Handsome Edinburgh

The city is famous for the arts (it was once known as "the Athens of the North"), a pre-eminence reflected in its annual hosting of Britain’s largest arts extravaganza, the Edinburgh Festival. Its museums and galleries display the riches of many cultures.

Every year, for three weeks in late summer, Edinburgh hosts one of the worlds most important arts festivals, with every available space overflowing with international artists and performers. It has been held in Edinburgh since 1947 and it brings together the best in contemporary theatre, music, dance and opera. The alternative Festival Fringe, with some 600 companies involved balances the classic productions with a host of innovative performances. The most popular event is the Edinburgh Tattoo, held on the Castle Esplanade. This is a spectacle of Scottish infantry battalions marching to pipe bands from all over the world.

The Edinburgh zoo was my personal favourite site of the city. You have to allow yourself at least two hours here. I spent three! There is a great selection of animals. My favourites were the penguins, giraffe, zebra’s, the lions, and tigers. However there were many more, such as, reptiles, birds, red pandas, kangaroos, wild hunting dogs, lamas, gorilla’s, monkeys, plus more.

There are also two gift shops on the premises where you can find yourself different stuffed animals and more. The adults and children will both love the gift shop.

Standing upon the basalt core of an extinct volcano, Edinburgh Castle is an assemblage of buildings dating from the 12th to the 20th centuries, reflecting its changing role as fortress, royal palace, military garrison and state prison. Though there is evidence of Bronze Age occupation of the site, the original fortress was built by the 6th-century Northumbrian King Edwin, from whom the city takes its name.

The castle was a favourite royal residence until the Union of Crowns in 1603, after which the king resided in England. After the Union of Parliaments in 1707, the Scottish regalia were walled up in the Palace for over a hundred years. The castle is now the zealous possessor of the so-called Stone of Destiny, a relic of ancient Scottish kings, which was seized by the English and not returned until 1996.

The Governor’s House in complete with Flemish-style gables, this building was constructed for the governor in 1742 and now serves as the Officers’ Mess for the castle garrison.

The Scottish Crown is now on display in the palace; the crown was restyled by James V Scotland in 1540.

The Argyle Battery is a fortified wall that commands a spectacular northern view of the city’s New Town.

Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to James VI in this 15th-century palace, where the Scottish regalia are on display.

The Esplanade is the location of the Military Tattoo.

The Half Moon Battery was built in the 1570’s as a platform for the artillery defending the northeastern wing of he castle.

David I built St. Margaret’s Chapel in the early 12th century. The chapel is the castle’s oldest building.