Dalkeith, United Kingdom
Dalkeith is a town of 12,720 people in Scotland, United Kingdom.
Why visit Dalkeith
Townapedia lists 22 museums and landmarks, 17 parks and trails, 49 places to eat, 4 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Newbattle Viaduct, Dalkeith Museum, Elginhaugh Roman fort and Broomieknowe Golf Course.
Weather in Dalkeith
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Dalkeith
Dalkeith ( dal-KEETH; Scottish Gaelic: Dail Cheith, pronounced [t̪al ˈçe]) is a historic market town in Midlothian, Scotland, on the River Esk. It was granted a burgh of barony in 1401 and a burgh of regality in 1541. The settlement of Dalkeith grew southwestwards from its 12th-century castle (now Dalkeith Palace). It had a population of 15,146 in 2022.
From the Wikipedia article Dalkeith (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Dalkeith on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Photos of Dalkeith
Things to do1
Newbattle Viaduct
Bridge · 1.5 mi
Railway bridge in Midlothian, Scotland, UK
Museums and landmarks22
National Mining Museum Scotland
Museum · 2.2 mi
Mining museum in Midlothian, Scotland
Elginhaugh
Monument and historic site · 0.7 mi
Archaeological site in Midlothian, Scotland, UK
Inveresk Roman Fort
Monument and historic site · 3.0 mi
Ancient Roman structure in East Lothian, Scotland, UK
10 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds17
5 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes49
Cross Borders Brewing Co.
Brewery and winery · 0.9 mi
28/1 Hardengreen Lane
Fr 16:00-22:00; Sa 14:00-22:00
37 more on the map.
History
One of the earliest historical references to Dalkeith is found in the Chronicles of Jean Froissart, who stayed at Dalkeith Castle for fifteen days. He writes of the Battle of Otterburn and the death of James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas: "I, author of this book, in my youth had ridden nigh over all the realm of Scotland, and I was then fifteen days in the house of earl William Douglas, father to the same earl James, of whom I spake of now, in a castle of five leagues from Edinburgh which is called in the country Dalkeith. The same time I saw there this earl James, a fair young child, and a sister of his called the lady Blanche."
In 1650, Oliver Cromwell's army came to Dalkeith. His officer General George Monck was Commander in Scotland, and the government of the country was based out of Dalkeith Castle.
In 1831, Dalkeith was linked to Edinburgh by the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway, which transported coal, minerals, and agricultural produce. Two decades later, in 1853, a Corn Exchange, at the time the largest indoor grain market in Scotland, was built.
In 1879, Dalkeith was where William Ewart Gladstone started his campaign for British Prime Minister, which became known as the "Midlothian campaign".
From the History section of Dalkeith on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Dalkeith
Peter Guthrie TaitScottish mathematical physicist (1831–1901)Photo: "Dr Adamson of St Andrews", Public domain
FishScottish singer, songwriter, composer, and actor (born 1958)Photo: Frank Schwichtenberg, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ryan PorteousScottish association football playerPhoto: Timmy96, CC0
Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount MelvilleScottish advocate and politician (1742-1811)Photo: Thomas Lawrence, Public domain
Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of ArgyllScottish politicianPhoto: Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0
Kirsty SmithScottish footballerPhoto: James Boyes from UK, CC BY 2.0
Danielle RowleyScottish politician (born 1989)Photo: Chris McAndrew, CC BY 3.0
David MushetScottish metallurgistPhoto: obscurasky. original painter unknown., Public domain
Robert Turnbull MacphersonScottish artist and photographer (1814-1872)Photo: Template:Robert Turnbull Macpherson, Public domain- James StaggBritish meteorologist (1900-1975)
- Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of BuccleuchScottish politician and nobleman (1806-1884)
- Billy BlythScottish footballer (1895-1968)
Born in Dalkeith, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Where to stay4
Churches and places of worship10
St John's and Kings Park Parish Church
Church · Church Of Scotland
31 Eskbank Road
Shopping11
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries18
Healthcare3
Map of Dalkeith
137 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 12 miles away.
- Musselburgh 3 mi north, about 6 min by car
- Edinburgh 6 mi northwest, about 10 min by car
- Tranent 6 mi northeast, about 9 min by car
- Penicuik 7 mi southwest, about 12 min by car
- Kirkcaldy 16 mi north, about 26 min by car
- Rosyth 17 mi northwest, about 28 min by car
- Livingston 18 mi west, about 28 min by car
- Dunfermline 19 mi northwest, about 31 min by car
- Cowdenbeath 19 mi northwest, about 30 min by car
- Glenrothes 21 mi north, about 34 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Towns near Dalkeith
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Keep exploring
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- Mapillary (see each image): photos
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Dalkeith Parish Kirk, Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Midlothian House, Dalkeith, Barbara Carr, CC BY-SA 2.5
- 115-119 High Street, Dalkeith, Warofdreams, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 168-172 High Street, Dalkeith, Warofdreams, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Midlothian - 228-230 High Street, Dalkeith - 20240622083847, Warofdreams, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 122-126 High Street, Dalkeith, Warofdreams, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 212-218 High Street, Dalkeith, Warofdreams, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 165-169 High Street, Dalkeith, Warofdreams, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 131 and 133 High Street, Dalkeith, Warofdreams, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 196 and 198 High Street, Dalkeith, Warofdreams, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Midlothian - 140-142 High Street, Dalkeith - 20240622083521, Warofdreams, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lothianbridge viaduct01 2000-05-28, User:Klaus with K, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cockpen and Carrington Church 345, RHaworth, CC BY 2.5
- Queen Margaret University main building, Stuart Caie from Edinburgh, Scotland, CC BY 2.0
- St. David's Roman Catholic Church, Dalkeith by Owen Proudfoot, Owen Proudfoot, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Melville Castle, kim traynor, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Newbattle Abbey, Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Melville Castle in 2014, Shani Evenstein (שני אבנשטיין), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Roman.Scotland.north.84, myself, CC BY-SA 3.0
- National Mining Museum Scotland, gate, Drkirstyross, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, lucagm, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, toho, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, lucagm, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, lucagm, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, lucagm, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, annekaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, lucagm, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, lucagm, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, lucagm, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, lucagm, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, lucagm, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, lucagm, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, toho, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, lucagm, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, toho, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, lucagm, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, lucagm, CC BY-SA 4.0
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