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Visiting Edinburgh
Crown JewelsThe Scottish crown jewels are also known as "The Honors of Scotland". They consist of a crown, sword and sceptre. On the Union of the Crowns in 1603, the Scottish crown jewels were left in Scotland when King James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne. By the Treaty of Union in 1707, which united the Scottish and English parliaments in London, the Scottish regalia were to stay in Scotland. They are now displayed in Edinburgh castle. Also on display with the jewels is the Stone of Destiny, which was returned to Scotland from Westminster Abbey in 1996.
Deacon BrodieWilliam Brodie an 18th century Edinburgh "character” was a pillar of the community by day and drinking and gambling by night which was leading to his bankruptcy. So he turned to burglary and by taking wax impressions of the keys to houses in which he was working legitimately as a wood-worker, he was able to perpetrate some spectacular thefts. He was eventually uncovered and sentenced to hang. Rumours saying that he had cheated (or bribed) the hangman and was said to have been seen later living in Paris. The double life of Deacon Brodie as the respectable tradesman and daring thief is said to have been the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's story of "Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde".
Dynamic EarthThe futuristic Dynamic Earth building nestles below the Salisbury Crags and Arthur's Seat - and across the road from the new Scottish Parliament Building on Holyrood Road and a short walking distance from the guest house, it is the latest attraction to appear in Edinburgh with a "time machine" that whisks you from the time of the "Big Bang" and the formation of the universe, through 4,500 years of planet earth. You will be shaken by earthquakes, chill in the ice ages and see tropical rainstorms; travel to the depths of the oceans and fly high above towering glaciers and mountains. You will see, hear, feel and smell the planet as it was millions of years ago and how it might be in the future with a myriad of interactive exhibits and the very latest interpretative technology and special effects.
Edinburgh CastlePerched high on a volcanic rock with precipitous sides, 15 minutes from the guest house, The Edinburgh Castle has been a stronghold for thousands of years and was the capital of the Votadini, the early inhabitants of the area. It is because of the defensive value of the rock and the succeeding castles built on that, Edinburgh became important and eventually the capital of Scotland. The area around Edinburgh was not captured by King Malcolm II of Scotland until 1018 but it was used as a royal residence by King Malcolm III (Malcolm Canmore) later in the 11th century. It was captured more than once by the English during the Wars of Independence.
Edinburgh Fringe OfficeWhilst still remaining true to its founding principle of open-access for all performers, the Fringe has come a long way since its organisational beginnings in a disused pub with a leaky roof just off the Royal Mile.
Edinburgh International Conference CentreThis modern building is part of a major redevelopment to the west of the castle. The architect may have been alluding to the fortified round towers from Scotland's past - or to the rounded form of the Usher Hall which is not far away. The EICC provides ultra-modern facilities for conferences of various sizes, near the heart of Edinburgh. Around 200,000 delegates use the facility each year and it is estimated that the EICC has generated over £60 million in revenues for the city since it opened in 1995.
Edinburgh Zoo45 minutes by bus from the guesthouse, The zoo is particularly noted for its large collection of penguins and when they parade, outside of their pens, in front of the visitors at feeding time the cameras click furiously to capture the moment. The penguin enclosure is the largest in the world and a suspension bridge gives visitors a great view of the pool . But… is not only penguins!
Forth Rail BridgeThe bridge stretches 1.5 miles across the River Forth estuary from Fife to Lothian, nine miles west of Edinburgh. At its highest point it is 361 feet above the water and 55,000 tons of steel, 640,000 cubic feet of Aberdeen granite, 8 million rivets and 145 acres of paint went into its construction. It was built between December 1882 and January 1890. The number of people employed on construction reached 4,600 at one point.
Gladstone’s Land"Gled” is the Scots word for a hawk, which explains the (modern) hanging sign outside the building which has the date 1617 surmounted by a gilt-copper hawk with outstretched wings. Located on the Royal Mile, down from Edinburgh Castle, Gladstone's Land was a typical 16/17th century dwelling. In those days, rich and poor would live in cramped rooms in the same high buildings. In the case of Gladstone's Land, it was bought and extended by Thomas Gledstanes in 1617 (though it had been in existence before that date) and rose to six storeys.
Greyfriar’s BobbyThe story of Bobby, the Skye terrier which refused to leave his master's grave in historic Greyfriar's churchyard, came to prominence in the 1890s when Eleanor Atkinson, an American, wrote a book about the dog which became a first reading book for a generation of many Americans. The life-size sculpture of Bobby was erected on a drinking fountain at Greyfriar's churchyard.
