Edinburgh Tourist Attractions
The Edinburgh centre City is divided into the 'Old Town' and the 'New Town'. The 'Old Town' is found south of the Princes Street Gardens and the main thoroughfare is known as the Royal Mile. The 'New Town is to the North of the Gardens. It holds the high street shops, the Art Galleries. and the gem on Charlotte Square (on the West End of Princes Street) is home to both one of the most well kept Georgian Houses (owned and operated by NTS), and also the home of the head of the Scottish Parliament. Aside from the known tourist attractions, just spend some time marvelling at the Georgian architecture as you roam through the streets.
The Old Town and its Royal Mile
No one can call themselves a tourist in Edinburgh without experiencing Edinburgh's Royal Mile. The street is a five minute walk (uphill) from the hustle and bustle of Princes street (the High Street of shopping and located in the New Town), but a lifetime away. The Royal Mile is located in the 'Old Town', and is filled with history, tourist shops, restaurants, cafes, bars and of course home to both Holyrood Palace and the infamous Edinburgh Castle. From the castle esplanade you will treated to views over to Fife (as long as there is no rain or 'haar'). The street is filled with old closes and alleyways(if you dare to venture down them). There is also a plethora of ghost tours on the Royal mile that will introduce you to the history of these streets, some of it true, and some of it not so true. These tours will guide you through events that happened hundreds of years ago on these cobbled streets. The Royal Mile can also be referred to as 'The High Street', even though strictly speaking the High Street is only a part of the Royal Mile. During the Edinburgh Festival (month of August), part of the road is closed to road traffic, and it is filled with street performers throughout the day. Great fun for all the family, and certainly not to be missed
The Royal Mile during the Fringe
Part of the Royal Mile is closed off to vehicles, and turns into an outdoor Street Theatre during the month of August. You can spend hours seeing all the different performers, as well as meeting many of the performers in the Fringe whilst they hand you pamphlets advertising their performances . (This photo was taken by: theedinburghblog.co.uk.)
Try a visit to www.theedinburghblog.co.uk to read about more local and personal events happening in and around Edinburgh
There are organised tours that will walk you through the streets of Mary King's Close where
you can see the old medieval street still in its original state. If you dare you can book yourself on the ghost tours that take you into the vaults, where you may even see a ghost! Besides the drama and ghouls on the Royal Mile there are the many tourist attractions such as: Edinburgh Castle, Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre, Holyrood Palace, Museum of Childhood, Edinburgh City Chambers, Tron Kirk, John Knox's House and at the bottom of the Royal Mile lies the beautiful Holyrood Palace and alongside Holyrood Park & Arthurs' Seat. Tourist Attractions in the Old Town
Edinburgh Castle
Without doubt Edinburgh Castle is the icon of Edinburgh. Not only does it dominate the view from the high street, but it is beautifully lit in the evening and worth a stroll along Castle Terrace to see it at its finest. The Castle sits on the top end of the Edinburgh's 'Royal Mile', which is also a dormant volcao, The esplanade in front of the castle is home to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo which performs daily throughout the month of August. But if you are hoping to be one of the lucky few to witness the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, you will need to have purchased your tickets months in advance of arrival.The Edinburgh castle was a favourite for the Royal family during the middle ages, but it soon became more useful for its military importance, where it also became a military prison. The castle has both Military memorabilia as well as its Royal Residence on display. There are daily guided tours available, where the guides will fill you with interesting information about the history of the castle. The Edinburgh castle is home to the Scottish Crown Jewels and The Stone Of Destiny, which was only returned to Scotland in 1996. Try not to miss the 'One O'Clock' gun which is (surprisingly) fired at One O'clock, (daily except for Sunday). Audio tours of the castle are available at the entrance and are in French, German, Japanese, Spanish and Dutch. There is an admission charge for entry into the Edinburgh castle. To find out further information on Edinburgh Castle, look at www.edinburghcastle.biz.
