Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a city that effortlessly combines ancient history with a vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere. Nestled on the southeast coast of Scotland, it’s a city of remarkable contrasts and stunning beauty.
The city borders the shores of the Firth of Forth to the north and the Pentland Hills to the south in a landscape that’s peppered with rugged hills and crags that are dominated by Castle Rock, a hill in the middle of the city that is the location of the world-famous Edinburgh Castle. Nearby is Arthur’s Seat, an 823-foot volcanic plug that is the focal point of Holyrood Park, and just a few minutes walk in the opposite direction is Calton Hill, home to many of the city’s most famous landmarks.
Edinburgh boasts a long history dating back to the earliest people who settled in Scotland. It was once home to the powerful Votadini tribe before it became an outpost of Northumbria, transitioning over the years to become the powerbase of Scottish royalty and eventually the capital city of Scotland. Today, it’s best known as a tourist destination, but it’s also a centre of excellence for learning, particularly in the field of medicine, in addition to being a hub for many of the UK’s largest financial institutions.
The Old Town and New Town, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, are a testament to the city’s architectural splendour, with the Old Town’s sprawling collection of medieval closes contrasting starkly with the neoclassical grace of the New Town’s wide, orderly streets.
As for tourist attractions, Edinburgh is a treasure trove. The most iconic is undoubtedly Edinburgh Castle, perched atop Castle Rock and dominating the city skyline. The Royal Mile stretches away from the castle towards Holyrood Park and is lined with museums, a cathedral, and dozens of historic buildings like John Knox House and Canongate Kirk.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse (the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland) lies at the bottom of the Royal Mile and is a must-visit for history buffs, while those interested in literature and the arts can take their pick from the Scottish National Gallery, the Museum of Edinburgh, and the Writers’ Museum, all of which are just a short walk from the castle.
The city is also home to a number of festivals that are staged throughout the year including the world’s largest arts festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the International Book Festival, the Royal Military Tattoo, and the Edinburgh International Festival, amongst many others
Nature and wildlife lovers, meanwhile, can enjoy the beautiful Water of Leith, cycle along miles of footpaths next to the Union Canal, have fun at the superb Edinburgh Zoo, or visit the stunning Royal Botanic Garden.
Subcategories
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The Best Things to Do in Edinburgh City Centre
Edinburgh is regarded as one of the top tourist destinations in Britain, second only to London for the number of attractions within it. As wonderful as places like the Botanic Gardens and the Royal Yacht Britannia are, they’re a little further away from the city centre than many tourists have time for. With that thought…
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The Best Things to Do in Edinburgh for Adults
As Scotland’s most-visited city, Edinburgh is understandably chock-full of attractions, though many activities tend to be geared towards families with children. That being said, there are lots of tourist attractions that are equally interesting for adults whether they’re lone travellers or retired couples. In this article, you’ll discover a collection of highly-rated things to do…
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The Best Things to Do in Edinburgh for Couples
As well as being the capital city of Scotland, Edinburgh is one of the most-visited cities in the world thanks to its incredible collection of family-friendly tourist attractions. Discover a collection of the best attractions in Edinburgh for couples with this guide which features virtual tours of each location along with detailed overviews and visiting…
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The Best Things to Do in Edinburgh for Families
Edinburgh hosts 12 major cultural events each year including The Fringe (the world’s biggest arts festival) and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay (one of the biggest street parties in the world). Edinburgh is also a UNESCO City of Literature and the city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover the best family attractions in Edinburgh with this…
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The Best Things to Do in Edinburgh on a Rainy Day
It rains a lot in Edinburgh – especially in winter – so visitors need to know exactly where to go and what to do when the clouds inevitably turn grey. Discover the best things to do in Edinburgh on a rainy day with this guide which includes details of the best indoor attractions such as…
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The Best Things to Do in Edinburgh With Children
Edinburgh is a great city to visit with kids since it has so many fun things for them to do, from touring ancient castles to having fun at hands-on museums. In this article, you’ll discover some of the top things to do in Edinburgh with kids including major attractions as well as a few that…
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The Best Things to Do in Edinburgh With Teenagers
The historic city of Edinburgh is brimming with exciting attractions for teenagers, including some of the best museums in Britain as well as beaches, shopping centres, and more cinemas and trendy restaurants than could ever be fitted into a single visit. In this article, we’ll dive into a world of fun and discovery as we…
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The Best Things to Do in Edinburgh’s Old Town
Edinburgh is Scotland’s premier tourist destination and over 4 million visitors come to the city each year to explore its royal palace, majestic castle and imposing cathedral. In this article you will discover a selection of must-visit historic buildings in Edinburgh which are all located within walking distance of Edinburgh’s medieval Old Town.
