Edinburgh; the capital and second largest city in Scotland is the 7th most populous city in the UK.  It is one of the most picturesque cities in Europe, with Medieval and Georgian architecture and vast open spaces, and is a favourite destination among travelers, second only to London. It was rated by Channel 4 as ‘The Best Place to live in’.


A famed nickname that the city earned is Dunedin, derived from the Scottish Gaelic Dun Eideann.  By contrast, present day Dunedin in New Zealand is sometimes referred to as the ‘Edinburgh of the South’.
Edinburgh is also one of the major education centres, famed for the University of Edinburgh, which gave it the nickname “Athens of the North”.  It was known throughout Europe as a hotbed of talent and a leading light of progress and education. Famous Scots include Walter Scott, Robert Adam, Robert Burns, James Hutton, Adam Smith and David Hume. The city’s architecture was predominantly Greco-Roman style, due to the amalgamation of culture and history.


Edinburgh rose to prominence in the 12th century. It continued to flourish culturally and economically through the 16th Century, shaped by the Scottish Reformation and the Wars of the Covenant.  When King James VI of Scotland succeeded to the English and Irish thrones in 1603 he created a unified United Kingdom under his monarchy.  Although the Parliament of Scotland was retained in Edinburgh, King James installed himself in London as Monarch.

In the 19th century, industrialization set foot in Edinburgh like many other cities; but Glasgow soon overtook it to become the industrial capital of Scotland.
Despite its northerly location and latitude, Edinburgh enjoys a temperate, maritime climate that is relatively mild and daytime temperatures rarely drop below freezing point.  Summer temperatures are moderate, with average mean of 22°C. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year though Atlantic depressions usually affect the city between the months of October and May.

The summer festivals in Edinburgh running from July until September popularly known as the Edinburgh Festival are a major tourist attraction.  It features theatre productions, musicals and orchestras. Alongside these are the Art Festival, the International Film Festival, the Jazz and Blues Festival and the International Book Festival, all featuring Edinburgh in the limelight.  Of equal cultural importance is the Hogmanay celebration which features four days of street processions, concerts and fireworks.

The Edinburgh International Science Festival is an annual feature held in April every year and is one of the hugely popular science festivals worldwide.  The city is world famous for its various libraries, galleries and museums, chief among which are the Royal Museum, National War Museum of Scotland, Museum of Edinburgh, Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scottish Arts Council etc.


The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland owns the Edinburgh Zoo which is a popular tourist attraction, houses a large variety of wildlife and is the only zoo in the UK to house koalas, polar bears.  Many scientific pursuits are undertaken at the zoo; chief among these are research into animal behavior, captive breeding of endangered animals and the housing and breeding of penguins. 
 
Edinburgh’s long literary tradition goes back to the 12th century.   Writers and poets like Robert Louis Stevenson, James Boswell, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Ian Rankin, Irvine Welsh and the now famous J K Rowling are all famous children of Edinburgh, earning it the distinction of being the First UNESCO City of Literature.
 
Theatrical productions abound in Edinburgh and there are several halls and venues for dramas, plays and musical orchestras.  There is a healthy musical scene and the city is host to a group of contemporary musicians and composers.

Accommodation in Edinburgh is easy to arrange and fits any type of budget from the small, cozy inns, caravans, hostels and bed and breakfast places to roomy taverns, cottages, hotels and luxury manors.
Nightlife and shopping are the other main attractions in Edinburgh.  A fairly large number of clubs, restaurants and pubs in prime areas and along the waterfront are in prominence.  The main shopping district in Edinburgh is Princes Street with a wide range of up market chain stores like Boots and Jenner’s.  Popular brands like Louis Vuitton, Armani, Calvin Klein, Harvey Nichols and Mulberry are featured in the main street shops.

Football, Rugby, Ice Hockey and Cricket are the chief sports followed by the Scots. Tynecastle and Meadowbanks are two famous stadiums in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh is well connected by rail, road and air from most points in the UK.  There is a vast array of Scottish eateries throughout the city and along the waterfront offering traditional food besides seasonal locally sourced food as well as popular cuisines from around the world.