Edinburgh

Edinburgh (Gaelic: Dùn Èideann) is the capital of Scotland located in the Central Belt region of the country. With a population of approximately 450,000 (1 million in the city region), Edinburgh fizzes with a cosmopolitan yet uniquely Scottish atmosphere. Old volcanoes ensure a dramatic natural setting, with the imposing castle atop one. Beneath its guard, the city combines medieval relics, Georgian grandeur and a powerful layer of modern life with contemporary avant-garde. Medieval palaces, Gothic churches and fascinating historical buildings rub shoulders with the best of modern architecture, such as the Houses of Scottish Parliament and the refurbished National Museum of Scotland. Variously dubbed "Auld Reekie" or "Athens of the North", but usually just plain "Emmbruh", it hosts great restaurants, shops, pubs, wild and mild clubs, and an unrivalled programme of city festivals throughout the year. Hogmanay, the Scottish New Year, kicks off the festivities; August sees the Tattoo, the International Festival and the Festival Fringe – the world's largest arts festival.

The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh were listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1995. In 2004, Edinburgh became the first member of the UNESCO Creative Cities initiative when it was designated a City of Literature.

This was an exciting place to be 300-350 million years ago, as volcanoes raged and flared across the region. The biggest was what we now call Arthur's Seat, with smaller cones at Castle Rock, Calton Hill, and elsewhere. Then they fizzled out and started to be buried by other rock layers. Much later came the Ice Ages, the last some 20,000 years ago. Vast glaciers from the west scoured away the surface, but where they hit Castle Rock they had to divide and flow around. They left the Rock intact with a scooped-out hollow to its north, west and south, and a tail of stone debris dumped in its lee to the east. This created an obvious defensible spot for early settlement. By the 12th century Edinburgh was the chief city of Scotland; the Old Town grew up with the Castle at its head, the Royal Mile stretching down the debris tail, and Holyrood Palace at its foot.

And up and up it grew: space was limited, so buildings became taller, ten or more storeys high even in medieval times. But no lifts or pumped water of course, and sanitation was taken care of by opening a window, shouting "Gardyloo!" and letting gravity do the rest. Every medieval city stank, but Edinburgh became known as "Auld Reekie" from the distinctive stench of sewage mingled with smoke from coal, mined and burned here from early times.

Edinburgh lost some of its importance after 1707, when Scotland united with England and political power ebbed away to London. But in the mid-18th century it revived, when it broke out of the confines of the Old Town, by creating a graceful New Town to the north. The intervening midden, the "Nor Loch", was drained, bridged, and an earth mound pushed across. There was similar expansion on the south side. Victorian times saw an industrial boom fuelled by the coal deposits nearby to the east, and by shale oil produced to the west. Canals and then railways brought in materials and a labour force.

Glasgow grew bigger, but Edinburgh remained the cultural capital of Scotland, and the Edinburgh International Festival was launched in 1947. A year later the first Military Tattoo was performed at the castle and soon became an official part of the Festival. In 1993, the first Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party was held as an organised event.

And from 1998 Edinburgh is in a stronger sense a capital city again, as the Scotland Act (and subsequent legislation) established a devolved Scottish Parliament and civil Government. These, based in Edinburgh, are responsible for governing Scotland excluding reserved matters such as defence and foreign affairs which remain with the Westminster Parliament in London. Between 1999 and 2004 the Scottish Parliament Building (designed by Enric Miralles, the Spanish Catalan architect) was constructed. The debate about full independence for Scotland continues.

Edinburgh has two principal spines, both running east-west. The spine of the Old Town is the Royal Mile, which starts with the Castle perched atop its volcanic crag, and the Esplanade commanding the best overall view of the city. From here the Royal Mile slopes down east, variously called Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate, to end at Holyrood Palace. George IV Bridge spans south from Old Town to the University quarter, Meadows and Southside, while the Mound and North Bridge span north to New Town.

The newer spine is Princes Street (one "s", no apostrophe, named for the princely sons of George III). Princes Street Gardens fill the depression between the Street and the Old Town heights, with the railway tracks at their base and the Mound crossing midway. The grid pattern of the New Town starts with Princes Street and stretches north, with George Street and Queen Street its main boulevards. Close to the east end of Princes Street are the main railway station Waverley, and the main bus station St Andrew Square. The street ends in Waterloo Place, historic terminus of the A1 to London, A7 to Carlisle, A8 to Glasgow, and A9 to John O'Groats - no modern motorist should ever heed these directions. The small hill just east of Princes Street with an ersatz Acropolis is Calton Hill, while the looming crags further SE are Arthur's Seat. The Firth of Forth glitters to the north, merging into the open North Sea.

Edinburgh is noted as a long-lived literary capital of the English-speaking world.

The great Scottish historical novelist Sir Walter Scott was born in the city and has his great monument on Princes Street. Robert Louis Stevenson and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were also natives of Edinburgh. Edinburgh has also variously been the home and inspiration for such well-known modern writers as Muriel Spark (author of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie), Irvine Welsh (author of the 1993 novel Trainspotting, set in the gritty district of Leith), Ian Rankin (a crime writer best known for the Inspector Rebus series, set in Edinburgh), Alexander McCall Smith (The No. 1 Lady Detective's Agency and several novels set in the Scottish capital) and J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame.

Edinburgh's climate is most comfortable for the traveller from May to September. That said, the weather in Edinburgh is always changeable and visitors should expect both sunshine and rain, whatever the season. Edinburgh tends to get windy while it rains as well, so be sure to pack either a raincoat or a sturdy umbrella! Many a tourist has abandoned an inverted umbrella due to the persistent, whipping winds. Summer, the main festival season, combines long daylight hours with lengthy evenings (being so far north, it rarely gets dark before 10 or 11 at night!). Winter can feel bitterly cold, with short daylight hours, however snow is rare and of a short duration, and most of Edinburgh's winter precipitation comes in the form of a chilly rain and sleet. Edinburgh has an abundance of indoor attractions and activities that make the cold winter days fly by. In other words, bring a coat big lad, will ya? Do not worry about being cold in winter, because like many modern countries all buildings including the old ones are warm, dry and insulated.

Edinburgh becomes overwhelmingly crowded (accommodation-wise) during the main festival periods of high summer (August to early September) and Hogmanay (around New Year's Day/1 January). Visitors at these times should plan well ahead for booking central accommodation and event tickets at these times.

The major tourist sites in Old Town include Edinburgh Castle at the West end of Royal Mile, a long straight street with lots of (tourist) shops, and the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the East end close to Arthur's Seat. While walking along the Royal Mile, you can wander off into one of the many closes, which are narrow passages between houses that connect the higher and lower levels of Edinburgh Old Town.

From Calton Hill in New Town you have a great view over the city. You can spend some time walking along Princes Street, the major shopping street, stopping by the Scott Monument or at the free National Gallery of Scotland in the Princes Street Gardens.

