Edinburgh
Town Guide

Edinburgh Town Guide, Orientation, 4K

Edinburgh is essentially divided into two distinct parts - the medieval Old Town, and the more recently developed New Town.

But all of Edinburgh is, of course, dominated by the mighty Castle that sits in the heart of the city.

Edinburgh Town Guide, Orientation, Seven Hills, 1K

Like Rome, Edinburgh is built on seven hills. But unlike Rome, in Edinburgh these hills are the remains of a series of extinct volcanoes.

The largest of these, at 825ft, is Arthur's Seat. Situated to the south east of the city it dominates the city's skyline. And, of course, it offers fantastic views if you are up to the climb.

But without doubt the most famous of the hills is the rocky outcrop known as Castle Rock, upon which Edinburgh Castle is precariously perched.







Edinburgh Town Guide, Orientation, The Castle, 1K The earliest settlements in Edinburgh were situated on the site of today's Castle, and so when the city of Edinburgh first began to grow it did so in the area immediately around Castle Rock.

Edinburgh Town Guide, Orientation, Holyrood Abbey, 1K Then in 1128 Holyrood Abbey was founded to the east of Castle Rock. So as the city expanded more, it did so eastwards towards the Abbey. (The Abbey later became the site of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, one of the most famous attractions in Edinburgh).

Edinburgh Town Guide, Orientation, Royal Mile, 1K These two major establishments, the Castle and the Abbey, dominated the early development of the city of Edinburgh. And as a result a natural thoroughfare developed between the two. This road was to become Edinburgh's most famous street - today still known as the Royal Mile.

Edinburgh Town Guide, Orientation, Old Town, 1K Along this road developed the medieval Edinburgh, known as the Old Town, much of which remains to this day. This is where you will find tourist sites such as Parliament House, the High Kirk of St Giles, John Knox's House and Canongate Tolbooth.

The city that grew up around the Royal Mile was, like all other medieval cities, cramped and crowded. So as Edinburgh grew it became characterised by numerous narrow streets and twisting alleyways.

These alleyways remain to this day and are one of the most distinctive features of Edinburgh's Old Town. They are referred to as wynds and closes: a wynd being an alley that is open at both ends, and a close one that is only open at one end.

Edinburgh Town Guide, Orientation, New Town, 1K By the 18th century the population of Edinburgh had expanded to such an extent that the medieval Old Town could no longer contain the inhabitants. The result was a public competition for plans to development a New Town.

The 22 year old architect James Craig won the competition - his plan being an elegant Neo-classical development to the north of the Castle.

The result was the three parallel streets of Queen Street, George Street and Princes Street, bounded on each end by beautiful squares.


Like many other cities, as Edinburgh expanded with industrialisation it absorbed into its boundaries other towns and districts that had previously been individual communities in their own rights.

Edinburgh Town Guide, Orientation, Leith, 1K One of the most interesting of these is the port of Leith situated to the east of central Edinburgh. It only became part of the city as recently as 1920 and so it retains a distinct character.

In addition Leith has become one of the most fashionable parts of the city, making it a must for any tourist.

Edinburgh Town Guide, Orientation, Portobello, 1K Another part of Edinburgh that was once a separate town is Portobello, again located to the east of the city centre.

The most surprising part of this district is its beach, which offers a pleasant change from the bustling New Town.






Edinburgh Town Guide, Orientation, Jekyll and Hyde, 1K

Edinburgh has always had a marked duality to it. In medieval times this was evident in the discrepancy between the living conditions of the rich and poor - thousands of poor tenants were crowded into the narrow wynds and closes, whilst the nobility lived in relative luxury.

Then in Georgian and Victorian times it was evident in the marked contrast between the architecture of the Old Town and New Town.

And more recently, this century the duality was most evident in the 1980s when there was a huge contrast between Edinburgh's chic, sophisticated appearance, and its huge hidden drug and HIV problems.

Edinburgh's duality has repeatedly been reflected in the city's art and literature - most famously in Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde which is said to have been inspired by Edinburgh.







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