Edinburgh Castle sits atop Castle Rock, a 390-foot volcanic plug, and dominates the city skyline. The first royal castle on the site was built by King David I in 1130 (an original chapel from this date still stands), but most of the current structure was built in the late 16th century. The castle was the scene of several battles between British and Scottish forces until the second Jacobite Rebellion in 1745. Today the castle is home to Mons Meg, a giant cannon, and the Scottish crown jewels or Honours of Scotland. Since 1996 the castle has also housed the Stone of Scotland, a red sandstone block used during the coronation of Scottish and British monarchs and a symbol of Scottish nationalism.
Edinburgh Castle
Castlehill
Edinburgh
EH1 2NG
UK
011-44-131-225-9846
www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk
The Scotch Whisky Experience is a visitor attraction dedicated to the history and manufacture of Scotch whisky, Scotland's most famous export. It is conveniently located at the top of the Royal Mile next to Edinburgh Castle. A tour includes a ride in a whiskey barrel through a replica distillery, the opportunity to taste a variety of whiskeys and a tour of the world's largest collection of Scotch.
The Scotch Whisky Experience
354 Castlehill
Royal Mile
Edinburgh
EH1 2NE
011-44-131-220-0441
scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk
Mary King's Close is a series of narrow lanes buried under buildings in Edinburgh's Old Town that have been excavated and opened as a tourist attraction. The close dates back to the 17th century and has a reputation for being haunted by a little girl, Annie, who spends all day looking for a lost doll.
The Real Mary King's Close
2 Warriston's Close
Writers Court
Edinburgh EH1 1PG
011-44-0845-070-6244
www.realmarykingsclose.com
Established in 1670, the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Garden covers 70 acres and is close to the city center. It contains the largest collection of wild-origin Chinese plants outside China, a rock garden with 5,000 species and 19th-century glasshouses containing tropical plants. Entrance to the gardens is free although there is an admission fee for the glasshouses.
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
20A Inverleith Row
Edinburgh
EH3 5LR
UK
011-44-131-552-7171
www.rbge.org.uk
The baroque Palace of Holyroodhouse is the queen's official residence in Scotland and sits at the end of the Royal Mile. Founded as a monastery in 1128, it was home to Mary Queen of Scots between 1561 and 1567 and was briefly Bonnie Prince Charlies headquarters during the failed 1745 Jacobite rebellion. Tours of the royal apartments and Queen's gallery exhibit works from the Royal Collection.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Canongate, The Royal Mile
Edinburgh
Lothian
EH8 8DX
UK
011-44-131-558-1700
royalcollection.org.uk
St. Giles Cathedral is known as the birthplace and mother church of Presbyterianism. Much of the present structure, including the distinctive crown steeple, date from after a fire in 1385. Admission to the cathedral is free although visitors are encouraged to leave a donation. As of September 2010 a photography or video camera permit cost $3.15.
St. Giles' Cathedral
The Royal Mile
Edinburgh
EH1 1RE
UK
011-44-131-225-9442
www.stgilescathedral.org.uk
Edinburgh Zoo is the largest in Scotland with more than 1,000 animals and gets 600,000 visitors per year. It is home to the only koala bears in Britain and was the first zoo to breed penguins in captivity. The zoo also has exhibits jaguars, sun bears, Amur leopards, Asiatic lions and Indian rhinoceroses. The most famous event at the zoo is the daily Penguin Parade when, at 2:15 p.m., its penguins take a voluntary walk around a lawn in front of visitors.
The Royal Zoologicial Society of Scotland
Edinburgh Zoo
134 Corstorphine Road
Edinburgh
EH12 6TS
UK
011-44-131-334-9171
edinburghzoo.org.uk
Just three miles from the city center is the seaside suburb of Portobello complete with its own golden sand beach and promenade. In the 1960s the promenade was a mass of amusement arcades and funfair attractions but is now much quieter with only two small arcades and a fish and chip shop remaining. Take a walk along the promenade or visit one of the last Turkish baths in Scotland at the Portobello Swim Centre. In the summer the water is (just) warm enough to swim in. Sunset over the Firth of Forth estuary are spectacular.
Serial killers William Burke and William Hare murdered 17 people in 1827 and 1828 by smothering their chests, a method now known as Burking. Burke and Hare sold the corpses to the Edinburgh Medical College for dissection in anatomy classes. Burke was hanged thanks to evidence offered by Hare, who received immunity. A grisly souvenir of the pair is to be found at the Police Information Centre on the Royal Mile. It contains a small exhibition about crime detection in Edinburgh including a business card case made from the skin of William Burke.
Police Information Centre
188 High Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1QS
UK
011-44-131-226-6966
