Edinburgh, Scotland is a charming, accessible city just 4 1/2 hours by train from London. It's packed with Scottish history, shopping and eating and friendly people who are glad to help you get around. It's smaller and less crowded than London, and you can see the major sights in 2 days.
Take a bus tour around the city. You'll get an idea of how Edinburgh is laid out, and you'll hear a rundown of its major historical buildings and neighborhoods. You'll also see interesting sights you might not otherwise visit, such as the innovative but controversial Scottish Parliament Building. Your 24-hour bus ticket lets you get on and off the bus as often as you like.
Visit the Edinburgh Dungeon if you have kids or just want a humorous look at Scottish history. For a more serious view, visit the Museum of Scotland, housed in a modern sandstone structure, or the Writers' Museum, dedicated to Scotland's famous literary figures, including Robert Burns and Robert Louis Stevenson.
Enjoy dinner at a pub such as Greyfriars Bobby's Bar. In front of this pub is a statue of the 19th-century Skye terrier who watched over his master's grave in Edinburgh for 14 years. Bobby's tale was told in a 1960s Disney movie, "Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog."
Visit Edinburgh Castle the next morning. Plan to spend several hours at the majestic site, touring its Great Hall, admiring the Scottish crown jewels, visiting the National War Museum, viewing the Royal Palace and more. At 1:00 p.m., watch a master gunner fire the 105 mm field gun (daily except Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas).
Stroll down the Royal Mile after your castle visit, stopping to buy kilts, cashmere sweaters, whiskey and other souvenirs of Scotland.
