Stirling, United Kingdom skyline: the 38 most iconic buildings and best views in Stirling

A Truly Memorable Visit to Wallace Monument The Wallace Monument is a wonderfully organized attraction with excellent access and free shuttle service. At the foot of the hill stands a spacious, free car park for both cars and buses – a thoughtful gesture from the local council. Nearby, you’ll find a visitor centre with a gift shop, clean toilets, and a café. The small shuttle bus departs regularly from just outside and takes visitors up the hill in about 3 minutes. For those who prefer to walk, the uphill path takes about 15 minutes – it’s quite steep but paved and equipped with benches for resting along the way. At the top, there’s a viewing terrace with benches placed around the tower, offering a place to relax and enjoy the surroundings. Entrance to the monument closes at 5 PM, so make sure to arrive in good time. Exploring all the exhibition rooms inside the tower takes about 30 minutes, including climbing the very narrow spiral staircase. The exhibits are engaging and well-curated, including a short but informative film about the Battle of Stirling Bridge and the legendary William Wallace himself. The panoramic view from the observation platform at the top of the tower is absolutely breathtaking and leaves a lasting impression. The vista over the battlefield and the river below is truly unforgettable. After descending, consider stopping by the gift shop – it’s the best place to find affordable souvenirs such as magnets, T-shirts, and unique memorabilia. Opposite the shop, there is also a small bistro for drinks and light meals. You can return downhill either on foot or via shuttle. In total, the visit takes about 3 hours. On a beautiful day, this is a perfect spot for a short historical journey and an outdoor lunch with a view.

My wife and I went first thing in the morning when it opened at 930am. on a Saturday. The castle was wonderful and rich in history. We did not have a tour guide, just walked around ourselves and enjoyed the beauty and architecture of this historical place. The views are stunning. About a 17-minute uphill walk from the train station, and it seemed way faster on the way down, like 5 minutes. It's worth exploring and enjoying the excellent and magnificent history Scotland has to offer. It also has a few gift shops around the location and also toilets which is a plus. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Don't forget your Stirling Castle Magnets!

This may seem like a small museum for many, but I spent two hours here and could have doubled that time. There is so much history and so many artifacts that are worth viewing. The entry was free, but I recommend dropping a bit into the donation box. This museum is chock full of Scottish history, I loved that the casket (small silver box for letters) belonging to my ancestor, Mary, Queen of Scots, was on display during my visit. The dollhouse was also a big plus for me. The Scottish history, of course, is heartbreaking. The bravery of those who stepped up deserve to have their stories told. The cafe and gift shop are charming. The staff? Just pure Scottish sweetness! If you exit the museum and turn right, you will walk upon a beautiful view of Stirling castle. I definitely recommend visiting this museum. ❤️

Most visitors to Stirling head to the nearby palace, but often miss this unassuming church by the local churchyard, yet it is the actual site of the coronation of kings. You'll be greeted by friendly ladies at the entrance and given a leaflet in your own language. The church is a beautiful example of Nordic Gothic. The original wooden beamed roof and many stained glass windows are probably the most impressive features. Also worth mentioning is the very well maintained old churchyard around the church, where you will also find a hilltop with beautiful views over the surrounding area, including Stirling Palace.

I arrived here on foot at 9.30 and just so happens the man with the keys, he must stay in a nearby house, opened the gate and the door to the bell tower. The abbey is a ruin with the outlines of the wall clearly visible on the ground but the bell tower is pretty much intact. There are several large information boards and small plaques describing the site. Entry is free, if you have dogs they should be kept on a lead.

It was neat to cross a 500 + year old medieval bridge. It may not be the original wooden bridge that William Wallace had destroyed, but it’s neat to imagine it on this bridge near the site where it would have happened. You can feel its age when you’re here and that’s the fun of it.

We bought the Stirling City Pass for a day, and were able to get a tour on a Sunday for our family of 8. It was a surprisingly amazing experience and highly recommend. Our tour guide was a great performer and very animated. He provided excellent insights to the history of the jail in a captivating way. He promoted audience participation. It was worth going up the tower for the view of the city center.

We used our National Trust membership for access and expected just to wander round a wet battlefield. Instead, we were given an informative and engaging guided talk through the visitor centre. Because of this, we understood so much more about why this battle was important, and how a small army achieved such astonishing success. The large audio visual nicely demonstrates the weapons used and their effectiveness, while still being appropriate for children. It made the following walk out to the memorial more meaningful, as we could understand what had happened at which bits of the landscape. It really is all very well done. There is also a nice cafe with large windows and a variety of seating available. The toilets were clean and no queue. There's a room with costumes of the era to try on.

Former almshouse dating back to the mid 17th century, funded by the legacy of John Cowane, a wealthy merchant. The building is characterized by crow stepped gables and a distinctive golden finish. It was constructed using stone quarried from Plean and Dunmore, as well as stone taken from the ruins of Cambuskenneth Abbey. The grounds incorporate ornately detailed lamps, a terrace and old bowling green with an ornamental garden. It's only possible to view the building's exterior. It was converted to a guildhall in the mid 19th century, and remains in public use today so is not open to visitors. Nonetheless it's worth a look as one of Stirling's most attractive buildings, situated close to the castle and Church of the Holy Rude.

beautiful place we took dog definitely go back again

Had a lovely tour guide explain the house and it's history. It has some great features and the restorations are amazing. Not sure it would have been as good without the enthusiasm of our guide, she was very knowledgeable and really interested in history. I can imagine that we might have been underwhelmed if we just wandered about so I highly recommend taking one of the free tours.

