Edinburgh has a reputation for being a distinctly spooky city. Visitors come from far and wide to witness the ghostly history contained in the city’s dark, old buildings. The city’s numerous graveyards form a significant part of this and have become popular tourist attractions. There are five burial sites in the city centre, with three of these listed for the historical significance of their graves, and general architecture. Greyfriars Kirkyard is the second most visited free-entry tourist destination in Scotland, having become a pilgrimage location for Harry Potter fans. Fans flood to the graveyard en masse, hoping to catch a glimpse of Tom Riddell, the inspiration for the series’ infamous villain. Canongate and Old Calton burial grounds also receive significant tourist attention, housing the graves of historically significant figures, such as economist Adam Smith and philosopher David Hume.
The overwhelming popularity of these graveyards does encourage the question of whether they are being treated with the respect they deserve. Over the years, Edinburgh’s burial grounds have become increasingly damaged, suffering not only from natural weathering and limited maintenance resources, but also from lack of care from the public. Constant tourist footfall has led to erosion of paths and frequent vandalism has forced numerous headstones to be removed from the burial sites. Some graveyards were also forced to close after dark earlier in the year, due to increasing anti-social behaviour. Some have even gone as far as to suggest that, in order to protect them from further damage, these important historical sites should not be so easily accessible to the public.
However, following this suggestion would certainly do more harm than good. Edinburgh’s graveyards are an essential part of the fabric of the city, providing the opportunity for both tourists and residents to connect with its heritage. Shutting them away is not the solution. Visiting graveyards can bring a sense of peace and calm, as well as offer a unique experience to see a physical manifestation of the city’s history firsthand. Personally, one of my favourite things to do when I’m feeling in a funk, or even just if the weather is nice, is to walk around the Grange Cemetery and see what I can find out about the graves. Preventing people from accessing these sites would be depriving them of the opportunity to form a valuable connection with Edinburgh’s history and community.
This being said, to allow the graveyards to continue performing this role, it is vital that their value to the community is properly recognised. This October, Edinburgh World Heritage (EWH) announced that it has secured funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for Legacies in Stone: Connecting Communities with Historic Graveyards. This project helps reframe graveyards as a historical assets, rather than merely tourist attractions, emphasising their importance to local communities. Running between January 2026 and 2029, it will allow volunteers to explore Edinburgh’s rich graveyard heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players, EWH will give people the opportunity to investigate a 17th century tomb in Greyfriars Kirkyard, as well as learn about the history of cemeteries in Scotland and the work of volunteers maintaining them. The project also aims to connect groups across Scotland who are caring for historic graveyards, to encourage enduring cooperation in the preservation of burial sites. Legacies in Stone will play a vital role in encouraging an understanding of the importance of Edinburgh’s graveyards, asserting their role as an important asset for connecting with the community and historical legacy of the place, rather than merely superficial tourist attractions.
Edinburgh’s graveyards cannot continue to function as the cornerstone of the city’s heritage if they are subjected to lack of care and respect. The popularity of these sites is not a bad thing, as both the historical insight they provide, and their sinister architecture are a central part of Edinburgh’s unique charm that everyone should be able to enjoy. However, they require increased resources for maintenance, as well as greater community care for them to continue to perform this function. The Legacies in Stone project is an important step in this direction.
Photo courtesy of Albane Mbow for The Student