Capital of Scotland since the 15th Century, Edinburgh stands on seven hills creating the dramatic skyline of this lively cosmopolitan city. What better way to see this fantastic city than from the top of a City Sightseeing Tour Bus. Each tour is tailor-made to offer a distinctive and entertaining experience and provide a great introduction to Scotland's Capital City. What's more, their hop-on hop-off tickets give you the flexibility to visit the famous sights around the City as you pass them. Compare Edinburgh's Old Town, where families lived in cramped conditions and rubbish was thrown out of the windows to the elegant Georgian New Town with its three main streets and a square at either end. Hear about the hangings that took place in the Grassmarket as you marvel at the impenetrable Castle Rock above you and hear about the attempts to capture Edinburgh Castle. See the Royal Mile which joins Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyrood House.
Palace of Holyrood House
Founded in 1128 and now the official residence of the Royal Family in Scotland. The oldest parts of the building is the most interesting with Mary Queen of Scots bedchamber and the adjoining room where her secretary was stabbed and killed. If you interested in history, this will fascinate you along with the compulsory guided tour between November and March. During the summer you can just wander around. For art lovers don't miss the new Queen's Gallery.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress that dominates the Scottish Capital’s skyline. It stands over an extinct volcano of which Castle Rock is the remains. It is formally owned by the Ministry of Defence but is Scotland’s most visited site. Edinburgh Castle is also the home of the One O'Clock Gun. This is fired every day except Sunday at precisely 1.00pm to provide everyone with an accurate check for their clocks and watches. It will certainly startle you if you are anywhere near the Castle at that moment. To the north, between the Castle and the Firth of Forth, the spectator has his first glimpse of Edinburgh's new town. To the east, below the Castle ramparts the visitor is recommended to take a close look at the Old Town. Before leaving the Esplanade, look in the north-east corner for a small iron wall-fountain; it is popularly known as the Witches' Well, and it commemorates the grim fact that, centuries ago, many women held to be guilty of witchcraft were put to death at the stake on this spot.
Arthur’s Seat
Arthur's Seat is one of the seven hills of Edinburgh and looming over the city which offer many different walks for everyone. Without question the best views are to the west over looking Edinburgh Castle, Old Town and the New Town. On a good day, the Ochil Hills beyond the Forth Road Bridge and the Firth of Forth can be clearly seen. Other tops around Arthur's Seat include Whinny Hill, Crow Hill and Nether Hill, which provide alternative, quieter walking routes. The hill rises above the city to a height of 251 m (823 ft), provides excellent panoramic views of the city, is relatively easy to climb, and is a popular walk. Though it can be climbed from almost any direction, the easiest and simplest ascent is from the East, where a grassy slope rises above Dunsapie Loch.
Calton Hill
Refreshingly free of tourist crowds, Calton Hill rises up over the eastern end of Princes Street near the Firth of Forth. Calton Hill is the site of Edinburgh's acropolis and several other monuments dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The acropolis was installed in 1822 as a replica of the Greek Parthenon to honor those who had died in the Napoleonic Wars. Another attraction on the summit is Nelson's Monument, built in memory of a British admiral. This monument houses an old time-ball mechanism by which ships used to set their chronometers back in the 18th century. Also of interest is the City Observatory, a facility that hosts public viewings of the night sky. The greatest draws of all here may be the quiet location and the panoramic views of the city. From the vantage point atop Calton Hill, you can see all the way down Princes Street to the Edinburgh Castle and across the waters of the Firth of Forth.
Walter Scott Monument
Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) made a key contribution to Scottish literature and is often regarded in the east of Scotland as Scotland's most famous writer as opposed to Robert Burns, certainly there is a lot of pride in his work notably in Edinburgh and the Borders. The Scott Monument including the statue was officially inaugurated on 15 Aug 1846. The Scott Monument is 200 ft high and the top is reached via 287 steps. Sir John Steell's statue of Sir Walter Scott is executed in Carrara marble and is more than double life-size.
Our Dynamic Earth
Our Dynamic Earth is a science centre and a conference centre. It is located in Holyrood area, at the foot of Arthur’s Seat. As one of the leading conference venues in Edinburgh, Our Dynamic Earth attracts visitors from all over the world to prestigious business meetings, glittering gala dinners and other innovative corporate functions in Scotland's iconic capital. Guests will experience truly memorable corporate entertainment in Edinburgh as they sip exotic cocktails in the Tropical Rainforest by night. And when it comes to the business of the day, or state-of-the-art conference facilities and consummate event management professionals will ensure that your event runs like a dream.
National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street used to be home to two magnificent museums, but now there is only one. In 2006 what used to be the Museum of Scotland and the neighbouring Royal Museum came together to form the National Museum of Scotland, thus putting to an end a degree of confusion on the part of visitors that had persisted about the identities of these museums ever since the magnificent new Museum of Scotland building was completed in 1998. You could quite literally spend days absorbed in all that the National Museum of Scotland has to offer. Dolly the Sheep, the world's first cloned sheep; and the Millennium Clock, whose incredibly elaborate chimes attract a crowd each time they are activated.
Mary King’s Close
Buried deep beneath Edinburgh's Royal Mile lies the city's deepest secret warren of hidden streets that has remained frozen in time since the 17th century. Mary King's Close is an old Edinburgh Close under buildings in the Old Town area. After being used as a close, partially demolished and buried under the Royal Exchange, and later being closed to the public for many years, the complex become shrouded in myths and urban legends; tales of ghosts and murders, and myths of plague victims being walled up and left to die abounded. Mary King's Close was re-opened to the public in April 2003. Now a commercial tourist attraction, it is being displayed as a historically accurate example of life in Edinburgh between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries.
John Knox House
Dating back to 1470, and now incorporated into the Scottish Storytelling Centre, John Knox House is one of Scotland's greatest cultural treasures and is associated with the most dramatic events in Scotland's turbulent history. Located in The Netherbow, the halfway point in the Royal Mile and the site of Edinburgh's medieval gateway, the House was the home of James Mosman, goldsmith to Mary Queen of Scots, and became known as the final residence of John Knox, the Protestant reformer. On three floors, the exhibition highlights the building's beautiful craftsmanship and the stories of its famous inhabitants. Come close to the most dramatic conflicts in Scotland's history. Stand where they stood and hear the drama in their own words.
Edinburgh Zoo
Edinburgh Zoo, formally the Scottish National Zoological Park, is a non-profit zoological park, largest and most exciting wildlife attraction in Scotland, committed to the highest standards of animal welfare, conservation and environmental education. Promotes the conservation of animal species and wild places, through captive breeding, environmental education and scientific research. They are home to over 1,000 rare and beautiful animals, many endangered in the wild. Set in 82 acres of breath-taking parkland and are open every day of the year.
Greyfrairs Bobby
Don't forget to visit Greyfriars Bobby, one of Edinburgh's tiniest and most beloved memorials. Greyfriars Bobby is a little statue of a skye terrier. According to Scottish lore, this particular terrier kept faithful vigil over the grave of his former master, an Edinburgh policeman, from 1858 to 1872. This miniature memorial was built to honor the loyalty of this legendary canine.
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