Edinburgh's historic centre is bisected by Princes Street Gardens, a broad swathe of parkland in the heart of the city. Southwards of the gardens is the castle, perched on top of an extinct volcanic crag, and flanked by the medieval streets of the [wiki=058495f33449f4cc4afb7a5269b4ae30]Old Town[/wiki] following the Royal Mile along the ridge to the east. To the north of Princes Street Gardens lies Princes Street itself - Edinburgh's main shopping boulevard - and the Georgian period [wiki=9dff36497339483fc8b1c1f26bdce335]New Town[/wiki], built after 1766 on a regular grid plan.
Edinburgh has been the royal capital of Scotland since 1437.
Edinburgh is noted as a long-lived literary capital of the English-speaking world.
The great Scottish historical novelist Sir Walter Scott was born in the city and has his great monument on Princes Street. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was also a native of Edinburgh.
More recently, Edinburgh has variously been the home and inspiration for such well-known modern writers as Muriel Spark (author of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie), Irvine Welsh (author of the 1993 novel Trainspotting, set in the gritty district of Leith), Ian Rankin (a crime writer best known for the Inspector Rebus series, set in Edinburgh), Alexander McCall Smith (The No. 1 Lady Detective's Agency and several novels set in the Scottish capital) and J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame.
Edinburgh's climate is most comfortable for the traveler from May to September. That said, the weather in Edinburgh is always changeable and visitors should expect both sunshine and rain, whatever the season. Edinburgh tends to get windy while it rains as well, so be sure to pack either a raincoat or a sturdy umbrella! Many a tourist has abandoned an inverted umbrella due to the persistent, whipping winds. Summer, the main festival season, combines long daylight hours with lengthy evenings (being so far north, it rarely gets dark before 10 or 11 at night!). Winter can feel bitterly cold, with short daylight hours, however snow is rare and of a short duration, and most of Edinburgh's winter precipitation comes in the form of a chilly rain and sleet. Edinburgh has an abundance of indoor attractions and activities that make the cold winter days fly by. In other words, bring a coat big lad, will ya?
Do not worry about being cold in winter, because like many modern countries all buildings including the old ones are warm, dry and insulated.
Travellers should note that Edinburgh becomes overwhelmingly crowded (accommodation-wise) during the main festival periods of high summer (August to early September) and Hogmanay (around New Year's Day / 1 January). Visitors at these times should plan well ahead (even more than a year in advance!) for booking central accommodation and event tickets at these times.
Edinburgh International Airport [url=http://www.baa.com/main/airports/edinburgh/],]the busiest airport in Scotland, is situated some 10 miles west of the city. The airport offers a wide range of domestic and international flights to [[Europe[/url]], [wiki=5ffec2d87ab548202f8b549af380913a]North America[/wiki] and the [wiki=158b06e50632e27d494593ba389ef918]Middle East[/wiki]. Many visitors to the city arrive via a connecting flight from [wiki=59ead8d1e124ccfb79f3ace06f43e703]London[/wiki]. Edinburgh Airport does, however, have a direct flight to and from Newark (UNITED, Twice daily May-October, Daily November-May), a 25 minute train ride or drive from New York City. Since July 2013 Edinburgh also has direct flights, operating during the summer months, to [wiki=948ce72be6c871b84f6d0dab24f209ed]Toronto[/wiki] and since summer 2014 has also had direct flights to [wiki=9cfa1e69f507d007a516eb3e9f5074e2]Chicago[/wiki], [wiki=3064b320cef260c8f077f7c12a080f33]Philadelphia[/wiki] and [wiki=5503bcea3b608d5ce322ea8fb7f6806f]Doha[/wiki]. Most recently, Etihad Airways launched a new direct flight from [wiki=ed49291dd8535b70546cb15e243ea37e]Abu Dhabi[/wiki] on 8th June 2015. In comparison to most Scottish airports, Edinburgh's European flight network is well developed, with frequent scheduled flights to destinations such as [wiki=3eb8670d999ac077dd0e2c345cb7c905]Amsterdam[/wiki], [wiki=e14045c6b4fe1e65d04aade91b1f8c1b]Athens[/wiki], [wiki=550d05ab240ec337038af814ff0de287]Barcelona[/wiki], [wiki=ee1611b61f5688e70c12b40684dbb395]Berlin[/wiki], [wiki=068a0b5b2858dc3f1ac7b47464bc4b0a]Brussels[/wiki], [wiki=9fed5dae86e3030d9be3740efa198659]Budapest[/wiki], [wiki=2da3c827ccabc4855cb9921b4f1addfa]Copenhagen[/wiki], [wiki=50fefb5efb085fd11b1a4fd2b6dda0aa]Dublin[/wiki], [wiki=4312d5c8cdda027420c474e2221abc34]Frankfurt[/wiki], [wiki=3f6765c843a517aa042ae011230aa976]Geneva[/wiki], [wiki=35d7df6ed3d93be2927d14acc5f1fc9a]Hamburg[/wiki], [wiki=0ef8f876d62a45352e28410454e3634b]Istanbul[/wiki], [wiki=991954c83c220dd8c8fb6895cfdbbf1a]Krakow[/wiki], [wiki=6314044c3803213e9fd3f3ecf8c90d65]Madrid[/wiki], [wiki=437d461430ecc08e2d51abbcf5ce9b3c]Milan[/wiki], [wiki=7b88a4aca50f33c258efc438d098c9f4]Munich[/wiki], [wiki=f4830432874f86d2e2a1a5f2dbebbc80]Oslo[/wiki], [wiki=e20d37a5d7fcc4c35be6fc18a8e71bfa]Paris[/wiki], [wiki=a71105026dfe9155f7ac4d18e494a40b]Prague[/wiki], [wiki=1f49f770adc6c84629f50ce3ca2a2109]Rome[/wiki], [wiki=fcfff492e00727b63cf5dff9f59bc2a4]Stockholm[/wiki] and [wiki=2b29c5739ec4158573c66d2124e2c7e9]Zurich[/wiki]. For a full list of destinations served to/from Edinburgh Airport see [http://www.edinburghairport.com/flight-information/destinations-and-airlines].
