinburgh and the surrounding countryside.

This gothic monument to the famous Scottish writer (Sir Walter Scott) is so dark and mysterious…read morelooking during the day. It's an even better view at night when it's all lit up. It kind of makes you wonder what it actually looked like before it soaked up "auld reekie's" pollution back in the 19th century. In a way, the black soot actually gives it more character. It's also a nice contrast with the white Carrara marble statue of the writer. Do you see his dog (named Maida) laying to the right of him? So cute! So, if you can actually see the outer architectural details then you're in for a treat. It stands at 200 feet tall and has about 64 statues that represent some of the most notable characters in his novels. To be honest, I was more impressed with the gargoyles. We didn't attempt to go inside to climb up to the top of it, but many pay to do that. I'm sure it's a nice view. The courtyard surrounding it was being decorated for Remembrance Day celebrations. I loved seeing all the crosses and red poppies around it. It's definitely a must see monument, and certainly one that you're going to eventually pass by at some point during your stay in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Castle - St. Margaret's Chapel - Oldest building in Edinburgh (1100s) ...

Edinburgh Castle

(617 reviews)

Old Town, Royal Mile

Edinburgh Castle is the most visited attraction in Scotland, welcoming over 1.3 million visitors…read moreeach year who come in search of views, royal history, and a glimpse at the 'Honours of Scotland' - Britain's oldest crown jewels. Edinburgh Castle is not only the dominant feature of the city's skyline, visible from miles around, it's also the feature which gives the city its name -- the old Gaelic name translates roughly as 'the fort on the hill'. trust me, you might underestimate this castle, and even i have kept 2 hrs for this, but it needs more time. With several museums, a large war memorial, a royal palace, a Great Hall & several other little stops/activities, if you want to actually see all of Edinburgh Castle's sights and attractions, you'll need much more than two hours... especially considering the line to see the Honours of Scotland (AKA the Crown Jewels) can last 20+ minutes. * Three regimental military museums * The National War Museum * The Scottish National War Memorial * The Honours of Scotland, featuring the Scottish crown jewels and Stone of Destiny * St Margaret's Chapel, the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh * Optional 30-minute introductory tours available throughout the day * Prisons of War exhibition * The Great Hall where banquets were held * The One O'Clock Gun, fired every day (except Sunday) at 1pm * Visit the small antechamber where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her son, James VI of Scotland * Three gift shops and two cafes The oldest surviving structure at the castle (and the oldest in the city) dates back to the 12th century. It is of course St Margaret's Chapel, built by King David I in honour of his mother. This same king is the one credited with turning Edinburgh Castle into a royal residence. As the years rolled on, royals came and went, with new additions being made to the castle, creating the complex we see today. The Renaissance of the 1400s for instance brought us the Royal Palace that now houses various royal paintings and displays (including THE closet where Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to King James VI of Scotland, AKA King James I of England). The 1500s brought us the Great Hall, which was needed of course for fancy banquets. The 1600s brought new defences and barracks as the castle eased into its role of a military outpost more than swanky royal digs Tickets to Edinburgh Castle should be booked online before you arrive. Tip: these spots across the city offers great view of the castle- Calton Hill, The Grassmarket, Salisbury Crags, Castle Esplanade, Ross Fountain, St Cuthbert's Churchyard, The Vennel

Must-visit if you're in Edinburgh…read more We had reserved tickets to get in, and got lucky as it was a beautiful day, sandwiched between dreary rainy ones which are more common in this part of Great Britain. We enjoyed the history, the magnificent views of old and new town sprawled below us and the Firth of Forth beyond, the museum, and the One-O-Clock gun! Pro-tip: Book a late morning entry time so you can be there at 1 pm for the gun, duck indoors into the museum or gift shop if it rains, and dress in layers, as the weather can change in minutes.

Greyfriars Kirkyard - Love all the old carvings

Greyfriars Kirkyard

(34 reviews)

Old Town

Come for the Tom Riddell grave but stay for the beauty. A wonderfully gothic church and graveyard…read morehide in plain sight in the heart of Edinburgh. Don't miss it!

