attractions and things to do in edinburgh, scotland

Festivals
There always seems to be some kind of festival underway in Edinburgh. The main ones are Edinburgh's Hogmanay at New Year and the International Festival in August. Running concurrent with the international festival is the Fringe, the Book Festival, the Film Festival and others. THe best way to find out about them all is to visit
www.edinburgh-festivals.com.

Tourist Attractions
Starting at the top of the town, Edinburgh Castle is a must see for every visitor. It has a fascinating history, but what makes it really special are the views in every direction. Edinburgh Castle is cared for by Historic Scotland - www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Next to the castle, visit the new Scotch Whisky Experience a and take a swirling, bubbling barrel ride through a replica distillery as you become part of the whisky making process. www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk

Just down the Royal Mile lies the Writers Museum. Situated in Lady Stair's House, built in 1622, The Writers' Museum is dedicated to the lives and work of Scotland's great literary figures, in particluar Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), Sir Walter Scott (1771 - 1832) and Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 - 1894). - www.cac.org.uk

Nearby to this lies the National Library of Scotland, Scotland's largest library and the world centre for the study of Scotland and the Scots. - www.nls.uk

Just Round the corner from this on Chambers St lies the Royal Museum run by National Museums of Scotland. This museum houses the international collections and contains an extraordinary range of material. - www.nms.ac.uk/royal

For some of the darker side of the city, visit the Edinburgh Dungeon. Witch-hunters, grave-robbers, murderers, cannibals, executioners - you will find them all here, along with their wretched victims. - www.thedungeons.com

Beneath the Royal Mile lies a warren of concealed streets where real people lived, worked and died in bygone centuries. Step back in time at The Real Mary King’s Close to walk through these hidden closes, some of which have never before been open to the public.
www.realmarykingsclose.com

The 3D Loch Ness Experience, also right on the Royal Mile, allows you to gather all the facts, history, photos, eye-witness accounts, illusions, hoaxes and decide for yourself if the Nessie really exists.
www.3dlochness.com

Continuing into the underworld, you might want to experience one of Edinburgh's Ghost Tours with Mercat Tours. The gory, the ghoulish, the sinister and the haunted, creepy Underground Vaults - "possibly the most haunted place in Britain"! - lots to choose from - www.mercat-tours.co.uk

At the bottom end of the Royal Mile is the Palace of Holyrood - a royal residence as well as the new Scottish Parliament.

Next door to these attractions lies Our Dynamic Earth - an interactive visitor centre taking you on a thrilling journey back in time to learn about our planet Earth. - www.dynamicearth.co.uk

Elsewhere in the city you can visit treats like the Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith and The Royal Botanic Gardens.

Find Edinburgh hotels and Edinburgh B&B's in our Edinburgh Accommodation section.

Want Edinburgh tourist attractions, accommodation and more, visit Edinburgh Castle - ABC of accommodation, entertainment, shopping, information and more in Edinburgh.

For more information on Edinburgh, including where to eat in edinburgh, pub guide etc, try Peter Irvine's excellent book Scotland the Best.

Scotland the Best This guide to the best that Scotland has to offer provides thousands of recommendations covering a multitude of topics including: the best places to stay (whatever your budget); the best beaches; the best ice-cream; the best hill walks; the best bakers; the best spooky places; the best seafood; the best places for kids; and the best ceildhs. This book is a visitor's bible and is probably the most used guide by people who actually live in Scotland.