Edinburgh city, the capital of Scotland is set in an idyllic world heritage site, offering oodles of historical sites dating back from the bronze age. With a population of almost 500,000 Edinburgh isthe second largest city in Scotland and a top UK tourist hotspot with 1 million overseas visitors attending the Fringe independent performing arts and comedy festival in August alone, making the citywell known as the European cultural hub for performing arts venues.

The city is also infamous for its authors including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle- The author of Sherlock Holmes, Louis Stevenson,creator of treasure island and the strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and in more recent years JK Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, wrote her first book in an Edinburgh coffeeshop.

The city is divided into two parts known as new town and old town. Old Town has preserved much of its medieval buildings including Edinburgh Castle which holds the annual EdinburghMilitary Tattoo with massed pipers and fireworks during the festival season. There are many places of interest including St. Gile's Cathedral and the Royal Museum of Scotland, during the 16th centuryold town saw a tendency of 'high rise style stone buildings' which give Edinburgh a unique skyline. During the industrial revolution many underground vaults were inhabited by immigrants, today you cantake tours to see the underground city.

New Town built in the 18th Century holds a very Georgian feel, which was created by James Craig, a 22 year old who won a competition to designexpansion of the city. New town holds many interesting sights including the National Gallery of Scotland, and the Scottish Academy building.


Top Five Things to do inEdinburgh:

1. Visit Edinburgh Castle
2. Walk up Arthurs seat (the tallest hill in Edinburgh with the nicest view)
3. If you are visiting in August, see a few performances at theFringe Festival
4. Take a guided tour of the underground vaults in old town
5. Enjoy the traditional local delicacies Shortbread and Haggis