Things to do in Edinburgh
Knowledge Train Edinburgh,
3 Hill Street,
New Town,
Edinburgh EH2 3JP,
Scotland,
United Kingdom.
Edinburgh festivals
Depending on the time of year you’re in Edinburgh , you may be lucky enough to attend one of the many festivals the city hosts between the end of July and early September each year.
While there are many festivals throughout the year, the most well know are:
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival. It features more than 40,000 performances and 3,500 different shows across 300 venues in the city. Edinburgh Festival Fringe is open to any and all performances including plays, stand-up comedy shows, dance troupes, musicals, opera, live bands, and more!
Edinburgh Military Tattoo
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a series of musical performances by British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and International military bands. Every August, military musicians march down the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle – Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG, alongside civilian bands and other live performances.
Edinburgh Art Festival
The Edinburgh Art Festival is an annual visual arts event held in Edinburgh that coincides with the Edinburgh Fringe Festivals. The Art Festival was established in 2004 and continues to display art exhibitions from both local and international artists. While the Edinburg Art festival occupies multiple venues, shows are put on display in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) – Arboretum Pl, Edinburgh EH3 5NZ
Edinburgh theatre
Edinburgh sports several impressive theatres, including the famous Royal Lyceum Theatre – 30b Grindlay Street, Edinburgh EH3 9AX.
Usher Hall – Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH1 2EA, is Edinburgh’s premier venue for classical music, while larger, contemporary music concerts are staged at Murrayfield – Roseburn Street, Edinburgh EH12 5PJ
If theatre isn’t to your liking, there’s always a selection of local cinemas screening new Hollywood releases, such as the Edinburgh Filmhouse – 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH3 9BZ.
More Edinburgh Theatres
Festival Theatre13-29 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9FT, Scotland, United Kingdom. Phone: 0131 529 6000 |
Bedlam Theatre11B Bristol Place, Edinburgh EH1 1EZ, Scotland, United Kingdom. Phone: 0131 629 0430 |
King’s Theatre2 Leven Street, Edinburgh EH3 9LQ, Scotland, United Kingdom. Phone: 0131 529 6000 |
Leitheatre20 Sunnyside, Edinburgh EH7 5RA, Scotland, United Kingdom. Phone: 0131 661 2626 |
King’s Theatre18-22 Greenside Place, Edinburgh EH1 3AA, Scotland, United Kingdom. Phone: 0333 009 6690 |
Map showing Edinburgh Theatres
Edinburgh libraries and museums
Edinburgh has dozens of museums and libraries for tourists to visit, most notably, the National Museum of Scotland – Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF.
Edinburgh Zoo – Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, 134 Corstorphine Road, Corstorphine, Edinburgh EH12 6TS, is the second most popular tourist attraction in Scotland and home to two pandas, Tian Tian and Yang Guang.
Visitors to Edinburgh can also see The Royal Yacht Britannia, decommissioned in 1997 and now a tourist attraction hosting evening events, the former yacht of the royal family is permanently berthed at Ocean Terminal – 74 Ocean Dr, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ.
More Edinburgh Museums
Museum on the MoundThe Mound, Edinburgh EH1 1YZ, Scotland, United Kingdom. Phone: 0131 243 5464 |
Museum of Childhood42 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1TG, Scotland, United Kingdom. Phone: 0131 529 4142 |
Surgeons’ Hall MuseumsSurgeons Hall Museums, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DW, Scotland, United Kingdom. Phone: 0131 527 1711 |
Museum Collections Centre10 Broughton Market, Edinburgh EH3 6NU, Scotland, United Kingdom. Phone: 0131 556 9536 |
The Writers’ MuseumLawnmarket, Lady Stair’s Cl, Edinburgh EH1 2PA, Scotland, United Kingdom. Phone: 0131 529 4901 |
The People’s Story MuseumThe Royal Mile, 163 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8BN, Scotland, United Kingdom. Phone: 0131 529 4057 |
The Anatomical Museum, The University of EdinburghDoorway 3 Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, Scotland, United Kingdom. Phone: 0131 650 2989 |
National War MuseumCastle, Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG, Scotland, United Kingdom. Phone: 0300 123 6789 |
Physicians’ Gallery11 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JQ, Scotland, United Kingdom. Phone: 0131 225 7324 |
Map showing Edinburgh Museums
Edinburgh shopping
Edinburgh sports many shopping areas in the city centre. Those who wish to can find souvenir shops, chain stores and independent stores along streets such as Multrees Walk.
Near the Balmoral Hotel – 1 Princes Street; EH2 2EQ and Waverley Station, you can also find the impressive Waverley Mall – 3/48 Waverley Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1BQ.
Edinburgh trivia
Edinburgh has a long tradition in literature, science and technology. John Napier, inventor of logarithms, was born in Merchiston Tower – Colinton Road, Edinburgh EH10 5DT, and lived there his whole life.
James Clerk Maxwell, founder of the modern theory of electromagnetism, was born in the city and educated at the University of Edinburgh – Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL.
Other notable figures connected with the city include Charles Darwin, the biologist who created the theory of natural selection.
There are three universities in Edinburgh, the University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University and Edinburgh Napier University.
Heriot-Watt University is based in the west of Edinburgh. Established in 1821 as the world’s first mechanics’ institute. It was granted university status by royal charter in 1966. The name Heriot-Watt is taken from Scottish inventor James Watt and Scottish philanthropist George Heriot. Heriot-Watt University is ranked in the Top 25% of United Kingdom universities.
