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Edinburgh Holidays, Hotels & Travel Guide
Travel guide to hotels & holidays in Edinburgh
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Edinburgh Holidays Overview
A guide to holidays in Edinburgh - Rising up in medieval splendour from its base
atop an ancient, extinct volcano, Edinburgh Castle stands at the
head of the Royal Mile in Old Town, the original city centre with
winding lanes and dark alleys. Opposite, the Georgian New Town
provides a contrast with its ordered grid of elegant 18th-century
architecture. While Edinburgh has a rich, cultural heritage and is
home to many of Scotland's museums and galleries, it is perhaps
most famous for the Edinburgh International Festival, which runs
for three weeks during August. During the festival the town comes
alive with street performers advertising their shows, and visitors
are sure to be entertained by comedians, and may even see one or
two of their favourite actors sampling a barrel at the Scotch
Whisky Heritage Centre.
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Edinburgh
holidays - Top Places To Go
1. Edinburgh Castle
Castle Hill
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk |
What is it? This most famous of Scottish castles has a
complex building history. The oldest part, St Margaret's Chapel,
dates from the 12th century; the Great Hall was erected by James IV
around 1510; the Half Moon Battery by the Regent Morton in the late
16th century; and the Scottish National War Memorial after the
First World War. The castle houses the Honours (Crown Jewels) of
Scotland, the Stone of Destiny, the famous 15th-century gun Mons
Meg, the One o'clock Gun and the National War Museum of Scotland.
In addition to guided tours provided by the castle stewards, there
is an audio guide tour available in six
languages.
Hours of Operation: Daily 9.30am to 5pm (1 November to 31 March); 9.30am
to 6pm (1 April to 31 October)
Phone:(0)131 225 9846 |
2. Holyrood
www.royalcollection.org.uk |
What is it? The Royal Mile is Scotland's most fascinating
street; it runs from Edinburgh Castle, through the Old Town, to
Holyrood Palace and is lined with museums, churches and historic
buildings dating from the 15th century. Holyrood is the Monarch's
official residence in Scotland. It was founded in 1128 when David I
founded an abbey on the site and is still used today by the Queen
whenever she is in town. Guided tours are available and lead
visitors through the grand State Apartments, the Throne Room, and
the Great Gallery, culminating in the apartments of Mary Queen of
Scots and her husband Lord Darnley, their bed-chambers linked by a
secret staircase. A plaque on the floor marks the spot where Mary's
Italian secretary David Rizzio was murdered in 1566. Next to the
palace lie the Gothic ruins of the Abbey, whose Royal Vault
contains the remains of kings David II, James II, James V, and Lord
Darnley, who was himself murdered by Mary's lover. The adjacent
Holyrood Park was historically a Royal hunting ground, but is now a
wilderness where locals can escape to for walking and taking in the
spectacular scenery.
Hours of Operation: Daily 9.30am to 6pm (April to October); 9.30am to
4.30pm (November to March). Last entrance is 45 minutes before
closing time
Phone:(0)131 556 5100 |
3. National Gallery of Scotland
www.natgalscot.ac.uk |
What is it? The National Gallery of Scotland is situated
in the heart of Edinburgh and is home to Scotland's greatest
collection of European paintings and sculpture from the Renaissance
to Post-Impressionism. The museum opened to the public in 1859 and
includes works by Botticelli, Cézanne, Van Dyck, Pisarro, Monet,
Raphael, Rembrandt, and Titian. The Gallery also boasts the most
comprehensive collection of Scottish painting in the world. The
Scottish Portrait Gallery can be found nearby at 1 Queen Street and
includes great paintings of Scots rather than by
Scots.
Hours of Operation: Daily 10am to 5pm (until 7pm on
Thursdays)
Phone:(0)131 624 6200 or 332 2266 (recorded
information) |
Edinburgh
holidays - Top Events
1. Edinburgh Festival
From 2006-08-13
To 2006-09-03
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What is it? Widely held to be one of the most important
celebrations of the arts in the world, the Edinburgh International
Festival is now more than 50 years old, and is held every year
during the summer months. Artists, performers, musicians, writers
and anyone else wishing to partake flood the city from all over the
world, and it is well advised to book accommodation beforehand.
Almost every public venue in the city turns into a theatre or
gallery during the summer, and visitors often find it difficult to
choose what to see and do. A short stroll down the Royal Mile will
reveal a crowd of performers giving free previews of their shows to
help visitors make up their minds.
Where is it? The Hub, Castle Hill |
2. Hogmanay
EH1 2NE
From
To
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What is it? Hogmanay is Edinburgh's famous New Year's
celebration, when the entire city becomes one huge party. In fact,
it is so popular that entry to the city is open only to those with
advance tickets. Over the years the organisation of Hogmanay has
become increasingly professional, and a slick festival-style event,
attracting major international musicians and bands who perform in
the castle or the city's botanical gardens. Visitors are well
advised to book tickets and accommodation beforehand, due to the
sheer size of this event.
Where is it? The Hub, Castle Hill |
3. Military Tattoo
From
To
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What is it? One of the most spectacular shows worldwide,
the Tattoo is set against the backdrop of historic Edinburgh Castle
and is the largest gathering of military musicians in the UK,
including the Queen's Colour Squadron and the renowned Massed Bands
of the Royal Air Force. It is part of the Edinburgh International
Festival and features pipers and drummers from the country's finest
fighting regiments, playing the rousing tunes of the battlefields,
as well as whirling highland dancers, fireworks, and the final
haunting sound of the Lone Piper on the Castle
ramparts.
Where is it? Edinburgh Castle |
4. Edinburgh Fringe Festival
From
To
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What is it? Part of the greater Edinburgh International
Festival, the Fringe Festival is one of the world's largest and
most famous art festivals, which had its beginning when unofficial
theatre groups set up their shows around the fringes of the main
festival in 1947. Unlike the official festival, performers do not
need to undergo a selection process to take part, and as a result
it attracts a huge diversity of entertainers with hundreds of shows
expressing a wide range of cultural and artistic
performances.
Where is it? Various |
5. Edinburgh International Science Festival
From 2007-04-02
To 2007-04-15
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What is it? Every Easter the city becomes a gigantic
laboratory of discovery, exploration and entertainment, as non-stop
shows, demonstrations, hands-on activities, workshops and
exhibitions are presented to educate and astonish all ages. The
Edinburgh International Science Festival is designed to encourage
discovery about the sciences and amazing technological events, such
as outer space, our planet, the inner body and modern gadgets. Kids
can become who or what they want to be, climb inside an enormous,
snotty nostril and try to break world records, while adults can
explore the chances of survival of the human race in the 21st
century.
Where is it? 20 different venues around Edinburgh; the main venue for
adult events is the Royal Museum, Chambers Street |
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