Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and is found in the country’s Central belt, with a population that almost totals half a million. One of the most unique components of the large city is that its architecture is a combination of both modern and ancient styles, that all culminate at the giant castle that watches over the city.
On a trip through the city centre is not unusual to see gothic churches found next to medieval palaces that border modern nightclubs. In short, there is plenty to see during a quick trip to Edinburgh.
Due to its historical nature, Edinburgh both the older and new sectors of Edinburgh, known as the Old and New Towns have made the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Additionally Edinburgh was the first city to join the UNESCO initiative for creative cities, as it was named the City of Literature.
In fact, Edinburgh is considered to be such an important and culturally rich city that in 2009 it was named by YouGov to be the most desirable city to live out of the entire UK.
The actual city centre of Edinburgh is split into two sectors, the Old Town which runs from the Holyrood place to the Castle, following the Royal Mile, and the New Town, which is where the commercial business of the city takes place, and where the architecture is all stunning Georgian. The New Town is the prominent spot in the city for shopping.
Other notable districts in Edinburgh include the neighbourhood of Stockbridge and Cannonmills, which is where the independent shopping retailers are located, as well as the Royal Botanic Garden, which is easily the most relaxing area of the entire city.
For sports fans a trip to West Edinburgh may be in line due to the fact that the Murrayfield rugby ground is there, as well as the Edinburgh zoo as a bonus if young children are on tow.
The best time to visit Edinburgh is during the summer months of May through September although the weather is unpredictable and alternates frequently between rain and sunshine. The advantage of going to Edinburgh during the summer is that the days are long with sunlight lasting until as late as 11 at night.
One of the main periods that holiday seekers head to Edinburgh is during the high summer months, due to the fact that there are many festivals around this time. In order to get prime accommodations and tickets to these events holiday makers need to purchase tickets at least a year in advance.
Walking is the main way to get around the tourist areas of Edinburgh since most are located around the city centre and are no further than about a 15 minute walk from any point in the centre. Some of the best sites can be seen by taking a small stroll through the streets although there are some challenging hills throughout the area.
Given the fact that the transportation system is not very well developed in Edinburgh, hiring a car is the best option if you plan to tour outside of the main areas of the city.
