Auld Reekie has spruced herself up into Britain's most liveable city.
Edinburgh is unique among Scotland's cities. Tourism, its proximity to England, and its multicultural population set it apart. There's up-to-the-nanosecond dance clubs in 15th-century buildings and firebreathers outside Georgian mansions: this is a place that knows how to blend ancient and modern.
'The lack of public buildings in the city meant that much of the council's affairs and advocates' legal matters were conducted in taverns, usually with the participants in some state of inebriation.' - Irvine Welsh
Edinburgh's superb architecture ranges from ancient churches to monumental Victorian masterpieces - all dominated by a castle on a precipitous crag in the city's heart. Pick any street to stroll - you'll be wowed by sudden vistas of looming battlements, cold volcanic peaks and hills steeped in memory.
Studded with volcanic hills, Edinburgh has an incomparable location on the southern edge of the enormous Firth of Forth. The Old Town, with its crowded tenements and bloody past, stands in contrast to the orderly grid of the New Town with its disciplined Georgian buildings. Most of the city's sights are contained within these two districts. The largely medieval Royal Mile, running down from Edinburgh Castle - which, perched atop its black, volcanic crag, dominates the central area - to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, is the Old Town's spine. In the New Town, Princes St, though not so architecturally inspiring, is Edinburgh's chief thoroughfare and one of the world's most spectacular shopping streets. To the north of the centre, Leith, Edinburgh's main port, has survived a period of decline to become a fashionable area of pubs and restaurants. Portobello to the east is where Edinburgh's citizens spend time on the beach when the weather is warm enough. To the west, medieval South Queensferry sits in the shadow of the two large bridges that span the Firth of Forth. To the south, near Holyrood Park, is picturesque Duddingston.
The security threat in the United Kingdom remains at a significant level following recent terrorist incidents in London and Glasgow. Travellers should exercise caution, monitor the media for any developments in the situation and expect delays at airports due to increased security measures.
Restrictions on airline cabin luggage are in place throughout the UK. For details check the UK Department for Transport website.
Can Mickey's magic tame toddler tantrums? All is revealed in our recent trip to Disneyland Paris
Discover whale-watching, bear spotting and extreme mountain-biking with the Winter Olympics hosts