If you want to spend some time indoors, there are many museums and galleries which are generally free, except for special exhibitions. Most museums are in the Old Town including the large National Museum of Scotland, the Museum of Childhood and the People's Story Museum. The national art galleries are the National Gallery of Scotland and The Scottish National Portrait Gallery in the New Town, and Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in West Edinburgh. Also of note are the City Art Centre, the Fruitmarket Gallery and Stills in the Old Town. Furthermore, there are a number of independent galleries in the St Stephen Street Stockbridge and Dundas Street area of New Town.

If you are staying in Scotland a little while, it might be worth getting a Historic Scotland Membership. Passes last for a year, and cost £49.50 for adults and £39.50 for concessions (including full-time students). They provide unlimited access to about 70 paying sites in Scotland, including Edinburgh's Castle and Craigmillar Castle. You also get a lot of discounts for their shops, a quarterly magazine, and 50% off all English, Welsh and Manx historical sites.

Edinburgh Doors Open Day is an annual event, co-ordinated by the Cockburn Association, where many important and/or historic buildings across the city open up their doors to the public at no charge. Many of the buildings are not normally accessible so this can present a unique opportunity to see some of the city's lesser-known architectural marvels. It usually takes place on the last weekend in September. Brochures with details of the participating sites, opening times, access details etc., can be picked up from city libraries in the run up to the day, or downloaded from the website.

Edinburgh has an excellent concert and theatre life. The Usher Hall (Lothian Road, Old Town) has weekly orchestral concerts all year round with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. The Queen's Hall (South Clerk Street, South) is home to the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. The Lyceum (Lothian Road, Old Town) offers theatre performances. The Festival Theatre (Nicolson Street, Old Town) frequently hosts opera and ballet. Europe's largest theatre, the 3000-seat Edinburgh Playhouse (top of Leith Walk, New Town) hosts major West End shows. For a cheaper option, the excellent Bedlam Theatre (Old Town) regularly puts on good student theatre and is the home to Scotland's oldest improvised comedy troupe, The Improverts.

Experience traditional Folk Music at one of the pubs in the Old Town or Leith which host regular sessions.

• Walk along the Water of Leith, a small river that meanders through Edinburgh, providing a peaceful haven from the busy city. Check out the Leith or Stockbridge and Canonmills sections of the route.
• Climbing Arthur's Seat, the extinct volcano, is a popular activity as well and rewards you with great views over the city (Old Town).
• If you have more time, then you should go hiking in the Pentland Hills for a (half) day trip (South).

Walk along the Water of Leith, a small river that meanders through Edinburgh, providing a peaceful haven from the busy city. Check out the [[Edinburgh/Leith|Leith]] or [[Edinburgh/Stockbridge and Canonmills|Stockbridge and Canonmills]] sections of the route.

Climbing Arthur's Seat, the extinct volcano, is a popular activity as well and rewards you with great views over the city ([[Edinburgh/Old Town|Old Town]]).

If you have more time, then you should go hiking in the Pentland Hills for a (half) day trip ([[Edinburgh/South|South]]).

Edinburgh in the summer becomes "festival city" when a huge number of major national and international arts festivals are hosted by the city. Most of these occur virtually simultaneously in August (or end of July). These cater for a wide variety of interests and include:

• Edinburgh International Festival. In August. The original that spawned all the rest. Founded in 1947 and still seen as more "high-brow" than any of its offspring. Surprisingly, tickets are often priced more reasonably than for many Fringe shows. Some events have preview performances at a much lower price. The final concert at the end of the festival takes place in the Princes Gardens and features an extensive firework show coordinated with the music. Get tickets early in advance if you want a seat. But it's also great to watch the fireworks and listen to the music for free on Princes Street.
• Edinburgh Military Tattoo. In August. One of the iconic images of Edinburgh for millions worldwide is the yearly Tattoo, kilted pipers skirling below the battlements of Edinburgh Castle. Although tickets sell out well in advance, persevering individuals are likely to find one or two tickets still for sale due to cancellations. Just be prepared to ask, ask, and ask again! There are usually fireworks at the end of the shows which can also be seen from e.g. the Grassmarket area.
• Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In August. As the name might suggest, this festival developed on the fringe of the main International Festival and offers more alternative performances, with an emphasis on comedy and avant-garde; it is now the largest arts festival in the world. Many shows offer cheaper preview tickets on the first two days of the festival or a 2-for-1 ticket special on two selected dates. There are a few sub-festivals that are part of the Fringe such as the Assembly Festival, Summerhall Festival and CtheFestival. Part of the Fringe are also many free events (with donation if you liked the show) across the city grouped mostly under the PBH's Free Fringe or Free Festival.
• Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival. 10 days in July. Festival of about 150 concerts in 11 venues.
• Edinburgh International Book Festival. In August. Takes place in a temporary village of marquees at Charlotte Square Gardens (West End of George Street, New Town).
• Edinburgh Art Festival. In August.
• Edinburgh Mela. End of August. Multicultural festival held in Leith.
• Edinburgh International Television Festival. End of August. Predominantly a "closed shop" for industry professionals only.

One important thing to decide when planning a trip to Edinburgh is whether you wish to go at festival time, which runs from early August through to mid-September. Hotel rooms in and around the city are noticeably much more expensive then, and you will need to book well (at least six months!) in advance.

Edinburgh International Festival. In August. The original that spawned all the rest. Founded in 1947 and still seen as more "high-brow" than any of its offspring. Surprisingly, tickets are often priced more reasonably than for many Fringe shows. Some events have preview performances at a much lower price. The final concert at the end of the festival takes place in the Princes Gardens and features an extensive firework show coordinated with the music. Get tickets early in advance if you want a seat. But it's also great to watch the fireworks and listen to the music for free on Princes Street.

Edinburgh Military Tattoo. In August. One of the iconic images of Edinburgh for millions worldwide is the yearly Tattoo, kilted pipers skirling below the battlements of Edinburgh Castle. Although tickets sell out well in advance, persevering individuals are likely to find one or two tickets still for sale due to cancellations. Just be prepared to ask, ask, and ask again! There are usually fireworks at the end of the shows which can also be seen from e.g. the Grassmarket area.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In August. As the name might suggest, this festival developed on the fringe of the main International Festival and offers more alternative performances, with an emphasis on comedy and avant-garde; it is now the largest arts festival in the world. Many shows offer cheaper preview tickets on the first two days of the festival or a 2-for-1 ticket special on two selected dates. There are a few sub-festivals that are part of the Fringe such as the Assembly Festival, Summerhall Festival and CtheFestival. Part of the Fringe are also many free events (with donation if you liked the show) across the city grouped mostly under the PBH's Free Fringe or Free Festival.

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival. 10 days in July. Festival of about 150 concerts in 11 venues.

Edinburgh International Book Festival. In August. Takes place in a temporary village of marquees at Charlotte Square Gardens (West End of George Street, [[Edinburgh/New Town|New Town]]).

Edinburgh Art Festival. In August.

Edinburgh Mela. End of August. Multicultural festival held in [[Edinburgh/Leith|Leith]].

Edinburgh International Television Festival. End of August. Predominantly a "closed shop" for industry professionals only.

