King Street and Athenaeum, Stirling

King Street and Athenaeum, Stirling

King Street is a cobbled road featuring broad sidewalks and regal historic buildings. The street is a great place to explore, boasting a variety of shops and restaurants. In the 18th and 19th centuries, King Street became known as a place for banking, with most of Stirling's banks located along this road.

The oldest building on King Street is the Golden Lion Hotel, where a statue of a gold lion stands above the columned entrance to greet you. Originally known as Wingate's Inn, the hotel opened in 1786 and is still in operation. The Victorian-era Stirling Arcade is a noteworthy shopping spot on King Street.

The Athenaeum is a prominent building that sits at the top end of King Street. It was built in 1816 and was originally a library and reading room. With beautiful architecture and design, the structure features a curved facade, a belfry, a tall clock tower, and a spire. A statue of Scottish hero, William Wallace, sits atop the arched entranceway of the building.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Stirling. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

King Street and Athenaeum on Map

Sight Name: King Street and Athenaeum
Sight Location: Stirling, Scotland (See walking tours in Stirling)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Stirling, Scotland

Create Your Own Walk in Stirling

Create Your Own Walk in Stirling

Creating your own self-guided walk in Stirling is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Stirling Introduction Walking Tour

Stirling Introduction Walking Tour

On the River Forth in central Scotland, you'll find the picturesque city of Stirling. Its location at the lowest crossing point over the river made it a strategic spot to start a settlement. The town dates back to ancient Roman times, though much of the city is medieval and Victorian. It was a small market town that grew while becoming known as the "Gateway to the Highlands."

...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Stirling Castle Walking Tour

Stirling Castle Walking Tour

Sitting atop Castle Hill in Stirling, Stirling Castle is one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland, both historically and architecturally. Before the union with England, the Castle was also one of the most used of the numerous Scottish royal residences, acting as both a palace and a fortress. Several Scottish kings and queens have been crowned at Stirling, including Mary, Queen of...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles