Scotsman Steps

Old Town


This is public art at its best: harmonious, understated and accessible. In 2010 Turner Prize winner Martin Creed was commissioned by the Fruitmarket Gallery to create a permanent work for Edinburgh’s historic Scotsman Steps, built in 1899 to link the Old and New Towns. Using 104 different-coloured marbles for each of the 104 steps, this elegant work has revitalised a neglected corner of the city. There are entrances on Market St and North Bridge.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Old Town attractions

1. City Art Centre

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This art centre comprises six floors of exhibitions with a variety of themes, including an extensive collection of Scottish art. Fees apply for special…

2. Fruitmarket Gallery

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3. Tron Kirk

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5. City Chambers

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6. Museum of Childhood

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7. Real Mary King's Close

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8. Mercat Cross

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Outside the eastern end of St Giles Cathedral stands the Mercat Cross, a 19th-century copy of the 1365 original, where merchants and traders met to…