Edinburgh

Edinburgh. It’s something else!

You know we love Glasgow. But everything about Edinburgh is just that little bit extra. It’s got very impressive Royal connections, some of Scotland’s best attractions and, of course, some great festivals – the Fringe is just one of them! It’s one of those cities that is perennially popular too, so there’s always a warm welcome and some incredible hospitality for visitors…

Everyone knows about Edinburgh Castle! It’s Scotland’s No.1 visitor attraction and a world-famous icon. You’ll find it at the top of the Royal Mile, perched on Castle Rock, where you can enjoy incredible views across the city and explore some of the fascinating buildings that surround it. This is also where they keep Scotland’s Crown Jewels and the famous Stone of Destiny.

The Royal Mile is home to the stunning Scottish Parliament building and some of the best places to eat and drink in the city. And it’s all a short walk from the Grassmarket, once a Medieval market and a site for hangings (but not since 1784!).  Many of the local pubs are rich in history and many offer live music most nights. You’ll appreciate the vibrant atmosphere, detailed architecture and quirky shops that make the area popular with tourists, students and professionals. The Grassmarket is also a mecca for food and fashion and the square fills up for al fresco dining in the summer months.

Edinburgh is also home to one the UK’s best attractions – the Royal Yacht Britannia. Having sailed more than one million nautical miles and carried out 968 state visits, the Yacht is now permanently moored in Leith. It’s been Scotland’s best visitor attraction for 13 years running and gets a five-star visitor rating.

Edinburgh Zoo has been a family favourite for more than one hundred years. Set in sloping parkland and offering incredible views over the city, it’s a four-star rated attraction and of course most popular with children – it’s a perfect family day out and a short bus ride from the city centre. Time your visit to include the daily lunchtime penguin parade – it’s world famous!

If you want to live a little history, you can journey through time at The Real Mary King’s Close – Scotland’s Best Heritage Tourism Experience. It’s a character guided tour in which you’ll learn many things – the foremost of which is why the Close came to be underground. And there’s also the Edinburgh Dungeon, if you’re feeling brave. They make discovering the grisly parts of Scotland’s history a scream with quite a few laughs thrown in.

If you’re still thirsty for thrills, you can serve up your own head on a platter at Scotland’s oldest visitor attraction, Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, both of which prove that seeing is not believing.

Truly a city of contrasts - Edinburgh’s contrasting Medieval and Georgian architecture has secured it UNESCO World Heritage Status. When you travel to Edinburgh it has so much to offer  - and it’s all waiting for you to discover!