Edinburgh in the winter festive season is also huge with various concerts and other activities taking place starting a couple of weeks before Christmas and running up to a week into January. Princes Street Gardens play host to a Big Wheel, outdoor ice rink and various festive markets. As in most of the rest of Scotland, Hogmanay, the New Year celebrations, are the main focus of the festive season rather than Christmas. One night before on December 30, a torchlight procession takes place with Calton Hill as final destination where fireworks will be on display. On the night itself whole sections of central Edinburgh are roped off and accessible only by ticket for the Hogmanay street party, which takes place across several stages and is easily the largest in Scotland. Hogmany and Edinburgh fit together like hand and glove. On day one of the new year, you can watch or if you are brave enough take part in the Loony Dook in South Queensferry (people taking a dip in the ice-cold River Forth).

• Edinburgh International Science Festival. Takes place annually in March or April. Emphasis on "hands-on" science.
• Beltane Fire Festival, Calton Hill, New Town. Fire Festival marking the beginning of summer (evening of April 30). The festival has its origins in the pre-Christian Celtic festival of the same name, which was held to herald the coming of spring and to celebrate the fertility of the countryside. Drums, dancing, semi-nudity, pagan ritual, home-brew and lots of fire and fireworks. Crowds of around 12,000 enjoy the ceremony and spectacle every year. For the full traditional experience stay awake until dawn and head across to Arthurs Seat to wash your face in the dew.
• Hidden Door. Annual non-profit art, music, theatre, etc. event taking place in unused spaces in the city that change from year to year. End of May/beginning of June.
• Degree Show, Edinburgh College of Art, Old Town. Around the end of May the Edinburgh College of Art opens its doors and exhibits the works on art, design and architecture of their students. A similar event, the Masters Degree Show, takes place in August as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival. See the ECA event calendar for details. Free.
• Imaginate Festival. Every May/June, an international festival of children's theatre.
• Meadows Festival. A free festival in the Meadows (South) on a weekend in early June with lots of food stalls, second-hand merchandise and live music.
• The Royal Highland Show is a Highland Games & Gathering, Agricultural Show and much else, held at Ingliston (west, towards the airport) over a weekend in mid-June. The next event is Sat 22 - Sun 23 June 2019.
• Edinburgh International Film Festival. Now moved to June from its former slot in August, so that it no longer clashes with all the others! Centred around the Filmhouse Cinema on Lothian Road, though other cinemas take part too.
• Samhuinn Fire Festival, Royal Mile, Old Town. Fire Festival marking the beginning of winter (evening of October 31). Procession and enacted fight between the King of Summer and Prince of Winter with great accompanying percussion. Free, donations are collected.
• Guy Fawkes Night. Evening of November 5. With ticketed fireworks (£6.50) in the Meadowbank Sports Centre (East). Can be seen (for free) from several locations in the city.
• St Andrew's Day. Celebrate St Andrew's Day, Scotland's national day on November 30. There are many free events on the nearest weekend in Edinburgh. Historic Scotland opens many of its sites for free (free tickets are required and can be booked online).

Edinburgh International Science Festival. Takes place annually in March or April. Emphasis on "hands-on" science.

Beltane Fire Festival, Calton Hill, New Town. Fire Festival marking the beginning of summer (evening of April 30). The festival has its origins in the pre-Christian Celtic festival of the same name, which was held to herald the coming of spring and to celebrate the fertility of the countryside. Drums, dancing, semi-nudity, pagan ritual, home-brew and lots of fire and fireworks. Crowds of around 12,000 enjoy the ceremony and spectacle every year. For the full traditional experience stay awake until dawn and head across to Arthurs Seat to wash your face in the dew.

Hidden Door. Annual non-profit art, music, theatre, etc. event taking place in unused spaces in the city that change from year to year. End of May/beginning of June.

Degree Show, Edinburgh College of Art, Old Town. Around the end of May the Edinburgh College of Art opens its doors and exhibits the works on art, design and architecture of their students. A similar event, the Masters Degree Show, takes place in August as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival. See the ECA event calendar for details. Free.

Imaginate Festival. Every May/June, an international festival of children's theatre.

Meadows Festival. A free festival in the Meadows ([[Edinburgh/South|South]]) on a weekend in early June with lots of food stalls, second-hand merchandise and live music.

The Royal Highland Show is a Highland Games & Gathering, Agricultural Show and much else, held at Ingliston (west, towards the airport) over a weekend in mid-June. The next event is Sat 22 - Sun 23 June 2019.

Edinburgh International Film Festival. Now moved to June from its former slot in August, so that it no longer clashes with all the others! Centred around the Filmhouse Cinema on Lothian Road, though other cinemas take part too.

Samhuinn Fire Festival, Royal Mile, Old Town. Fire Festival marking the beginning of winter (evening of October 31). Procession and enacted fight between the King of Summer and Prince of Winter with great accompanying percussion. Free, donations are collected.

Guy Fawkes Night. Evening of November 5. With ticketed fireworks (£6.50) in the Meadowbank Sports Centre ([[Edinburgh/East|East]]). Can be seen (for free) from several locations in the city.

St Andrew's Day. Celebrate St Andrew's Day, Scotland's national day on November 30. There are many free events on the nearest weekend in Edinburgh. Historic Scotland opens many of its sites for free (free tickets are required and can be booked online).

Go to the cinema. Edinburgh has a number of cinemas covering mainstream, foreign language and arthouse films. Most interesting are the Filmhouse and Cameo (Old Town) and the Dominion (South).

• Watch Rugby Union. The top matches are the internationals, played at Murrayfield Stadium west of the centre. Highlight of these are the 6 Nations games played Jan-March each year between Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Italy and England. They only play each other once each year, so in even-numbered years England and France visit Murrayfield, while in odd-numbered years Wales, Ireland and Italy are the visitors. City and stadium are packed when these games are in town, so be sure to book accommodation and / or match tickets well in advance.

  Week in week out during winter there are club rugby matches, where you'll often see the international famous names in action. The city's professional club Edinburgh Rugby play in the Pro-14, the Celtic super-league of mostly Irish and Welsh clubs; their home ground is Murrayfield. Top tier of Scottish competition is the Premiership, and Edinburgh teams in this are Boroughmuir (Meggetland, Colinton), Currie (Malleny Park, Balerno), Heriot's (Goldenacre), Watsonians (Myreside Road, Merchiston) and (hanging on by their fingertips) Edinburgh Accies (Raeburn Place). Tickets will be no problem, just rock up at the stadium.

• Watch football ie soccer. Edinburgh has three teams. Two play in the Scottish Premiership, the top tier of Scottish football, so they play each other at least twice a year in a local "derby". These are Heart of Midlothian ("Hearts"), who play at Tynecastle Park near Murrayfield west of the centre, and Hibernian ("Hibs") who play at Easter Road Stadium in Leith. The third team, Edinburgh City, play in Scottish League Two, the fourth tier. They play at Ainslie Park in Pilton, 3 miles north of city centre.
• Catch an American Football match at the Edinburgh Wolves's home venue of Meadowbank Stadium (East).
• Swim in the Royal Commonwealth Pool, used for the Commonwealth Games in 1970, 1986 and for the diving in the 2014 Glasgow games.
• Horse racing: this is held at Musselburgh five miles east of the city. There's flat-racing in summer & jumps in winter.

