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Auld Reekie

Edinburgh architecture

Edinburgh Castle sits atop an extinct volcanic rock and has served as a fortress, royal residence, and prison for over 1,000 years. The city is home to the world's largest arts festival — the Edinburgh Festival Fringe — which takes over every venue in the city each August. The Royal Mile, running from the Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, passes through one of the best-preserved medieval urban landscapes in Europe.

  • 5Landmarks
  • 1150Oldest · Edinburgh Castle
  • 130 mTallest · Edinburgh Castle
  • 5Architects

Before you go

  • Fly intoEdinburgh Airport (EDI)

    Edinburgh Airport is Scotland's busiest airport and one of the fastest-growing in the United Kingdom. Its tram link, opened in 2014 after decades of debate, connects the terminal directly to the city center. A recent extension has pushed the tram line further into the city toward Newhaven, making it easier than ever to arrive and immediately feel the city's energy.

  • CurrencyBritish Pound Sterling (£)
  • LanguageEnglish & Scottish Gaelic

    Edinburgh speaks English with a distinctive Scottish accent, and you may encounter Scots — a Germanic language closely related to English — in informal speech. Scottish Gaelic, once the dominant language of the Highlands, is taught in schools and visible on bilingual road signs. The city's rich literary tradition produced Robert Louis Stevenson, Arthur Conan Doyle, and J.K. Rowling.

  • Getting aroundLothian Buses & Trams

    Edinburgh's iconic red Lothian Buses are among the most frequent city buses in the UK, with some routes running every few minutes through the city center. The tram line connects the airport to York Place via Princes Street, the city's main shopping thoroughfare. The city's compact size makes much of the Old Town and New Town walkable, though the steep hills add a legendary workout.

5 landmarks in Edinburgh

  1. Edinburgh Castle
    Photo: Enric, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Edinburgh Castle

    Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG, Scotland

    Historic fortress dominating the skyline from its position on Castle Rock, housing Scotland's Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny.

    Built
    1150
    Architect
    Various
    Style
    Scottish military architecture
    Height
    130 m (427 ft)
    Stories
    4
    Today
    Museum / tourist attraction
  2. Palace of Holyroodhouse
    Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Palace of Holyroodhouse

    Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DX, Scotland

    The official residence of the British monarch in Scotland, associated with Mary Queen of Scots and built at the foot of the Royal Mile.

    Built
    1671
    Architect
    William Bruce
    Style
    Scottish Baroque
    Height
    15 m (49 ft)
    Stories
    3
    Today
    Royal palace (active)
  3. Royal Mile
    Photo: Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Royal Mile

    Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Scotland

    The main thoroughfare of Edinburgh's Old Town running from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, lined with historic closes and wynds.

    Built
    1200
    Architect
    Medieval urban development
    Style
    Scottish medieval
    Stories
    1
    Today
    Commercial and tourist street
  4. Scott Monument
    Photo: Martin Abegglen from Bern, Switzerland, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Scott Monument

    East Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh EH2 2EJ, Scotland

    A Victorian Gothic monument to Scottish author Sir Walter Scott in Princes Street Gardens, the largest monument to a writer in the world.

    Built
    1844
    Architect
    George Meikle Kemp
    Style
    Victorian Gothic
    Height
    61 m (200 ft)
    Stories
    1
    Today
    Monument / viewpoint
  5. National Museum of Scotland
    Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Maccoinnich~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    National Museum of Scotland

    Chambers St, Edinburgh EH1 1JF, Scotland

    Scotland's premier museum covering Scottish history, culture, science, and the natural world, with a spectacular Victorian atrium.

    Built
    1866
    Architect
    Francis Fowke, Robert Matheson
    Style
    Scottish Romanesque
    Height
    17 m (56 ft)
    Stories
    5
    Today
    Museum (active)

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