Edinburgh Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre
Of course Scotland is famous for its Whisky Disterlleries, and whisky is also referred to as 'the water of life'. The Scotch Whisky Heritage centre is located close to the Castle. There are tours available of the Heritage Centre where you can see and learn everything there is to know about the manufacturing of Scotch Whisky. But of course there are plenty of different brands of whisky sold in the shop - and some tours even give out tasters (but you must be over the age of 18). If you have the time, the restaurant is well worth a visit, but booking is highly recommended. www.whisky-heritage.co.uk
Edinburgh Camera Obscura
Right next to the Edinburgh Castle is the Camera Obscura - one of first purpose built tourist attaractions in Edinburgh dating from teh 1850s. It offers stunning views over the city of Edinburgh and amazing optical illusions that can keep all the family entertained. Although their website is not complete, it holds the price and opening times. www.camera-obscura.co.uk
Gladstone's Land
The property is owned by the National Trust for Scotland. It was once the home of the wealthy Edinburgh Merchant, Thomas Gladstones in the 17th century. On view are paintings and furniture from the 17th and 18th Century.
The Writers' Museum
Throughout history, Edinburgh was considered the literary capital of Scotland. Even today, it is home to J K Rowling, Ian Rankin, and Alexander McCall Smith(to name a few). And in this musuem (built in 1622), there are manuscripts and memorabilia belonging to Robert Burns, Robert Stevensons and Sir Walter Scott. The museum is free and well worth a visit to writing enthusiasts. Visit Writers' Museum.
Edinburgh's Brodie's Close
The close and the nearby Deacon Brodies' Pub is named after the notorious Edinburgh villain (and highly regarded citizen) Deacon Brodie. He inspired Robert Louis Stephenson for the Jekyll and Hyde Story. The plentiful ghost tours that travel the Royal Mile will no doubt take you down this close and retell the story of the the life and death of Deacon Brodie.
Parliament Square In the middle of the Royal Mile sits Parliament Square. During August (and the Edinburgh Festival), this area of the Royal Mile is closed to traffic and is filled with Street Entertainers, and market stalls. It is the heart and soul of the festival. During the rest of the year, you will still find the start of many ghost tours. where you will learn about the Mercat Cross and the cobblestones of the Heart of Midlothian (which is traditionally spat on for good-luck). It was even the meeting place to watch the executions.
Heart of Midlothian - Near the Mercat Cross - the tradition is to spit on it for good luck!
St. Giles Cathedral The historic church sitting in the middle of the Royal Mile is St Giles Cathedral. The interior is very beautiful and well worth a visit. See the web-site www.stgilescathedral.org.uk
The People's Story
This museum located on the High Street (or the Royal Mile), is a history of the ordinary people of Edinburgh from the 18th Century up till today. It displays people in their home lifes, work lives and poor living conditions. This museum has no admission charge, and is well worth the visit simply for it nostalgic value.
Edinburgh Museum of Childhood
Further down the Royal Mile is the Museum of Childhood. You can walk down memory lane where you will find old toys and games and bring back memories of your childhood, or enlighten yourself into the childhoods of your grandparents. It holds an enormous collection of toys, games and costumes. Entertaining for both adults and children . The museum is free, and well worth a visit.
The Palace of Holyrood
Although this tourist attraction is very popular, it is often overlooked by many tourist who travel up the Royal Mile to the more famous landmark of Edinburgh's Castle. However, this attraction is well worth a visit, and worth the trek from the castle - or to be saved for another day on the Royal Mile. The Royal residence of the Palace of Holyrood is still the Queen's official residence in Edinburgh. Admission is severely restricted when it is being used, so it is always best to ensure that you will be allowed entry, although part of the grounds, and the Abbey ruins are always open to tourists (within the opening hours). Mary Queen of Scots lived in the palace for many years, and married Lord Darnley in the abbey. It is in these very walls that Mary witnessed the murder of her secretary Rizzo. Guided tours of the palace are available, and highly recommended.
(Photo taken by: Lyn Gateley)
Deacon Brodie Tavern on the Royal mile - inspiration for the famous Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
So the story is told about Decon Brodie - respectable business man by day, and common thief at night. He frequented many respectable homes and wined and dined with the distinguished gentry, and little did their hosts realise how Decon Brodie was robbing them all in the night. This man inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to write Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. And many of the ghost tours will retell the story of the infamous man.
The Close named 'Fleshmarket Close' was the inspiration for the title of the one of Ian Rankin's recent Rebus Novels.
