The City of Edinburgh
Living and Working in Edinburgh
Built on extinct volcanoes atop an inlet from the North Sea (the Firth of Forth) and
enveloped by rolling hills, lakes (lochs), and forests, Edinburgh invites exploration.
This is a city of elegant streets, cobbled alleys, and incomparable sunsets. Edinburgh
has a spectacular landscape of hills and crags. The buildings of this vibrant capital
city, from the historic houses of the Royal Mile to the elegant Georgian terraces and
crescents of the New Town.
There are a variety of festivals and events within Edinburgh including films, books, jazz and blues, politics and science and, of course, the unique 'Hogmanay' celebrations.
The city's layout is linear, in a pattern set by Castle Rock and
Castle Ridge, down which the Royal Mile descends to the palace of Holyrood house. North
of this lies a shallow valley holding Princes Street Gardens, with Waverley Station, the
city's main railroad station at the eastern end. Above the gardens, and to the north is
Edinburgh's main street, Princes Street. This is an ideal vantage point from which to
view the castle and Old Edinburgh.
Edinburgh's famous castle. Upon entering the city, it commands immediate attention. The eye of the visitor is drawn to the impressive structure rising high above everything else on its sheer granite cliffs. There are incredible panoramic views from the upper stories of the castle, including a clear view of the distant sea. The castle sits high on the huge rock formation. Castle Rock, as it is known, is inaccessible on three sides, and has a long, descending ridge on the fourth side.
Studded with volcanic hills, Edinburgh has an incomparable location
on the southern edge of the enormous Firth (River) of Forth. From the west end, beyond
craggy Arthur's Seat and over the waters of the Firth of Forth, can be seen
the Old and New Towns. Most of the city's sights are contained within these two
districts: The Old Town is crowded with multi-storied tenements dating from the 15th
century and has ancient winding streets dotted with closes and wynds on either side. The
New Town, on the other hand, presents an orderly arrangement of Georgian buildings and a
symmetrical grid of streets.
The effect of sightseeing in these two areas is that of stepping back in time, while still being in the present. At the same moment, you are in a totally intact medieval city, with all the original buildings, yet the people around you are from the modern day, and stores as we know them are functioning within the ancient structures.
To the north of the city center is Leith, Edinburgh's main port, has become a fashionable area of pubs and restaurants. Leith Links claim to be one of the earliest sites of the great game 'golf', in fact, dating from 1593 when the first set of the official rules was formulated there.
Portobello to the east, to the west, medieval South Queensferry
sits in the shadow of two large bridges that span the Firth of Forth. To the south, near
Holyrood Park, is picturesque Duddingston. The attractive streets of Duddingston run down
to a loch.
History in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is filled with historic and literary association: John Knox, Mary Queen of Scots, Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (creator of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson), Alexander Graham Bell, Sir Walter Scott, and Bonnie Prince Charlie are all part of its past.
The City of Edinburgh Links
The Scottish
Parliament
Edinburgh.com
Edinburgh International Festival
Edinburgh Fringe Festival