Category A listed, sat on a World Heritage site and steeped in Victorian Gothic splendour — St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral ticks all the boxes when it comes to Scottish excellence. It’s actually the tallest building in Edinburgh thanks to its three striking spires, two of which were nicknamed “Barbara” and “Mary” after their main benefactors.
Those landmark spires have watched over Edinburgh through more than a century of change. Even as bombing raids reached nearby Gorgie during the Second World War, St Mary’s carried on after dark, with services and meetings held under strict blackout conditions.
Beyond the Gothic drama and fairy-tale spires, the city’s biggest cathedral is getting an extra sprinkle of fairy dust this season. It’s opening its doors to a Disney concert special featuring “A Whole New World”, “Beauty and the Beast” and more, performed entirely on strings. By signing up to the waitlist, you can get access to tickets up to 24 hours before they go on sale to the public.
27 November 2026 19:15
St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral
What’s so special about St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral?
St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral isn’t just a beautiful church. For starters, its three spires give it a rare silhouette you’d struggle to find in the UK. Sir George Gilbert Scott designed it, the mastermind behind the flamboyant High Victorian Gothic hotel façade attached to St Pancras station in London.
Today, it’s the mother church of the Diocese of Edinburgh and functions as the seat of the Bishop of Edinburgh. It’s also home to the only cathedral choir school with daily choral services in Scotland. In fact, it made early moves toward gender inclusion in cathedral music when it admitted both girls and boys to the treble line in 1978.
That rich musical heritage is about to take a more magical turn. This season, the cathedral’s nave will provide a fittingly cinematic setting for a Disney tribute show illuminated by candlelight. Performed by a string quartet, songs from Up, High School Musical, Coco and more of the studio’s most celebrated films come to life beneath its Gothic arches and stained glass.
Candlelight: Disney Love Songs
27 November 2026 19:15
St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral