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The Flodden Wall Visitor Guide
As you walk around the city of Edinburgh you may notice sections of an immense fortified wall in seemingly random locations. The Flodden Wall is the protective boundary wall that once played a pivotal role in the city of Edinburgh’s history. Although many parts of the wall have been demolished there are a few sections…
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The Grassmarket Visitor Guide
Edinburgh’s Grassmarket is a bustling square in the heart of the city’s Old Town. This historic site is surrounded by classic tenement buildings that line the roads along the iconic West Bow and Victoria Street but it’s best known for the lively pubs and restaurants that offer superb outside seating areas. The Grassmarket is one…
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The History of Edinburgh
Edinburgh has a fascinating history dating back over a thousand years. In this article, you’ll discover the story behind how the city was founded and why it eventually became one of the world’s most-visited tourist destinations.
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The History of Murders in Edinburgh
Discover the dark and macabre history of Scotland’s most atmospheric city in this article which delves into some of the infamous murders and executions in Edinburgh that have passed into folklore, from Maggie Dickson to Burke and Hare.
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The Real Mary King’s Close Visitor Guide
The Real Mary King’s Close is a tourist attraction located in the middle of Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile. The attraction allows visitors to step beneath the streets of Edinburgh into an underground labyrinth where the stories of the city’s past residents unfold through a series of exhibits and displays.
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The Royal Yacht Britannia Visitor Guide
The Royal Yacht Britannia is the former royal yacht of HM Queen Elizabeth II which is located in the Ocean Terminal shopping centre at Leith in Edinburgh. The yacht is one of Scotland’s premier tourist attractions and visitors can explore it on a self-guided tour that takes them through the main dining hall, the royal…
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The Scotch Whisky Experience Visitor Guide
The Scotch Whisky Experience is located a short distance from Edinburgh Castle esplanade on The Royal Mile. The attraction takes visitors on a tour of Scotland’s whisky industry with an interactive whisky barrel ride, a guided tour of the world’s largest whisky collection, and bespoke whisky tastings. Discover The Scotch Whisky Experience with this guide…
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The Scott Monument Visitor Guide
The 200-foot-tall Scott Monument is the world’s largest monument to a writer. The Gothic tower was constructed in commemoration of the Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott and it’s one of the most prominent features in Edinburgh’s city centre. During a visit, tourists can climb the winding staircase inside the tower which opens up onto platforms…
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The Water of Leith Visitor Guide
The 22-mile-long Water of Leith runs from the Pentland Hills through Edinburgh before reaching the North Sea at Leith. A walkway follows the river for a large part of its journey through the city and visitors can join it at a number of points including the Water of Leith visitor centre and Stockbridge. Discover this…
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Tourist Advice for Visitors to Edinburgh
Edinburgh is one of the world’s best-loved cities due to its historic attractions, interesting people, stunning scenery and the top festivals in Europe. This article aims to help you find your feet with essential Edinburgh tips & advice from a local – including how to get to the city, how to travel around it, what…
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Tourist Advice for Visitors to Edinburgh
Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh, is frequently voted as one of the best places to visit in the world. Readers of a range of media outlets like Condé Nast have included it in their ‘must-see’ travel guides and The Telegraph newspaper has voted Edinburgh the best city in the UK. This little city has over 1,000…
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Union Canal Visitor Guide
The Union Canal in Edinburgh opened in 1822 and was originally built to transport coal from Falkirk to the capital city, but it is now mainly used by leisure craft. The footpath and cycleway that runs alongside the Union Canal joins the Water of Leith. It is part of the Sustrans route 75 which ends…
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