Edinburgh's Top Attractions

EDINBURGH’S TOP ATTRACTIONS

Come rain or shine there’s just so much to do in Scotland‘s capital city.  We’ve compiled our highlights (below) - but why not tell us about any hidden gems you’ve discovered?

Edinburgh Zoo
 

With over 650,000 visitors each year, Edinburgh zoo is one of Scotland’s most popular visitor attractions. If you’re squeamish about zoos - don’t worry!.  Edinburgh Zoo prides itself in being committed to high standards of animal welfare and conservation.  It’s one of the largest wildlife attractions in Scotland with upwards of a  thousand animal species, some very rare indeed.  Set in 82 acres of superb parklands the zoo has an excellent range of visitor facilities including free Hilltop Safari Rides, really good restaurants, gift shops and a year-round programme of constantly changing events and activities.  Throughout the zoo there are opportunities to talk in-depth with keepers and in the ‘Close Encounters’ area you can get up close and personal with small mammals and reptiles.  And the nurseries are continually full of cute baby animals for you to coo over! 

The Edinburgh Dungeon

In the depths of the Edinburgh Dungeon you’ll be catapulted back to some of the most ghoulish moments in Scotland's history.  Engaging and enthralling live actors challenge you to face your darkest fears.  There’s a really spooky boat ride into the territory of the cannibal Sawney Bean and lots of exciting interactive special effects based on genuine historical events.  Wince over some pretty eye-watering torture equipment and watch a ’live’ post-mortem at the Anatomy Theatre.  Your stomachs will heave as the gung-ho ‘pathologist’ yanks ’organs’ from deep within the corpse.  Watch out for the sticky floor!  Are you brave enough?

 

The Museum of Childhood
 

Often described as ‘The Noisiest Museum in the World’ the Museum of Childhood - on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile - is an Aladdin’s Cave of wonderful objects that document childhoods past and present.  Opened in l955 it was the very first museum to specialise in the historical documentation of childhood.  There you’ll find a fabulous array of old penny arcade machines, toys, games, comics, grim-faced dolls, golliwogs, teddy bears, train sets, prams, tricycles and ancient pedal cars.   It’s an indulgent trip of pure nostalgia and you’ll find yourself shrieking ’I had one of those!’.  The museum hosts a regular programme of events and exhibitions so there’s always something new.  Best of all - it’s free!

Edinburgh Castle

With over a million visitors a year, no trip to Scotland’s capital city is quite complete without a visit to the famous castle.  Perched atop an extinct volcano, the castle dominates the city skyline and affords a breathtaking panorama across the city to hills and sea.   It’s one of the few castles that retains a military garrison and the Crown Room houses the magnificent Scottish Crown, Sceptre and Sword of State, some of the oldest royal regalia in all of Europe.  The apartments include the Great Hall with its fascinating collection of armour and weapons and the Royal Apartments include the small room in which Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to the future King James VI of Scotland and James I of England.  Visitors shudder over the Prisoner of War visitor experience which documents the late 18th century practice of locking captured sailors from all over in the underground vaults and kids love the Dog Cemetery where officers’ mascots and pets have been buried since the mid 1800‘s.  And it’s hard not to be impressed by Mons Meg - a truly enormous cannon - and the blast of the famous One O’clock gun, fired most days since 1861.

Our Dynamic Earth
 

Travel back 15,000 million years and explore our planet’s history. Go back to a time even before the dinosaurs, back to the time of the Big Bang.  Prepare to be shaken to the core by erupting volcanoes; face howling gales and brace yourself for freezing temperatures in the Polar Adventure sector.  Learn about icebergs, polar bears, ice cores and view the famous Northern Lights. 

Experience a truly barren volcanic landscape on the sizzling and newly formed planet Earth.   Get ready as the floor begins to shudder and the smell of sulphur and smoke fills the room.  You’re standing on the edge of an active volcano which is ready to erupt!

Catch your breath in the steamy air of the tropical rain forest as you explore the dark undergrowth, overrun with tropical ferns and creepers.  Monkeys chatter, exotic birds squeal and squawk and an orang-utan plays in the trees.  

In the Ocean Commotion play area little adventurers can dive down to the depths of the ocean in a yellow submarine.  They can clamber up the rock wall, trawl the oceans for concealed treasure and compete with the octopus to catch lots of sea creatures.

Mercat Tours

 

Mercat’s famous tours are a fascinating and hands-on exploration of the darker side of Edinburgh’s past.  Visit the chilling Mary King’s Close and experience the plight of the many poor souls abandoned to die of the plague.  You may be confronted by a vengeful, ghostly presence - are you intrepid enough?

Visit authentic 18th century vaults beneath the South Bridge and discover the links with Edinburgh’s notorious body snatchers.  Learn about the ways in which ghostly presences manifest themselves and hear about the many paranormal experiences of ordinary visitors like yourselves!   Mercat’s ‘Ghosts and Ghouls’ tour is described as ’a heady mix of dramatic story-telling, gruesome history and haunted underground vaults’.  You can even extend your tour with further chilling stories heightened by a ’wee refreshment’ in a historic Edinburgh tavern!  In the Ghost Hunter Tour truly intrepid tourists fancy they hear the anguished whispers of those who’ve crossed to the other side and venture deep into an Edinburgh necropolis.  Not for the faint hearted!

