Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the jewel in the Scottish Crown,
a cosmopolitan and cultural centre with an impressive
skyline of castles and Georgian Terraces, wind-swept
hills and royal palaces. Travellers throughout the
centuries have been impressed by the diversity
of experiences on offer in Edinburgh, and today
the city plays host to two of the biggest events in
the European calendar - the Festival in August
is the largest arts and cultural extravanganza in
Europe, and the New Year's Eve celebrations known
as Hogmanay is a strong contender for
European Party of the Year.
Most visitors arrive at Waverley Station, the main
line railway's most popular stop, and from where the
emerging visitor is greeting by the breath-taking
site of Edinburgh Castle, perched on its craggy
hilltop. Below the castle, and forming a natural division
of the city are the Princes Street Gardens, where
the dark, spaceship-like memorial to Sir Walter Scott
dominates, and where there are plenty of spots to
relax after a bout of shopping on the adjacent Princes
Street.
The Old Town that surrounds the Castle and
sweeps down the Royal Mile to the Palace
of Holyroodhouse is a well preserved reminder
of the medieval capital as it existed until comparatively
modern times. A great starting point for a tour
of Edinburgh, the Old Town contains a fascinating
mix of alleyways, tightly-packed stone constructions,
and sights such as those mentioned above.
The New Town was the eighteenth century response
to the cramped, unsanitary conditions of Old Edinburgh,
which had long been nicknamed 'Auld Reekie' for it's
foul stench and open sewers. Built along neoclassical
lines, the broad avenues of Georgian terraced housing
and symmetrical streets have become the commercial
and business heart of Edinburgh, with Prices Street
the most popular shopping precinct, and the formerly
staid George Street rapidly transforming into
a street of bars and designer shops.
On the outskirts of Edinburgh is the extinct volcano
known as Arthur's Seat, a stunning but eminently
climable peak that provides fantastic views of Edinburgh
and the surrounding countryside. At the foot of Arthur's
Seat is Holyrood Park, a natural wilderness
that well worth visiting, but of which few tourists
are aware.
Getting There
Most visitors arrive either by train at Waverley
Station, to and from which there are several London
services each day, or by air, for which multiple
services operate from London's main airports.
For those on a budget, 6 buses leave from London
each day, reaching Edinburgh a shade under 8 hours
later.
eBigOE's Recommended Partner PP Travel operates
Hogmanay Tours every December. These tours
include: coach travel, accommodation, a guided tour
of Edinburgh, and free entry to some of Edinburgh's
best pubs. There's no easier and more affordable way
to experience Hogmanay - Europe's biggest New Year's
party.
For more Hogmanay Tour Information check out
the PP Travel website at www.pptravel.com.
More Information
Check out the main Scotland
portal, Edinburgh,
or About
Scotland.
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