europeannovice

We spent from about 9:00-14:30 at the Tower of London and I was wondering if we need the same amount of time at the Edinburgh Castle?

I was wondering if it can be compared to the Tower of London as far as attractions within to be better able to judge.

In other words, they both contain crown jewels and rampart walks. Tower of London has the white tower with the arms and armour and a small Fusiller's military museum and I understand there is a Scottish military museum within Edinburgh Castle. Tower has the beefeater tour, Edinburgh has guides too. Does it also take an hour with the guide at the castle? Edinburgh has the room where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth while the Tower has various buildings to peek into as well. Is this a fair comparison?

From the guidebooks, it says to allow 2-3 hours for Edinburgh Castle. Is that accurate? I think the guidebooks said the same about the Tower of London but we certainly spent a lot longer and still did not see every nook and cranny.

sheila

It depends who you are and how you travel but 2-3 hours seems about right to me

qwovadis

Have been to both The Castle is on a Giant Hill

Very Big on Military history you could spend hours there

and is quite vertical compared to Tower of London nice on the

Thames flatter quite a bit more touristy crowded for me.

Several hours did me for both...

Stayed at the Tower Hotel $80 in London bidding priceline.com

snagged it for $80 when there last had a perfect view.

Good luck!

qwovadis

www.eurocheapo.com/edinburgh

eurocheapo.com/london

great city tips budget guides to food etc.

michele_d

We spent just a bit longer at the Tower because we were watching a jousting match. I think a couple hours at each is a fine amount. There are great views to take in from Edinburgh. Both are great in their own different ways.

KayF

I think there is more to see at The Tower than Edinburgh Castle. You could still easily spend hours there but a couple of hours minimum should work if you are short of time. If you go at a particularly busy time, the crowds will make it harder to have a short visit.

Kay

megapax

We spent much more time at the Tower of London. There is much more to do and see there.

nytraveler

There is considerably more to see at the Tower than in Edinburgh Castle. The latter is fascinaitng - and seems more real and somewhat less "frozen history" but it did not take us nearly as long as the Tower.

janisj

Having been to each castle more than 15 times. I'd guess maybe some might think there is a LOT more to see/do at the Tower -- especially if one isn't into Scottish history.

IMHO the Tower would be a minimum 3 hours for a first time visit for a family w/ any interest/curiosity. More to allow for a meal/gift shops. For the same family, Edinburgh Castle maybe 2 hours minimum - but that would only be the highlights (plus gift shop/food time)

europeannovice

Great! So 2-3 hours should do it for us. Like I said we had spent a bit over 5 hours at the Tower but that did include the crown jewels, the Beefeater tour, the White tower, the museum near the cafeteria, some of the other buildings and time for lunch/gift shop.

Is the military museum within Edinburgh Castle or outside of it?

annw

Two hours seems a good amount of time to allow. Loved Edinburgh Castle! Don't remember if we went to the military museum....

ShelliDawn

I found at the Tower, you kept getting jostled along by all the other people, but at Edinburgh Castle there were places you could stop and soak up the atmosphere. I like to do that, so spent probably 3-4 hours.