The Edinburgh Directory

Edinburgh Guide

Edinburgh, or Dun Eideann – as it’s known in Scottish Gaelic, is the capital of Scotland and the second largest city in the country. With a population of 486,120, it is also the seventh most populated city in the UK. Edinburgh sits on the east coast of Scotland, on the Central Belt to be precise, close to the bracing North Sea

The city has a rich and varied history, it is thought the Edinburgh came into existence around the first decades of the twelfth century, when King David the First granted land to the Church of the Holy Rood of Edinburgh. Although this was officially the time when the area found it’s identity, humans were known to have settled in the are as far back as the bronze age, when primitive stone towns sprang up around the Pentland Hills. By the time the Romans made their exit, Edinburgh was firmly established on the famous castle rock that was shaped by two million years of glacial activity. The city grew both economically and culturally throughout the next few centuries, and was central to the Scottish reformation of the 1500’s.

Modern day Edinburgh is a hive of commerce and activity, it is the heart of Scottish Parliament and the University of Edinburgh is a centre of education where placements are much sought after. Both the Old Town and the New Town districts are listed as World Heritage Sites, and there are over 4,500 other listed buildings in the city. Edinburgh also finds itself a top destination for festival goers over the summer months, August sees the arrival of the annual Edinburgh Festival, a collection of independent and official festivals that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

The Scottish capital is well known for celebrating it’s vibrant culture and colourful history, with the largest performing arts festival in the world and the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Burns Night and the Hogmany street party keep the tourists flocking to Scotland year in year out, with over a million visitors coming to join the fun – it’s the second only to London as the most visited destination in the UK.