Claims to fame:
Scotland's capital and the seat of its new Parliament, combines the young and modern sensibilities of a great university city and national capital with a historic and dramatic setting. Here you'll find the world's biggest performing arts festival, a 1,000 year old castle and a mountain - Arthur's Seat - right in the middle of town. And, Edinburgh's annual post New Year's celebration - Hogmanay - is a street party to end all street parties.
Population facts:
Edinburgh has 448,624 people, including more than 62,000 university students. It has about 13 million visitors a year. During the main festival month of August, the population of Edinburgh swells by more than one million, making it, temporarily, the UK's second largest city.Location:
The Scots capital sits on the south coast of the Firth of Forth along the southeast coast of Scotland. It is 47 Miles east of Glasgow and 413 miles north of London.Climate:
Summers are cool and winter temperatures are moderated by Edinburgh's proximity to the sea. But don't be fooled by the lack of snow and below freezing temperatures. Edinburgh is a windy and cloudy city. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, it gets only about a third of the sunshine possible for its latitude. Nights can be chilly and interiors can be draughty and chill - plan on bringing rain gear, and warm sleepwear.Nearest airports:
- Edinburgh Airport supports about 50 airlines, with flights to 85 destinations in the UK, Ireland and Europe. It has a limited number of flights to North America and Canada. An airport express shuttle bus to the city center operates every 10 minutes.
- Glasgow International Airport is Scotland's main international gateway. Most flights are to and from Europe but there are also regular flights from the east and west coasts of the USA and Canada.
Principal train stations:
- Waverley Station for national rail links.
- Haymarket Station for western suburbs and some trains to Glasgow.
Local transportation:
- West Lothian buses operate local buses throughout the city and it's near suburbs. Fare is £1 for adults, 60p for children with exact change required.
Daytickets for unlimited daily travel (adults £2.50, children £2), packets of 21 CitySingle tickets and airport shuttlebus tickets can be purchased onlineor from Lothian Buses Travelshops.
- Taxis can be hailed on the street, hired at taxi ranks at stations and the airport or booked. These companies operate radio taxis:
- Central Radio Taxis - 0131 229 2468
- City Cabs - 0131 228 1211
- Computer Cab - 0131 272 8000
The Edinburgh Festivals:
From the end of July to the beginning of September, Edinburgh becomes the performing arts festival capital of the world, hosting the massive Edinburgh Fringe Festival as well as:
- Edinburgh International Festival
- Edinburgh Film Festival
- Edinburgh International Television Festival
- Edinburgh Art Festival
- Edinburgh Book Festival
- Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival
Edinburgh Old and New:
The Princes Street Gardens divide Edinburgh into an Old Town and New Town. But "new" is relative so don't expect modern skyscrapers -- Edinburgh New Town dates from the Georgian 18th and early 19th centuries.See a more striking comparison of old and new by walking down the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle on Castlehill to Holyrood. There, side by side you'll find:
- The Palace of Holyrood The Queen's official residence in Scotland and site of some of the most tragic episodes in the life of Mary Queen of Scots.
- The Scottish Parliament The stunning - and expensive - new home of Scotland's devolved government.
Five cool things to do in Edinburgh:
- Climb a mountain At 822 feet, Arthur's Seat is the highest of Edinburgh's many hills. It is an extinct volcano in the middle of central Edinburgh and the climb through Holyrood Park to the top of it can be a challenging hike. Don't worry - you can drive most of the way to enjoy the magnificent views of Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town.
- Visit a museum Edinburgh has several great galleries and museums and they are all free. Try:
- See how much architecture £431 million can buy That's what architect Enric Miralles' steel, oak, granite and Caithness stoneScottish Parliament cost to build. But visiting is free and a guided tour only costs £3.50.
- Celebrate man's best friendGreyfriars Bobby inspired two of the most unashamedly sentimental British movies ever made - but the story of the dog who spent 14 years pining at his owner's grave and whose licence was paid for by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, is a true one. There's a statue of the faithful Skye terrier outside Greyfriar's Kirk and, this being Scotland, there's a pub right next to it where you can raise a glass to him.
- Ring in the New Year Why celebrate New Year's for one day when you can do it for four? Edinburgh's Hogmanay could be the best New Year's ever.
Best bespoke Kilts
Geoffrey (Tailor) - Kiltmakers and Weavers, 57 High Street, Old Town, Edinburgh, +44 (0)131 557 0256.Online Maps
Compare Prices for Edinburgh Maps and Guides
Edinburgh Tours to Buy Direct
- Edinburgh City Tour
- Late Night Walking Tour of Edinburgh - Ghost Hunter Trail
- Afternoon Walking Tour of Edinburgh - Secrets of the Royal Mile
- Edinburgh City Hop On Hop Off Tour
Save on admission to attractions with an Edinburgh CityPass
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