Edinburgh Sightseeing Visit, Scottish Capital Castle, Attractions, History, Scotland City Architecture

Edinburgh Sightseeing

Famous Sights in the Scottish Capital – Architecture in East Scotland, UK

4 Apr 2014

Edinburgh Sightseeing – Visit the Castle

Edinburgh – A Sightseer’s Paradise

Edinburgh is a city that lives and breathes its history every day through its cobbled streets, grand buildings and the constant dominating presence of the castle. If you’ve never done the tourist thing in Edinburgh before, it’s time you did! Take a bus tour first to get your bearings and pick your own must-visit attractions, but here are a few to whet your appetite…

Visit Edinburgh Castle

photo © Adrian Welch

Perched on top of an ancient volcanic rock, slap bang in the centre of the city, the castle is the point from which the city radiates out. You can get up close without paying a penny, but it would be a shame to miss the delights inside which include the oldest British crown jewels and the mysterious Stone of Destiny which was part of the coronation ceremony in Scotland for hundreds of years.

The Real Mary King’s Close

Without doubt, you’ll never find anywhere else like this in the world. Take a tour of winding, dark warrens of abandoned streets that were once the heartland of city life in the 1600s. Why were they deserted? Because they’re now underground! To find out why, you’ll have to go along and see for yourself. Brace yourself if you’re easily spooked though – they say this forgotten underground world ishaunted!

The Palace of Holyroodhouse

The Queen’s official residence in Scotland is a grand pile, set at the bottom of the Royal Mile in the beautiful surroundings of Holyrood Park. As she tends to prefer Balmoral when she’s in Scotland, it’s usually open to the public and it positively drips with tales of the bloodthirsty past of Royal dynasties of old as it’s also the former home of another famous queen – Mary Queen of Scots.

Also it was the scene of a particularly grisly murder over 500 years ago. In the year that the Commonwealth Games come to Scotland, it’s also home to a major exhibition – The Commonwealth: Gifts to The Queen. After all that royal splendour, you’ll need a comfortable bed of your own for the night. A Travelodge in Edinburgh city centrewill do the job nicely!

The Royal Yacht Britannia

Not just another Royal attraction, this yacht, which is docked in Leith, boasts the prestigious accolade of ‘Scotland’s best visitor attraction’. In true Downton Abbey style you get a fascinating insight into life above and below deck.

Also, as it was the Royal Family’s private home-on-water you get an informal glimpse into their lives in a way that a formal state room in a palace could never portray. Who knew the Queen was into cosy chintzy sofas and that the single beds she and Prince Philip slept in were quite so small? Scene of countless private Royal holidays, it was most famously the setting of part of Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s honeymoon.

These are just a few of the hundreds of attractions that Edinburgh has to offer. But don’t forget to just spend some time wandering around, soaking up the atmosphere, for the full Edinburgh experience.

Comments on this Edinburgh Sightseeing Attractions advice article are welcome.

Edinburgh Buildings

Scottish Parliament

Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Outlook Tower – Camera Obscura, top of the Royal Mile

Jenners

Comments / photos for the Edinburgh Sightseeing – Historic Scottish Architecture page welcome