Edinburgh Tours

About Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a city built on geology and shaped by history. The Old Town rises along a volcanic ridge from the Castle at the summit to Holyrood at its base, its medieval tenements, narrow closes, and hidden courtyards largely unchanged in outline since the 16th century. The New Town, by contrast, is a masterpiece of Georgian urban planning — broad streets, elegant crescents, and classical facades laid out in the 1760s. Together they form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Edinburgh Castle dominates the skyline from the top of Castle Rock, an extinct volcanic plug. Inside you will find the Honours of Scotland — the oldest crown jewels in Britain — the Stone of Destiny, St Margaret's Chapel (the city's oldest building), the medieval siege cannon Mons Meg, and the National War Museum. The One o'Clock Gun has been fired daily (excepting Sundays) since 1861. It is Scotland's most-visited paid attraction, drawing over two million visitors annually. The Royal Mile stretches 1.1 miles from the Castle Esplanade down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish residence of the British monarch. Along the way, St Giles' Cathedral — with its 1500 crown steeple and the exquisite Thistle Chapel — stands at the heart of the High Street. The Scottish Parliament, designed by Enric Miralles and opened in 2004, offers free public tours. Camera Obscura, the Scotch Whisky Experience, the Real Mary King's Close, and John Knox's House (dating to 1470) all line the route. Beyond the Mile, Arthur's Seat — the main peak of an extinct volcano in Holyrood Park — rises 251 metres and rewards a moderate 45-minute climb with panoramic views of the city, the Firth of Forth, and the Pentland Hills. Calton Hill offers a shorter climb and equally spectacular views, with the National Monument and the Nelson Monument at its summit. The National Museum of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery are both free to enter and world-class in scope.