Visiting the kirkyard at nighttime is such a creepy experience. We decided to do it on our own,…read morewhich meant that we were completely unaware of the ghosts that are said to haunt this place. I didn't know about "Bloody MacKenzie" until our tour guide told us how brave we were for going at night. Did you know that this poltergeist attacks people at night? I had no idea. I think we even passed by his crypt when we were lost trying to find Tom Riddell's grave. It's super dark in there. Here's a little hint when trying to find the grave that is said to be JK Rowling's inspiration for the dark wizard in Harry Potter. Your GPS will take you to the part of the wall facing the church. Apparently, it happens to everyone because there is a sign at that point telling you that Tom Riddell is actually on the other side of the wall. Trying to find the pathway at night that leads you to that side of the kirkyard is the tricky part. There are many walking ghost tours that will take you here, but it was quite the experience discovering it on our own. Don't miss seeing the Greyfriars Bobby grave & memorial. It's at the main entrance to the kirkyard in front of the church. We didn't see it right away since we entered from a side entrance. I love that people are placing broken tree limbs in front of this famous Skye Terrier's grave. Doggies love to play with sticks. It's said that the doggie ghost is still seen around his master's grave (John Gray). There's a sign with the names of notable people of Edinburgh that are buried there. I'm speculating that the poltergeist may have taken his anger out on it. The sign has a few chunks of wood missing. There just happens to be a deep scratch mark by his real name, Sir George MacKenzie. How creepy is that? We didn't get to visit the church due to an evening service. I believe the museum and gift shop is open to visitors as well. It was great just to explore around it. It was a fun evening in a kirkyard!

Real Mary Kings Close

Real Mary Kings Close

(214 reviews)

Old Town, Royal Mile

Real Mary King's Close was one of the most eerie, immersive experiences I had in Edinburgh. It…read moreisn't about Scotland's royalty or power struggles. It's about survival and daily life through really dark times. I took a guided tour with Daisy, and she was absolutely incredible! So knowledgeable, genuinely funny, and her acting and storytelling took you back in time... literally. It never felt scripted or forced, just engaging and real. She was so warm and sweet, which made the experience even better. It's hard to believe she's only 25 given how much depth she brought to the tour.

Went to the Real May King's Close tour based on a recommendation and didn't really do any research…read more It turned out to be one of the best tours of our 7 day trip thru Dublin, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. In case you don't already know, the current Edinburgh city center is built on top of the old city that is several hundred years old. This tour takes you beneath the streets to the old city. You will see the original close with houses and workshops. You will learn how they lived, "meet" other prominent people of that time, and learn about the black plagues. Really cool tour, very informative, and sometimes funny. Please note this tour is NOT for people with mobility issues or concerns. Tours leave on time from the street front store. So, be on time. They can't easily add you to your group if they have already left and gone underground. Highly recommended that you buy your tickets in advance. P.S. Photos are prohibited, and they try to sell you a picture of yourself in the old close on the way out. Tacky, I know, but still worth it.

Palace of Holyroodhouse - Palace of Holyroodhouse_Yelp_Sanju-5

Palace of Holyroodhouse

(80 reviews)

The magnificence of history can only truly be appreciated when stepping into the gates of where…read moreevents actually happened. In the palace of Holyroodhouse House, you do exactly that. Being able to step into a place where centuries of vital global, English and Scottish history have played a big part, including Mary, Queen of Scots, is truly something you'll never forget. You are unable to take pictures inside the palace due to the delicate nature of the historical artifacts, including tapestries that date back several hundred years to the 15th and 16th centuries, but being able to witness these in person is truly humbling and really transports you back into a time that was so critical in Scottish and English history. Some of my favorite highlights included the walk up to the bed chamber of Mary Queen of Scots - this is definitely done in a way where you would experience the small narrow staircases that were part of daily life back then as as well as the Grand Hall that actually has paintings of all royalty throughout the ages. Additionally, they allow you to walk the gardens behind the palace and on a clear day you can see how amazingly gorgeous the grounds are and the breadth of them - with the palace in the backdrop and Arthur's seat directly to the side of the palace. This is a must see for anyone visiting Edinburgh and you can probably spend about 2 to 3 hours between the interior visit and the exterior visit. There is also a café just outside the gates where you can pick up some lovely food or have afternoon tea. There is also a nicely stocked souvenir shop where you can pick up items not only for this palace, but also commemorative items for some of the other palaces across the UK.

As others have said, it's the reigning Monarch's official residence in Edinburgh. It was the…read moreprimary home of Mary, Queen of Scots in the 16th century. It's here where you can still see her private residence within the palace as well as the staterooms that are currently used today for official engagements. Especially during Holyrood Week when Queen Elizabeth II would host grand garden tea parties and lunches to recognize public service and non-profit organizations. The summer activities celebrating Scottish culture continues today with the Celebration of the Keys. It kicks off the week-long event when King Charles III accepts the keys to the City of Edinburgh. Our tour guide stopped here to give us a brief rundown of the history of this palace. It's located at the foot of the Royal Mile. We sadly didn't get a chance to go back for a tour of the palace, abbey, and gardens. Give yourself at least 3 hours to experience it all. There's also a palace café located in the Mews Courtyard (near the King's Gallery & Ticket Office) that serves lunch and afternoon tea. The Scottish Parliament and White Horse Close are nearby as well. It's a great place to be when starting that journey up to the castle.

Greyfriars Bobby - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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