Edinburgh, Scotland — Where to Go
Edinburgh Sightseeing Overview
When it comes to sightseeing in Edinburgh, of greatest interest to visitors are the medieval Old Town, the Georgian New Town and the Port of Leith.
Human settlement in Edinburgh began 3,000 years ago on the volcanic crag on which Edinburgh Castle now stands. In the 11th century, the town started to expand down the tail of the extinct volcano; this later became known as the Royal Mile, because it is a Scots mile long from the castle to the royal palace of Holyroodhouse. The Royal Mile itself – which Daniel Defoe once declared the most beautiful street he had ever seen – is full of interesting architecture, small museums and high-quality souvenir shops.
The New Town developed in the late 18th century, when a visionary Lord Provost (mayor) announced a competition to design a new residential suburb, on virtually vacant land on the other side of what is now Princes Street Gardens. It was laid out in a grid pattern, with garden squares, in line with the latest fashion in mainland Europe, and its streets were given names symbolising the Union of Scotland and England: St Andrew Square, linked by George St (named after the reigning king, George III) to Charlotte Square (after his Queen); Rose and Thistle Streets, named after the floral emblems of England and Scotland; and Princes St, named for the young Hanoverian princes.
To the north of the New Town, along the Firth of Forth, Leith has been transformed since its rough-and-ready days as Edinburgh's port. The siting here of the headquarters of the Scottish Government has given Leith excellent transport links and Michelin-starred restaurants; the luxury flats around the waterfront have encouraged the opening of quirky shops and bistros, as well as the shopping and entertainment mall Ocean Terminal. To the west and east along the Forth lie charming coastal towns such as North Berwick and South Queensferry.
Edinburgh Tourist Information
Edinburgh and Scotland Information Center
3 Princes Street
Tel: 0845 225 5121.
Website: www.edinburgh.org
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1700, Sun 1000-1700 (Nov-Mar); open later in summer.
Tourist and Airport Information Center
Edinburgh International Airport
Tel: 0870 040 0007
Website: www.edinburgh.org
Opening hours: Daily 0630-2230 (Apr-Oct), daily 0700-2100 (Nov-Mar).
In July and August, roaming tourist officers offer advice and assistance around the Royal Mile, Princes Street and Waverley station.
Edinburgh Sightseeing
The excellent-value Edinburgh Pass offers free access to over 30 tourist attractions, a guidebook on the city, free transfers to and from the airport and unlimited use of Lothian Buses as well as shopping discounts. The pass is valid for one two or three days. It is available from the Tourist Information Centers on Princes Street and at the airport, or can be purchased in advance (tel: (0131) 473 3630; www.edinburgh.org/pass).
The Royal Edinburgh Ticket gives admission to Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Royal Yacht Britannia (excluded from the Edinburgh Pass) as well as unlimited travel over two days on the city's sightseeing buses. This ticket can be bought from Lothian Buses Travelshops, the Edinburgh Bus Tour ticket-sellers on Waverley Bridge, and from the Tourist Information Center on Princes St. It can also be bought in advance (tel: 0131 220 0770; www.edinburghtour.com).
Edinburgh Sightseeing
The excellent-value Edinburgh Pass offers free access to over 30 tourist attractions, a guidebook on the city, free transfers to and from the airport and unlimited use of Lothian Buses as well as shopping discounts. The pass is valid for one two or three days. It is available from the Tourist Information Centers on Princes Street and at the airport, or can be purchased in advance (tel: (0131) 473 3630; www.edinburgh.org/pass).
The Royal Edinburgh Ticket gives admission to Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Royal Yacht Britannia (excluded from the Edinburgh Pass) as well as unlimited travel over two days on the city's sightseeing buses. This ticket can be bought from Lothian Buses Travelshops, the Edinburgh Bus Tour ticket-sellers on Waverley Bridge, and from the Tourist Information Center on Princes St. It can also be bought in advance (tel: 0131 220 0770; www.edinburghtour.com).
