Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland. It is famous for its listed buildings, conservation areas and its UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a compact city which has many diverse villages, which are great for sightseeing. Edinburgh is a lovely city that has many restaurants, bars, shops and sightseeing spots. If you have the time, you definitely should go!
Access: It is a 4 hour train journey from London Kings Cross train station
Founded: 600 AD
Population: 486,120
County: City of Edinburgh
Cities & towns nearby: North Berwick, Peebles, Melrose & Selkirk
Average temperature in January: 3 degrees centigrade
Averge temperature in July: 15 degrees centigrade
History
Scotland’s capital grew around its Old Town until the late 18th century and this area of the city still has a distinct character from the iconic castle at the top of the Royal Mile to the Grassmarket below, where public hangings formerly took place.
During the Victorian era, Edinburgh earned itself a nickname as ‘Auld Reekie’ due to the smoke from the steam engines and the pollution of the industrial revolution.
After 1583, the city was also a hub for educational and professional development since the world-famous university was founded. Many new ventures occurred in Edinburgh including the founding of the Bank of Scotland in 1695, marking Edinburgh as a financial capital by the end of the 20th century.
1707 saw the Act of Union, which joined Scotland and England together politically, and moved power from Edinburgh’s old parliament to London’s Westminster.
Tenements were an identifying feature of the city by the late 18th century, when the population was expanding rapidly to around 35,000. The rich lived on the desirable upper and middle floors of these buildings while the poor were relegated to the lower levels.
Living conditions were not good at this time and many wealthy residents moved to London. There was a competition to design a new part of the city, to try to attract the rich back to Edinburgh. James Craig won this contest and his ideas and designs are still visible in the grid pattern of the streets of the Georgian New Town.
King George IV visited Edinburgh in 1822 and by then it was Europe’s most influential financial city outside of London with neoclassical architecture giving it a name as the Athens of the North.
World Heritage
With over 4,500 listed buildings, Edinburgh is world-renowned for its rich architectural heritage. The two main areas of interest in this historic city are the Old Town, which includes the medieval fortress of Edinburgh Castle, and the neoclassical New Town which dates back to the 18th century. These two very different areas give Edinburgh its unique character.
Together, the Old and New Towns were listed as a World Heritage Site in 1995, a status which will conserve Edinburgh’s magnificent architecture for future generations to enjoy.
The Old Town features the tourist hub of the Royal Mile, a long street, featuring a medieval castle, narrow closes, Reformation buildings, kirks, turrets and plenty of nooks and crannies. Go to the New Town and you will find the grand Georgian Terraces, more suited to the figures of the Scottish Enlightenment who wished to escape the over-crowded Old Town.
Sightseeing Ideas
A bus tour is a perfect way to start your holiday in Edinburgh. There are several to choose from and you can learn about the history of the city as you go along.
The Scotch Whiskey Experience tour is a great tour if you like whiskey! You can see the distillery and learn about how the world famous drink is made. There are whiskey tasting courses and a nice restaurant.
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a perfect place to relax. It was founded in 1670 and covers 72 acres. It is considered to be one of the finest in the world. It is free to enter!
Edinburgh Castle is a great sightseeing spot. It opens at 9:30am. Inside the castle you can see the Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny. At 1 o’clock the ‘One O’clock Gun’ is fired. It has been fired every day since 1861!
Festivals
Edinburgh is the home of the Edinburgh festival. It was established in 1947 and it takes place each summer, mostly in August. It is a collection of arts and cultural festivals.