Watch Rugby Union. The top matches are the internationals, played at Murrayfield Stadium [[Edinburgh/West|west]] of the centre. Highlight of these are the 6 Nations games played Jan-March each year between Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Italy and England. They only play each other once each year, so in even-numbered years England and France visit Murrayfield, while in odd-numbered years Wales, Ireland and Italy are the visitors. City and stadium are packed when these games are in town, so be sure to book accommodation and / or match tickets well in advance.

Week in week out during winter there are club rugby matches, where you'll often see the international famous names in action. The city's professional club Edinburgh Rugby play in the Pro-14, the Celtic super-league of mostly Irish and Welsh clubs; their home ground is Murrayfield. Top tier of Scottish competition is the Premiership, and Edinburgh teams in this are Boroughmuir (Meggetland, Colinton), Currie (Malleny Park, Balerno), Heriot's (Goldenacre), Watsonians (Myreside Road, Merchiston) and (hanging on by their fingertips) Edinburgh Accies (Raeburn Place). Tickets will be no problem, just rock up at the stadium.

Watch football ie soccer. Edinburgh has three teams. Two play in the Scottish Premiership, the top tier of Scottish football, so they play each other at least twice a year in a local "derby". These are Heart of Midlothian ("Hearts"), who play at Tynecastle Park near Murrayfield [[Edinburgh/West|west]] of the centre, and Hibernian ("Hibs") who play at Easter Road Stadium in [[Edinburgh/Leith|Leith]]. The third team, Edinburgh City, play in Scottish League Two, the fourth tier. They play at Ainslie Park in Pilton, 3 miles north of city centre.

Catch an American Football match at the Edinburgh Wolves's home venue of Meadowbank Stadium ([[Edinburgh/East|East]]).

Horse racing: this is held at [[Musselburgh]] five miles east of the city. There's flat-racing in summer & jumps in winter.

• Princes Street (New Town), north of the castle, is the main shopping street in Edinburgh. It runs through the middle of the city from the train station to Lothian Road. It contains large chain stores such as HMV for music, Topshop and H&M for clothes, tourist oriented shops, and department stores.
• There are many more upmarket shops, restaurants and bars on George Street (New Town), which runs parallel to Princes Street.
• Cockburn Street (pronounced "co-burn") in the (Old Town) has many small alternative shops selling music, novelty toys, underground clothing, body piercings and spiritual items.
• The Royal Mile (Old Town), especially the higher end near the castle, has many tourist-oriented shops selling Scottish souvenirs from postcards to whisky and kilts.
• Victoria Street (Old Town) is a nice street which is well worth a visit. You can find colourful buildings and interesting boutiques which are worth having a look at.
• Victoria Street also leads onto the Grassmarket (Old Town), a street which gives stunning views of the castle, which dominates right over it, and is also full of interesting and nice shops, as well as several pubs and restaurants. The Grassmarket is definitely well worth visiting.
• Multrees Walk (also known as The Walk), for high-end labels such as Vidal Sasoon, Armani, Vuitton, Harvey Nichols or Calvin Klein (New Town).
• Other malls include Princes Mall or St James Mall which are both just off Princes Street, and Ocean Terminal in Leith.
• Take home a bottle of Scotland's finest export, a single malt whisky.
• There are many charity shops that sell second-hand products. On Nicolson Street (Old Town) you can find quite a few.

Princes Street ([[Edinburgh/New Town|New Town]]), north of the castle, is the main shopping street in Edinburgh. It runs through the middle of the city from the train station to Lothian Road. It contains large chain stores such as HMV for music, Topshop and H&M for clothes, tourist oriented shops, and department stores.

There are many more upmarket shops, restaurants and bars on George Street ([[Edinburgh/New Town|New Town]]), which runs parallel to Princes Street.

Cockburn Street (pronounced "co-burn") in the ([[Edinburgh/Old Town|Old Town]]) has many small alternative shops selling music, novelty toys, underground clothing, body piercings and spiritual items.

The Royal Mile ([[Edinburgh/Old Town|Old Town]]), especially the higher end near the castle, has many tourist-oriented shops selling Scottish souvenirs from postcards to whisky and kilts.

Victoria Street ([[Edinburgh/Old Town|Old Town]]) is a nice street which is well worth a visit. You can find colourful buildings and interesting boutiques which are worth having a look at.

Victoria Street also leads onto the Grassmarket ([[Edinburgh/Old Town|Old Town]]), a street which gives stunning views of the castle, which dominates right over it, and is also full of interesting and nice shops, as well as several pubs and restaurants. The Grassmarket is definitely well worth visiting.

Edinburgh is a great city for the food lover. There is a vast selection of eateries scattered throughout every part of the city, catering for all tastes, prices and styles - from fast-food to Michelin-starred grandeur. Just be careful around the castle and in the Grassmarket area, where many restaurants are tourist traps. Rose St, running parallel to Princes St is a pedestrian precinct that has a huge number of pubs offering a variety of pub fare food. As well as the centre of Edinburgh, it is also worth checking out Leith and the West End when looking for a place to eat.

There are quite a few restaurants that have a BYOB policy which means you can bring your own wine or beer for consumption during your meal. Some charge a corkage fee per bottle. Be sure to check and ask before you start drinking.

The Scots are well known for having a penchant for fried food which has resulted in such gastronomic delights as deep fried pizza, deep fried hamburgers, deep fried Black Pudding (a type of blood sausage), deep fried haggis and deep fried Mars bars, which are not just a myth. If you're up to it, be sure to drop by a chippy (fish and chip shop) and experience these Scottish delights. Edinburgh chippys are unique in the UK for offering salt'n'sauce as standard in place of the salt'n'vinegar usually provided elsewhere in the country. The sauce is a kind of runny, vinegary version of HP or Daddys style brown sauce. Most chippys will provide vinegar on request if you prefer, but you really should try salt'n'sauce at least once!

Edinburgh Rock is a soft confectionery, made from sugar and cream of tartar with various flavourings and colours, including peppermint and ginger. It can often be seen in tourist shops in tartan boxes.

For a non-alcoholic beverage give Scotland's second national drink a try Irn-Bru. It's a great cure for hangover.

As for Scotland's first drink, you will find The Scotch Whisky Experience at the top of the Royal Mile, which offers an interactive "tour" of the history and practice of whisky distilling. For a less touristic experience simply enjoy your whisky in one of the many pubs. The closest single malt whisky distillery to Edinburgh is the Glenkinchie Distillery out in the country towards Haddington. The North British Distillery in Edinburgh (near Murrayfield) produces grain whisky which is all used in blending and the distillery is not open for visits.

There are a few gin distilleries opened in and around Edinburgh producing Pickering's Gin, Edinburgh Gin or NB Gin (from North Berwick).

The two major local beer breweries are the Caledonian Brewery and Stewart Brewing. Smaller local breweries are the Eden.Mill in St Andrews and Barney's Beer.

