Nelson Monument
Nelson Monument
4
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Neighbourhood: Broughton & Calton
Lying where grandiose New Town townhouses give way to malls and utilitarian housing, Broughton and Calton have long been transitional neighbourhoods with a mixed identity. It’s here that Edinburgh’s gay village found a home in the 1980s. But gay culture is anything but overt along bustling epicentre Broughton Street; even if polished pubs, hip bistros, smart delis and art galleries all speak of affluent good taste. The top of Leith Walk is more ragged. This major thoroughfare boasts a famously gritty gay club, as well as a strip of good Indian restaurants. Regal Georgian and Victorian townhouses preside over largely deserted streets in Calton, where only the occasional restaurant or hotel brings much life. Even so, a steady trickle of idlers and picnickers pass by to climb Calton Hill for its wide-open lawns, wonderful city views, and curious monuments – an Athenian-style temple among them.
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See what travellers are saying
- Sara G.Saint Louis, Missouri709 contributionsGreat Walk on Calton HillNelson Monument. Haratio Nelson was a Navy Admiral. The monument was built between 1807 and 1816 to commemorate Nelson’s victory over the French and Spanish during the Napoleonic Wars. In 1852, they installed a time ball. The ball would drop at exactly 1:00 as a signal to ships, enabling captains to check the accuracy of their chronometers. Guys. It rains constantly and is foggy. This made no sense. Professor Charles Piazzi Smith, the Astronomer Royal in Scotland did not think this through.Visited May 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 3 June 2024
- Sylwia_1984Laziska Gorne, Poland235 contributionsGreat viewGood place for 🧺. Good place to spend time with friends and enjoy yourself on fresh air. Fresh view. Amazing and breathtaking view on whole Edinburgh. It is possible to climb on with price of 8 pounds. One of the best place in the middle of town.Visited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten 5 June 2024
- Jayne SWarwick, Australia10 contributionsExcellent Nelson MonumentWonderful friendly staff. When I got to the top of the 143 stairs we were greeted by another staff member. He was so friendly and helpful. I wish I knew his name! He deserves heaps of praise! He answered my questions, gave local knowledge. The views were incredible. It was marvellous up there. £6 to visit but that also included the museum and heaps of great info about Admiral Nelson. Interesting to read about the time ball too.Visited July 2024Travelled soloWritten 30 July 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
356 reviews
Excellent
117
Very good
156
Average
70
Poor
10
Terrible
3
HINA W
Islamabad, Pakistan7,358 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
This monument is located on the Calton Hill. It is dedicated to Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson who was a British war hero. He is famous for his victories at sea specially the Battle of Trafalgar, fought in 1805, in which he was mortally wounded. Nelson died after the Battle of Trafalgar. The Scots decided to commemorate his death. It was completed in 1816. I feel that this monument looks like an upside down telescope. A Time Ball was added to it in 1852. This was done to assist the seamen moored in the Firth of Forth to set their chronometers. This Times Ball still drops at precisely one o’clock daily.
Written 17 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steviefull
Kidderminster, UK2,011 contributions
Aug 2020
On its own probably not worth visiting, but Calton Hill certainly is and the few monuments and buildings up here make for a good way to spend a couple of hours.
The monument to commemorate Horatio Nelson is around 200 years old and is shaped like an upturned telescope in his honour.
Apparently there is an information centre in the building but this was closed (I assume covid related) when we visited.
The monument to commemorate Horatio Nelson is around 200 years old and is shaped like an upturned telescope in his honour.
Apparently there is an information centre in the building but this was closed (I assume covid related) when we visited.
Written 31 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sylwia_1984
Laziska Gorne, Poland235 contributions
May 2024 • Family
Good place for 🧺. Good place to spend time with friends and enjoy yourself on fresh air. Fresh view. Amazing and breathtaking view on whole Edinburgh. It is possible to climb on with price of 8 pounds. One of the best place in the middle of town.
