Edinburgh

Scotland’s capital and one of the finest cities of the world, Edinburgh is like a chapter from your history book – revived and animated. From historical landmarks to festivities and cultural programs, there is a whole lot of fun awaiting you with open arms. But if you are not with your Edinburgh guide, then chances are that you would lose half of the city’s fun and attractions, just because you got lost in the labyrinth of the roads and streets of this historical city.

This article is aimed to provide you a bird’s eye view on the mode of transportation that are plying in the city. From roadways to railways, from cycles to flights we will have a cursory look on what your Edinburgh guide would tell you about the transport system in this city. We will begin with how you can reach Edinburgh. You can touch base with the city at the Edinburgh airport which schedules flights to different parts of Europe and also to major cities in other continents, like New York, Atlanta and Toronto.

When you reach Edinburgh, you can find buses and trams plying on the roads of Edinburgh with élan. They will take you to various destinations, including major tourist spots. The two bus services – ‘Lothian Buses’ and ‘First Bus’ will help you reach to different parts of the city and also to the suburbs and the region surrounding the city. You can also find trams, which is a new concept in Edinburgh, doing the rounds. This is also a major tourist attraction in the city.

Then you have the railways which runs to different parts of the country. You can find trains operated by ‘Virgin Trains’ and ‘First Scot Rail’ shunting between major stations and terminus like Edinburgh Waverley. Lately Edinburgh has become cyclist friendly and the pleasure of walking in the city is also worth your try. So grab your Edinburgh guide immediately, and make your next vacation, a memory as good as history.

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland since 1437, is considered one of the most dramatic cities in Europe because of its location, layout, and stunning architecture. Located in southeast Scotland, it is the country’s second largest city and a popular tourist destination.

The name Edinburgh is thought to have been derived from the Bythonic Din Eidyn, meaning Fort of Eidyn. This name came from the time period when the city was a Gododdin hillfort. Later, the English changed the name to Edin-burh.

In spite of its exceptional beauty, the city has a rather unique and humorous nickname Auld Reekie, which is Scots for “Old Smoky.” The name was coined in a time when the city was a little, well, smellier than it is today. At one time only coal and wood were available as fuels, so the city was frequently blanketed with a layer of smoke spilling from its chimneys. At the same time, the standards for cleanliness weren’t what they are today, so the city really did have an objectionable odor.

The historic center of Edinburgh contains two very notable areas of attraction. The first, Old Town, is an area that still follows the city plan of its medieval days and many of its Reformation-era buildings are still standing. At one end of Old Town sits a castle with the Royal Mile leading away from it down the spine of a large hill. Because the spine, or “tail,” of Old Town is quite narrow, the area quickly became crowded.

To alleviate the overpopulation of Old Town, in 1766 a competition was held to design the second area of historic Edinburgh, New Town. James Craig, a 22-year-old architect, won the competition and New Town was built according to his grid design. The main street of New Town was George Street with Princes Street and Queen Street on either side. Princes Street is the major shopping street in Edinburgh today.

Edinburgh is well-known for its many festivals and celebrations, which draw huge crowds every year. The most popular of these is the annual Edinburgh Festival, a four-week festival taking place between the end of July and the beginning of September. This festival is actually comprised of many separate events.

Other festivals include the Edinburgh Fringe (a huge festival of over 1867 different acts), Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, and T on the Fringe.

The most well known celebration held in Edinburgh is Hogmanay. This celebration began as a simple street party on Princes Street and the Royal Mile. However, it’s grown into a huge event that requires ticketing to limit attendance to 100,000 people. The celebration takes place over four days and includes parades, concerts, and fireworks.

If you’re planning to visit Edinburgh, you won’t be disappointed by the city or the many beautiful places to stay there. Edinburgh has great vacation accommodations including both hotels and holiday apartments.

Situated in the south-east of Scotland, Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and is one of its largest cities, second only to Glasgow.

The seat of the Scottish Parliament, it has been the capital of Scotland since 1437 and has a fantastic historic heritage. With over 4,500 listed building in the city, it is a beautiful place to visit, if purely for the history and photography only.

Split in to four districts – Old Town, New Town, South Side and Leith – Edinburgh has something to offer everyone. The Old Town offers medieval history with links to Edinburgh Castle, as well as a thriving market place, whilst the New Town provides Edinburgh’s main shopping districts, whilst not taking away from some fantastic Georgian buildings.

The South Side is mainly a residential area of the City, whilst Leith is a busy port, playing host to a number of world-wide cruise liners.

Whilst Edinburgh is visited all year round, it’s throughout the months of August when the City is booming. The Edinburgh Festival, which first began in 1947, is held, which is an umbrella term for various festivals which take place on an annual basis throughout the month. There are numerous festivals that are held throughout the month, with the most notable ones being:

1.Edinburgh Fringe – known as simply ‘The Fringe’, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the biggest arts festival in the world. Playing home to a variety of performing arts, drama and music shows, The Fringe is massively popular amongst people of all ages and attracts thousands upon thousands of people every single year.

2.Edinburgh Comedy Festival – part of the Edinburgh Fringe, the Edinburgh Comedy Festival is the biggest comedy festival in the world, attracting some of the comedy circuit’s biggest names and plays host to some of the worlds best up and coming comedians. With around 250 comedy shows taking place under the collective ‘Edinburgh Comedy Festival’, there is a hilarious stage show to be seen, regardless of your comedy preference.

3.Edinburgh Military Tattoo – provided by the British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and international military bands, the Military Tattoo is one of the largest of its kind. Over 217,000 people watch the Tattoo live every year, with around 40% of the audience being from overseas (30% come from Scotland and 35% from the rest of the UK). Further to this, over 100 million watch the television broadcast. The main focus of the event is to raise money for charity, with over £5 million being raised throughout its time.

The festivals throughout August are without a doubt one of the most popular reasons to visit Edinburgh. During the Festival, the city is alive with music, plays, ballets and symphonies.; however they are definitely not the only ones. Edinburgh Castle is a fascinating historic monument which dominates the Edinburgh skyline, whilst the City is renowned for its extensive shopping. With so much to see and do, the best thing to do is to book into an Edinburgh hotel and begin to enjoy the wonders of the Scottish capital straight away.