There are lots of (traditional) pubs all around the city and many of them offer - next to all the standard choices - a changing selection of guest ales. The bartenders can usually give you detailed taste information about each guest ale and are often willing to let you try a small sample. Most pubs also have a great selection of whiskies. Try to avoid obvious tourist trap pubs around the Grassmarket, Old Town and the Royal Mile. Some of them tend to be very popular with visiting stag and hen parties.

Lots of modern clubs are around Cowgate and Lothian Road including Base, Gig and Diva. George Street in the New Town hosts many of Edinburgh's trendier bars. George IV Bridge in the Old Town is another trendy style bar area. Other night clubs around the city include Espionage, Opal Lounge, Shanghai, Bacaro, The Hive, and Why Not.

There are establishments to suit all tastes scattered throughout every pocket of the city. Be careful, some of the more local pubs can be a little rough around the edges, especially in Leith.

Multiple internet cafés and hotspot venues exist throughout Edinburgh (see district articles for details).

• Free Wi-Fi is available in many places across the city such as coffee shops, department stores, larger high street shops and supermarkets.
• Many of the municipal libraries throughout the city have PCs with free internet access and free Wi-Fi.
• ScotRail offers free Wi-Fi on some trains and train stations including Edinburgh Park, Haymarket, and Waverley Station.
• There is also free Wi-Fi on all Edinburgh trams and some Lothian Buses.
• The Airlink bus between the airport and the city centre provides free Wi-Fi as well.
• On some of the Stagecoach express buses, there is free Wi-Fi, too.

The dialling code for the whole of the Edinburgh area is 0131. To call from overseas, dial +44 131 XXX XXXX.

The main mobile networks are EE, Vodafone, Three and O2. However there are a host of MVNOs that use the infrastructure of these networks, these often offer plans tailored towards expat communities and tourists who wish to call abroad, the main players are LycaMobile, Lebara and Giffgaff. Most of these SIM cards can be picked up in local shops and supermarkets.

In general Edinburgh can be considered a safe destination for visitors, but like all other major cities, it pays to remain attentive and use some common sense.

• Try not to get too drunk: if you have had too much, it might be wise to get a taxi home. There are taxi ranks all around the City Centre.
• Night buses (which depart from Waverley Bridge next to the train station) are affordable and safe alternatives to taxis, but stay on the lower deck. Night buses cost £3.50 for unlimited travel on a single night, so for groups of three or more travelling moderate distances, taxis can be more cost effective for single journeys.
• Like most other cities, there are some rundown areas. For its size, Edinburgh does not have many, but there are still some suburbs that are better avoided by anyone who is unfamiliar with the area such as the following: Niddrie and Craigmillar in the southeast of the city, Sighthill and Wester Hailes in the west, and Muirhouse and Pilton in the north.

In an emergency call 999.

For a list of police stations check the official webpage. In order to contact a local police station call 101.

• St Leonards Police Office, 14 St Leonards Street (East of the Meadows.

St Leonards Police Office, 14 St Leonards Street (East of the Meadows.

In emergency, dial 999 (preferably from a landline, a free call from any phone including payphones), 112 also works.

For advice on non-emergency medical problems, you can ring the free 24-hour NHS 24 service on 111 or for textphone users 18001 111 (the old number 0845 424 2424 is being phased out).

• Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Old Dalkeith Road (On the southern fringe of the city, it can take up to 30 min from the city centre in a bus or taxi, +44 131 536-1000. 24 hour opening. The R.I.E. hosts the main Accident and Emergency (A&E) facility for the city.
• Minor Injuries Clinic, Crewe Road South (at Western General Hospital, +44 131 537-1330. Daily from 08:00-21:00. No appointment is necessary. Last patient admission 30 min before closing time.

Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Old Dalkeith Road (On the southern fringe of the city, it can take up to 30 min from the city centre in a bus or taxi, +44 131 536-1000. 24 hour opening. The R.I.E. hosts the main Accident and Emergency (A&E) facility for the city.

Minor Injuries Clinic, Crewe Road South (at Western General Hospital, +44 131 537-1330. Daily from 08:00-21:00. No appointment is necessary. Last patient admission 30 min before closing time.

During normal shopping hours (M-F 09:00-17:30, Sa 09:00-12:30), you won't have any problem locating a pharmacy as they are dotted all around the city. Any row of local shops will usually include one. Common brands include Boots (city centre branches in the New Town at 11 Princes St, 101-103 Princes St and 48 Shandwick Pl; in the Old Town at 40-44 North Bridge), Alliance and Numark.

Outside of these hours you will face more of a challenge. There are no 24 h pharmacies in the city. In the city centre the best option is probably the Boots branch at 48 Shandwick Pl (western extension of Princes Street), M-F 07:30-20:00, Sa 08:00-18:00, Su 10:30–16:30.

Some of the major supermarkets include a pharmacy counter, but the pharmacy does not necessarily follow the same opening hours as the supermarket. The pharmacy counter within the Tesco supermarket at 7 Broughton Road in Canonmills is quite close to the city centre and opens M-Sa 08:00-20:00 and Su 10:00-17:00.

To find a pharmacy that is open on a Sunday or has late opening times call NHS inform on 0800 22 44 88 (between 08:00-22:00 daily) or check online with NHS24.

• Super Mums Childcare Agency, 6 Glencairn Crescent, EH12 5BS, +44 131 225-1744 or +44 7748 964144. Bookings 24-hr service. Round-the-clock baby-sitting is available short- or long-term at an hourly rate (3 hour minimum) and travel expenses home. Multilingual sitters are also available. Card payments only.

Super Mums Childcare Agency, 6 Glencairn Crescent, EH12 5BS, +44 131 225-1744 or +44 7748 964144. Bookings 24-hr service. Round-the-clock baby-sitting is available short- or long-term at an hourly rate (3 hour minimum) and travel expenses home. Multilingual sitters are also available. Card payments only.

Many countries run consulates in Edinburgh (Commonwealth countries call these Deputy High Commissions). Some of them cluster between Haymarket and the West End of Princes Street (e.g. Melville St/Cres, Rutland Sq and Lothian Rd). The services offered in Edinburgh vary greatly and it would be best to phone the consulate (or embassy in London) before visiting. There are also a few consulates in Glasgow.

