Capital of Scotland

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland located just 45 miles from Glasgow and home to a population of over 450, 000 people. There is a healthy rivalry between the two main cities in Scotland with residents in Edinburgh and Glasgow keen to claim the crown of the best city to visit in Scotland.

Edinburgh is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United Kingdom and is steeped in tradition and history as you can visit the old town, marvel at the delights of the old town or even take a stroll down the famous Princess Street and admire Edinburgh Castle in the background. Edinburgh is a charming city steeped in history with many must see venues which are famous all around the world. Indeed Robert Louis Stevenson famously said " Edinburgh is what Paris should have been " .

Transport and Edinburgh

Edinburgh is very easy to get around as there is a comprehensive local bus service , be warned that most of the buses require the exact fare so you will need to have change available as the drivers don't give out change. You can also buy unlimited day tickets which are good value for money. Edinburgh has two main train stations which are Haymarket in the west end of the city and Waverley based in the city centre. Many scheduled and charter flights are available from Edinburgh as Edinburgh International Airport is only 12km outside the city centre and there is a regular airlink shuttle service from the city centre. A taxi from the airport to a city centre hotel will cost between £19-£25 and will take about 20-30 minutes depending on traffic.

Shopping in Edinburgh

You will find famous brand names such as Jenners, Marks and Spencer, Harvey Nicholls and John Lewis all located in Edinburgh. The city is unique in that the main street, Princess Street only has shops on one side of the main road which allows a fantastic clear view of Edinburgh Castle in the background. Indeed as you wander along Princess Street you will realize that there are very few streets like this in the world with such a fantastic backdrop. The Princess Mall is popular with tourists and you will find this on Princess Street and is home to over 60 shops offering a variety of goods. If you are looking for specialist goods then take a stroll down the royal mile where you will find a variety of niche shops.

Edinburgh also hosts one of the biggest outdoor markets at Ingliston Market which is located next to Edinburgh International Airport on the outskirts of the city. Be prepared to haggle if you visit this market !