Holyrood PalaceAccording to legend, King David II founded an Augustinian monastery where he had a vision of a stag with a cross between its antlers. This was about a mile to the east of Edinburgh Castle (and the road linking the two buildings is still called the Royal Mile). The monastery may have taken its name from a fragment said to have come from the true cross, brought to Scotland by the king's mother, Queen (later Saint) Margaret. Many of the succeeding Scottish kings preferred staying beside the monastery rather than the castle and gradually the Palace was enlarged. King James IV and James V in particular, added considerably to the structure and much of what they created has survived. King James IV was married in the Abbey to Margaret Tudor. The Holyrood Palace is a 20 minute walk distance through the Holyrood Park from the guesthouse. John Knox HouseThe rear of this old house was built not long after 1450, replacing an earlier wooden construction. The frontage was added around 1472 and subsequent additions, floors and modifications have been made ever since. John Knox, the great reformer of the church in Scotland and over the years, the legend evolved that he had given one of his thundering orations to the people of Edinburgh from a bow-window on the house, overlooking the High Street. By 1800 it was confidently being described as "John Knox's House" Although there is no record of him ever staying in this house.
Lincoln MemorialA monument to the American President, Abraham Lincoln, was erected in the Old Calton Cemetery in Edinburgh 1893. It is said to be the first monument outside of the USA to the American president It was built in memory of the Scottish soldiers who fought in the American Civil war. It carries a quotation from Lincoln: "To preserve the jewel of liberty in the framework of freedom".
Mary King's CloseEdinburgh’s new icon attraction, The Real Mary King’s Close is open now. Beneath the Royal Mile lies a warren of concealed streets where real people lived, worked and died in bygone centuries. Step back in time at The Real Mary King’s Close to walk through these hidden closes. Museum of ScotlandA Museum of Scotland had been talked about since 1780. It became a reality on St Andrew's Day, 30 November 1998 when it opened next door to the 19th century Royal Museum of Scotland. A major feature of the building is the "Drum Tower" which is of course reminiscent of many of the castle towers to be found around Scotland. The museum is a treasure trove of exhibits, ranging from pre-history in the basement through the early Scots and the Roman Invaders and the early Christians. The Wars of Independence, Mary Queen of Scots, the Reformation and the Scottish "Enlightenment" are all covered. So too is the industrial revolution, when Scotland was the workshop of the British Empire and modern Scotland is not forgotten either.
National Gallery of Scotland & The Royal Scottish AcademyThe National Gallery of Scotland was designed by William Playfair, completed in 1858. It houses an important collection of Italian, French and Dutch paintings, as well as Scottish artists. The Royal Scottish Academy, facing Princes Street, was also designed by same architect in 1822-26 and was enlarged by him five years later. The building has a profusion of detailed carved stonework and a regal statue of Queen Victoria on the roof at the front of the building.
National Monument (Calton Hill)Dominating Calton Hill, east of Princes Street, the National Monument was intended to be a memorial to those who died in the Napoleonic Wars. It was designed by an eminent expert on Grecian architecture, C R Cockrell, assisted by a young William Playfair who was to go on to complete even more successful works. The foundations were laid during the visit of King George IV to Edinburgh in 1824. But work came to an end in 1929 when the money which had been provided by public subscription ran out - due in part to the ambitious scale of the monument. While it has been suggested that the architect had deliberately designed only the 12 columns, it was later to be described as "Scotland's shame". Even so, the prominent Grecian columns of this and other buildings in Edinburgh have led to Edinburgh being described as the "Athens of the North". This Gothic edifice stands on Queen Street in the centre of Edinburgh. The building was designed by Sir Robert Rowan Anderson with all the embellishments you would expect from a late Victorian architect. The Gallery moved there in 1889 and has been compared, appropriately enough, to a great shrine. On the exterior, it is decorated with life-size sculptures. Inside can be found paintings, sculptures and photographs of all the famous Scots of history - and also many of the lesser known and "ordinary" people of Scotland. That is particularly true of the National Collection of Photography, part of which is on display in the gallery.
National Portrait GalleryThe Scottish National Portrait Gallery was the first purpose-built portrait gallery in the world and explores the lives of great Scots, past and present, who have inspired and changed the world - royals and rebels, poets and philosophers, heroes and villains.