As of May 2014, the long-awaited Edinburgh Tramway [url=http://edinburghtrams.com/]]has opened, linking the airport to Edinburgh city centre every 8-10 minutes between 06.15 and 22.45. Adult fares from the airport to any stop are £5 for a single and £8 for an open return - you must purchase a ticket from the machine before you board. No change is given, however the machines do accept cards.
If you are adventurous, and want to save a few pounds, consider walking to the next stop - Ingliston Park & Ride. A single fare from there to any other stop (except the airport) only costs £1.50.
A dedicated airport bus service, Airlink Express [url=http://www.flybybus.com/[/url],]service 100, runs from outside the terminal building to Edinburgh city centre (Waverley Bridge) at least every 10 minutes until 00.22, and then every 30 minutes from then until 04.45. The bus leaves from Waverley Bridge (opposite entrance to train station) for the Airport at the same intervals 24/7. Adult fares are £4 for a single, £7 for an open return and the journey takes an average 25 mins. The buses offer free wi-fi connection, sockets for charging electrical equipment, CCTV allowing top-deck passengers to monitor their luggage, and electronic "next-stop" information. The Airlink buses have a dedicated blue livery which makes them easy to distinguish from the rest of the Lothian fleet. From 00.22 to 04.45, Airlink passengers must use the N22 nightbus to reach the airport, this leaves from Princes Street. The buses on the N22 service are normal Lothian Buses branded vehicles.
A cheaper alternative is the ordinary Lothian Buses service 35 [http://lothianbuses.com/find-your-bus/timetables/819-service-35.html[/url], which runs from the bus stance outside the arrivals building to Ocean Terminal via the Royal Mile/High Street. Although much slower (about 1h30) and with less provision for baggage than the 100, it is far cheaper at £1.50 a single and also allows the use of day tickets (£4.00) and other options that work on all Lothian Buses services, a great option for getting straight to the city if travelling lightly or on a budget. Do note that you must carry exact change with you onto the 35, as the driver can't give any back to you, so try and get this from within the airport, or just take the airlink!
Wikitravel has a guide to [wiki=47aae13255934a59c545b41559108f2b]Rail travel in the United Kingdom[/wiki]
The main railway station in Edinburgh is called Waverley Railway Station [url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/807.aspx]]and is an attraction in itself. First opened in 1846, Waverley Station was rebuilt 1892-1902. It lies between the [[Edinburgh/Old_Town|Old[/url]] and [wiki=f9f516a8e62eb1f09315cd7fb263881b]New[/wiki] Towns, adjacent to Princes Street, Edinburgh Castle and the Princes Street Gardens, where it serves over 14 million people per annum. Despite various refurbishments, the past still survives in the station's elaborate, domed ceiling where wreathed cherubs leap amid a wealth of scrolled ironwork.
Waverley Station is a major hub for the Scottish rail network, operated by Scotrail [url=https://www.scotrail.co.uk/].]There is an hourly service to [[Dundee[/url]] and [wiki=f5f72e9d59bf003dd0eb05d4119da211]Aberdeen[/wiki], and two hourly to [wiki=4943e7ef7288b69cc94323155ff6d17b]Inverness[/wiki]. Shuttle trains to [wiki=d586293d554981ed611ab7b01316d2d5]Glasgow[/wiki] (Queen Street) run every 15 minutes throughout the day, dropping to 30 minutes on evenings and Sundays, and the journey takes 45-50 minutes. There are also services which operate via Bathgate and Airdrie to Glasgow Queen Street Low Level at a 15 minute interval. Stopping patterns differ on this route, meaning that every half hour, the service takes approx. 1 hour whereas every other half hour services take around 1 hour 15 minutes to complete the journey. Some services run to Glasgow Central instead, but run via Lanarkshire with many more stops. Certain CrossCountry trains originating from Birmingham and the south west also continue to Glasgow Central - again your ticket will be valid on these services but the journey will take slightly longer than the shuttle.
