Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1
enormous
urban expansion
in the course of the nineteenth century, annexing,
among many other small burghs, the large port of Leith.
The twentieth century and beyond
In 1947 Edinburgh was chosen to host the great
International Festival
which served as
a symbol of the new peaceful European order; despite some hiccups, it has flourished
ever since, in the process helping to make tourism a mainstay of the local economy.
During the 1980s Glasgow, previously the poor relation but always a tenacious rival,
began to challenge the city's status as a cultural centre, and it took the re-establishment
of a devolved Scottish
Parliament
in 1999 for Edinburgh to reassert its status in a
meaningful way. With debates, decisions and demonstrations about crucial aspects of
the government of Scotland taking place in Edinburgh, there was a marked upturn in
the perceived importance of the city, augmented by notable achievements in scientific
research and the arts. he city's financial sector burgeoned, with the Royal Bank of
Scotland becoming the second-largest banking group in the UK in the early years of
the new century. Its near collapse, however, and subsequent bail-out by the government
during the 2008 economic crisis dented not just the city's self-confidence, but also the
arguments made by
nationalist politicians
that Scotland has the stability and economic
prowess to prosper as an independent country.
The Old Town
he
OLD TOWN
, although only about a mile long and 400yd wide, represented the total
extent of the twin burghs of Edinburgh and Canongate for the first 650 years of their
existence, and its general appearance and character remain indubitably medieval.
Containing the majority of the city's most famous tourist sights, it makes by far the
best starting point for your explorations.
In addition to the obvious goals of the
Castle
and the
Palace of Holyroodhouse
at either
end of the famous
Royal Mile
, you'll find scores of historic buildings along the length of
the street. Inevitably, much of the Old Town is sacrificed to hard-sell tourism, and can be
uncomfortably crowded throughout the summer, especially during the Festival. Yet the
area remains at the heart of Edinburgh, with important daily business being conducted in
the law courts, city chambers and, of course, the new
Scottish Parliament
, which is
housed in a radical and controversial collection of buildings at the foot of the Royal Mile.
It's well worth extending your explorations to the area immediately to the south of the
Royal Mile, and in particular to the engaging
National Museum of Scotland
.
he Old Town is compact enough to allow a brief glance at the highlights in the
course of a single day, but a thorough visit requires several days. No matter how pressed
you are, make sure that you spare time for the wonderfully varied scenery and
breathtaking vantage points of
Holyrood Park
, an extensive tract of open countryside
on the eastern edge of the Old Town that includes Arthur's Seat, the peak of which
rises so distinctively in the midst of the city.
The Castle
Castlehill • Daily: April-Sept 9.30am-6pm; Oct-March 9.30am-5pm (last entry 1hr before closing) • £16; guided tours (every
15min-1hr; 30min) free; audio tours £3 if bought as part of the entrance fee (pick up near Portcullis Gate); HS •
T
0131 225 9846,
W
edinburghcastle.gov.uk
he history of Edinburgh, and indeed of Scotland, is tightly wrapped up with its
Castle
,
which dominates the city from a lofty seat atop an extinct volcanic rock. It requires no
great imaginative feat to comprehend the strategic importance that underpinned the
Castle's, and hence Edinburgh's, pre-eminence in Scotland. From Princes Street, the
north side rears high above an almost sheer rock face; the southern side is equally