Holyrood Park
Next to the Palace of Holyrood, and at the end of the Royal Mile, is the vast park of Holyrood and Arthur's Seat. The park is approximately 650 acres. The central feature in the park in the extinct volcano Arthur's Seat. A road circles the park, and no lorries (or trucks) are allowed to travel through the park. On Sundays, the road is closed to all motor vehicles, which allows for a nice quiet family bike ride. The park extends out to the Royal Commonwealth Pool and then onto the old village of Duddingston. The climb to the top of Arthur's Seat is well worth the effort, for it benefits to spectacular views around the city of Edinburgh. There is no entrance fee into the park, but if you are driving, there is a small charge to park your car.
Dynamic Earth
Located near the Palace, and on the edge of Holyrood Park is one of the newer Tourist Attractions - Dynamic Earth. Great for young and old children (and even adults), Dynamic Earth explores the geological history of the Earth in a very modern format. Dynamic Earth.
Nearby to the Royal Mile, and having the back drop of the Edinburgh Castle in the background, with its own charm is Edinburgh's Grassmarket. The grassmarket is a street with pubs, cafes,shops and restaurants. In the day enjoy the eclectic range of shops throughout, and by night enjoy the very lively (and sometimes noisey) nightlife. Some of these very pubs used to be visited by famous characters such as Robert Burns and Burke & Hare. It is rumoured that Burke and Hare enticed their victims into these pubs, suffocated them, and then sold their bodies on to the nearby Medical School of Edinburgh. It doesn't take too much imagination to let yourself see what life was like in the days of the 1600s, and there are those that argue that some of the pubs have hardly changed. Edinburgh's Grassmarket Area
Royal Museum of Scotland
Still located in the Old Town of Edinburgh, but not directly on the Royal Mile is the Royal Museum of Scotland on Chamber Street. This museum is home to a eclectic range of artefacts and exhibitions. The collection is so vast it will have something of interest to everyone. It also details the history of Scotland from its earliest recorded history. There are usually special exhibitions running throughout the year, so it is best to view their website to plan out your day in this large and varied museum. This museum has no entry fee and is well worth a visit for a family of all ages! Edinburgh's Royal Museum.
The New Town
The New Town, a central area of Edinburgh and is often considered to be a masterpiece of city planning The new town is listed as a World Heritage Site. Although still referred to as the New Town, it was built in stages between 1760 and 1850, and still keeps much of the original neo-classical period architecture.
The most famous street in the New Town is Princes Street. It is the High Street shopping in Edinburgh. The shops are only located on one side of the road, and from all angles you will get a stunning view of the castle. Although for you best view of the castle, walk over to Castle Street and you can get one of the best daytime views of the Edinburgh castle. On the opposite side of the street is infamous of Edinburgh's Parks - The Princes Street Gardens. During the summer and the winter (Christmas time), there are markets, stalls, and even park rides to keep families of all ages entertained.
Tourist Attractions in the new Town
National Gallery of Scotland
The National Gallery of Scotland, located in the middle of Princes Street, is the national art gallery of Scotland. . An elaborate edifice, it stands on the 'Mound' between the two sections of Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens. T
The archive and study facilities at the National Gallery include the Prints and Drawings Collection of over 30,000 works on paper, from the early Renaissance to the late nineteenth century; and the reference-only research library, which is available to the general public. The library covers the period from 1300 to 1900 and holds approximately 50,000 volumes of books, journals, slides, and photographs, as well as archived material relating to the collections, exhibitions and history of the National Gallery.
The Playfair Project, an underground interconnection between the two buildings, opened on 4 August 2004. This contains a lecture theatre, education area, shop, restaurant and an interactive, touch-screen IT Gallery showing the collections of the National Galleries. Between the two buildings is a modern square, affording views of the famous Edinburgh Castle.
Visitors should note that if you are planning to visit more than one of the galleries, there are often special prices which will include a visit to more than one gallery. It would be wise to check with the museum before paying for entry. While the galleries are free on entry, special exhibits are chargeable.
Royal Scottish Academy
The Royal Scottish Academy is Edinburgh's premier organisation promoting contemporary Scottish Art. The RSA was founded in 1826, and maintains a unique position in Scotland as an independently funded institution led by artists and architects whose purpose is to promote and support the enjoyment of the visual arts through exhibitions and other relatedl events.
