Edinburgh, Scotland’s compact hilly capital city, brims with medieval relics as well as elegant Georgian New Town gardens and neoclassical buildings. Edinburgh Castle towers over this city and houses Scotland’s crown jewels as well as their Stone of Destiny used in coronations ceremonies of Scottish monarchs.
Though Edinburgh was widely known for its unflappable respectability, it also held onto an intriguing underworld of ribaldry that inspired Stevenson’s novel.
The Old Town
The Old Town (also known as Edinburgh’s Historic Heart) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasting medieval relics that bring Scotland’s long past into focus and modern architecture that provides striking contrasts. Home to hotels ranging from boutique luxury resorts and townhouse villas to hostels and travel lodges – plus plenty of hotels – its medieval past remains vivid in modern Edinburgh.
These medieval townscapes boast narrow streets, hidden courtyards, and mysterious nooks that remain undisturbed today. Their main artery is High Street (or Royal Mile); minor streets known as closes and wynds branch off it in a herringbone pattern.
St Giles Cathedral serves as the ecclesiastical center for the Church of Scotland while Camera Obscura displays optical illusions. John Knox House honors Presbyterian reformer while the Writers’ Museum features famous authors from Scotland.
Edinburgh became Scotland’s most populous burgh by the 16th century due to its closeness to England; however, due to Flodden Walls limiting population inside, residents built tall tenements and created its characteristic network of closes and wynds that make up today’s Old Town.
The Old Town was once the hub of Enlightenment thought, with figures such as David Hume and Adam Smith frequenting its taverns and salons to engage in intellectual discourse. Additionally, here was where the first edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica was first published in 1768 – today it remains a bustling center of cultural activity and exploration!
The New Town
The New Town, situated across an immense valley from the Royal Mile, was constructed as a response to overcrowding in the Old Town during a period of social reform and prosperity after Jacobite rebellions. James Craig won an architectural competition by proposing orderly Georgian streets and squares as his design for its design.
Edinburgh is distinguished by an orderly grid pattern of streets, featuring large stately homes at the rear of properties that back onto main roads. Princes Street serves as Edinburgh’s main shopping avenue with high-street fashion stores, stylish bars and restaurants located here; in addition, Princes Street Gardens are just around the corner – not forgetting Scott Monument which stands as one of its iconic landmarks!
Head west from Edinburgh’s center and walk along the Water of Leith for an idyllic walking route that leads into Dean Village, known for its half-timbered milling houses lining its banks. Or drive along its western end to reach Old Town via Stockbridge where charming old townhouses and picturesque buildings abound in Old Town streets.
The architecture of Scotland and Europe have both been profoundly shaped by the New Town. The quality and placement of townhouses and other buildings within it made the New Town an international model of urban planning and development; its buildings set high standards across Scotland while also contributing significantly to Europe during the 19th Century Age of Enlightenment.
Arthur’s Seat
Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano that overlooks Edinburgh, is an impressive site to visit with an abundance of history. For centuries it has been popular with tourists and offers incredible panoramic views over Edinburgh city center; visitors staying nearby hotels can easily walk up.
Arthur’s Seat should be experienced during its prime – spring or autumn when temperatures are a bit cooler – when weather and tourist numbers are at their most conducive. You may find more space and less crowds. While you could still visit during the summer season, however, as it might become more congested and it might require you to fight to reach its summit.
Ascending Arthur’s Seat can be done using various routes that vary in difficulty. For an easier ascent, follow the red path that runs along rocky and grassy cliffs of the park; otherwise take the green route which starts from Dunsapie Loch on the east side and offers spectacular views as you hike.
Bring plenty of water and snacks when exploring Arthur’s Seat, along with suitable hiking shoes that can adapt to all weather conditions. To avoid crowds, it is recommended that visitors arrive either early in the morning or late afternoon so as to enjoy its serenity as well as stunning views over Edinburgh.
The Scott Monument
The Scott Monument stands as a striking monument to one of Scotland’s literary greats, Sir Walter Scott. Its intricate design and majestic spire have made it an icon in Edinburgh.
Since Scott died in 1832, public donations were used to finance his memorial. A competition was then launched for designs; George Meikle Kemp won and construction began shortly afterwards in 1840. Although Kemp was only an untrained carpenter by trade, his neo-Gothic design outshone those from established architects in terms of winning approval; unfortunately however, Kemp himself would never live to see its completion: while walking home one day from work he fell into Union Canal while walking home and was tragically drowned before ever seeing its completion – drowned while walking home and died that same year due to falling into said canal while walking home and drowned himself while walking home and drowned himself soon afterwards.
At 200 feet tall, the Scott Monument stands as one of the world’s tallest memorials to a single author, featuring 64 statues depicting characters from Scott’s novels. Its blackish-coloured spire is lit with lights for an eerie beauty; visitors can climb 287 steps to reach its summit where there are breathtaking views over Edinburgh.
As you climb, stop and admire the ornate details of the Monument’s exterior and soak in stunning city views. On each of its first three levels are statues depicting various figures from Scott’s novels as well as 16 heads representing other Scottish poets and writers such as James Beattie, Sir David Lindsay and Tobias Smollett as well as an image of Scott himself with Maida his beloved dog.
As you ascend the Monument, keep an eye out for carvings of mythical creatures such as dragons. Sandstone used for the Monument came from Binny Quarry near Ecclesmachan in West Lothian; other buildings in Edinburgh also made use of this stone from Binny. Over time, weathering caused it to develop an earthy brown hue which gives the monument its distinctive appearance; experts believe that this darkening process occurs due to hydrocarbon build-up or iron content found in soil where it formed.
Johnnie Walker Princes Street
John Walker could never have predicted when he opened his humble Kilmarnock grocery shop in 1820 that his brand would eventually grow into a multisensory whisky experience, let alone eight storeys high. Yet this is exactly what is being created by Edinburgh’s city center Johnnie Walker Princes Street Experience; an eight-floor ode to world’s best-selling whisky featuring light, sound, food, drink and artful performances!
Diageo recently unveiled their PS185 million investment in Scotch whisky tourism and Scotland as a whole through Diageo’s flagship attraction, opened last week as part of their PS185 million investment plan. Offering luxurious experiences such as tastings and blending workshops as well as private drams at Explorers Bothy bar or world-class cocktails with unparalleled Edinburgh Castle views in 1820 rooftop bar, visitors to Diageo Experience offer something luxurious for every experience-seeker – from tastings and workshops through tasting bespoke tastings and workshops all the way up to 1820 rooftop bar offers unforgettable experiences and world class cocktails!
Visitors to a Johnnie Walker personalisation space are able to bottle their own blend and create customized labels for it, before creating their personalised labels for it. There is also a state-of-the-art retail area on site where passersby are drawn in by its wide selection of Johnnie Walker whiskies and related merchandise.
Journey of Flavour Experience starts from PS25 for 90 minutes and features a theatrical performance within an interpretation of Walker Grocer’s Shop before embarking on an exciting whisky discovery and learning journey.
Experience it all culminating with a drink or cocktail at STIR, the dining room created by two Michelle-star Darlington chef James Close and his wife Maria, which showcases Scottish ingredients at its best. Dishes and beverages at STIR complement each of Johnnie Walker’s Four Corners of Scotland distilleries (Glenkinchie in Lowland Scotland, Cardhu in Speyside Scotland, Caol Ila in Islay Scotland and Clynelish Highland). In addition, guests can sample rare whiskies from each distillery in an experience similar to Kilmarnock where bottles of Johnnie Walker blends are stored.