Key Attractions in Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh Castle
This is Scotland's most famous tourist attraction. It became the main castle of Scotland's monarchs in the Middle Ages; the buildings within the fortress include a 12th century chapel – Edinburgh’s oldest building– and the Great Hall, completed in 1511. It is home to the National War Museum of Scotland, hosts the Edinburgh Military Tattoo every August, and is still an active army base. In 1996, after 800 years in England, the Stone of Destiny (the coronation stone of Scottish monarchs) was returned to Edinburgh Castle. It and the Honors of Scotland (the Scottish Crown Jewels) are on display there, as is Mons Meg, a giant siege gun given to James II in 1457. The view from the battlements provides a splendid panorama of the city.
Castlehill
Tel: (0131) 225 9846.
Website: www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk
Opening hours: Daily 0930-1800 (Apr-Sep); daily 0930-1700 (Oct-Mar).
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
UNESCO: Y.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Palace of Holyroodhouse sits at the eastern end of the Royal Mile and is the Queen's official residence in Scotland. It was the home of Mary, Queen of Scots and served as Bonnie Prince Charlie's headquarters during the 1745 uprising. The Royal Apartments are renowned for their fine plasterwork ceilings, tapestries and magnificent paintings and furnishings. The first building on this site was Holyrood Abbey, which was founded in 1128 by David I and whose ruins still stand in the Palace grounds. The Queen's Gallery holds outstanding exhibitions throughout the year of paintings, photographs and other works of art from the Royal Collections.
Canongate, Royal Mile
Tel: (0131) 556 5100.
Website: www.royalcollection.org.uk
Opening hours: Daily 0930-1800 (Apr-Oct); daily 0930-1630 (Nov-Mar).
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: N.
UNESCO: Y.
National Galleries of Scotland
Scotland's national art collection is held by the National Galleries of Scotland and is displayed across three locations in Edinburgh: the National Gallery Complex, the Scottish Portrait Gallery (closed until autumn 2011) and the Modern Art Galleries.
The National Gallery Complex, on the corner of Princes St and the Mound, houses the world's most comprehensive collection of Scottish art, with many works by 18th- and 19th-century Scottish painters such as Ramsay, Raeburn, Wilkie and Guthrie. Its permanent collection also features work by Europe's great masters, including Titian, El Greco, Van Gogh, Monet and Gauguin. Temporary exhibitions are held in the Royal Scottish Academy building, physically connected to the National Gallery by the underground Weston Link.
The national collection of modern and contemporary art is displayed at the Modern Art Galleries, on Belford Rd. The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, set in a sculpture park dominated by a dramatic landform work, has probably the world's most extensive collection of 20th-century Scottish art, featuring paintings by the Scottish Colorists (Peploe, Fergusson, Cadell and Hunter) and 'New Glasgow Boys' such as Peter Howson and Ken Currie. The Gallery also has superb holdings of Expressionist and modern British art, including works by Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud. The nearby Dean Gallery was created to house works gifted by the Edinburgh-born sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi; it also has a world-class Dada and Surrealism collection.
Tel: (0131) 624 6200.
Website: www.nationalgalleries.org
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700.
Admission charge: N.
Disabled access: Y.
UNESCO: Y.
National Museum of Scotland
The Museum of Scotland opened in 1998 in a spectacular purpose-built landmark building. The exhibition tells the story of Scotland, from its prehistory through its emergence as a nation and union with England to the present day. The treasures displayed include Pictish engraved stones, medieval silverware and the world's first cloned mammal, Dolly the Sheep. Museum staff lead free tours every day, while children can try out the themed Discovery Zones. The rooftop terrace houses an excellent restaurant (the Tower) and offers great views of the city.
The Royal Museum, the other half of the National Museum of Scotland, will reopen – completely transformed – in early 2011.
Chambers Street
Tel: (0131) 225 7534.
Website: www.nms.ac.uk
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700.
Admission charge: N.
Disabled access: Y.
UNESCO: Y.
Our Dynamic Earth
Our Dynamic Earth tells the story of our planet's past, present and future. Using interactive exhibits and advanced technology, visitors can witness the creation and evolution of the Earth. Children and adults alike can travel back in time to witness the birth of the earth, experience a volcanic eruption, see the glaciers of prehistoric Scotland, sense the humidity of a tropical rainforest or immerse themselves in a world of distant galaxies in the digital planetarium.
