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Edinburgh

Recognised as the capital of Scotland since at least the 15th century, Edinburgh is home to the
Scottish Parliament and the seat of the monarchy in Scotland. The city has long been a centre of
education, particularly in the fields of medicine, Scottish law, literature, the sciences and
engineering. It is also famous for the Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe, the latter
being the world’s largest annual international arts festival. The city’s historical and cultural
attractions have made it the United Kingdom’s second most popular tourist destination after
London, attracting over one million overseas visitors each year. Adapted from Wikipedia . . .

Edinburgh Castle is an icon of Scotland heritage and part of the Old and New Towns of
Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site.It was recently voted top UK Heritage Attraction in the British
Travel Awards and is Scotland’s number one paid-for tourist attraction. This most famous of
Scottish castles has a complex building history. The oldest part, St Margaret’s Chapel, dates from
the 12th century; the Great Hall was erected by James IV around 1510; the Half Moon Battery by
the Regent Morton in the late 16th century; and the Scottish National War Memorial after the First
World War.

The castle houses the Honours (Crown Jewels) of Scotland, the Stone of Destiny, the famous 15th
century gun Mons Meg, the One O’ Clock Gun and the National War Museum of Scotland.

Holyroodhouse The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the monarchy in Scotland.
Founded as a monastery in 1128 at the end of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, the Palace of
Holyroodhouse has a close association with the history of Scotland. Today, the palace is a focus
for national celebrations and events in Scotland, most notably the Queen’s ‘Holyrood Week’, which
usually runs from the end of June to the beginning of July every year.

Edinburgh Old Town and The Royal Mile is a labyrinth of cobbled streets, narrow alleyways and
hidden courtyards, all amazingly well preserved and steeped in the city’s history. At its centre is
the Royal Mile, a remarkable street of Reformation-era tenement buildings leading from the seat of
Edinburgh Castle on Castle Rock down to the grandiose palace of Holyroodhouse.

Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat are a short walk from Edinburgh’s Royal Mile in the heart of the
city. Holyrood Park is a 640 acre Royal Park adjacent to Holyrood Palace. The park’s highest point
is Arthur’s Seat, an ancient volcano, which is 251m above sea level, giving an excellent view of
the city. It is also the site of a large and well preserved fort, one of four hill forts dating from around
2000 years ago.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an iconic Edinburgh institution, and a sellout year after
year after year. Music, dance and precision display with the Massed Pipes and Drums, the
Massed Military Bands, cultural troupes, singers and the poignant refrain of the Lone Piper against
the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle.

Royal Yacht Britannia Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia, also known as the Royal Yacht Britannia,
was the ocean-going home to Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family for over 40 years,
sailing over 1,000,000 miles around the world. Now berthed in Edinburgh, you can follow in the
footsteps of royalty to explore this most special of royal residences.

National Museum of Scotland Fresh from a £47 million redevelopment, the museum houses an
array of over 20,000 fascinating artefacts. The diverse collections will take you on a journey
through the history of Scotland, the wonders of nature, world cultures and the excitement of
science and discovery.

Camera Obscura and World of Illusions where seeing is not believing. Edinburgh’s oldest tourist
attraction dating from 1835. From inside this mysterious Victorian rooftop chamber, you see live