The vast majority of train services to Edinburgh from London (and most of eastern England) are operated by East Coast (which replaced National Express on 14 November 2009) [url=http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/];]an hourly service leaves from London Kings Cross station throughout the day until 6PM. Journey time is between 4hrs 20min and 5 hours. The cheapest tickets (£16 to £90) are advance single (one-way) fares for a fixed train time bought 2-12 weeks in advance, and the flexible Saver Ticket (roughly £100 single or return) is not valid at some times to/from London. Virgin Trains [url=http://www.virgintrains.co.uk[/url]]operate a 2 hourly service from Birmingham New Street via the West Coast Mainline with an average journey time of 4hrs 4 mins.
For a different travel experience from London, try the Caledonian Sleeper service [https://www.sleeper.scot/[/url] (now operated by Serco), which runs every night from London's Euston Station except Saturdays, and the journey takes approximately 8 hours. Bear in mind that if you are travelling alone you may have to share the sleeping compartment with a stranger of the same sex. Tickets can be booked in the usual manner at any main line railway station in Britain, and the cost of a return journey to Edinburgh from London varies from around £100 for two one-way "Advance" tickets rising to the full open return fare of £165. You can also travel for around £23 one-way in a seated carriage or £95 return (full fare). BritRail passes can be used to reserve tickets on the sleeper trains.
Tickets can now (as of late 2014) be booked up to a year ahead, via the Caledonian Sleeper website.
Trains to other English cities are operated by Arriva Cross Country (services via York, Birmingham and central England to the south coast and West Country) and Trans-Pennine Express (services to Manchester via Carlisle) from Waverley.
The "charged by the piece" left luggage service at Waverley railway station is much more expensive (£7 per item for 0-24 hours!) than the lockers a few blocks away at the Edinburgh bus station on St. Andrew's Square.
There is a second railway station in the centre of Edinburgh, Haymarket, around a mile to the west of Waverley. If you are arriving from the north, west or southwest, Haymarket is a better station to exit at if you are heading straight for the airport, zoo, or modern art gallery or if your accommodation is on the west side of town as you will avoid the city centre traffic, and it is on the major westbound bus routes.
Both Waverley and Haymarket stations had ticket barriers installed in 2004 so you will need to purchase a ticket in order to enter or leave the platform area. If you get on a train at an unmanned station, you can purchase a ticket from the conductor on the train or a ticket inspector near the barrier gates: note that there is usually a long queue during the peak rush hour period. The barrier gates will retain single journey tickets so be sure to get a receipt if you need one. If you have the larger kind of ticket that does not fit in the barrier, you will need to go to the gate manned by a member of staff who will check your ticket and let you through. If you do not have a ticket, you will need to go to the ticket office behind the barrier (platform 14 at Waverley) to buy one.
Edinburgh Park is a new train station that opened in 2004, which is some way from the city centre, serves business parks and "The Gyle" shopping centre. As of December 2010, direct trains to and from Glasgow Queen Street Low Level began to serve Edinburgh Park, on the Airdrie-Bathgate route (or A2B) operating on a 15 minute interval. There services will take around an hour to get to Glasgow from Edinburgh Park.
By road, Edinburgh can be reached most immediately by the M8 motorway (from Glasgow and the west), M9 (from [wiki=ee19033300a54df2fa41db9881b4b723]Stirling[/wiki] and the north-west), A90/M90 (from [wiki=675a687d30541cccd4aef14cb2da5028]Perth[/wiki], [wiki=a9026c01e03b5a6f9f62be85686d789e]Dundee[/wiki] and northern Scotland), the A1 (from [wiki=cf73ea45f3f54527c64d6b57eb9b2bb7]Newcastle upon Tyne[/wiki] and north-east England) and A702/M74 (from [wiki=f949f6e878e0fae53fb06d4133750e62]Carlisle[/wiki] and north-western England).
From [wiki=59ead8d1e124ccfb79f3ace06f43e703]London[/wiki] the fastest route to Edinburgh is the M1 motorway, followed by the A1(M) and the A1 - a journey of 640 km (398 mi) and approximately 8-9 hrs driving time.
