Edinburgh

Edinburgh, with a population of 482000 inhabitants, is the capital city of Scotland built around the dramatic Castle Rock, where there has been a castle for over 1,000 years.

It is an ancient, beautiful, and historic city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and home to the world’s most celebrated international arts festival every August and other festivals throughout the year.

These include Edinburgh’s Christmas and New Year, the Science Festival at Easter, the International Film Festival in June, the Jazz and Blues Festival, the Food Festival in July, and the Book Festival in August. The city has a population of approximately 482,000.

Why Edinburgh is the best city to live and study English in Scotland

• Edinburgh is an amazing city, with not one but two World Heritage Sites (the Old and New Towns).
• It’s a major place for tourists, who come not just for the world-famous Festival in August but also all year round to see the sights and use the city as a base from which to explore Scotland.
• Public transport is excellent, with buses, trams and local trains.
• All the students tell us what makes Edinburgh different is how friendly a city it is. People will speak to you in bus queues, in shops, and in bars, and while all cities can have their issues, Edinburgh is generally regarded as a very safe place to live and study.
• Edinburgh offers every kind of food and drink, from Scottish traditional meals like haggis to vegan and vegetarian options. All major religions are welcome here, with churches, mosques, temples, and synagogues throughout the city.
• Finally, compared to other major cities in the UK, notably London, it’s a relatively cheap place to live.

The most popular tourist attractions and things to do and see in Edinburgh

• Arts, Culture, History.
• Ancient Monuments (Edinburgh Castle).
• Restaurants, bars, entertainment.
• Excellent sports and leisure facilities.

The most important events and festivals in Edinburgh

• Book Festival in August.
• Edinburgh Fringe. It is the biggest festival in the world, with 3,548 different shows in 25 days.
• Edinburgh International Festival – the biggest Arts Festival in the World, in August.
• Edinburgh’s Christmas and (especially) Edinburgh’s New Year (Hogmanay).
• International Film Festival in June.
• Jazz and Blues Festival and the Food Festival in July.
• Science Festival at Easter.

The most famous sights in Edinburgh

• Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags (hills overlooking the city).
• Edinburgh Castle.
• Edinburgh New Town (World Heritage Site).
• Edinburgh Old Town (World Heritage Site).
• Elephant House Café (where JK Rowling began to write the Harry Potter novels).
• Holyrood Palace – the Queen’s residence in Scotland.
• National Museum of Scotland.
• Princes Street Gardens (the public gardens below the castle).
• The Royal Mile (the ancient street leading from Holyrood to the Castle).
• The Scott Monument on Princes Street.