If I were to visit only one city in Scotland in the future, it would definitely be Edinburgh. Fortunately, I don’t have to limit myself that much…:-).
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Intro and travel report
It’s been a while since we were in Edinburgh. But I still have my photos of the city. And since I’ve decided to expand my Ireland blog to include Scotland, Wales and some parts of England, I can finally write an article about Edinburgh.
What a great city!!! I think we were there in autumn? I don’t remember exactly, but I do remember that the weather co-operated and we had pleasant temperatures and a bit of sunshine – great!
We found a B&B in the city centre, left the car there and spent two long days exploring the city on foot. We could easily have stayed 3 or 4 days, there is definitely so much to discover in Edinburgh.
But now that we know, we’d love to come back and make up for it. We spent a few days wandering all over the old town, up and down the castle hill and popped into small shops, coffee shops and restaurants every now and then to take a break, eat or have a drink. There are so many options in the city…
From the Castle we enjoyed a stunning view over Edinburgh, or rather many views. The streets were buzzing with life. Locals and tourists alike were bustling around the city centre.
There were bagpipe players and other musicians on many of the streets and yes, the city clearly thrives on tourism. But that doesn’t have to detract from the overall impression. The historic old town is truly a jewel!
There are so many great historic buildings here! Magnificent large streets alternate with tiny alleyways – if you’re thinking of the Diagon Alley in Harry Potter, you’re right.
And the castle towers mightily and magnificently on a rock above the city! We didn’t get to see it from the inside back then, but I definitely want to do that next time. Not only can you see the Scottish crown jewels here, but you can also learn a lot about Scotland’s history. I have summarised everything else there is to see in Edinburgh for you below:
Stunning sightseeing in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle, which towers over the city, is probably the most famous landmark and is home to the Scottish Crown Jewels and the National War Museum, among other things. See: https://www.edinburghcastle.scot.
The Royal Mile leads from the castle to Holyrood Palace. The wide street is something like the city’s boulevard. Holyrood Palace is the royal residence in Scotland. See: https://www.rct.uk/visit/palace-of-holyroodhouse.
The Gothic St Giles’ Cathedral dates back to the Middle Ages and is a magnificent cathedral in the heart of the Old Town. See: https://www.stgilescathedral.org.uk.
The majestic Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcanic hill with panoramic views, is clearly visible from the castle and is a nice destination for a short hike.
The Georgian New Town and the Old Town are both World Heritage Sites and both feature impressive architecture that you can admire on your tours.
Another highlight is the National Museum of Scotland, which has an extensive collection on Scotland’s history and culture, as well as exhibitions on art and fashion, natural history and technology. See: https://www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland/see-and-do/explore-the-galleries.
Calton Hill with the National Monument offers a fantastic view of the city and is a beautiful place to enjoy the sunset. See: https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/calton-hill-and-national-monument-p1419631.
The Scott Monument, erected in honour of Sir Walter Scott, is Britain’s tallest monument to a writer. See: https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/scott-monument-p254951.
For nature lovers, the Royal Botanic Garden is a green oasis in the hustle and bustle of the city. See: https://www.rbge.org.uk/visit/royal-botanic-garden-edinburgh/.
If you want to learn more about historic Edinburgh, visit Mary King’s Close, an underground labyrinth of alleyways that offers a glimpse into life in past centuries. See: https://www.realmarykingsclose.com.
Brief history of Edinburgh
The history of Edinburgh dates back to prehistoric times. People settled here early on and stone circles and burial mounds can be found in the area.
In the Bronze Age, a Celtic-British tribe built a fort here. It is not known exactly where it was located, but it is likely that it stood on one of the larger hills in the area, Castle Hill, Calton Hill or Arthur’s Seat.
Remains of a Roman castle have even been found near the town. This was built in the first century AD, before the Romans withdrew from Scotland and built Hadrian’s Wall further south.
The later Anglo-Saxons repeatedly attempted to conquer Scotland. In the 16th century, Edinburgh became the capital of Scotland and the supporters of Queen Mary conquered and held the city and the surrounding area against the adversaries from the south.
However, by the Battle of Culloden (near Inverness) in 1745 at the latest, the centuries-long resistance of the Scots had been broken and the English ruled the country.
Edinburgh nevertheless remained the capital of Scotland and is also the seat of parliament. Alongside London, the city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the British Empire and, with a population of around 600,000, is also one of the largest and economically strongest cities in Britain.
In addition to tourism, the main economic sectors contributing to this are culture, research and education, finance and banking, insurance and trade. Maritime trade with Europe and Scandinavia played a major role in Edinburgh’s development, but has become less important today.
Edinburgh’s Old Town and Georgian New Town are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and make the city one of the most attractive in the British Isles.
Conclusion
Edinburgh is simply a stunningly beautiful city – there’s no better way to summarise my enthusiasm for Edinburgh.
If you like historic old towns and a magnificent castle, this is the place for you. If you are interested in the history of Scotland or historic cities in general, this is also the place for you.
If you like to experience a lively city with lots of nice shops, boutiques and good restaurants and prefer to explore everything on foot, then this is also the place for you.
And Edinburgh is actually the right place for many people. Unless you shy away from rain and cool weather. Then you’re not in the right place in Scotland, because that’s a common occurrence. But that’s no problem if you have the right clothes – and you can buy them in Edinburgh!
Have fun!
More interesting articles for you
Coming soon…
Picture credits cover picture: Edinburgh Castle (Photo: Ulrich Knüppel-Gertberg)
