Edinburgh City Break — Castle, Whisky, Arthur's Seat & the Fringe
Edinburgh
Holidays
The most dramatic capital in the UK — Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Arthur's Seat, Scotch whisky and the world's greatest arts festival
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Flight Time
1h20 from London by air; 4h30 by train from King's Cross
Best Time
August for the Fringe; April–June and September–October for fewer crowds
Country
Scotland
Suppliers
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Edinburgh Holiday Guide
Edinburgh is the most dramatic capital city in the UK — a city of volcanic rock, medieval closes, Georgian New Town, a magnificent castle and the world's largest arts festival. Built on the remnants of an ancient volcano, Edinburgh's Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of extraordinary density and beauty — the Royal Mile runs from Edinburgh Castle at the top to the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the bottom, with hundreds of closes (narrow alleyways) leading off it into a labyrinth of medieval buildings.
The New Town, built in the 18th century to relieve overcrowding in the Old Town, is one of the finest examples of Georgian urban planning in the world — Princes Street, George Street and Queen Street are lined with elegant Georgian buildings, excellent restaurants and independent shops. Arthur's Seat, the 251-metre extinct volcano in Holyrood Park, offers extraordinary views over the city and can be climbed in under an hour.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (August) is the world's largest arts festival — over 3,000 shows in 300 venues over three weeks. The Edinburgh International Festival, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Edinburgh Book Festival all run simultaneously. Edinburgh in August is extraordinary — but book accommodation many months in advance.
Popular Areas in Edinburgh
Average Temperatures
Jan
5°C
Feb
6°C
Mar
8°C
Apr
11°C
May
14°C
Jun
17°C
Jul
19°C
Aug
19°C
Sep
16°C
Oct
12°C
Nov
8°C
Dec
5°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Edinburgh
The volcanic castle, medieval closes, Georgian New Town, extinct volcano, Scotch whisky and the world's greatest arts festival that make Edinburgh one of the most extraordinary cities in Europe.
Edinburgh Castle — The Most Visited Attraction in Scotland
Edinburgh Castle, perched on the volcanic Castle Rock 130 metres above the city, is the most visited paid attraction in Scotland — a complex of buildings spanning the 12th to 20th centuries, including the Scottish Crown Jewels (the Honours of Scotland, the oldest crown jewels in the British Isles), the Stone of Destiny, the Great Hall, the Scottish National War Memorial and St Margaret's Chapel (the oldest building in Edinburgh, built around 1130). The One O'Clock Gun fires every day except Sunday. Book tickets online to skip the queue.
The Royal Mile — Closes, History & Whisky
The Royal Mile is the spine of Edinburgh's Old Town — a 1.6km street (actually a series of connected streets: Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, Canongate and Abbey Strand) running from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The closes (narrow alleyways) leading off the Royal Mile are the most atmospheric part of the Old Town — Advocates Close, Mary King's Close (a preserved 17th-century underground street), Riddle's Court and White Horse Close are all worth exploring. The Royal Mile has excellent whisky shops, independent boutiques and historic pubs.
Arthur's Seat — Edinburgh's Extinct Volcano
Arthur's Seat, the 251-metre extinct volcano in Holyrood Park, is the most dramatic natural feature in any European capital city — a rocky peak that can be climbed in under an hour from the park entrance, offering extraordinary 360-degree views over Edinburgh, the Firth of Forth, the Pentland Hills and, on a clear day, the Highlands. The climb is straightforward (no specialist equipment needed) and the views are extraordinary. Holyrood Park also contains Dunsapie Loch, Salisbury Crags and the ruins of St Anthony's Chapel.
Edinburgh Fringe — The World's Greatest Arts Festival
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, held every August, is the world's largest arts festival — over 3,500 shows in 300 venues over 25 days, covering comedy, theatre, dance, circus, cabaret, children's shows and everything in between. The Fringe runs simultaneously with the Edinburgh International Festival (classical music, opera, dance), the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (on the Castle Esplanade) and the Edinburgh Book Festival. Edinburgh in August is extraordinary — but book accommodation 6–12 months in advance and expect prices to be 3–4 times higher than normal.
Scotch Whisky — The World's Greatest Spirit
Edinburgh is the gateway to Scotland's whisky regions — the Scotch Whisky Experience on the Royal Mile has the world's largest collection of Scotch whisky (3,384 bottles) and offers excellent tasting tours. The Johnnie Walker Princes Street experience (in a magnificent Georgian building on Princes Street) is the most spectacular whisky visitor centre in Scotland. The Whiski Rooms on the Royal Mile and the Bow Bar on Victoria Street are the best whisky bars in Edinburgh. Day trips to the Speyside, Highland and Islay distilleries are available.
The New Town — Georgian Elegance
Edinburgh's New Town, built between 1765 and 1850, is one of the finest examples of Georgian urban planning in the world — a UNESCO World Heritage Site of elegant terraces, crescents and squares designed by James Craig and Robert Adam. Princes Street (with its gardens and views of the castle), George Street (the best street for restaurants and bars), Charlotte Square (the finest Georgian square in Edinburgh) and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery (free entry) are all in the New Town. The Stockbridge neighbourhood, north of the New Town, is the most charming area for independent shops and restaurants.
National Museum of Scotland — Free & Extraordinary
The National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street is one of the finest free museums in the UK — a vast collection covering Scottish history, culture, science, technology and natural history, housed in a magnificent Victorian building with a spectacular modern extension. Dolly the Sheep (the first cloned mammal), the Lewis Chessmen (12th-century chess pieces found on the Isle of Lewis), the Maiden (Edinburgh's guillotine) and the Jacobite collection are among the highlights. The rooftop terrace offers excellent views over the Old Town.
Edinburgh Food — Haggis, Cullen Skink & Modern Scottish
Edinburgh has one of the best food scenes in the UK — from traditional Scottish cooking (haggis, neeps and tatties; Cullen skink; Arbroath smokie; Cranachan; tablet) to a thriving modern Scottish restaurant scene that celebrates the extraordinary produce of Scotland's seas, rivers and farms. The Stockbridge Market (Sunday) and the Grassmarket are excellent for local produce. The Leith neighbourhood (Edinburgh's port, 2km from the city centre) has the best concentration of restaurants in the city, including several Michelin-starred establishments.
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