Edinburgh is not a particularly car friendly city (the worst city to drive in outside of London in the UK) with the myriad of one-way streets and the Old Town's medieval layout, and the dedication of parking wardens to ticketing anything that is not moving is legendary. In addition, the works to install the new tram line will be ongoing until 2014, and have caused numerous road closures and diversions throughout the City Centre and Leith. Finding parking can be difficult, though there are several multi-storey car parks in the city centre (Castle Terrace for the West End, try St James Centre or Greenside at the East End). It is often cheaper and quicker to use the new Park and Ride systems now in place on all approaches to the City, (National Park and Ride Directory is available online [http://www.parkandride.net/edinburgh/edinburgh_frameset.shtml ]), so it's even easy to just abandon your car on the outskirts. For visitors arriving from the M8, follow directions for Edinburgh Airport to reach Ingliston Park and Ride; this facility is half a mile from the airport terminal.
The city is served by the major inter-city bus companies from around Scotland and England. Most long distance services start and end in the Bus Station in St Andrew Square. The left luggage lockers at the Bus station are much cheaper than the "charged by the piece" left luggage service at Waverly train station.
A ferry/bus service from [wiki=623145997cee6352dace475eaf530fff]Belfast[/wiki] to Edinburgh can be booked through Citylink [http://www.citylink.co.uk/].
* Passenger cruise liners are a common sight in summer at [wiki=9fe973b8fa262821b1da373f90c3dd62]Leith[/wiki] Docks, where a new terminal has been built next to the Ocean Terminal shopping/leisure complex.
Edinburgh has two main bus companies, Lothian [url=http://lothianbuses.com/],]which is majority-owned by the Edinburgh City Council, and First [url=http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/scotland/sescot/home/[/url],]a private operator. These two companies share the same bus stops, but the route numbers and tickets are not interchangeable and they operate different fare structures.
Lothian are the larger operator in the city itself whose distinctive madder-red (burgundy) and cream coloured buses had become as much a symbol of Edinburgh as its buildings. For some reason Lothian saw this as a negative and this livery was almost completely phased out in favour of Harlequin colours, which are predominantly white, with red and gold rhombuses of different sizes along the sides. Some of the more important routes also have different colours on the front and roof of the bus to help passengers spot their required bus. As of March 2010, they have started to repaint the fleet into the traditional "madder" livery. By 2012, the Harlequin livery will have been consigned to the history books, but in the short term travellers should be aware that both colour schemes will be in operation.
Single tickets for Lothian Buses are £1.50 (70p for under 16s) and are valid for only one journey. If you have to change bus, you have to buy another £1.50 ticket! Bear in mind that bus drivers will not give change, so save up those £1.00 and 20p coins.
More conveniently, Lothian offer an all-day ticket for £4.00 (as of May 2015) that covers all buses (except sightseeing, airport express and night services) and the trams (see below). The all-day ticket is a great way to see the city without the expense of the tour buses, as you can get on and off all Lothian buses for the whole day. Kids' day tickets are generously discounted to £2. You can buy these from any bus driver, or from Lothian Buses offices.
Lothian are in the process of rolling out their BusTracker[url=http://www.mybustracker.co.uk/]]service. This provides "real time" bus service information. Electronic signs are being installed along major routes, showing the wait time for the next bus on each service at that stop. Online, it's possible to view the information for every bus stop in the city, not just those stops with electronic signs. Every stop has a unique eight-figure code, which are listed on the website and also displayed at the stop. You can access Bus Tracker via a mobile phone at mobile.mybustracker.co.uk. A free apps named "Edinbus" for iPhone and "My Bus Edinburgh" for Android provide similar information with route maps and a stop locator.
First [url=http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/scotland/sescot/home/[/url]]buses mostly service farther-flung areas to the east and west of the city.
Edinburgh Coach Lines operate service 13 [url=http://www.service13.co.uk/[/url],]a bus of use to many visitors as it is the only route serving the National Gallery of Modern Art and the Dean Gallery. Single tickets are in line with Lothian fares at £1.20 for adults and 70p for children (under 16). Lothian season tickets and day tickets are not valid on service 13.
There are also four companies that operate sightseeing buses [http://www.edinburghtour.com/[/url], all of which are now owned by Lothian Buses. All have a policy that a sightseeing ticket is valid for 24 hours, so you can get around central Edinburgh quite handily using the sightseeing buses. Each sightseeing bus follows a different route around the city, but they all start and finish at Waverley Bridge, adjacent to Waverley Station on Princes Street.
A small number of suburban rail routes run from Waverley station, most of the stations lying in the south west and south east suburbs of the city, and are useful for reaching the outer suburbs and towns of Balerno, Currie, Wester Hailes, Wallyford, Prestonpans, Musselburgh, South Queensferry, Newcraighall and a useful link to Edinburgh Park which is adjacent to the Gyle shopping complex. Services to North Berwick, Bathgate, Fife or Glasgow Central will make stops at these various stations. Note that standard National Rail fares apply to these trains - there are no credible daily season ticket options available. Check at the station before you board!