• Australia Australia, 93 George St, +44 131 243-2589.
• Austria Austria, 9 Howard Place, +44 131 558-1955.
• Bangladesh Bangladesh, 312 Lanark Road, +44 789 491-0099.
• Belgium Belgium, 2 West St., Penicuik, +44 196 867-9969.
• Canada Canada, Brunsfield, +44 770 235-9916.
• China China, 55 Corstorphine Rd, +44 131 337-9896.
• Czech Republic Czech Republic, 12A Rislaw Cres, +44 131 447-9509.
• Denmark Denmark, 48 Melville St, +44 131 220-0300.
• Finland Finland, 5 Royal Terrace, +44 131 245-6811.
• France France, West Parliament Square EDINBURGH EH1 1RF, +44 131 225-7954.
• Germany Germany, 16 Eglinton Cres, +44 131 337-2323.
• Greece Greece, 12 Queens Cres, +44 131 620-5496.
• Hungary Hungary, 48 Melville St, +44 131 202-5110.
• Iceland Iceland, 2 Douglas Gardens, +44 131 220-5775.
• India India, 17 Rutland Sq, +44 131 229-2144.
• Ireland Ireland, 16 Randolph Cres, +44 131 226-7711.
• Italy Italy, 32 Melville St, +44 131 226-3631.
• Japan Japan, 2 Melville Cres, +44 131 225-4777.
• Jordan Jordan, 11A Windsor St, +44 131 466-9338.
• Luxembourg Luxembourg, Edinburgh Quay, 133 Fountainbridge, +44 131 270-3004.
• Malta Malta, 1 Craiglockhart Cres, +44 131 443-2533.
• Monaco Monaco, 3 Glenfinlas St, +44 131 225-1200.
• Netherlands Netherlands, 38 Melville Street, +44 131 510-0323.
• New Zealand New Zealand, 5 Rutland Sq, +44 131 222-8109.
• Norway Norway, 12 Rutland Square, +44 131 228-2444.
• Philippines Philippines, 1 Bankhead Medway, +44 131 453-3222.
• Poland Poland, 2 Kinnear Rd, +44 131 552-0301.
• Russia Russia, 58 Melville St, +44 131 225-7098.
• Rwanda Rwanda, 11 Rosslyn Cres, +44 131 554-4919.
• Slovenia Slovenia, 3 Coltbridge Terrace, +44 131 337-5167.
• Spain Spain, 63 N Castle St, +44 131 220-1843.
• Sweden Sweden, 22 Hanover St, +44 131 220-6050.
• Switzerland Switzerland, 58/2 Manor Place, +44 131 225-9313.
• Taiwan Taiwan, Taipei Representative Office in the UK, Edinburgh Office, 1 Melville St, +44 131 220-6886.
• Turkey Turkey, Forsyth House, 93 George St, +44 131 240-1267.
• Ukraine Ukraine, 8 Windsor St, +44 131 556-0023.
• United States United States, 3 Regent Terrace, +44 131 556-8315. Mon-Fri 08:30-17:00, Sat-Sun closed.

Australia Australia, 93 George St, +44 131 243-2589.

Austria Austria, 9 Howard Place, +44 131 558-1955.

Bangladesh Bangladesh, 312 Lanark Road, +44 789 491-0099.

Belgium Belgium, 2 West St., Penicuik, +44 196 867-9969.

Canada Canada, Brunsfield, +44 770 235-9916.

China China, 55 Corstorphine Rd, +44 131 337-9896.

Czech Republic Czech Republic, 12A Rislaw Cres, +44 131 447-9509.

Denmark Denmark, 48 Melville St, +44 131 220-0300.

Finland Finland, 5 Royal Terrace, +44 131 245-6811.

France France, West Parliament Square EDINBURGH EH1 1RF, +44 131 225-7954.

Germany Germany, 16 Eglinton Cres, +44 131 337-2323.

Greece Greece, 12 Queens Cres, +44 131 620-5496.

Hungary Hungary, 48 Melville St, +44 131 202-5110.

Iceland Iceland, 2 Douglas Gardens, +44 131 220-5775.

India India, 17 Rutland Sq, +44 131 229-2144.

Ireland Ireland, 16 Randolph Cres, +44 131 226-7711.

Italy Italy, 32 Melville St, +44 131 226-3631.

Japan Japan, 2 Melville Cres, +44 131 225-4777.

Jordan Jordan, 11A Windsor St, +44 131 466-9338.

Luxembourg Luxembourg, Edinburgh Quay, 133 Fountainbridge, +44 131 270-3004.

Malta Malta, 1 Craiglockhart Cres, +44 131 443-2533.

Monaco Monaco, 3 Glenfinlas St, +44 131 225-1200.

Netherlands Netherlands, 38 Melville Street, +44 131 510-0323.

New Zealand New Zealand, 5 Rutland Sq, +44 131 222-8109.

Norway Norway, 12 Rutland Square, +44 131 228-2444.

Philippines Philippines, 1 Bankhead Medway, +44 131 453-3222.

Poland Poland, 2 Kinnear Rd, +44 131 552-0301.

Russia Russia, 58 Melville St, +44 131 225-7098.

Rwanda Rwanda, 11 Rosslyn Cres, +44 131 554-4919.

Slovenia Slovenia, 3 Coltbridge Terrace, +44 131 337-5167.

Spain Spain, 63 N Castle St, +44 131 220-1843.

Sweden Sweden, 22 Hanover St, +44 131 220-6050.

Switzerland Switzerland, 58/2 Manor Place, +44 131 225-9313.

Taiwan Taiwan, Taipei Representative Office in the UK, Edinburgh Office, 1 Melville St, +44 131 220-6886.

Turkey Turkey, Forsyth House, 93 George St, +44 131 240-1267.

Ukraine Ukraine, 8 Windsor St, +44 131 556-0023.

United States United States, 3 Regent Terrace, +44 131 556-8315. Mon-Fri 08:30-17:00, Sat-Sun closed.

• Bendix Self-Service Launderette, 342-346 Leith Wk, +44 131 554-2180.
• City Laundry & Ironing Service, 32 Dalry Rd, +44 131 466-4595.
• Raeburn Launderama, 59 Raeburn Pl, Stockbridge, +44 131 343-3399.

Bendix Self-Service Launderette, 342-346 Leith Wk, +44 131 554-2180.

City Laundry & Ironing Service, 32 Dalry Rd, +44 131 466-4595.

Raeburn Launderama, 59 Raeburn Pl, Stockbridge, +44 131 343-3399.

• Oscars, 371 Leith Walk, +44 131 553-3662. Repairs, Zip replacements, hems shortened etc.
• Huttons Shoe Repairs, 11 Elgin Ter (Just off Easter Rd near its junction with London Rd, +44 131 661-6164. M-F 08:00-17:30, Sa 08:00-13:00. Traditional cobblers established since 1923. The present proprietor is the 3rd generation of his family to run the business.

Oscars, 371 Leith Walk, +44 131 553-3662. Repairs, Zip replacements, hems shortened etc.

Huttons Shoe Repairs, 11 Elgin Ter (Just off Easter Rd near its junction with London Rd, +44 131 661-6164. M-F 08:00-17:30, Sa 08:00-13:00. Traditional cobblers established since 1923. The present proprietor is the 3rd generation of his family to run the business.

Almost all cash machines in Edinburgh will dispense Scottish bank notes (for more info see Currency (Scotland)), but there are a few listed here that usually have Bank of England notes, which may be convenient if you are leaving Scotland:

• HSBC, 118 Princes St.
• NatWest, 8 George St.
• Barclays, 10-15 Princes Street. (this one has been known to stock Scottish notes on occasion)

HSBC, 118 Princes St.

NatWest, 8 George St.

Barclays, 10-15 Princes Street. (this one has been known to stock Scottish notes on occasion)

Edinburgh is so well-connected that just about anywhere in Scotland (and beyond) is a reasonable go-next.