Holyrood Road
Tel: (0131) 550 7800.
Website: www.dynamicearth.co.uk
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
The Georgian House
This elegant late 18th-century townhouse is located on Charlotte Square, which was designed by Robert Adam in 1791 to symbolise the Georgian ideal of Edinburgh's New Town. Restored by the National Trust for Scotland, the house is furnished with period fittings and accoutrements; a film presentation explains the social and economic conditions of the time; and staff in period costume enact scenes which show how the owners of the house and their servants would have lived.
7 Charlotte Square
Tel: 0844 493 2118.
Website: www.nts.org.uk
Opening hours: Daily 1100-1600 (Mar); daily 1000-1700 (Jun and Sep-Oct); daily 1000-1800 (Jul-Aug); daily 1100-1500 (Nov).
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
UNESCO: Y.
Gladstone's Land
Thomas Gladstone's "land", or tenement, was built in 1620 near the top of the Royal Mile, which connects Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Six of its rooms have been fitted with period furniture and objects to give a sense of what life was like in the 17th and 18th centuries. A 17th-century shop has been replicated in the original 1620 "luckenbooth" or kiosk; the first-floor apartment shows how the rich would have lived, with beautiful furnishings and a spectacular painted ceiling. The Gladstone Gallery has temporary exhibitions by local artists.
477b Lawnmarket
Tel: 0844 493 2120.
Website: www.nts.org.uk
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700 (Apr-Jun and Sep-Oct); daily 1000-1900 (Jul-Aug).
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
UNESCO: Y.
St Giles' Cathedral
A church has stood on the site of St Giles' Cathedral since the early 12th century. As the High Kirk of Edinburgh, it hosts the annual Kirking of the City Council and other civic and national events. John Knox served as Minister here from 1559, when he led the Reformation into Edinburgh, until 1572. The present building, with its distinctive open-crown spire supported by eight flying buttresses, dates back to the 15th century, although it has since been extensively altered. It also has a notable collection of stained-glass windows, dating from the 1870s onwards. The stunning Thistle Chapel, completed in 1911, is noted for its ornate wooden carving, much of it peculiarly Scottish, including angels playing bagpipes. The organ, built in 1992, is widely considered to be one of the finest in Europe and attracts internationally renowned recitalists.
High Street, Royal Mile
Tel: (0131) 225 9442.
Website: www.stgilescathedral.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1900, Sat 0900-1700, Sun 1300-1700 (May-Sep); Mon-Sat 0900-1700, Sun 1300-1700 (Oct-Apr).
Admission charge: N.
Disabled access: Y.
UNESCO: Y.
Royal Yacht Britannia
Launched in 1953 by Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Yacht Britannia served as a floating residence for the royal family until it was decommissioned in 1997. It is now permanently berthed in Leith, Edinburgh's historic port, and is open to the public as an award-winning museum. Visitors can explore five of its decks, including the magnificent Engine Room, and gain an insight into the lives of both the Royal Family and the ship's crew.
Ocean Terminal, Leith
Tel: (0131) 555 5566.
Website: www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1600 (Apr-June, Sep-Oct); daily 0930-1600 (Jul); daily 0930-1630 (Aug); daily 1000-1530 (Nov-Mar).
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
The Scotch Whisky Experience
Scotland is defined by its fine whiskies - tourists flock from far afield to sample the smooth wares. The Scotch Whisky Experience tour takes visitors through the whole whisky-making process and guides them round the different whisky-producing regions, before concluding with a tutored whisky nosing and tasting.
354 Castlehill, Royal Mile
Tel: (0131) 220 0441.
Website: www.whisky-heritage.co.uk
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1800 (Sep-May); daily 0930-1830 (Jun-Aug); last tour departs one hour before closing time.
Admission charge.: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
The Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament meets in a purpose-designed building at the foot of the Royal Mile opposite the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Although controversial during the process of its design and construction, the building has subsequently won several prestigious architectural awards. Much of it is open to the public and free one-hour guided tours are offered every morning. The tours give access to the floor of the Chamber (when Parliament is not in session) and a Committee Room, as well as views of the parliamentarians' office block and the historic
Holyrood
Tel: (0131) 348 5200 or 0800 092 7800.
