The Canongate is a small istrict and former burgh at the heart of Edinburgh, Scotland's capital city. It is usually referred to with the article. It is also the name of the main street through the area. The Canongate forms the lower part of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh's historic Old Town. Until formal incorporation into Edinburgh in 1856 the Canongate was a separate burgh. The easterly end of the Canongate is commonly regarded as being in the Holyrood area of the city, in addition to sometimes being considered an area in its own right.