Please check the website for details of all upcoming exhibitions, and artist talks www.royalscottishacademy.org
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is an art gallery and located on Queen Street which is two streets north of Princes Street. It holds the national collections of portraits, which are mostly taken by Scots. It opened in 1889 and was established by the newspaper magnate John Ritchie Findlay.
Dean Gallery
Further into the New Town of Edinburgh, and part of the National Galleries of Scotland, lies both the Gallery of Modern Art and the Dean Gallery. The dean gallery was designed by Thomas Hamilton in 1830. It contains a large collection of Dada and Surreallist art and literature. It also, regularly holds temporary exhibitions. It also has a lovely Cafe, which is very popular for lunch, so arrive early for the best treats
Gallery of Modern Art
Across the road for the Dean Gallery sits the Gallery of Modern Art. The front grounds house landscape sculptures, created by Henry Moore, Rachel Whiteread, Tony Cragg and Barbara Hepworth which present a stunning and peaceful stroll into the gallery entrance. In 2002 the front lawn was converted in a giant landform sculpture. The sculpture is said to be inspired by chaos theory. I
The collection includes work by Picasso, Mondrian, Peter Howson, Francis Bacon, Lucien Frued, as well as many others. Again, this Gallery has a wonderful cafe. In the spring and summertime you can eat outside, relax and enjoy the atmoshpere.
Balmoral Hotel
Originally opened in 1902, this Hotel was built for the North British Railway, and was know (and sometimes still is), as the North British Hotel. It is adjacent to the Waverly Station, and very convenient for taking the train.It kept the same name until the late 1980s when it was renamed the Balmoral Hotel after refurbishment. For travellers arriving by train, the hotel provided comfortable and elegant lodgings, before they continued their journeys. The building’s architecture is Victorian and is influenced by the traditional Scottish Baronial Style.The hotel is located in the very heart of the city at Princes Street. The Balmoral is a landmark in its own right, its clock tower can be seen from all around. Given that the hotel is adjacent to the station, the clock is always set two minutes fast to ensure that people don't miss their trains.
Now, the hotel is famous for J.K. Rowling infamously completing what is said to be her final Harry Potter Book. In February 2007, she left a signed statement written on a marble bust of Hermes, in her room saying; "JK Rowling finished writing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in this room (652) on 11th Jan 2007".
The Scott Monument is a Victorian Gothic monument to honour the famous Scottish author Sir Walter Scott. It stands in Princes Street Gardens and also is opposite the Jenners department store (also known as the Harrods of the North in Edinburgh). The tower is 61.1 metres tall, and the small viewing deck near the top — which gives a panoramic view of central Edinburgh and its surroundings — is reached by a narrow spiral staircase with 287 steps. It is built from Binnie shale; the oil which continues to leech from it has helped to glue the notoriously filthy atmosphere of Victorian Edinburgh (then nicknamed "Auld Reekie" — old smokey) to the tower, leaving it an unintended sooty-black colour. It is often noted for looking like a "gothic'. The council have spent many years trying to devise a clever way to clean the monument, but have since given up, deeming it an impossible task
Georgian House
Head to Charlotte Square in the New Town - Robert Adam's masterpiece of urban architecture - and visit the Georgian House. Three floors of the Georgian House have been beautifully refurbished by the National Trust for Scotland to reflect the lifestyle of 1796. Owned and operated by National Trust for Scotland.
Edinburgh Zoo
Edinburgh's Zoo is the second most popular tourist attraction in the city. A fantastic day out for the children, and should not be missed! It is close to Edinburgh's famous Rugby ground - Murrayfield Stadium, and is found in the suburb of Corstorphine. The most popular attraction in the zoo is the
Penquin Enclosure, and try not to miss the Penguin Parade which happens at 2:00 pm.
A fantastic reptile house holding snakes, lizard and poisonous frogs (always a favourite with the young children). The bird collection includes Australian cassowary, Steller's sea eagle, black stork, hammerkop, thick billed parrot, Victoria crowned pigeon, European crane and the world famous collection of king, gentoo and rockhopper penguins. There are also individual exhibits of reptiles scattered around the park.
You can run through the mazes, or eat in one of the many cafes in the zoo. Don't forget to catch the parade at 2:00pm