10 Reasons to choose Edinburgh for your next city break

It’s a little known fact that, after London, Edinburgh is the second most visited city in the UK. To Edinburgh residents, this will come as no surprise, but to the uninitiated it’s definitely worth finding out why Edinburgh stands above the rest of the country as one of the best places to take a city break.

1. The first reason is obvious. It’s obvious as soon as you step out of Waverley Station or enter the West End from the airport. The Castle. What other city can claim a grand, fortified castle as their city centre? You can see it from miles in all directions and of course, follow the Royal Mile down from it and you get the equally grand Hollyrood Palace.

2. It’s Scotland’s capital. Not just a title, but the living embodiment of Scottish culture, heritage and politics. From the Scottish Parliament at the bottom of the Royal Mile, to the historic Edinburgh University, business centres, Scotland’s nation stadium and much more.

3. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site . The city fluctuates beautifully between the medieval Old Town, the Georgian New Town and much award-winning architecture in-between.

4. The Edinburgh Festival. Readers of this blog will need no introduction to the month-long extravaganza which absorbs the entire city each August and showcases the very finest culture and entertainment from around the globe. The biggest and best of its kind in the world, bar none.

5. All of Scotland’s finest landscapes are catered for in Edinburgh. From the rocky coastline of the Firth of Forth, to the craggy slopes of Arthur’s Seat, the woodlands surrounding the Braid hills, the lochs of Hollyrood Park and the blissful green spaces of The Meadows and Princes Street Gardens.

6. Not content with being home to some of the world’s most renowned authors (Harry Potter anyone?), Edinburgh was crowned the first ever UNESCO City of Literature.

7. Hogmanay. No one celebrates New Year like the Scottish and Edinburgh’s annual street party is the largest in the world. That’s not to say we don’t know how to celebrate the rest of the year too, from Burns Night to St Andrew’s Day.

8. At night, the city comes alive. Thanks in part to a large student body, Edinburgh has a consistently bustling night-life, with your pick of award-winning bars, restaurants clubs and music venues.

9. Tour Scotland. Nowhere makes a better base than Edinburgh. You can be sipping a dram on the Isle of Arran within a few hours, or instead head north and experience Scotland’s ‘Big Country’.

10. The compact size of the city makes it just perfect for exploring on foot, just what you want from a perfect summer break destination. Add to this the fact that history is around every corner (and even underfoot in the case of the Old Town). So for keen explorers, Auld Reekie has a hell of a lot to offer.