Edinburgh - A Top City Break Destination

• By: Editor
• On: 08/Jan/2009
• In: UK Travel Tips

Edinburgh has a population of about 500,000 and it attracts over 1 million visitors a year which makes it the 2nd most popular destination in the UK after London! The city is sometimes referred to as Auld Reekie which is a reference to when houses were heated by coal and wood and the thick smoke would smother the streets.

Edinburgh Attractions

The most popular tourist attraction is Edinburgh Castle. This impressive fortress overlooks the city from its perch atop Castle Rock. Various forts have occupied this strategic position throughout history, with the current castle having been built in the 16th century. There is also the Camera Obscura on Castle Hill. Amongst other things the Camera Obsura show offers spectacular 360 degree views of the whole city.

Some of the other attractions in the Old Town you should try to fit into your visit include St Giles Cathedral (aka the High Kirk of Edinburgh). This Church of Scotland and place of worship is a prominent landmark on the Royal Mile. Also there's The Abbey and Palace of Holyroodhouse, a royal residence which is home to the Queen's Gallery, and Gladstone's Land which offers a fascinating view into 17th century life. Last but not least there's the Scottish Parliament on the eastern end of the Royal Mile where the Scottish Assembly sits.

Some museums worth visiting include the National Museum of Scotland, which houses a great number of artifacts from the history of Scotland, the land and its people; the National Gallery of Scotland, includes masterpieces by Jacopo Bassano, Van Dyck, Giambattista Tiepolo and others; and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, includes work by Picasso, Braque, Matisse, Andy Warhol, The Scottish Colourists, and Francis Bacon.

Outside the Old Town there are a few other attractions including the Scott Monument, dedicated to Sir Walter Scott a famed Scottish poet and novelist; the Royal Yacht Britannia which has been retired and is permanently moored at the Ocean Terminal in Leith; and there's also the Royal Botanic Gardens and Edinburgh Zoo.

Edinburgh Shopping

For shopping you won’t do much better than a visit to Princes Street, just north of the castle in New Town - it's Edinburgh's main shopping street. It has many of the big retailers such as HMV, Topshop, H&M and a few other smaller shops.

To the east of Princes Street you'll find the St. James Centre and Multrees Walk which both have a great number of shops to choose from including John Lewis, Louis Vuitton, Emporio Armani, Mulberry, Calvin Klein and others.

In the Old Town the Royal Mile is home to a number of fine retail outlets where you can pick up all your Scottish souvenirs.

Edinburgh Nightlife

Having checked out all the tourist attractions during the day you might like to head out and suss out the night life. There are loads of pubs, clubs and restaurants located throughout the city.

When you arrive in Edinburgh you should try get your hands on a publication called The List which is a fortnightly release and it contains all the information on the pubs and clubs in the city as well as what music they will be playing. Failing that for the best in nightlife you can try heading to Grassmarket or George Street.

Edinburgh Culture

Edinburgh is also very well known for its annual destivals. The Edinburgh International Festival has been running since 1947 and continues to be a venue for theatre productions and classical music performances.

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival has become Edinburgh’s biggest annual festival and it's dedicated to all the fringe acts that wouldn’t have a mainstream audience. This includes various artistic productions and comedy. In fact the comedy aspect of the festival has become so popular it has broken off and become its own Edinburgh Comedy Festival that runs concurrently to the Fringe Festival.

Other festivals in Edinburgh include the Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival, the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, the Edinburgh International Book Festival and amongst others.

Fancy hiring a car when you're in Edinburgh? Have a look at our car hire Edinburgh page and check out our excellent rates.

If you have any tips about driving in and around Edinburgh area feel free to let us know. Just leave your message in the comment box below.