The city is located along the Firth of Forth on Scotland’s east coast. The Old Town part of the city is one of Europe’s purest medieval towns. The New Town is a splendid Georgian landscape and is the most unspoiled Georgian town in the UK.

EDINBURGH CASTLE dominates the city centre from its position high on its volcanic hill. The site has been inhabited for thousands of years with the current castle dating back to the 12th century. The oldest building in Edinburgh, St Margaret’s Chapel, is within the walls of the castle. Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her son Charles James in the castle. Charles James went on to become King James VI of Scotland and then King James I of England and Ireland, succeeding his godmother Queen Elizabeth I to those thrones on her death.

THE ROYAL MILE runs down from the castle, lined with churches and shops and houses from the 14th century onwards right up to today. St Giles Cathedral and the Law Courts are among the notable buildings on the Royal Mile. To the south of the Royal Mile is Greyfriars Kirk where the faithful Skye terrier, Greyfriars Bobby, kept vigil at his master’s grave for 14 years. The Palace of Holyroodhouse lies at the eastern end of the Royal Mile and is the official home of the Queen in Scotland. Also at the eastern end is the new Scottish Parliament Building which was opened in 2004.

THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL is probably what the city is best known for culturally and is the world’s largest arts festival. The Edinburgh International Festival is the ‘official’ festival (but also the collective name for all the different festivals) and features Music, Dance, Theatre and Opera, both classic and contemporary. The Edinburgh Fringe is now actually the largest of the festivals and is best known for Comedy, Music and Dance. Other Festivals include Book, Film, Art, Jazz and the list goes on. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is part of the Festival and features Military Bands and Displays from around the world performing in Edinburgh Castle.

HOGMANAY is the Scots word for the last day of the year. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Party is perhaps the most famous and certainly one of the largest in the world. Hundreds of thousands of people converge on Edinburgh to bring in the New Year on the streets of the capital. The street party on Princes Street is limited to 100,000 tickets only. The highlight of the night is a huge fireworks display on Edinburgh Castle.

Leith is the port of Edinburgh and is now the home of the Royal Yacht Britannia which is open as a visitor attraction.

Not far outside of Edinburgh is the Forth Road Bridge linking the south to Fife and the north-east. Alongside the road bridge is iconic Forth Rail Bridge, one of Scotland’s most famous landmarks. The bridge was built between 1883 and 1890 and was the first bridge in the world to be built of steel. A study in 2007 reported that the bridge would have a working life of another 100 years.