Written 5 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sara G.
Saint Louis, MO709 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
Nelson Monument. Haratio Nelson was a Navy Admiral. The monument was built between 1807 and 1816 to commemorate Nelson’s victory over the French and Spanish during the Napoleonic Wars. In 1852, they installed a time ball. The ball would drop at exactly 1:00 as a signal to ships, enabling captains to check the accuracy of their chronometers. Guys. It rains constantly and is foggy. This made no sense. Professor Charles Piazzi Smith, the Astronomer Royal in Scotland did not think this through.
Written 3 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jayne S
Warwick, Australia10 contributions
July 2024 • Solo
Wonderful friendly staff. When I got to the top of the 143 stairs we were greeted by another staff member. He was so friendly and helpful. I wish I knew his name! He deserves heaps of praise! He answered my questions, gave local knowledge.
The views were incredible. It was marvellous up there. £6 to visit but that also included the museum and heaps of great info about Admiral Nelson. Interesting to read about the time ball too.
The views were incredible. It was marvellous up there. £6 to visit but that also included the museum and heaps of great info about Admiral Nelson. Interesting to read about the time ball too.
Written 30 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ljubica B
London, UK7,598 contributions
Nov 2022 • Family
Nice place to visit unfortunately was closed I believe the views will be even better from the top of the tower. Is lovely to see the transition from day to night…. I advice to bring a pair of trainers
Written 20 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thejonny2015
Edinburgh, UK2 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
I wanted to pay using small change and £1 coins. The Warden in charge, who we found out is called Ian, was a nightmare. Rude, arrogant, moaned about us trying to pay with change, even though there are NO signs or warnings change is not acceptable. This guy really let Edinburgh down badly, thankfully not all of our experiences have been like this! We also heard the guy arguing with someone else on our way down, seems Ian isn't cut out for serving the public. The Tower itself offers great views of Edinburgh, just a shame the experience was spoiled by such a horrible, rude man.
Written 12 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heng How N
Singapore, Singapore7,584 contributions
July 2018 • Couples
This monument is sitting on top of Calton Hill. From afar in the city, you can see this monument in Princes Street. Once at the foot of Calton Hill, the fleet of steps will lead you dircetly to the monument.
It opens the door at 8:30am for visitor to buy the ticket to go up the monument to enjoy the beautiful view of Edinburgh city and the ground floor about Nelson and the war exhibition. The monument is actually a design of telescope used by the sea vessel captain.
It opens the door at 8:30am for visitor to buy the ticket to go up the monument to enjoy the beautiful view of Edinburgh city and the ground floor about Nelson and the war exhibition. The monument is actually a design of telescope used by the sea vessel captain.
Written 4 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amietheexplorer
Edinburgh, UK10 contributions
May 2018 • Friends
Whilst I can highly recommend the view at the top of the monument the museum was basic to say the least and the staff were neither helpful or friendly. When I found my bag caught in the turnstile, the help i received from the ticket man was below what I expected from a £5 admission. After abruptly telling me to be quiet whilst I was in distress he proceeded to offer little advice other than ‘Go backwards’. He clearly hadn’t worked there very long as turnstiles do not spin backwards. He then left me to struggle further before I managed to free myself. All in all a very eventful trip no thanks to the staff. Please be aware if anyone else gets stuck in future they will not run to your aid.
Written 20 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RetiredWazza
Daylesford, Australia751 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
Sure it was 140 steps but the view, even in the cool wind, enables you to form opinions about Edinburgh - the Old & the New, the relationship to Leith, the importance of open space and of the castles at both ends of the Royal mile/High Street, the positioning and look of Parliament and the reason geography really created Edinburgh.
The museum is also worth the time so that the hysteria and importance of Nelson's victory and the Merchant Navy are better understood.
Very much worth the visit.
The museum is also worth the time so that the hysteria and importance of Nelson's victory and the Merchant Navy are better understood.
Very much worth the visit.
Written 19 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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