Full of history. This place is perfect for a stroll, in its calming natural beauty atmosphere. There's plenty to see, too, from the churches to the statues and amazing sculpture head stones and tombs. Very nice pathways throughout the grounds with lovely wild flower gardens, with nice resting places to absorb your surroundings. Perfect for catching some of our wildlife at play as well.

I can only speak to the cafe, which is one of the most cosy and serene places in which I have had the pleasure to eat. Chloe is a remarkable cook and a very sweet and generous person. Far from crowded, the cafe provides a peaceful liminal space apart from the chaos and upheaval of everyday life. I am not surprised that this place is a music venue, though I did not guess search when I was at the cafe, because the music playing over the speakers was thoughtfully and artfully chosen. Indie and artsy with a heavy folk influence, it conveyed perfectly the particular beauty of the musical tradition here in the UK. I highly recommend the soup and toastie combo if you are here for the cafe: it is unpretentious but absolutely celestial.

Fantastic experience on Thursday afternoon with Kate. We were welcomed with a refreshing gin cocktail before being given a detailed history of gin and gin making. We found it fascinating. We also got to taste their seven gins while being given information about each one in turn. Then we saw the whiskey stills. The whole thing was amazing and we took full advantage of the discount in the shop!

This museum is included as part of the visitor experience at Stirling Castle. It is a fascinating museum and there are some guides to answer questions. I was delighted to meet a war veteran he was a gentleman. I liked the lay out and it was all so well ordered you will need at least a good hour to appreciate the history of the regiment. It was busy but not too crowded I was so glad I was early as I had time to enjoy and did not feel rushed along by the crowds.

Great venue for film and theatre or as a meeting place. Good food at reasonable prices also with a walk round the lovely grounds to follow.

We love the new sensory wall! We've also taken part in the Wolf Pack activities before, which are fantastic. The shopping centre always has something fun and exciting for the children to explore.

I enjoyed my visit here so much I returned a couple of times with my summer school students. The exhibitions are all accessible as well as interesting, and if you have any questions you can always be sure there'll be someone on hand to answer - with enthusiasm as well as with authority, which is the perfect combination in a place like this.

Beautiful

The setting around the stone was even better than expected. 270 degree views from the top of Mote hill looking off towards the highlands. It was a steep and slick climb at some points. Dirt, gravel or grass. Fun and eerie little walk. I did see deer droppings but no dog poop. Tons of bunnies and wildflowers on the trails too.

Imposing façade of a former 16th century townhouse constructed for John Erskine, Earl of Mar. Erskine was governor of Edinburgh Castle until 1560, but became custodian of Stirling Castle after losing his governorship in Edinburgh. The house boasted many impressive details, some of which survive to this day. Notable features include the imitation cannons built into the turrets, inscribed panels, royal arms and statuettes. The house was converted to barracks in the early 18th century Jacobite rising, and was subsequently leased to the local council to serve as a workhouse, before suffering damage in the last Jacobite rising. Mar's Wark is situated beside a public road and is accessible at all times with no visitor charge. An information board is provided outlining its history and architectural details.

(Translated by Google) Cute unicorn statue. (Original) Jolie statue de licorne.

Very romantic place in Stirling

It is literally a clock, all be it a ornate stone clock on the land in the middle of a roundabout.

Lovely university！Small and suitable for studying and living.

I absolutely loved this building with its amazing names: "KEEP SMILING", "Boys’ Club" and "PLAY THE GAME"! "This is a 1929 conversion of the town's old Butter Market. The architect, Eric Bell, used Scottish themes such as crow-stepped gables in his amusing adaptation. Plans made at this time for similar conversions of other old buildings were not carried out."

Fabulous wee piece of almost forgotten history. Well worth a visit

Nice hall for functions.

(Translated by Google) Bruce of Auchenbowie's House, Stirling A 16th-century town house of the Bruce family, situated next to the Church of the Holy Rude. Notable for its original stone architecture with a prominent circular stair tower and vaulted cellars. An important monument to Stirling history and an example of the town's architecture of the period. (Original) Bruce of Auchenbowie's House, Stirling Городской дом XVI века семьи Bruce, расположенный рядом с Church of the Holy Rude. Известен оригинальной каменной архитектурой с выступающей круглой лестничной башней и сводчатыми подвалами. Важный памятник истории Стирлинга и пример городской застройки того времени.

Large kitchens presented as they would have looked in use, tables laid out with food being prepared, bread ovens glowing and floors occupied with barrels and baskets. All this helps visitors appreciate what life would have been like for the kitchen staff, and information panels some the rooms provide more detail on the food preparation and baking processes. An interesting part of the castle even if it isn't the most glamorous.

Lovely little church with a wonderful community! We visited in December so were lucky enough to see the Xmas Crib/Nativity. The views from where the church is are amazing,great view of the Trossach Mountains and the Wallace Monument!

Warm and friendly. You are made so welcome and lots of activities on during the week for all ages. Sunday service fabulous.