Note:  Some of Mercat’s tours carry an age restriction.  Check  with the company before booking!

 Edinburgh Bus Tours

The third most popular paid visitor attraction in Scotland, on a nice day you can just sit back and tour all the famous Edinburgh sights on a classic open-top or vintage bus!  Tickets are valid for 24 hours so you can just hop off when the fancy takes you and hop back on again when you’re ready to move on! Multi-language commentary is available through individual headphones and some tours are accompanied by knowledgeable guides who put a very personal slant on the history and culture of both the New and Old Towns.  To fully engage the kids in this historical cornucopia there’s even an inspiring and captivating children’s channel recorded by Horrible Histories author Terry Deary.  Combine your bus tour with a 75 minute cruise on the Firth of Forth with its famous bridges and revel in captivating views of the city and Fife coastlines.  Keep your eye out for the occasional sleek seal and cute little puffin!

The Royal Yacht Brittania

Another of Edinburgh’s top attractions.  Step back in time and experience this magnificent floating palace as it was when it played host to some of the most famous VIP’s in the world including Winston Churchill, Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.  Take a rare peek into the lives of the Royal Family.

As you step on board you’ll be given a multi-language audio handset which treats you to fascinating stories about life on the famous yacht. Your self-guided tour begins on the Bridge and then spans five of the yacht’s superb decks.  You’ll visit the crew’s quarters and the magnificent State apartments.  Note that most of the treasures you’ll see on your tour are original pieces on loan from the Royal Collection!  The key highlights of the tour include the Queen’s Bedroom (an experience not available at any of the other royal residences); on-board garage (home to one of the Queen’s Roll’s Royces); the State Dining Room, the Sun Lounge and the Officers’ Wardroom.

The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

This world-class gallery is home to Scotland’s impressive collection of modern art.  Set amid tranquil and manicured grounds the front lawn was spectacularly landscaped in 2002 to realise a stunning contemporary design by Charles Jencks.  A staggered circular mound is surrounded by three freeform pools of water and the gardens contain impressive sculptures by Henry Moore, Ian Hamilton Finlay and Barbara Hepworth.

Housed in the elegant gallery are renowned examples of 20th and 21st century art including works by Damien Hirst, Antony Gormley, Bacon, Freud, Hockney, Matisse, and Picasso. 

The gallery has an excellent full-service café and a shop selling some unusual artefacts.

Dean Gallery
 

Situated directly across from the Gallery of Modern Art and adjacent to the wooded splendour of the Water of Leith, you can discover the compact elegance of the Dean Gallery.   A highlight of the gallery is the impressive collection of sculptural pieces by Leith-born Eduardo Paolozzi.  The collection includes a full and authentic recreation of the famous artist’s studio.  As well as an ever-changing diet of special exhibitions the Gallery houses a permanent collection of renowned Surrealist and Dadaist works. 

The National Gallery Complex
 

The capital’s second most popular attraction (after the castle) it’s also one of Scotland’s top free visitor attractions. On a prime spot overlooking Princes Street it comprises three imposing interlinked buildings.

The first - the National Gallery - is home to a world class collection of art from early Renaissance times to the closing years of the nineteenth century.  Included in this magnificent collection are celebrated works from Titian, Rembrandt, Monet, Cezanne, Degas, Rubens, El Greco and Gauguin. 

The two floors of the connecting Royal Scottish Academy Building are home to some truly world-class temporary exhibitions and the Weston Link houses an information desk, café, restaurant, shop and  IT gallery as well as a state-of-the-art lecture theatre for the delivery of the National Gallery’s award-winning educational programmes. 

The Museum of Scotland and Royal Museum
 

Opened in 1998, the superb Museum of Scotland hosts exhibitions focused around manufacturing, design, technology and science.  Exhibitions showcase the emergence of Scotland as a nation and the history of Scottish towns.  The country’s innovative and entrepreneurial past and present are duly explored and there are exhibits centred around railways, shipbuilding and the infamous brewing industry!  Even sports have their place with the history of Golf, Rugby, Bowling, Curling, Highland Games and Shinty explored in depth. When you’ve had your fill of history and culture visit the roof top garden and Tower Restaurant.

If you’ve any time left be sure to visit the smaller Royal Museum next door and explore the various Discovery Zones which focus on art, design and the natural world.
  
The People’s Story

 
Located in the Cannongate Tolbooth on the Royal Mile - a former court, prison and tax collecting house - this museum focuses on the unique history of the ordinary folk of Edinburgh.  The exhibition explores written documents, oral history, rare artefacts  and a fascinating collection of everyday social memorabilia to tell the story of the lives, work and leisure of Edinburgh‘s everyday people from the 18th Century to the present day.

 
 

On yer Bike!
 

Edinburgh boasts an extensive cycle route network - a real treat on a pleasant summer‘s day!  Lots of routes follow old, disused railway lines so although you‘re close to the city you can enjoy all the traffic-free benefits of a country ride.  Enjoy the wildlife, waterfalls and wooded splendour of the Water of Leith walkway or peddle the towpath of the Union Canal.  Further afield take in the sea air at Portobello, explore Da Vinci Code territory in Rosslin Glen close by the famous Roslyn Chapel, or check out historic Musselburgh.