Edinburgh
Introduction
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and is its second largest city. The city is a prime tourist destination and has attractions throughout the year to suit all interests.
The city is best known for The Edinburgh International Festival which is a collection of Arts and Cultural festivals that occurs each August. The city is also famous for the Hogmanay Party (New Years Eve) when tens of thousands gather in Princes Street to celebrate the incoming new year and watch a massive fireworks display.
Edinburgh is also well known as the setting for the Inspector Rebus series of
books written by Ian Rankin. If you wish to soak up the atmosphere of "Auld Reekie"
before you go click here for "Exit Music"
Getting there
Air: The main airport is Edinburgh International and is
located west of the city centre. The airport has a wide range of UK domestic
flights and a more limited range of international services. For flights to
Edinburgh click Expedia.co.uk for great flight deals.
There is a regular bus service from the airport to the city centre.
Rail: Edinburgh's main line station is known as Waverley and is located on Princes Street in the city centre. Waverley is a major point on the UK rail network and services the northern Scottish cities of Aberdeen and Inverness. There is a Glasgow train every 15 minutes at peak periods and the journey takes around 50 minutes. Waverley also connects to England with regular services to London King's Cross via the East Coast Main Line.
Accommodation
Edinburgh has a wide range of hotels to suit all budgets as you would expect
from a tourist destination. Be aware though that the city can become very busy
and accommodation hard to find during the Edinburgh Festival in August and over
the New Year Period. To search for Hotels in Edinburgh click
Check out Expedia City Break Hotel Deals
for some of the best deals in Edinburgh.
What to See and Do
Edinburgh's numerous atttractions include the following:
Edinburgh Castle: The castle is one of the top tourist attractions in Britain. Dramatically situated on top of a volcanic crag, the castle dominates the city skyline and CBD. A visit to the castle is a must and can be combined with a walk up the Royal Mile. Why not stop for a pint in one of the areas Historic Pubs?
Scottish Parliament:The Scottish Parliament building is located at the base of the Royal Mile adjacent to Holyrood Palace. It is a spectacular building and is open to the public for tours. This new builing was opened in 2004 and was designed by Catalan architect, Enric Miralles.
Holyrood Palace:This Royal Palace is one of the Queen's official residences in Scotland. Open to the public when the Royal Family is not in residence, the palace holds many pieces of art from the Royal Collection.
Royal Yacht Britannia: Located in the suburb of Leith, the Royal Yacht has become one of the city's top tourist attractions. The Leith Docks area has recently undergone massive regeneration and is well worth a visit.
Getting Around
The best way to get around Edinburgh City Centre is on foot. Tourist buses leave from outside Waverley Station and can take you a tour of the main sights. There is an extensive network of public buses should you wish to venture to Leith or elsewhere in the city.
The traffic in Edinburgh is notorious. If arriving by car you will be cheaper, and maintain your sanity, if you use a "Park and Ride" station and enter the city via the train network.