Edinburgh Overview
Edinburgh is the Capital of Scotland and the second most populated area, it also has six universities to pick from which will cater for all students no matter their requirements. Edinburgh is the worlds leading festival city with over 12 major festivals every year (most of these are in August). It holds international film festivals, international book festival, Edinburgh Fringe festival and many more. With such beautiful scenery it is a prominent place for film makers. The city is full of alleys, small squares, cobbled streets and ancient buildings which all add up to make such an iconic beautiful city to both visit and live. The Royal mile is a street almost exactly 1 mile long which runs from the Edinburgh castle all the way to the Holyrood palace which is lined with shops, pubs and cafes meaning you will never struggle to find something to do. You are able to join guided tours of the Royal mile for as little as £12.65 which will feature all of the stories of murders, mysteries and legends of this great city.
Things to do in Edinburgh
For those of you who like to save money, take a walk up Calton hill and just absorb the beautiful views, at 103m high the hill only takes about 5 minutes to walk up, but is more than worth it and you can see a lot more than you would think. Not many cities in the UK can boast about having a dormant volcano that is throwing distance away from the city, Arthur’ Seat is also a fantastic place to grab a view of Edinburgh and the place for the perfect picture. Edinburgh Castle is one of the UK’s most popular tourist attractions with over 1.8 million people visiting the castle in 2018. If you are to visit the castle, then try and make it on a day where they have actor-led historical tours which really makes the history come to life. If music is your thing then make sure you catch a gig at the Queen’s Hall, this venue hosts a wide scope of genres from orchestra’s to jazz and blues as part of the yearly annual festival. Sneaky Pete’s is by far the best club in the city full of late-night electric music, bar and dance club with gigs from upcoming bands from time to time. With over 30 museums Edinburgh boasts a wide range of culture and history with the biggest museum being the National museum of Scotland where you can see everything from art, science, technology and the history of Scotland. If you are one for optical illusions then head over to Camera Obscura, here you will find five floors of hands-on optical illusions which will blow your mind and is fun for everyone who visits. Positioned in the heart of the Old town the Grassmarket is one of the most vibrant parts of the city full of cafes, restaurants pubs and bars with some of the best shops in the city.
Sport in Edinburgh
No matter where you live in this great city, there will be a leisure centre near you with over 30 leisure centres that cater for all sports such as; swimming, golf, gym, athletics and many more you will find it hard not to stay in shape whilst living in Edinburgh. Meadowbank sports centre has been the heart of sport for over 50 years, but it has recently closed down for refurbishment. In 2020 it will re-open its doors and become the heart of sports again boasting more facilities than you can imagine. Scotland have quite a dominant football history and a team you can watch is Hearts at the Tynecastle Stadium which is known for having a great atmosphere. If you like rugby, then head over to the Murrayfield Stadium and watch the Scottish national team and even the Edinburgh rugby team.
Escape Edinburgh
North Berwick is a seaside town located in East Lothian which is roughly a 30 min train ride away. North Berwick has a beautiful beach with fantastic views out to the Firth of Forth and the Bass rock, it is not just a place for great views and a lovely beach it also has a couple world-renowned golf courses if you fancy a couple holes of golf. If you like walking and great views, then head over to Pentland Hills Regional Park on the outskirts of the city which gets very busy during the summer.
Transport in Edinburgh
Edinburgh has excellent transport links, trams operate all over the city and boast free WI-FI, so you can get any work done on your commute to university or work. Coaches also go to and from anywhere such as London, Manchester and other parts of Scotland. The M8 is the fastest way to Glasgow, the A1 will be the route down south until you get to Doncaster where the A1 becomes the M1 which travels all the way to London making it a really accessible city. Edinburgh international Airport is only eight miles away from the city centre.
