The origin of the name ‘Edinburgh’ may be uncertain, but whether it is a corruption of Edwin’s Burgh or from the Gaelic ‘din Eidyn’ (meaning ‘Eidyn’s Hill Fort’), what is clear is that these days the
Scottish capital is a city on an inexorable rise.
The ‘
Festival City’ buzzes with life year round, be it the fireworks and concerts of the world famous New Year
Hogmanay street party or the flurry of arts extravaganzas that burst through the cobbled streets of the old and new towns during the
Edinburgh Festival in August.
Edinburgh is one
of the longest continuously inhabited places in northern Europe, and its current renaissance can be traced back as recently as 1999, when the
Scottish parliament convened for the first time in 300 years in the city. Throw in the worldwide exposure of the MTV Awards in 2003 and the recognition of
UNESCO World Heritage listed Edinburgh as the first UNESCO World City Of Literature in 2005 and it is clear this is indeed a city on the move.
It is easy to see what attracts visitors to Edinburgh with one of Europe’s most
charming old cores complementing a ‘New Town’, much of which itself dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries. To the south rise the
Pentland Hills and in the north the city is flanked by the Firth of Forth and its sprinkling of
uninhabited islands.
The city has over the last couple of decades really established itself as a leading international center for
business,
finance and
education. After London, it is the most important financial center in Britain with the opening in 2005 of the impressive new Royal Bank of Scotland HQ in the west of city, a potent symbol of ‘New Edinburgh’.
The city also has four
universities. The oldest, the University of Edinburgh, was established in 1583. Although it has traditionally had a more conservative image than other Scottish cities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh is still a wildly exciting,
forward-looking capital, full of art, culture, history and beauty. It has manifold art
galleries and
museums, five major
performing-arts theaters and a year-round calendar of international festivals.
The busiest season for tourists in Edinburgh is summer (between July and September) and particularly in August, for the world-famous
Edinburgh International Festival, when the city is abuzz with cultural activity. There are also the lively
Fringe Festival,
Military Tattoo and the
Book,
Film and
Jazz Festivals, which run concurrently with the main event.
No matter how busy Edinburgh gets, it is still a remarkably green oasis of parkland with its own
botanical garden. Also within the City of Edinburgh’s boundaries are the remarkable Forth rail and road bridges, which preside over South Queensferry, a small borough that offers a perfect escape from the increasing big city buzz of Scotland’s go-ahead capital.
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
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Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
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The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
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