Website: www.scottish.parliament.uk
Opening hours: Business days (normally Tuesday-Thursday) 0900-1830; non-business days 1000-1730 (Apr-Sep); 1000-1600 (Oct-Mar); Sat 1100-1730.
Admission charge: N.
Disabled access: Y.
Mary King's Close
Before the New Town was built, in the late 18th century, almost everyone in Edinburgh lived in "closes" – steep, narrow streets built on the slopes either side of the Royal Mile. A block of four of these closes has been opened up and can be visited by the public. Guided tours of Mary King's Close are conducted by actors playing people who really lived there in the 16th and 17th centuries: a merchant, a street-cleaner, a serving-maid and the youngest daughter of Mary King herself. They give a fascinating insight into life and work in the medieval Old Town.
2 Warriston's Close, Royal Mile
Tel: 0845 070 6244.
Website: www.realmarykingsclose.com
Opening hours: Sun-Thur 1000-1700, Fri-Sat 1000-2100 (Nov-Mar); daily 1000-2100 (Apr-Jul, Sep-Oct); daily 0900-2100 (Aug).
Admission charge.: Y.
Disabled access: N.
UNESCO: Y.
Further Distractions
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Edinburgh's Botanic Garden, the second oldest botanic garden in Britain, was founded in 1670 as a physics garden near Holyrood Abbey. It moved to its current location in Inverleith in the early 19th century and now covers nearly 30 hectares (70 acres). It is an international center of plant science and education and holds collections of rare and beautiful plants, including its famous rhododendra, an alpine Rock Garden and the Scottish Heath Garden. Inverleith House, within the Garden, runs temporary exhibitions throughout the year.
20A Inverleith Row
Tel: (0131) 552 7171.
Website: www.rbge.org.uk
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1800 (Mar & Oct); daily 1000-1900 (Apr-Sept); daily 1000-1600 (Nov & Feb)
Admission charge: N.
Disabled access: Y.
Writers' Museum
Edinburgh was the first city to be recognized by UNESCO as a City of Literature and so it is not surprising that it should have its own Writers' Museum, dedicated to the lives and works of Scotland's great literary figures. The rich collection of manuscripts, first editions and portraits is complemented by a series of personal exhibits, which include Sir Walter Scott's chess board and Robert Burns' writing desk.
Lady Stair's House, Lady Stair's Close, Lawnmarket
Tel: (0131) 529 4901 or 529 3993.
Website: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/leisure/CEC_museums_and_galleries
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1700; Sun 1200-1700 (Aug).
Admission charge: N.
Disabled access: N.
Museum of Edinburgh
Located in a series of interconnecting 16th- and 17th-century buildings in the heart of the Old Town, the Museum of Edinburgh specializes in the history of the city from its earliest settlement. Exhibits include the original plans for the New Town, drawn by the architect James Craig, the National Covenant (the 1638 petition for religious freedom) and a spectacular collection of Edinburgh glass and silver.
Huntly House, 142 Canongate
Tel: (0131) 529 4143.
Website: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/leisure/CEC_museums_and_galleries
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1700; Sat 1200-1700 (Aug).
Admission charge: N.
Disabled access: Y.
Camera Obscura
Edinburgh's oldest purpose-built attraction, the Camera Obscura show, is a fascinating way to see the city and learn about its history. Housed in a whitewashed tower just before the entrance to the castle, the Camera Obscura is a dark chamber with a mirror which reflects light downwards through three lenses and then projects the resulting image of the city, life-size, on to a white, concave surface. The mirror can be turned and tilted to provide a 360° tour of Edinburgh, a unique experience which has delighted and intrigued people for over 150 years.
Castlehill
Tel: (0131) 226 3709.
Website: www.camera-obscura.co.uk
Opening times: Daily 0930-1930 (Jul-Aug); daily 0930-1800 (Sept-Oct); daily 1000-1700 (Nov-Mar); daily 0930-1800 (Apr-June).
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
UNESCO: Y.
