ABOUT EDINBURGH
Edinburgh - capital of Scotland, a thriving political, financial,
cultural and commercial centre. Its historical legacy makes it a natural centre
of interest for the visitor, and an ideal point from which to begin a holiday
in Scotland.
There is something for everyone in this city. There is so much
to choose to do - one can just look at the sheer beauty of the architecture, or
go for bracing walks in the royal park of Arthur's Seat. The wide and never-ending
diversity of its cultural activities never fails to impress. Of course, there
is the frantic period of July and August when the city becomes submerged in cultural
activities - the International Festival, the Fringe Festival, the Jazz Festival,
the Book Festival... want any more?
The city possesses all manner of pubs,
cafes, bistros, clubs. Cinemas cater for all tastes, theatres present everything
from the block-busters down to the most intimate avant-garde. If you really want
to experience something unusual, try one of the haunted tours of the Old Town
- said to be the most haunted city in the UK! And because Edinburgh is such a
compact city, everything is within walking distance.
EDINBURGH
HIGHLIGHTS:
Edinburgh Castle
The Jewel in the Crown! The
Castle can be seen from all over the city, and is in fact the most visited tourist
attraction in all of Scotland. You must visit it, for so many reason, but particularly
for the magnificent views from the ramparts over all of Edinburgh and indeed of
much of Southern Scotland. In the summer months of July and August, the Castle
plays host to the world famous Military Tattoo. All the year round, every day
on the stroke of 1.0pm, the Castle gun fires a blank round to indicate the time.
This is the famous '1 o'clock gun'. Watch the pedestrians along Princes Street
as the gun fires - it always catches a few by surprise! You can go right up to
the gun and see it being fired.
More information on the Castle .
The Royal Mile
or High Street
This is the ancient street which stretches from the Castle
at the top of the hill (or Castle Rock), straight down to Holyrood Palace at the
bottom of the long hill. It is the oldest street in Edinburgh, and has existed
as long as there has been human settlement on the Castle Rock, which means for
thousands of years.
Along the Royal Mile are numerous features of interest
- St Giles Cathedral, the Heart of Midlothian, the Tron Kirk, the Museum of Childhood,
John Knox House, to name just a few. On either side of the Mile, steep streets
fall away down narrow, cobbled alleyways, a characteristic and typical feature
of old Edinburgh architecture.
Holyrood
Palace
The Royal Residence, where the Queen and other members of the Royal
family stay whenever they visit Edinburgh. At other times (which means most of
the year) it is open to the public. It is steeped in history, intrigue and scenes
of plotting and murder. Its history stretches back hundreds of years.
More
information on Holyrood Palace .
The Old Town
This is centred around the Royal Mile, but includes much more than just
this one ancient street. The Grass Market (just below the Castle on its southern
side) and the Cowgate are two very old main streets, each dominated by old buildings
competing with one another to reach upwards. The Cowgate in particular is dominated
by building which grew up to the same height as the buildings on the Royal Mile.
The result was that many of these buildings on the sides of the sloping sides
of the Royal Mile reached seven and eight stories high. It is sometimes considered
that these buildings only remained standing because they all merely propped each
other up...
Any visit to the Old Town would be incomplete without going
along to visit Greyfriars Churchyard, reputed to be the most haunted site in all
Edinburgh, if not in the UK! Just outside the entrance to the churchyard is a
little statue to Edinburgh's most famous dog - Greyfriars Bobby, the faithful
Scots highland terrier.
More information on the Old Town .
Princes Street
The shopping centre of Edinburgh is Princes Street, which stretches east -
west along the northern side of Princes STreet Gardens, just below the Castle,
for over one mile in length. The unique feature of Princes Street is that it has
buildings on one side only - which gives glorious views across the Gardens across
to the Castle and the Old Town skyline.
At the east end of Princes Street
is the Waverley railway station. almost hidden from site by a couple of bridges
and the Gardens. Its position ensures that the rail traveller arrives right into
the heart of the city of Edinburgh.
The
New Town
This is the area to the north of, and including Princes Street.
It is laid out in a systematic, even geometric regularity, and is one of the UKs
most outstanding examples of Georgian urban architectural planning. Even today,
much of the New Town (and indeed of the Old Town) districts are occupied by private
residents, giving Edinburgh more of a European character than almost any other
city in the UK.
The
have some interesting historical information on the New town.
Walks
in Edinburgh
If after all this culture, entertainment and general indulgence,
you feel the need for a good walk, then Edinburgh can provide that
too. The Royal Park has the peak of Arthur's Seat, the remnants
of an old volcano, and at 280 metre a wonderful view point to overlook
the entire city. Or a gentle walk through the Meadows may be all
you need. Perhaps you may prefer a walk along the sea front at Portobello,
the favourite sea-side holiday centre of the 19th Century. A gentle
walk along the banks of the Water of Leith may appeal, flowing as
it does right through the very centre of the city, down to the Port
of Leith. And if you want something a little more energetic without
leaving Edinburgh, there are always the Pentland Hills rising to
the south of the city, complete with the largest artificial ski
slope in the UK.
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Edinburgh Tourist Information
