The City of Edinburgh

A History of Edinburgh

"From the Bronze and Iron Ages, the defensive advantages of the Castle rock were apparent to the earliest settlers of Edinburgh. The name of Edinburgh has a couple of possible origins, such as Dun Eadain – “the Fortress on the Slope” and from one of its first rulers, King Edwin (Edwin’s Burgh). It is also affectionately known as 'Auld Reekie' on account of the smoke that was once generated by the city's many chimneys. The town began to develop beyond the Castle in the 11th century, with the Royal Mile forming a backbone which travels a Scottish mile down to Holyrood Palace.

Edinburgh developed as Scotland’s legal and political centre and gained the status of 'royal burgh' from Robert the Bruce. It was an important stage for the events surrounding the Scottish Reformation (Scotland’s move to Protestantism in 1560), and with the merging of the crowns of England and Scotland in 1603 and finally the union of the Parliaments in 1707, Edinburgh became more of a regional centre than a national capital.

Edinburgh expanded its borders over the years to include various smaller settlements. They continue to keep their character, especially in Leith, which has a proud maritime history of trade with the outside world (just look at the old merchant houses and bond buildings still standing there).

Scotland has never lost its legal independence with the main courts of the Scottish legal system still based in Edinburgh. Also, it remains the UK’s second financial centre and Scotland’s tourism gateway. The revival of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh also sees the city's rise as a centre of political influence again."

Information taken from Edinburgh City Council’s website

About Edinburgh

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland is a World Heritage city with a population of approximately 450,000. It is part of the United Kingdom, and the pound sterling (£) is the currency for the whole of Britain. Bank of England banknotes are legal tender as well as those issued by the Scottish banks. The Scottish banknotes are also legal tender in the rest of Britain but are sometimes viewed with suspicion. The average high temperature in Edinburgh in September is 15ºc/59ºf and the average low temperature is 9ºc/48ºf. The weather can change several times in the same day, so it’s good to be prepared for rain or shine if you plan to be out and about all day.

Getting Around

Once you arrive in Edinburgh, you'll find that Getting Around is very simple. This World Heritage city is quite compact, which makes it easy to get around on foot, with city centre attractions within walking distance of one another. While local bus services cover the majority of the city, train and bus services serve the wider Lothian Region. Taxis are also easy to find on most major thoroughfares.

The venue for Magnify is St Paul’s and St George’s Church (often called Ps&Gs by the locals) which is located near the centre of Edinburgh on the corner of York Place and Broughton Street. You can get exact directions on Google Maps. The full address of the venue is: 46 York Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3HP. It is close to the St James Shopping Centre and St Andrew Square.

By Bus

Edinburgh has a network of local bus services allowing frequent and cost effective travel throughout the city and the Lothians. Lothian Buses offer Day Tickets that allow you daily unlimited travel all around Edinburgh and the Lothians.

If you are going to St Paul's & St George's, many Lothian Buses pass right by the church including: 4, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 15A, 16, 26, 44 & 45. Other routes pass near to the church: 1, 5, 7, 14, 19, 22, 34, 49 & 55.

Walking

Edinburgh is a compact city built on several hills. The city has a number of peaceful parks, including the city centre’s Prince's Street Gardens where you can relax, have an ice cream or a cup of coffee, and take in one of the best views of the Castle. Outside the city centre you’ll find The Meadows, Inverleith Park, the Hermitage and the Pentland Hills. And, not far from the Royal Mile, there's Holyrood Park, where you'll find Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano and well-known Edinburgh landmark.


Driving

If you do plan to drive in Edinburgh it is important to bear in mind that parking is difficult and there is no free parking in the city centre. If you do need to park in the city centre you can find metered parking, but a car park will offer a longer-term parking option and allow you to avoid the vigilant parking wardens (sometimes called “Blue Meanies” by the locals). Who issue parking violations that cost at least £30.

What To See

There are many wonderful things to see in Edinburgh. Among the “must-see” attractions are The Scott Monument (£3), Edinburgh Castle (£13), St Giles Cathedral (£3 suggested donation) and Royal Yacht Britannia (£10.50), but there are many sights that don’t cost a thing! Below are some of the gems of Edinburgh, and all of them are free to visit

On Edinburgh’s tourism website there is a list of some of the gems of Edinburgh, and all of them are free to visit. You can download a free Edinburgh guide from Schmap.com.

You can also take in the sights of the city on one of the many Edinburgh hop-on / hop-off bus tours. Tickets can be bought in person at the Edinburgh and Scotland Information Centre, 3 Princes Street, or Waverley Bridge, where the bus tours start. For more information visit www.edinburghtour.com