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Edinburgh, Scotland's
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As you know, Edinburgh is
the capital of Scotland, and is one of the favourite places to visit for
tourists from all over the world. This is amazing for such a small city –
only 450,000 people live here. But yet Edinburgh has a wide range of
culture and entertainment for any visitor or resident, as well as offering
easy access to sporting facilities and the beautiful Scottish countryside.
Modern Edinburgh has many
sights for the visitor. At the end of the historical Royal Mile is our
brand new parliament building, designed by Enric Miralles Moya, and
completed by his widow when he unfortunately died during the project. Like
many new buildings, it is controversial, with Edinburgh residents divided
over whether it is wonderful or a disaster! However, it enjoys a fantastic
location, with a visitor centre open to all. Many of our students visit
the parliament as part of their course, when they are learning about
Scotland’s culture.
Edinburgh also benefits
from having four universities in the city, giving it a student population
of over 50,000 and a vibrant student culture. Pubs, clubs, concerts,
ceilidhs: all are there for ‘party animals’!
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For lovers of other types
of culture, Edinburgh has of course its world-famous arts festival in
August. The influence of this is felt all year, with world-class theatre,
ballet and opera performances, as well as exhibitions at the city centre
National Gallery of Scotland, and its sister institutions, the Gallery of
Modern Art and the Dean Gallery. A recent addition to Edinburgh’s visual
arts scene is the Water of Leith sculpture trail, a walk along the river
which flows from the Dean Gallery to the port of Leith. Along the way are
6 statues in the water, which form a
permanent exhibition of Antony Gormley’s work.
People say that Glasgow is
better for shopping than Edinburgh, but the Scottish capital has its own
treasures, from modern fashionable shops like
Harvey Nichols (visit the café for the views!) No British high street
is complete without Marks and Spencers and Edinburgh is no exception, with
the store right in the middle of Princes Street. Away from the modern
department stores, there is a wealth of small independent shops at the
West End or in Stockbridge.
But Edinburgh is perhaps
most famous as a historical city. Edinburgh Castle is an iconic image, and
now the site in summer of a variety of open air concerts, as well as
providing the background for our
Hogmanay celebration at New Year. No visit to Edinburgh is complete
without a walk down the Royal Mile, from the castle to Holyrood Palace
taking in as many of the little museums as possible. Gladstone’s Land, for
example, shows what life was like before the New Town was built, and the
Museum of Childhood further down takes you back to your own early days, or
lets you see what life was like for previous generations of children. The
other major historical sight is of course the Palace of Holyrood House,
where the Queen stays when she visits the city. There is now a gallery
attached to the palace, showing works from the royal collection
When you have visited the
major sights, just wandering the old cobbled streets and drinking in the
atmosphere can be a remarkable experience. There are now tours of some of
the
city’s ‘hidden treasures’ for an alternative view of the city.
Whatever you are interested
in, Edinburgh has something for you. Come and find it!
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