10 Reasons to Visit Edinburgh
There is a reason the royals decide to officially set up sticks in Edinburgh – and that’s because it’s as entertaining as it is magnificent. Here are 10 reasons to visit the capital city of Scotland…
1. The Scenery
image via edinburgh-holiday.co.uk
You cannot help but fall head over heels in love with the capital city of Scotland. Offering beautiful rolling hills and a vibrant town, you will never be short of things to see or do when in Edinburgh. To learn just how beautiful Edinburgh really is, we recommend taking a walk up to Arthur’s Seat to breathe in its wonder.
2. The Edinburgh International Festival & Fringe
image via en.wikipedia.org
There are not one but 12 big festivals held in Edinburgh every year. The biggest event has to be The Edinburgh Festival and Fringe in August, though, as 1,000 shows are put on every day by more than 25,000 performers. Budding actors, comedian and writers have the opportunity to showcase their talents to a large audience, whilst some of the biggest names will also be in attendance. In fact, many of the big stars got their big break in entertainment due to the festival, including Graham Norton, Sarah Millican and Billy Connolly.
3. Edinburgh Castle
image via en.wikipedia.org
Edinburgh Castle resides on Castle Rock, dominating the city’s skyline. It has been a royal castle since the 12th century, and now welcomes over one million visitors on an annual basis. It is Scotland’s most-visited paid attraction, and is also the backdrop to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo during the Edinburgh International Festival.
Open to the public, visitors can walk the grounds of the castle, and can look forward to the One O’clock gun – which is fired every day at the precise time of 1pm.
4. The History
image via www.telegraph.co.uk
Edinburgh has a rich history that dates back to 7th century AD. Each and every street in the city is crammed with character, and there are so many hidden nooks and crannies that you’ll never be short of surprises. The city offers a vast royal history, which has undoubtedly shaped the monarchy and the United Kingdom we know today.
5. The Architecture
image via www.123royalmile.com
You cannot move for beautiful buildings in Edinburgh. From the uber-modern Scottish Parliament to the beautiful Old Town, you will fall in love with the breathtaking buildings that add to the stunning landscape. You only have to walk down the amazing Royal Mile to see some of the incredible buildings that demand to be seen.
6. The Zoo
image via rzss.wordpress.com
As you can imagine, pandas and koala bears are pretty hard to find here in the UK – unless you’re in Edinburgh Zoo, that is. Here you can view more than a thousand animals, including penguins, budongo, birds, wallabies and more. It’s therefore an ideal day out for all the family.
7. The Food
image via www.shebeenbar.co.uk
Offering more restaurants than you can shake a stick at, foodies across the world regularly flood into Edinburgh to enjoy the city’s culinary delights. You’ll never be short of delicious dishes, as there are more restaurants here than anywhere else in the UK. Love Michelin star food? Head to The Kitchin or Martin Wishart. More of a street food type of person? You have to try Ting Thai Caravan by Bistro Square. You also cannot, should not, miss Oink, which offers a delicious hog roast that will simply melt in your mouth.
8. The Literature
image via www.themetropolist.com
Edinburgh was the first ever city to be designated a UNESCO City of Literature in 2004. So yeah, it’s inspired plenty of writers over the years. It was in The Elephant House cafe that J.K Rowling wrote Harry Potter, and you can even visit the cafe toilets that are covered with quotes from the series.
It wasn’t just Edinburgh that inspired The Boy Who Lived. The city was an inspiration to Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, Irvine Welsh, Arthur Conan Doyle and Ian Rankin, to name but a few.
9. The Ghosts
image via www.telegraph.co.uk
As we stated earlier, Edinburgh has a pretty extensive history – so it has a fair amount of ghosts, apparently. Those brave enough can even go in search of spirits, as you take a walk in Blair Street’s Underground Vaults. Many ghouls and legends reportedly haunt the catacombs around the vaults, and you might just see one!
It’s reportedly one of the most haunted cities in the world – with some even residing in Edinburgh Castle. Many people have reportedly seen or heard a drummer, a dog, ghostly prisoners and the woman who was killed for being a supposed with, Janet Douglas. Other haunted locations include Greyfriars Kirkyard, Niddry St Vaults, West Bow and Brodie’s Close.
10. The Tipples
image via www.scotsman.com
You’ll never be short of great places to drink when in Edinburgh. For a beer and a burger, we recommend World’s End pub, but if you’re looking for amazing cocktails, look no further than Bramble Bar. It’s a city full of gin lovers, so if you’re going to walk into a gin joint in all of the world, it has to be Pickering’s Gin.