Within an easy day-trip find:

• South Queensferry — just beyond the north-western fringe of the city, site of the contrasting engineering marvels that are the Forth Bridges (two road and one rail). Quite a few hotels here and with good transport links to the city centre it can be a good base for visitors.
• East Lothian — immediately to the east of the city, offers rolling green countryside, golden sandy beaches, dozens of golf courses, and more annual sunshine hours than any other part of the UK. The area has a number of picturesque villages and small towns.
  • North Berwick — Seafood, thousands of birds on the Bass Rock and the 14th century Tantallon Castle.
  • Gullane — Excellent beach, backed by sand-hills, and a great golf course
  • Musselburgh — For ice cream and horse racing
  • Dunbar — Pleasant harbour town famous as the birthplace of conservationist John Muir
  • The Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian (About 30 minutes drive along the A1 towards Dunbar. It is also close to Drem station on the Edinburgh to North Berwick line, +44 300 123 6789. Apr-Oct: daily 10:00-17:00; Nov-Mar: Sa Su 10:00-16:00. It is home to a number of historic aircraft from across the history of flight, including British Airways Concorde G-BOAA. Remember to book in advance to see inside Concorde as these tickets are generally sold out on the day. Another rather good attraction (and well worth the look) is the De-Havilland Comet 4C, a modified version of the Worlds first jetliner. £10 adults, £8 concession, £5 children (from 5 years).
  • Glenkinchie Distillery, Pencaitland, Tranent, East Lothian, EH34 5ET (Take EastCoastBuses 113 from Princes Street to Pencaitland (£2.60 one-way or £5 day ticket valid only on EastCoastBuses), which takes slightly less than 1h - from there it is about 3.5 km to the distillery: Get off at the gas station/Spar supermarket and follow the bicycle sign pointing to the "Pencaitland Railway Path". Once on the path walk downhill until you are at a bridge above you. Take the stairs to cross that bridge. From there you can see the chimney of the distillery. This nice walk takes about 30-45 min. Alternatively, the distillery also offers a shuttle service from Waterloo Place, Edinburgh (close to Princes Street and North Bridge) two or three times per day. You must call in advance to book a seat. Check the details on the webpage or ask on the phone. The shuttle service costs £22 and includes the ticket price for the standard tour., +44 1875 342012. Mar-Oct: daily 10:00-17:00; Nov-Feb: daily 10:00-16:00. The Glenkinchie whisky is a Lowland whisky and is promoted as one of the six Classic Malts. About 80% of the produced whisky is used for blending. The distillery is the closest Single Malt distillery to Edinburgh, about 25km southeast. Standard tour: adults £10, concession (60+, no student discount) £7.
• West Lothian — The area to the west of the city. Generally less pretty than its eastern counterpart, but does have a couple of destinations worth the effort.
  • Linlithgow — A great little town for a day trip from Edinburgh with its Palace, and links to Mary, Queen of Scots. It is a short drive by car on the M9. There is also a frequent service by train from Waverley station (also stopping at Haymarket).
  • Livingston — One of Scotland's New Towns, it is one of Scotland's most popular shopping spots, only a short drive from Edinburgh on the M8 or A70. Plus there are also bus and rail services to the new town.
• Falkirk — See the Falkirk Wheel lifting boats between the Union Canal and the Forth and Clyde Canal; see the Kelpies, two huge horse-head structures about 30-m high; reachable by bike on the National Cycle Network Route 754 (ca. 50 km)
• Peebles — For the largest mountain biking centre in Scotland in the Glentress Forest; reachable by bus in about 1 hour.
• Stirling — Miniature Edinburgh with its castle perched on a crag and ancient streets.

Still within a day-trip, but worth a longer stay, are:

• Glasgow — Scotland's largest city is 46 miles west of Edinburgh and is easily reached via train (see above), bus (running from the main bus terminal) or via the M8 motorway. Great for shopping and has some excellent museums and galleries.
• Fife — A predominantly rural county, with some lovely old towns and villages dotted throughout. This is the coast which can be seen across the Firth of Forth from any high point in the city. It's easy to get to via the twin road and rail bridges across the Forth. The A90 road bridge opened in Sept 2017, and road approaches were altered, which may not show on older maps.
  • Dunfermline — Makes an excellent day trip. Used to be the capital of Scotland a long time ago. It is easily accessed by car via the Forth Road Bridge. There is a half-hourly service by train from Waverley station (also stopping at Haymarket).
  • Aberdour — Described as "The Jewel of Fife", Aberdour is a historic and stunningly attractive coastal village 40 minutes drive North of Edinburgh. Aberdour Castle is a must-see, as well as the Blue-Flag awarded beach the Silver Sands. There are also several pubs, restaurants, and boutique shops.
  • Culross is a charming 17th-18th century village to the east of the bridges.
  • A tour of Fife should also take in Falkand Palace and the little harbours of the East Neuk before continuing to St Andrews: Ancient university town, former ecclesiastical capital of Scotland, and home of the Royal and Ancient - the ruling body of Golf.
• Dundee — Once a grubby industrial city, now rejuvenated, with a great setting by the River Tay.

Further afield (but a madman could day-trip):

• Isle of Arran — An island in the Firth of Clyde, SW of Glasgow, with a one-hour ferry ride from Ardrossan. Climb Goat Fell, walk or cycle the hilly roads, see standing stones at Machrie Moor. (The Castle is closed until 2019.) And sample the Arran Whisky distillery, the Arran brewery and Arran cheese.
• Aberdeen for a grey, granite experience; gateway to Royal Deeside, and Glenshee ski slopes.
• The Hebrides — Top choices are Skye, Islay and Mull - see page on Inner Hebrides for their pros & cons.
• Orkney and Shetland have flights at least daily from Edinburgh.
• And then there's all of England before you! On the way to London, do try to see Newcastle-upon-Tyne and York.

[[South Queensferry]] — just beyond the north-western fringe of the city, site of the contrasting engineering marvels that are the Forth Bridges (two road and one rail). Quite a few hotels here and with good transport links to the city centre it can be a good base for visitors.

East Lothian — immediately to the east of the city, offers rolling green countryside, golden sandy beaches, dozens of golf courses, and more annual sunshine hours than any other part of the UK. The area has a number of picturesque villages and small towns.

