Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the jewel in the Scottish Crown, a cosmopolitan and cultural centre with an impressive skyline of castles and Georgian Terraces, wind-swept hills and royal palaces. Travellers throughout the centuries have been impressed by the diversity of experiences on offer in Edinburgh, and today the city plays host to two of the biggest events in the European calendar - the Festival in August is the largest arts and cultural extravanganza in Europe, and the New Year's Eve celebrations known as Hogmanay is a strong contender for European Party of the Year.
Most visitors arrive at Waverley Station, the main line railway's most popular stop, and from where the emerging visitor is greeting by the breath-taking site of Edinburgh Castle, perched on its craggy hilltop. Below the castle, and forming a natural division of the city are the Princes Street Gardens, where the dark, spaceship-like memorial to Sir Walter Scott dominates, and where there are plenty of spots to relax after a bout of shopping on the adjacent Princes Street.
The Old Town that surrounds the Castle and sweeps down the Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyroodhouse is a well preserved reminder of the medieval capital as it existed until comparatively modern times. A great starting point for a tour of Edinburgh, the Old Town contains a fascinating mix of alleyways, tightly-packed stone constructions, and sights such as those mentioned above.
The New Town was the eighteenth century response to the cramped, unsanitary conditions of Old Edinburgh, which had long been nicknamed 'Auld Reekie' for it's foul stench and open sewers. Built along neoclassical lines, the broad avenues of Georgian terraced housing and symmetrical streets have become the commercial and business heart of Edinburgh, with Prices Street the most popular shopping precinct, and the formerly staid George Street rapidly transforming into a street of bars and designer shops.
On the outskirts of Edinburgh is the extinct volcano known as Arthur's Seat, a stunning but eminently climable peak that provides fantastic views of Edinburgh and the surrounding countryside. At the foot of Arthur's Seat is Holyrood Park, a natural wilderness that well worth visiting, but of which few tourists are aware.
Getting There
Most visitors arrive either by train at Waverley Station, to and from which there are several London services each day, or by air, for which multiple services operate from London's main airports.
For those on a budget, 6 buses leave from London each day, reaching Edinburgh a shade under 8 hours later.
eBigOE's Recommended Partner PP Travel operates Hogmanay Tours every December. These tours include: coach travel, accommodation, a guided tour of Edinburgh, and free entry to some of Edinburgh's best pubs. There's no easier and more affordable way to experience Hogmanay - Europe's biggest New Year's party.
For more Hogmanay Tour Information check out the PP Travel website at www.pptravel.com.
More Information
Check out the main Scotland portal, Edinburgh, or About Scotland.
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