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Edinburgh

Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and is often described as the Athens of the North and a gateway to central Scotland. Many use Scotland's capital city as a base for excursions to the Borders, the Trossachs, Loch Lomond and the Kingdom of Fife.

Edinburgh is unique among Scotland's cities, perhaps due to its proximity to England and its multicultural population. Its amazing and varied architecture ranges from ancient churches dotted around the centre to monumental Victorian masterpieces, which are dominated by a castle atop a crag in the heart of the city.

The castle is well worth a visit. It sits astride the core of an extinct volcano and overlooks the city centre. In the sixth century it was used as a defence against the Picts and in the 18th century, Bonnie Prince Charlie's army tried, and failed, to breach its walls.

In the 19th century, Sir Walter Scott tried to recover the castle as an important symbol of Scotland. Now a changing of the guard occurs on the hour at the Esplanade entrance.

Edinburgh's past is steeped with historical and literary icons, including Mary Queen of Scots, Robert Louis Stevenson, Alexander Graham Bell, Sir Walter Scott, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Bonnie Prince Charlie.

However, these days the city is perhaps most famous for its fast-growing Edinburgh International Festival, which always includes a world-class list of cultural events and things to do. Hotels in Edinburgh tend to get booked up quickly around this period so choosing your accommodation in advance is essential.

One of Edinburgh's newest destinations is the Museum of Scotland, which was opened in 1998, and is already one of the city's most distinctive landmarks. The museum comprises of five floors and traces the history of Scotland from its geological beginnings right up to the 1990s.

For another chance to wonder at a feat of beautiful architecture, a visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse is a must. The palace is the Queen's official residence in Scotland and was originally founded as a monastery in 1128. Highlights of the palace include the royal apartments, which feature intricately carved plaster ceilings and ceiling-to-floor tapestries.

Edinburgh is home to a combination of traditional department stores, such as Jenners and Harvey Nichols, as well as trendy one-off boutiques. Princes Street is the main shopping road in Edinburgh and offers a range of larger stores and chain outlets. The Royal Mile in the Old Town is where Scottish souvenirs from tartan Tam O' Shanters to shortbread can be purchased.

For those more interested in perhaps one of the finest things that Edinburgh has to offer – whisky – take a trip to the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre. The centre offers visitors a tour with a number of audiovisual presentations, a tasting session and a ride past a tableau which explains the history of 'the good stuff'. The shop which sits atop Castle Hill stocks hundreds of varieties of what the Scots call the 'water of life'.

If a trip to the heritage centre has whet your whistle and you fancy a night out, Edinburgh is the city for you. Edinburgh's nightlife, like its landscape, is divided into the highlands and the lowlands. The highlands are epitomised by the opera and theatre of the Edinburgh Festival, with the lowlands providing a paradise for pub-crawlers.

The most active areas for nightlife are the Cowgate and Grassmarket in the Old Town and Broughton Street in the New Town. The bars and clubs around the university precincts on the south side of the city are always lively too.

Cuisine in Edinburgh is perhaps the most misunderstood aspect of the city. There is more to the capital than haggis, tatties and neeps. Edinburgh offers some of the best and most diverse choice of gastronomy in Scotland. Visitors will be greeted with an array of contemporary Scottish and British restaurants, as well as excellent cuisine from around the world.

So whether you are visiting Edinburgh for a day or a week, on a budget or with money in your pocket, this Scottish city has something for all tastes and will leave you wanting to come back for more. As writer and poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge once said: "What a wonderful city Edinburgh is! What alternation of height and depth."

This article is provided by Hotels Hotels Hotels suppliers of cheap hotels in Edinburgh

Updated: Wed, 03 May 2006 00:00:00

Related Links:
Edinburgh Tourist Board
Edinburgh Airport