Edinburgh - The Local Area

The Forth Bridges

Edinburgh – the Festival City – has so much to offer it’s hard to know where to start.
 
Culture, shopping, history, conference centres, universities (4!), vibrant night life, fireworks, the Tattoo, top level sporting events  – Edinburgh has all of this and so much more.

The medieval ‘Old Town’ surrounds the Royal Mile, which runs from the Castle to Holyrood Palace (the Queen’s official residence) and is a tourist paradise.  It houses some of the most famous historical sites in the City (including the new Parliament building, not just famous for its architecture and cost, but also for housing the first Scottish parliament in 300 years), has a plethora of individual shops and some of Edinburgh’s finest restaurants.

Much of the ‘New Town’ dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries and is a feast of Georgian architecture, with galleries, shops and restaurants occupying many of the fine buildings.  Princes Street is its primary thoroughfare – once described as the most beautiful street in the world – and dominated by the Castle perched high above the Gardens.

The regeneration of the port of Leith means it is now an area buzzing with waterside shops, hotels and restaurants and the Royal Yacht Britannia is on permanent display at Ocean Terminal.

As well as the wealth of entertainment provided by the International Festival there are the Fringe, Tattoo, Children’s, Science, Art, Jazz and Blues, Book, Film and many more festivals (see www.edinburgh-festivals.com ) to keep you entertained.

Many gigs and sporting events are held in Edinburgh – rugby internationals attract huge numbers of visitors to the city.  And for those of you who like to relax, there are copious spas and havens of tranquillity, to say nothing of Harvey Nics, Jenners and all the retail therapy you could wish for.

And for the more adventurous, there is an artificial ski slope at Hillend, golf courses in and around Edinburgh and so much more for those who wish to venture further afield.  Trips to the Highlands, Castles and Highland Games can all be arranged by the many specialist companies who operate in Edinburgh.