St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh will now charge £12 for most adult visitors. It's the first admission fee in its 900-year history and a major shift in approach to funding for Scotland’s “High Kirk”.

Up until now it has relied on voluntary donations, despite welcoming more than 1.5 million visitors a year.

The move essentially ends free tourist access as Scottish residents and all under‑16s remain free, although residents must register online for a Resident Pass. Entry for worship and prayer is unaffected.

Charging visiting tourists isn't new for English cathedrals, many of which already charge sightseers while keeping entry free for worshippers: Westminster Abbey now costs £32, St Paul’s £27 and York Minster is £20. 

St Giles’ said the £12 fee will directly support the “ministry, music, and mission” of the cathedral and help preserve the building, which costs over £1m a year to keep open. They also have plans to enhance the visitor experience and expand what they do musically with more frequent choral worship and concerts. 

St Giles' Cathedral is a significant historical building celebrated as the "Mother Church of World Presbyterianism" because it served as the main base for John Knox during the 1560 Scottish Reformation.  It has also played a significant role in modern events and was the site where the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II lay at rest in September 2022.