Edinburgh is a city of two parts. There is the traditional medieval town mixed in with eighteenth century Old Town buildings, and the new town. Its main attractions are its architecture and history, not to mention culture and the arts.
Five hours on a train from London King’s Cross and you will arrive in the heart of the city. There are a number of cheap flights to Edinburgh from many of the main cities in Europe and will get you to Edinburgh Airport in a matter of hours. From the airport it’s a short bus, or taxi ride into the city centre.
The main attractions of this great city are Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh Castle and The Golden Mile, but the old wynds (narrow streets) and closes of the Old Town are steeped in history. Some of these are so narrow that you can stretch out your arms and touch the walls on both sides of the street. This area still keeps its medieval character and is a World Heritage Site, which means that it is properly protected.
This city is also well known for the Edinburgh Tattoo held in the castle grounds. This is a festival with military marching bands that attracts thousands of people each year.
The Edinburgh Festival is famous throughout the Western World for its arts and music. At festival time you will find concerts, street plays, street entertainers, drama groups and what is known as fringe theatre in all the main venues and on the streets. The 2010 festival runs from the 13th August to the 5th September and it promises to be just as special as the previous events. This year there is a mix of Central and South American dance, music and theatre as one of the main official events.