The "charged by the piece" left luggage service at Waverly train station is far more expensive than the storage lockers a few blocks away at the Bus station on St Andrew's square.
Central Edinburgh is a nightmare to drive in, particularly the Old Town with its tangle of medieval streets with their associated one way systems. The New Town fares slightly better, but the scourge "Blue Meanies" who mercilessly swoop on vehicles which may have only been illegally parked for a matter of minutes. Edinburgh operates a "controlled parking zone" - on-street parking is illegal within a large central area (see map [url=http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/Transport/Parking/Parking_permits/CEC_controlled_parking_zone__cpz__map])] without a residents parking permit. Parking fines are £40 and vehicles parked in an obstructive manner are liable to be towed away with a £150 release fee to be paid for its retrieval. Even the suburbs (especially Morningside, The Grange, The Meadows) have little parking available (and on-street parking is illegal within the controlled parking zone). Take a bus and/or walk. Leith seems to fare a bit better for parking, but there's no guarantee. Park and Ride facilities provide access to the city centre [http://www.parkandride.net/edinburgh/edinburgh_frameset.shtml[/url]. Additionally drivers should take heed of tram operations taking place at various locations throughout the city centre and the west of the city.
Edinburgh is a beautiful city that's full of history. There is no better way to see it than to walk.
*Edinburgh walking directions [http://www.walkit.com/edinburgh/] can be planned online with the walkit.com walking route planner.
The long-awaited Edinburgh Tramway [http://edinburghtrams.com/] opened in May 2014, linking St Andrew's Square in the centre of Edinburgh to Edinburgh Airport on the west, passing through the New Town to the city centre. After disputes with the main construction contractor and delays in construction, the line started running on the 31st of May 2014. As it links the airport, rugby stadium, both main train stations and Princes Street, it is helpful for some visitors to the city.
The trams operate every 8-10 minutes throughout the day. Single tickets to and from any stop (except the airport) cost £1.50. A ticket to the airport from any other stop costs £5, or £8 for a return. Day tickets are available for £4.00, which allow unlimited travel on the trams (all stops excluding the airport) and Lothian Buses day services for one day. Similarly, any day tickets purchased on Lothian Buses services are valid on the trams, excluding the stop at the airport.
Tickets must be purchased from a machine prior to travel - no change is given, however the machines accept cards.
Like most major British cities, Edinburgh offers a choice between Black Cabs, carrying up to 5 passengers, which can be hailed on the street, and minicabs, which must be pre-booked. Black cabs display an orange light above the windscreen to indicate that they are available to hire. It's usually quite easy to find a cab in and around the city centre, and on the main radial routes running out of the centre. There are also Taxi Ranks dotted around the city, where black cabs will line up to be hired. Taxi Rank locations include:
* Outside the main entrances of Haymarket and Waverley train stations.
* Opposite the Caledonian Hotel and Sheraton Hotel (both near the West End), The George Hotel (east end of George Street) and the Crowne Plaza Hotel (High Street, Royal Mile).
* St Patrick's Square, off South Bridge
* Leith Bridge, close to The Shore and Commercial Quay, in [wiki=9fe973b8fa262821b1da373f90c3dd62]Leith[/wiki]
The main taxi firms operating within the city are:
* Central Radio Taxis (Black Cabs) - +44 131 229 2468
* City Cabs (Black Cabs) - +44 131 228 1211
* Edinburgh Taxi (minicabs) - +44 131 610 1234 (saloon cars, MPV's with 8 seats and chauffeur driven vehicles)
* Festival Cars (minicabs - mostly saloon cars but also have people carriers with up to 8 seats. Let them know the number in your party when you book) - +44 131 552 1777
Edinburgh Castle, home to the Edinburgh Tattoo, is a magnificently situated royal fortress located on one of the highest points in the city. The castle has been continuously in use for 1000 years and is in excellent condition.
* The ruins of Craigmillar Castle are a fantastic place to see. Located just after Holyrood Park, about 5Km east of the city centre, the first part of the castle was built in the 14th century. If you're going by taxi, don't forget to keep a number of a taxi company to call one to go back to the city.
*Abbey and Palace of Holyroodhouse, Old Town, [url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page559.asp]-]The Palace is a royal residence, and hosts the Queen's Gallery containing a collection of art from the Royal Collection.
*St Giles' Cathedral, Old Town, [url=http://www.stgilescathedral.org.uk/[/url]-]The historic City Church of Edinburgh is also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh and takes its name from the city's patron saint.
