12 of the oldest pubs in Edinburgh which date back hundreds of years - including The Sheep Heid Inn
By Rhoda Morrison
Published 4th May 2024, 16:34 BST
The city is rich in history – and so are its pubs.
Edinburgh is known around the world for its rich history, and some of its pubs have been around for hundreds of years as well. The oldest pub in the city is thought to date back to the 1300s and several of the pubs still standing have been welcoming customers for hundreds of years.
Take a look through our picture gallery to see 12 of the oldest pubs in Edinburgh.
The King's Wark in Leith was first built in 1434 as a royal residence and private armoury for James I. It is believed to have served many purposes, including a plague hospital and weigh house, but was transformed into a pub in the 1700s. Photo: Google
The White Hart is another pub which is often argued to be the oldest pub in Edinburgh. The pub is first mentioned in records in 1516 and it is believed that parts of the building - and the cellar in particular - date back to that time. Photo: Google
While the Ryrie's building, which is located beside Haymarket station, dates back to 1817, it didn't become a pub until around 1842. Back then it was known as The Railway Inn, which was taken over by Alexander Ryrie in 1862. Photo: Google
The Oxford Bar is found in Young Street and has been made famous as the pub where Rebus drinks in Ian Rankin's novels. The small pub was built in 1811 and, despite a brief spell as a sweet shop, it is hailed by CAMRA as "the least altered pub in Edinburgh". Photo: Third Party