Warriston's Close Stairs

A Medieval Thoroughfare Through Edinburgh's Historic Heart

Warriston's Close stands as one of Edinburgh's most distinctive and visually striking staircases, running almost parallel to Advocate's Close between the Royal Mile and Cockburn Street in the heart of the Old Town. This narrow alleyway descends approximately 120 steps, representing the steep topography characteristic of the area near Castle Hill. The close is a living example of how medieval Edinburgh's street network functioned, with these steep passages serving as essential connections between the main thoroughfare and the lower levels of the city. The architectural and spatial experience of descending Warriston's Close provides visitors with an authentic sense of how the original city streets would have operated centuries ago.

The Remarkable Widening Staircase

What makes Warriston's Close particularly fascinating is its unusual architectural feature: the steps widen progressively as you descend. What begins as a typical narrow lane—characteristic of most Edinburgh closes—gradually transforms into a quadruple-width staircase by the time you reach the bottom. This widening effect creates a striking visual and spatial experience that distinguishes Warriston's Close from other similar passages in the Old Town. The design reflects practical medieval urban planning, where the narrower upper section would have been flanked by residential buildings while the wider lower section provided more open space for movement and commerce. This distinctive characteristic has made Warriston's Close a notable landmark for both residents and visitors exploring Edinburgh's historic closes.

Social History and Urban Character

Like many of Edinburgh's closes, Warriston's Close was historically home to the city's working classes and poor residents. These narrow, maze-like side streets were typical of medieval Edinburgh's social geography, with the main streets reserved for wealthier inhabitants and commerce, while the closes housed those of more modest means. The steep slopes and confined spaces created a distinctive urban environment that shaped the daily lives of generations of Edinburgh residents. Today, walking through Warriston's Close offers a tangible connection to this social history, allowing visitors to experience the physical reality of how ordinary people navigated and inhabited the medieval city.

Integration Within Edinburgh's Close Network

Warriston's Close is part of Edinburgh's extensive network of closes—a Scots term for alleyways—that characterize the Old Town's unique urban form. These passages typically slope steeply down from the Royal Mile, creating a herring-bone pattern when viewed on a map. Most closes feature steps and long flights of stairs, and many were historically named after notable occupants or trades practiced by residents. Warriston's Close maintains this tradition and remains accessible to the public, offering an unobstructed passage between the upper and lower levels of the Old Town. The close's preservation and continued use demonstrate the enduring importance of these medieval thoroughfares to Edinburgh's urban fabric and pedestrian network.