*Mary King's Close, Old Town, [url=http://www.realmarykingsclose.com/[/url]-]Warriston's Close (opposite St Giles' Cathedral), open daily except 25 Dec - a slice of Edinburgh's medieval history, preserved since being closed over in the 18th century - watch out for the haunting.
*Gladstone's Land, Old Town, [url=http://www.nts.org.uk/web/site/home/visit/places/Property.asp?PropID=10028&NavPage=10028&NavId=5115[/url]-]In the Lawnmarket at the top of the Royal Mile. It is a 17th century Old Town tenement (known as a 'Land') decorated with period furniture. It has an impressive painted ceiling.
*Greyfriars Kirkyard, Old Town. A very old graveyard in Old Town off the Southwest corner of George IV Bridge, made famous by Disney as the home of Greyfriars Bobby.
*Camera Obscura, Old Town, [url=http://www.camera-obscura.co.uk/[/url]-]Castle Hill. Over 150 years old, the Camera Obscura focuses light from the top of the tower onto a large dish in a dark room below, allowing a 360-degree view of all of Edinburgh!
*The Scottish Parliament, Old Town, [url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/visitingHolyrood/[/url],](eastern end of the Royal Mile, opposite the Palace of Holyrood House)- A unique building designed by the Spanish (Catalan) architect Enric Miralles. It is necessary to get (free) tickets to watch the Parliament in session from the Public Gallery.
*The Grassmarket area, Old Town, [url=http://www.grassmarket.net/[/url],](a few steps away from the Royal Mile, including George IV bridge and by Greyfriar's Bobby)- A colourful and unique area of the historic old town, once the site of Edinburgh's horse and cattle market and now home to a great selection of independent shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and arts & crafts.
* Built in 1846 to commemorate the life of Sir Walter Scott after his death in 1832, the Gothic spire monument allows you to climb 200 ft above the city centre to enjoy fantastic views.
* The Royal Yacht Britannia, Ocean Terminal, Leith, Jan-Mar, Nov-Dec 10AM-5PM, Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct 10AM-5:30PM, Jul 9:30AM-5:30PM, Aug 9:30AM-6PM last entry 1.5 hrs before closing, closed 1 Jan and 25 Dec, £10, seniors £8.75, child 5-17 yrs and students with ID £8.75, children under 5 free - decommissioned from royal use in recent years and voted one of Edinburgh’s best new attractions, Britannia offers visitors the chance to tour the royal apartments and view a selection of the many gifts offered to the royals by dignitaries worldwide.
*Royal Botanic Garden [url=http://www.rbge.org.uk/rbge/web/visiting/ebg.jsp],]Inverleith Row (East Gate) / Arboretum Place (West Gate), Stockbridge. Very impressive gardens with a collection of interesting plants. Great place to wander around on a sunny day, or to sit and have a picnic. Free entry to the gardens. £3.50, £3 concessions, £1 children for entry to the glasshouses.
*Edinburgh Zoo , West, [http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/[/url]. Watch the world famous Penguin Parade.
*Rosslyn Chapel , South, Take bus number 15 to see this chapel, featured in "The Da Vinci Code" novel and film.
Museum of Scotland [url=http://www.nms.ac.uk/scotland/]]and Royal Museum [url=http://www.nms.ac.uk/royal/[/url],]Chambers St, [[Edinburgh/Old Town|Old Town[/url]] tel +44 131 247 4422. fax +44 131 220 4819. typetalk 18001 0131 247 4422. email info@nms.ac.uk. The museum mixes innovative modern architecture with the best of Scotland's heritage. The Royal Museum has a magnificent airy Victorian atrium now with the Millennium Clock at one end - arrange to be there when it is chiming. Exhibits in the Museum of Scotland include Scottish pottery and weapons from the Roman era and the Renaissance. M-Sa 10AM-5PM with extended opening to 8PM on Tuesdays, and Su noon-5PM. Free.
*The National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound, [wiki=9dff36497339483fc8b1c1f26bdce335]New Town[/wiki] tel. +44 131 624 6200, [url=http://www.nationalgalleries.org/]]holds much of Scotland's fine artwork and carries exhibitions that change seasonally. The new Western Link was opened in 2004 with an entrance from Princes Street Gardens. It joins The National Gallery with the neighbouring Scottish Academy gallery and gives Scotland it's first world class art space.
*The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 74 Belford Rd on the western fringe of the [[Edinburgh/New Town|New Town[/url]], +44 131 624 6200, [url=http://www.nationalgalleries.org/]]contains a fine selection of modern art from Scotland and other countries.
*The Fruitmarket Gallery, 45 Market St, behind the Edinburgh Waverley Rail Station, [[Edinburgh/Old Town|Old Town[/url]] [url=http://www.fruitmarket.co.uk/].]Aims to find the most appropriate way to bring artists and audiences together. It is a not-for-profit organization and a registered charity. M-Sa 11AM-6PM, Su noon-5PM. Free.
