Walk through Edinburgh

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Introduction
Oh well, hello there! You've booked yourself a trip to Edinburgh
but you don't quite know where to start with your itinerary? Don't
despair! This walk through Edinburgh will sort out all your
problems.

There are so many things to do in this beautiful city. From

visiting museums and parks, to going on a day trip to the beach,
and we do understand that this can be a bit intimidating at first.
Our travel guide's aim is to make your time in Edinburgh as good
as it gets, without emptying your bank account.

Now, without any further ado - start your walk through

Edinburgh and enjoy your time in this city! We hope that you'll
have as much fun as we had in the city where no day is like the
other.
A walk through Edinburgh
A city built to scare off the English
A castle sitting on a throne
People that do not relinquish
Please explore this on your own

Whisky without an “e”

Nature and city in conformity
Admire the parks and their trees
The people and your well-being – priority
A city with history
A place of warmth
A city of mystery
Welcome to the Athens of the North
It is not just haggis – we can promise you
that
It is theatre, museums and lively streets
Come on, sit down, let’s have a chat
About Edinburgh – the city with a hearty
greet

By Kim Lara Quost

 Introduction
Survival guide
History of Edinburgh

Content
1 Historic Sites & Monuments

2 Outdoors

3 Arts

4 Tours

5 Major Streets & Shopping

6 Food and Drinks

7 Night Out

Contributors’ Profiles
Travelling widens your horizons and every journey is an adventure on its own.
Nevertheless, you will face unknown situations, and this can be quite challenging.

Survival guide
Here are some tips and tricks to make your trip as enjoyable as possible and to help
you avoid uncomfortable experiences.

Weather: very unpredictable and changes quickly

Make sure to bring an umbrella, sunscreen and sunglasses.
Bring a windbreaker and dress in layers
Walking shoes, the city is very hilly and the streets are uneven.

Money: You can pay with Scottish, English or Irish notes

Change the money in your home country (you will have to pay a fee for
withdrawal)
At Nationwide you can get pounds without an extra charge
You can pay by card almost everywhere
Bring your student card, you will get a discount in a lot of cafès and shops
Self-Checkout at the supermarket is a great way to get rid of your coins

Public transportation and traffic: left-sided traffic

Busy streets, watch out before you cross the street
Good public transportation system but the city is walkable
£4 pounds for a day ticket, £1.70 for a single ride
Culture: celebrated with pride
It’s a kilt, never say skirt!

Survival guide
You will need some time to get used to Scottish accent, but they’ll be
patient with you.
Don’t throw them into the same pot with the English, avoid talking
about Brexit
Don’t hesitate to visit a museum, most of them have no entry fee

Food
Supermarkets are open daily for long hours
The traditional food includes a lot of meat: haggis,
sausage rolls
Vegan and vegetarian options are often available though

We wish you lots of fun while exploring the city. Our tips and tricks will
make you survive your trip happily and relaxed.

Cheers to new memories and experiences

By Madeleine Helber & Valeska Kolbe

Just like the city itself, the history of Edinburgh is marked with several ups and

History of Edinburgh
downs. The medieval Old Town lies impressively on the outcrops of volcanic
rock and was restricted to its medieval and geological boundaries, unable to grow
outwards. As a result, the Old Town is featured with narrow streets, dark alleys,
closes and wynds.

In 1437, Edinburgh became Scotland’s capital city. Scottish people are very proud
of the history of Mary Stuart, who was Queen of Scots from 1542 to 1567. During
her lifetime, Mary Stuart was in a conflict with Queen Elizabeth I, as she had strong
claim to the English throne. Consequently, Mary Stuart was suspected to be
involved in the assassination of Queen Elizabeth and was executed for high
treason in 1587.

In 1603, the Scottish and the English crowns were united and Mary Stuart's son
James VI reigned over both nations as a union. Scotland remained independent
and established its own parliament in Edinburgh.

In 1707, however, Scotland lost its independence with the Act of Union, where
England and Scotland merged into the United Kingdom. The parliament in
Edinburgh was dissolved and relocated to Westminster, which caused several
riots in Scotland. Edinburgh lost its political influence and was also marked with
poverty and diseases. In the 18th century, the city was a dark and wretched place,
also known as the "Auld Reekie". Therefore, wealthy residents moved beyond the
boundaries of the city and slowly the New Town emerged.
Around 1750, Edinburgh was the centre of the Scottish Enlightenment. With 75%

History of Edinburgh
the city had the highest rate of readers and writers in Europe. David Hume, Walter
Scott and Adam Smith are only a few well-known people of that era and
contributed to Edinburgh's nickname "The Athens of the North".

In 1767, architect David Craig began with the development of the Georgian-
elegant New Town, and within 30 years, one of the most expensive and modern
residential sides of Great Britain was established.

In the 19th century, Edinburgh lost its significance of becoming the industrial
centre of Scotland to Glasgow. Instead, Edinburgh was a city of bankers and
lawyers and became one of the most important sectors for finance in Europe.

In 1997, the Scotland devolution referendum took place. The outcome of this
referendum was the reclaim of the Scottish parliament, which was opened in
Edinburgh after 300 years. Since then, Scotland strives for more autonomy in the
United Kingdom, as the majority voted to remain in the European Union in the
2016 United Kingdom Independence Referendum.

By Mascha Häge
 Historic Sites &

Monuments

Edinburgh’s called the Athens of the North, and

there’s a reason for that! Admire the breathtaking
architecture and statues that are scattered all over this
monumental city.

Sectiondesign by Kristine De Abreu

If you happen to be in Edinburgh and don’t want to miss out
on seeing one of the most important historical sights, you
should definitely take some time to visit Edinburgh Castle,
which is located on Castle Rock and is easily accessible from
Waverly Station by foot.

It includes St Margaret’s Chapel which is the oldest building in

Edinburgh, an exhibition which tells the story of the castle
called “Fight for the Castle”, The Royal Palace, The Great Hall,
The Crown Jewels, The National War Museum, The Scottish
Memorial of War and The Prisons of War. From the castle you
have an absolute stunning view over the city and the sea,
which is worth enjoying and in case you get cold, since it is
quite windy up there, you can always retreat to the café or tea room in order to warm up.

Because this fortress has so many attractions to offer and an entry ticket is quite expensive, a
fair amount of time should be taken to explore it. Despite the price, the audio guide is highly
recommended since you can listen to a lot of information about the attractions which makes
spending a day at the castle an interesting and informative experience.

Insider 
If you are a bit claustrophobic, visiting the Prisons of
War while listening to the audio guide might not be a
good idea, since these rooms are in dark cellars and
By Aylin Retzepoglou the audio guide has noises of men screaming while
being flogged in order to make the experience more
immersive.

Edinburgh Castle, Castle Rock, EH1 2NG1 Apr–30 Sep: 9.30am to 6pm / 1 Oct–31 Mar: 9.30am to 5pm
Gate price £19.50, Online price £17.50 www.edinburghcastle.scot