Rosslyn ChapelA candlelight service held in the historic Chapel, surrounded by its unique carvings, gives a magical setting for any couple wishing to be married here. Built in 1446 by William St. Clair, third and last Prince of Orkney. Many Bible stories can be found depicted in the beautiful carvings. There are also carvings of plants from the New World which predate Columbus by 100 years. You can reach Rosslyn Chapel directly from the guesthouse on the local bus.
Royal Botanic GardensThe Royal Botanic Gardens at Inverleith is full of flowers, trees and shrubs at all times of the year and there is a Victorian Palm House and more recent greenhouses which help in the winter time. The gardens moved here between 1822 and 1824, making them amongst the oldest in Britain.
Royal College of Physicians EdinburghScotland's largest historical medical library collection ( started in 1682) house in impressive portrait-lined 19th century premises, with over 50.000 printed monographs on subject areas that include medicine, botany, science and travel. Royal Museum of ScotlandThe Royal Museum of Scotland is the largest museum in Britain outside of London. Its interior, slim, elegant cast iron pillars and glass roof has galleries leading off from the main hall. It was opened in the 1860s at the height of Victorian confidence as an "industrial" museum. It became the Royal Museum of Scotland in 1904 and is now part of the National Museums of Scotland.
Royal Yacht Britannia /Ocean TerminalThe former royal yacht has become a tourist attraction at Leith Docks which was voted "Best New Attraction in the UK" in 1999. The site gives details of how to book a tour of the ship, its history and there is a gift shop and tartan goods collection. Not only the berth of the Royal Yacht Britannia , the Ocean Terminal is a 444,000 sq.ft. shopping and leisure complex at Leith Docks, including restaurants, bars and a 12-screen cinema complex.
St. Giles CathedralNamed after the patron saint of lepers, St Giles has had a long and varied history. There has been a church on this site since 854 although the oldest parts of the present building date back "only" to 1120. The church was burnt down by the English in 1385. Thereafter, it was rebuilt, enlarged and adapted over the centuries. The distinctive crown spire was raised in 1495. In 1637, King Charles I set up a new diocese in Edinburgh and made St Giles a cathedral. He also attempted to re-introduce the Episcopalian mass which led to a riot in St Giles (and Jenny Geddes supposedly threw her stool with the words "Don't thou say Mass in ma lug"). Scott MonumentThe monument to him on Calton Hill was designed by Sir William Playfair and was built in architects. Dugald Stewart (1753-1828) was a son of the Professor of Mathematics at Edinburgh University. From 1775, father and son held the Professorship jointly. Dugald Stewart went on to become the university's Professor of Moral Philosophy. His well written books on philosophy made him one of the leaders in the field and it is this which gave him such fame as he has. He also taught Walter Scott and James Mill, among many others. Surgeons'Hall, Museum of SurgeryAt only 15 minutes walking distance from the guest house, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, founded in 1505, is the oldest medical institution of it kind in the world. The college holds the lager collection of medical, anatomical and pathological material in Scotland, dating from Roman times to the present day. Surgeons' Hall Pathology Museum, opened in 1832, is Scotland's oldest medical museum. www.surgeonshallcomplex.com/index.html
Tolbooth at Canongate / People’s Story MuseumBuilt around 1590 in a Franco-Scottish style, this was the centre of the burgh of Canongate, at the lower end of the Royal Mile. The entrance to the Council Chamber was by an external stair as the ground floor was the local prison. On the front of the building is an inscription (in Latin) which reads "The place of the seal of the Burgh. For one's country and one's successors, 1591. King James VI. Justice and Piety are the strong bulwarks of a Prince." The building was restored in 1879 and it now houses the "People's Story Museum". This illustrates life of ordinary people in Edinburgh over the last 200 years. The clock on the outside of the building is a replacement for one made in the 17th century. William Wallace & Robert the BruceThe bronze statues placed on niches in the gatehouse of the castle in 1929. Robert the Bruce was initially prepared to kneel before King Edward of England but in 1306 he declared himself king of Scotland. His fight against the English was long and hard and it took until the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 to fully set Scotland free - at least for a time. Sir William Wallace (on the right ) was the first leader of the Scots to rebel against the rule of the English King Edward I who had over-run Scotland in 1296. After a guerrilla campaign, Wallace appeared to be successful when he defeated the English army at Stirling Bridge in 1297. But the freedom was short-lived and Wallace and the Scots army were defeated at Falkirk in 1298. Sir Wallace was not fighting to gain the throne of Scotland but in order to free the country from English domination.
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