* There are a number of independent galleries in the St Stephen Street area of [[Edinburgh/Stockbridge_and_Canonmills|Stockbridge[/url]]
Edinburgh in the summer becomes "festival city" when a huge number of major national and international arts festivals are hosted by the city. Most of these occur virtually simultaneously in August. These cater for a wide variety of interests and include:
*The Edinburgh International Festival [url=http://www.eif.co.uk/]-]The original that spawned all the rest. Founded in 1947 and still seen as more "high-brow" than any of its offspring. Surprisingly, tickets are often priced more reasonably than for many Fringe shows.
*The Edinburgh Military Tattoo [url=http://www.edinburgh-tattoo.co.uk/[/url]-]One of the iconic images of Edinburgh for millions worldwide is the yearly Tattoo, kilted pipers skirling below the battlements of Edinburgh Castle. Although tickets sell out well in advance, persevering individuals are likely to find one or two tickets still for sale due to cancellations... just be prepared to ask, ask, and ask again!
*The Edinburgh Fringe Festival [url=http://www.edfringe.com/][/url[/url]- As the name might suggest, this Festival developed on the "Fringe" of the main International Festival and offers more alternative performances, with an emphasis on comedy and avant-garde; it is now the largest arts festival in the world.
*The Edge Festival [url=http://www.theedgefestival.com/]](formerly known as "T on the Fringe")- Music festival which takes place alongside the Fringe Festival.
*The Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival. [http://www.edinburghjazzfestival.co.uk/[/url]
*The Edinburgh International Book Festival [url=http://www.edbookfest.co.uk/]-]Takes place in a temporary village of marquees at Charlotte Square (West End of George Street, [[Edinburgh/New Town|New Town[/url]]).
*The Edinburgh International Film Festival [url=http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/]-]Now moved to June from its former slot in August, so that it no longer clashes with all the others! Centred around the Filmhouse Cinema on Lothian Road, though other cinemas take part too.
*The Edinburgh International Television Festival [url=http://www.mgeitf.co.uk/[/url]-]Predominantly a "closed shop" for industry professionals only.
*The Edinburgh Mela [url=http://www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk/[/url]-]Multicultural festival held in [[Edinburgh/Leith|Leith[/url]].
*Imaginate Festival [url=http://www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/]-]Every May/June, an international festival of children's theatre.
*Edinburgh International Science Festival [http://www.sciencefestival.co.uk/[/url]- Takes place annually in March or April. Emphasis on "hands-on" science.
One important thing to decide when planning a trip to Edinburgh is whether you wish to go at festival time, which runs from early August through to mid-September. Hotel rooms in and around the city are noticeably much more expensive then, and you will need to book well (at least six months!) in advance.
Edinburgh in the winter festive season is also huge with various concerts and other activities taking place starting a couple of weeks before Christmas and running up to a week into January. Princes Street Gardens play host to a Big Wheel, outdoor ice rink and various festive markets. As in most of the rest of Scotland, Hogmanay, the New Year celebrations, are the main focus of the festive season rather than Christmas. On the night itself whole sections of central Edinburgh are roped off and accessible only by ticket for the Hogmanay street party [http://www.edinburghshogmanay.org/], which takes place across several stages and is easily the largest in Scotland. Hogmany and Edinburgh fit together like hand and glove.
Go to the cinema. Edinburgh has a number of cinemas covering mainstream, foreign language and arthouse films.
** Cineworld, 130 Dundee St, 0871 200 2000. Mainly mainstream and arthouse. This is about 20 mins on foot from Princes Street and a Number 1 34 or 35 bus will take you.
** Cameo Cinema, Home St, +44 131 228 4141. Mainstream & alternative films, in remarkable surroundings. A much-loved venue that's well worth a visit.
** Dominion, Newbattle Terrace, +44 131 447 4771. Mainstream & alternative films. One screen is full of two- and three-person leather sofas for the ultimate cinema-going experience.
** Filmhouse, Lothian Rd, +44 131 228 2688. Edinburgh's (and Scotland's) largest venue for arthouse and foreign language films. Great café and bar, and hub of the annual Film Festival.