• [[North Berwick]] — Seafood, thousands of birds on the Bass Rock and the 14th century Tantallon Castle.
• [[Gullane]] — Excellent beach, backed by sand-hills, and a great golf course
• [[Musselburgh]] — For ice cream and horse racing
• [[Dunbar]] — Pleasant harbour town famous as the birthplace of conservationist John Muir
• The Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian (About 30 minutes drive along the A1 towards Dunbar. It is also close to Drem station on the Edinburgh to North Berwick line, +44 300 123 6789. Apr-Oct: daily 10:00-17:00; Nov-Mar: Sa Su 10:00-16:00. It is home to a number of historic aircraft from across the history of flight, including British Airways Concorde G-BOAA. Remember to book in advance to see inside Concorde as these tickets are generally sold out on the day. Another rather good attraction (and well worth the look) is the De-Havilland Comet 4C, a modified version of the Worlds first jetliner. £10 adults, £8 concession, £5 children (from 5 years).
• Glenkinchie Distillery, Pencaitland, Tranent, East Lothian, EH34 5ET (Take EastCoastBuses 113 from Princes Street to Pencaitland (£2.60 one-way or £5 day ticket valid only on EastCoastBuses), which takes slightly less than 1h - from there it is about 3.5 km to the distillery: Get off at the gas station/Spar supermarket and follow the bicycle sign pointing to the "Pencaitland Railway Path". Once on the path walk downhill until you are at a bridge above you. Take the stairs to cross that bridge. From there you can see the chimney of the distillery. This nice walk takes about 30-45 min. Alternatively, the distillery also offers a shuttle service from Waterloo Place, Edinburgh (close to Princes Street and North Bridge) two or three times per day. You must call in advance to book a seat. Check the details on the webpage or ask on the phone. The shuttle service costs £22 and includes the ticket price for the standard tour., +44 1875 342012. Mar-Oct: daily 10:00-17:00; Nov-Feb: daily 10:00-16:00. The Glenkinchie whisky is a Lowland whisky and is promoted as one of the six Classic Malts. About 80% of the produced whisky is used for blending. The distillery is the closest Single Malt distillery to Edinburgh, about 25km southeast. Standard tour: adults £10, concession (60+, no student discount) £7.

East Lothian — immediately to the east of the city, offers rolling green countryside, golden sandy beaches, dozens of golf courses, and more annual sunshine hours than any other part of the UK. The area has a number of picturesque villages and small towns.

• [[North Berwick]] — Seafood, thousands of birds on the Bass Rock and the 14th century Tantallon Castle.
• [[Gullane]] — Excellent beach, backed by sand-hills, and a great golf course
• [[Musselburgh]] — For ice cream and horse racing
• [[Dunbar]] — Pleasant harbour town famous as the birthplace of conservationist John Muir
• The Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian (About 30 minutes drive along the A1 towards Dunbar. It is also close to Drem station on the Edinburgh to North Berwick line, +44 300 123 6789. Apr-Oct: daily 10:00-17:00; Nov-Mar: Sa Su 10:00-16:00. It is home to a number of historic aircraft from across the history of flight, including British Airways Concorde G-BOAA. Remember to book in advance to see inside Concorde as these tickets are generally sold out on the day. Another rather good attraction (and well worth the look) is the De-Havilland Comet 4C, a modified version of the Worlds first jetliner. £10 adults, £8 concession, £5 children (from 5 years).
• Glenkinchie Distillery, Pencaitland, Tranent, East Lothian, EH34 5ET (Take EastCoastBuses 113 from Princes Street to Pencaitland (£2.60 one-way or £5 day ticket valid only on EastCoastBuses), which takes slightly less than 1h - from there it is about 3.5 km to the distillery: Get off at the gas station/Spar supermarket and follow the bicycle sign pointing to the "Pencaitland Railway Path". Once on the path walk downhill until you are at a bridge above you. Take the stairs to cross that bridge. From there you can see the chimney of the distillery. This nice walk takes about 30-45 min. Alternatively, the distillery also offers a shuttle service from Waterloo Place, Edinburgh (close to Princes Street and North Bridge) two or three times per day. You must call in advance to book a seat. Check the details on the webpage or ask on the phone. The shuttle service costs £22 and includes the ticket price for the standard tour., +44 1875 342012. Mar-Oct: daily 10:00-17:00; Nov-Feb: daily 10:00-16:00. The Glenkinchie whisky is a Lowland whisky and is promoted as one of the six Classic Malts. About 80% of the produced whisky is used for blending. The distillery is the closest Single Malt distillery to Edinburgh, about 25km southeast. Standard tour: adults £10, concession (60+, no student discount) £7.

West Lothian — The area to the west of the city. Generally less pretty than its eastern counterpart, but does have a couple of destinations worth the effort.

• [[Linlithgow]] — A great little town for a day trip from Edinburgh with its Palace, and links to Mary, Queen of Scots. It is a short drive by car on the M9. There is also a frequent service by train from Waverley station (also stopping at Haymarket).
• [[Livingston (Scotland)|Livingston]] — One of Scotland's New Towns, it is one of Scotland's most popular shopping spots, only a short drive from Edinburgh on the M8 or A70. Plus there are also bus and rail services to the new town.

[[Falkirk]] — See the Falkirk Wheel lifting boats between the Union Canal and the Forth and Clyde Canal; see the Kelpies, two huge horse-head structures about 30-m high; reachable by bike on the National Cycle Network Route 754 (ca. 50 km)

[[Peebles]] — For the largest mountain biking centre in Scotland in the Glentress Forest; reachable by bus in about 1 hour.

[[Stirling]] — Miniature Edinburgh with its castle perched on a crag and ancient streets.

[[Glasgow]] — Scotland's largest city is 46 miles west of Edinburgh and is easily reached via train (see above), bus (running from the main bus terminal) or via the M8 motorway. Great for shopping and has some excellent museums and galleries.

[[Fife]] — A predominantly rural county, with some lovely old towns and villages dotted throughout. This is the coast which can be seen across the Firth of Forth from any high point in the city. It's easy to get to via the twin road and rail bridges across the Forth. The A90 road bridge opened in Sept 2017, and road approaches were altered, which may not show on older maps.

• [[Dunfermline]] — Makes an excellent day trip. Used to be the capital of Scotland a long time ago. It is easily accessed by car via the Forth Road Bridge. There is a half-hourly service by train from Waverley station (also stopping at Haymarket).
• [[Aberdour]] — Described as "The Jewel of Fife", Aberdour is a historic and stunningly attractive coastal village 40 minutes drive North of Edinburgh. Aberdour Castle is a must-see, as well as the Blue-Flag awarded beach the Silver Sands. There are also several pubs, restaurants, and boutique shops.
• [[Culross]] is a charming 17th-18th century village to the east of the bridges.
• A tour of Fife should also take in Falkand Palace and the little harbours of the East Neuk before continuing to [[St Andrews]]: Ancient university town, former ecclesiastical capital of Scotland, and home of the Royal and Ancient - the ruling body of Golf.

[[Dundee]] — Once a grubby industrial city, now rejuvenated, with a great setting by the River Tay.

[[Isle of Arran]] — An island in the Firth of Clyde, SW of Glasgow, with a one-hour ferry ride from Ardrossan. Climb Goat Fell, walk or cycle the hilly roads, see standing stones at Machrie Moor. (The Castle is closed until 2019.) And sample the Arran Whisky distillery, the Arran brewery and Arran cheese.

[[Aberdeen]] for a grey, granite experience; gateway to Royal Deeside, and Glenshee ski slopes.

The Hebrides — Top choices are [[Skye]], [[Islay]] and [[Mull]] - see page on [[Inner Hebrides]] for their pros & cons.

[[Orkney]] and [[Shetland]] have flights at least daily from Edinburgh.

And then there's all of England before you! On the way to London, do try to see [[Newcastle-upon-Tyne]] and [[York]].