Tourist information for Edinburgh including Tattoo and Festival

Scotland's showpiece. A shop window of delights, a cornucopia of entertainment, from the precision of the Military Tattoo to spontaneous street mimicry, flash restaurants to smoky pubs. It's all brilliant - you'll love it.

The Tourist Information office is on the top of the Princes Mall. This is probably your first port of call when arriving in the city You can get a map from there to plan your days and also The Essential Guide to Edinburgh should be available to give you an idea of what's on. There should be a wealth of information with loads of brochures to take back to your hotel to help you plan the next day (fill in those little gaps). For entertainment mags then try The List which gives monthly what's on from news stands.

Edinburgh shopping centre

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle: You can't miss it as it surveys the city from on a rock. Bit of a walk up there but its worth it.. Recommended viewing are the Crown Jewels, The Stone of Scone (thankfully returned home in 1996 having sat in the sassenachs' Westminster Abbey since 1296), Great Hall, St Margaret's Chapel (oldest building in Edinburgh), National War Museum of Scotland ( a must).

The Royal Mile:

A mile of historical interest with lots of shops and places to eat.

Edinburgh shops

Why not try a walking tour of the Mile - you will at least gain some local knowledge and little known information. Mercat Tours offers tours starting at the Mercat Cross on the Royal Mile. Phone for details 0131 557 6464.

Castle Esplanade is at at the top of the Mile and used for the Military Tattoo (other times parking).

Camera Obscura

Camera Obscura fascinating creature and naturally a splendid place for a view. Opens 9.30am.

The Hub: Neo-Gothic church that is now Edinburgh's Ticket and Information Centre.

Writers' Museum at Lady Stair's House. For collectors of Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott or Robert Louis Stevenson this is not to be missed.

St Giles Cathedral

St Giles Cathedral. The oldest parts date back to about the same time of as the Borders abbeys, 1120. John Knox preached here around 1560. Possibly one of the most important churches in Scotland

St Giles Cathedral

John Knox House - He didn't actually live here but there is enough information on him to keep you going for a while anyway. (closed Sunday - naturally)

Dynamic Earth:

You don't have to be a child to enjoy this huge exhibit which sits strangely enough under a massive tent. Let them wind back the time. Situated at the bottom of Holyrood Road, go down the High Street and turn right. See their site: Web

Charlotte Square The Square is regarded by many as the finest Georgian square in Europe. One of the centres of financial business in Edinburgh, Charlotte Square was designed by Robert Adam just before his death in the late 18th century.

Charlotte Square

Grassmarket: For centuries the area served as the site for public executions. The Grassmarket also served as the city's main weekly market after being granted a charter by James III in 1477. The area is now one of Edinburgh's main night spots with numerous pubs and clubs lining the street. Sir Walter Scott described the Grassmarket in his 1818 novel The Heart of Midlothian

Holyrood: The Queen's official residence while in Scotland - not that she spends much time here.
At the end of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Open April 1st to Oct 31st , daily except for when the Queen is in residence. Set in beautiful grounds. In the grounds are the ruins of Holyrood Abbey

View from Calton Hill

Carlton Hill which offers some of the best views of the City Centre of Edinburgh

National Gallery of Scotland is open all the year round, and is found just to the south of the middle of Princes Street. Just big enough not to get leg sore. Collection of Monet, van Gogh, Rubens to name but a few.

Museum of Scotland: A definite place for museum fatigue but it's worth it - you don't have to see everything. See their site: Web

Princes Street Gardens

Exhausted? Take a break from having fun. If you brought your lunch with you then eat it here. People watch for a while - some might even be Scottish!

Princes Street gardens

The Royals don't use it any more but it's far from ready for the scrap yard. Moored at Port of Leith you can get there by bus or taxi (about 15 mins). see Web

Royal Yacht Britannia

Brittania bell

To get there: by car, follow the signs for Leith or North Edinburgh, Britannia and Ocean Terminal which is well signposted. Guide Friday and MacTours both offer bus services from Waverley Bridge and Lothian Buses run frequent services from the City Centre

Royal Botanic Garden: Very popular - 70 acres of beautiful, landscaped grounds. Not quite in town. Off the A902, one mile (1.6km) north of the city centre. Open daily from 9:30am. Closing times: Nov.-Jan. 4pm., Feb. and Oct. 5pm, March and Sept. 6pm, April-Aug. 7pm.

This is The time to be in Edinburgh (apart from Hogmanay) Everyone comes here for the Festival. There is every conceivable variety of culture you would hope to find anywhere and it's all in one city - all types of music, theatre, indoors and out, street fun - mostly spontaneous!

The formal Edinburgh International Festival runs from August to early September. To Book tickets use their web or go to The Hub (Royal Mile) to get tickets but they do sell out quickly for most popular events. Tel: 0131 473 2000

Edinburgh Festival

Fringe Festival is just as popular in its own way and comes around 6-28th August. Book 0131 226 0000

Music - wonderful jazz and blues - phone 0131 467 5200 for details.

Films try: Web

Bagpipes

The Military Tattoo: the best known of all activities. Held in August each year
Web

Edinburgh Castle and Tattoo

Ghosly walks: A bit of fun. Best to book 0131 225 6745.

Folk music- try the Gig Guide listings for live music. Web

For a place to 'hang' and listen to live music try Grassmarket Street and play it by ear.
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A great idea for orientation or keeping your legs intact for another day is to take a city bus tour - if it's not raining the ones with no roof on are fun. Tours leave Waverley Bridge around every 15 minutes and the entire tour takes about 60 mins.

Driving in Edinburgh is pesky. Leave you car at the hotel and take a bus in. For schedules try 0131 555 6363. The hotel you're staying at will also know what route to take - local information can be best. Don't give the driver a �10 note for a 70p ride - he won't like you!

Where should you stay? Obviously the best place would be in Edinburgh but the hotels do get booked up. Some choose to stay outside Edinburgh and drive in all the way or as far as Dalkeith then leave their car and take a taxi or bus. You can get buses from Galashiels and Jedburgh to Edinburgh but it's about a two hour trip. -

A very comprehensive site with details of most festivals Web

Dynamic Earth: Web