** Odeon Cinema, Lothian Rd, 0870 505 0007.
** Vue, Leith Walk, 0870 240 6020. Large multiplex.
** "'Vue'", Ocean Terminal, Leith. Large multiplex.
See a 6 Nations Championship [url=http://www.rbs6nations.com/]]rugby match at Murrayfield Stadium [url=http://www.scottishrugby.org/[/url].]The 6 Nations is effectively the European Championship of rugby, taking place every spring between [[Scotland[/url]], [wiki=e612e56ca0235a349cffa8331d8a6ad7]Wales[/wiki], [wiki=06e415f918c577f07328a52e24f75d43]Ireland[/wiki], [wiki=0309a6c666a7a803fdb9db95de71cf01]France[/wiki], [wiki=1007e1b7f894dfbf72a0eaa80f3bc57e]Italy[/wiki] and [wiki=64f607906be7598a02d75dbc1e979662]England[/wiki]. The teams play each other once per year, and alternate home and away games. In even-numbered years, England and France visit Murrayfield, while in odd-numbered years, Scotland host Wales, Ireland and Italy. On the weekend of a home match, Edinburgh is absolutely full to bursting, and the atmosphere is like nothing else, especially if Wales or Ireland are in town. If you plan to visit in February or March, be sure to check the fixtures and book accommodation well in advance if your trip coincides with a home match ([wiki=35f0ba0c3090e5005a537e84a5cf91b0]Edinburgh/West[/wiki]).
* Take in a [wiki=10c8186a305574b404205d72ef1fd716#Scotland]football[/wiki] match at Heart of Midlothian FC's Tynecastle Park ([wiki=35f0ba0c3090e5005a537e84a5cf91b0]Edinburgh/West[/wiki]), or Hibernian F.C.'s Easter Road Stadium ([wiki=9fe973b8fa262821b1da373f90c3dd62]Leith[/wiki]).
* Catch a match of the city's professional rugby club, Edinburgh Rugby, at Murrayfield ([wiki=35f0ba0c3090e5005a537e84a5cf91b0]Edinburgh/West[/wiki]).
* Catch an American Football match at the Edinburgh Wolves's home venue of Meadowbank Stadium ([wiki=8cab2da66f161ac1856800b696afddf3]Edinburgh/East[/wiki]).
Multiple internet cafés and hotspot venues exist throughout Edinburgh (see [wiki=03cf54d8ce19777b12732b8c50b3b66f#Districts]district[/wiki] articles for details).
*Many of the municipal libraries[url=http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/leisure/Libraries]]throughout the city have PCs with free internet access. Some of the most prominent are listed in the relevant [[Edinburgh#Districts|district[/url]] articles.
*The city's largest independent internet cafe is Mossco Internet Cafe, located near Haymarket Station (18 West Maitland Street), [http://www.edinburgh-internet-cafe.co.uk].
During normal shopping hours (M-F 9AM-5:30PM, Sa 9AM-12:30PM), you won't have any problem locating a pharmacy as they are dotted all around the city. Any row of local shops will usually include one. Common brands include Boots (city centre branches in the [wiki=f9f516a8e62eb1f09315cd7fb263881b]New Town[/wiki] at St James Shopping Centre, 11 Princes St, 101-103 Princes St and 48 Shandwick Pl; in the [wiki=32368f11403564ec4214d13785ea01ef]Old Town[/wiki] at 40-44 North Bridge), Alliance and Numark.
Outside of these hours you will face more of a challenge. There are no 24 h pharmacies in the city. In the city centre the best option is probably the Boots branch at 48 Shandwick Pl (western extension of Princes Street), M-F 7:30AM-8PM, Sa 8AM-6PM, Su 10:30AM-4:30PM.
Some of the major supermakets include a pharmacy counter, but note that the pharmacy does not necessarily follow the same opening hours as the supermarket itself. The pharmacy counter within the Tesco supermarket at 7 Broughton Road in [wiki=8a9a55480c21f00f885338bfe4ad8fb8]Canonmills[/wiki] is quite close to the city centre and opens M-Sa 8AM-8PM and Su 10AM-5PM.
For non-prescription medication, Asda are open 24/7 and have a handful of branches dotted around the outskirts.
Super Mums Childcare Agency, +44 131 225 1744 or +44 7748 964144. Bookings 24hr service, Card payments only (Amex, Visa,Mastercard, Maestro). Round-the-clock baby-sitting is available short- or long-term from £8.50 per hour (3 hour minimum) and travel expenses home (approx. £7). Multilingual sitters are also available.
Many countries run consulates in Edinburgh [http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/City_Living/CEC_consulates]
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* Offer an interesting service for travellers where they will take your suitcase, unpack it, wash all the clothes and repack the case before handing it all back to you.
Repairs, Zip replacements, hems shortened etc.
* Traditional cobblers established since 1923. The present proprietor is the 3rd generation of his family to run the business.
Almost all cash machines in Edinburgh will dispense Scottish bank notes, but there are a few listed here that usually have Bank of England notes, which may be convenient if you are leaving Scotland, (for more info see [wiki=da5dd6f051ca74960ec199973cf8bf0f]Scotland (Currency)[/wiki]).
* HSBC, 118 Princes St
* NatWest, 8 George St
* Barclays, 1 St Andrew Sq (this one has been known to stock Scottish notes on occasion)