The origin of the name ‘Edinburgh’ may be uncertain, but whether it is a corruption of Edwin’s Burgh or from the Gaelic ‘din Eidyn’ (meaning ‘Eidyn’s Hill Fort’), what is clear is that these days the Scottish capital is a city on an inexorable rise. The ‘Festival City’ buzzes with life year round, whether it be the fireworks and stranger hugging frenzy of the world famous New Year ‘Hogmanay’ street party or the flurry of arts extravaganzas that burst through the cobbled streets of the old and new towns during the ‘Edinburgh Festival’ in August. Backing up this confident bohemian face is one of Europe’s most well-established and dynamic financial centers. Edinburgh is one of the longest continuously inhabited places in northern Europe, and its current renaissance can be traced back as recently as 1999, when the Scottish parliament convened for the first time in 300 years in the city. Throw in the worldwide exposure of the MTV Awards in 2003 and the recognition of UNESCO World Heritage listed Edinburgh as the first UNESCO World City Of Literature in 2005 and it is clear this is indeed a city on the move.

It is easy to see what attracts visitors to Edinburgh with one of Europe’s most charming old cores complementing a ‘New Town’, much of which itself dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries. To the south rise the Pentland Hills and in the north the city is flanked by the Firth of Forth and its sprinkling of uninhabited islands, all coming together to create a fittingly dramatic natural amphitheater.

The city has over the last decade or so really established itself as a leading international center for business, finance and education. After London, it is the most important financial center in Britain with the opening in 2005 of the impressive new Royal Bank of Scotland HQ in the west of city, a potent symbol of ‘New Edinburgh’. The city also has four universities. The oldest, the University of Edinburgh, was established in 1583. Although it has traditionally had a more conservative image than other Scottish cities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh is still a wildly exciting, forward-looking capital, full of art, culture, history and beauty. It has manifold art galleries and museums, five major performing-arts theaters and a year-round calendar of international festivals.

The busiest season for tourists in Edinburgh is summer (between July and September) and particularly in August, for the world-famous Edinburgh International Festival, when the city is abuzz with cultural activity. There are also the lively Fringe Festival, Military Tattoo and the Book, Film and Jazz Festivals, which run concurrently with the main event. No matter how busy Edinburgh gets, it is still a remarkably green oasis of parkland with its own botanical garden. Also within the City of Edinburgh’s boundaries are the remarkable Forth rail and road bridges, which preside over South Queensferry, a small borough that offers a perfect escape from the increasing big city buzz of Scotland’s go-ahead capital.

The Gay scene in Edinburgh is very welcoming and quite buzzing.  In particular, it is worth checking out: 

Broughton Street

Edinburgh's best-known gay and gay-friendly street is full of bars, bistros and funky shops. Close to Princes Street and Waverly Station, Broughton Street is a great place to spend some time. Check out the numerous bars and cafes where you'll be made more than welcome.

The Top of Leith Walk

Home to some of the city's most popular gay bars and clubs - this area is pretty lively - and, slightly confusingly, is sub-divided into rows of buildings named Greenside Place and Baxters Place, so a lot of clubs may be closer together than you'd expect.

The Old Town

You'll find several gay and gay-friendly bars scattered around the area near the University- popular pre-club hang-outs like The City Café, Negociants and Iguana, are all in this area.

Any mention of culture and Edinburgh in the same sentence usually focuses on the world's largest celebration of the arts, the Edinburgh Festival which for the best part of every August completely transforms the capital. But there's much more to the cultural scene in Edinburgh than this. The city boasts a host of theatres, cinemas, galleries and dance and music venues offering a rich and vibrant year-round calendar of drama, comedy, performance, music, film and art events that cater for just about every possible taste.

Vibrant Nightlife

Inevitably, Edinburgh's nightlife is at its best during the Festival which can make the other 49 weeks of the year seem like an anticlimax. However, at any time of the year, the city has plenty to offer, especially in the realm of theatre and music.

Getting There By Air:

Edinburgh International Airport (EDI)

Scotland’s, and one of Europe’s, fastest growing airports is located 12km (8 miles) west of Edinburgh. A new multi-story car park and control tower were completed in 2005 with plans mooted for a second runway and massive expansion program to cater for spiralling demand. Edinburgh International Airport serves over eight million passengers and over 60 destinations worldwide. There are more than 30 flights to London’s five airports every day, with regular flights to other major cities in the UK and overseas. Since summer 2004, direct transatlantic links have been available from Edinburgh.

Transport to the city: Lothian Buses run an airport shuttle service from the terminal forecourt to the city center terminus at Waverley Bridge (situated above Waverley railway station) via Haymarket station (journey time – 25 minutes). These buses operate every 8 to 10 minutes, 0650-0020 Monday to Saturday (then less frequently 0020-0650), 0925-0020 Sunday (then less frequently during the night). A single fare costs £3. Taxis are available from the taxi rank to the east of the terminal. A trip to the city center (journey time – 20 minutes) costs approximately £20. Access to the city by car is along the A8.

Getting There By Road:

British road designations are ‘M’ for motorways, ‘A’ for major trunk roads and ‘B’ for minor trunk roads (followed by up to four numbers). Traffic in the UK drives on the left and overtakes on the right. The speed limits are 113kph (70mph) on motorways, 97kph (60mph) on single-lane main roads and 48kph (30mph) in built-up areas. Seatbelts are compulsory for drivers and front-seat passengers and for rear-seat passengers if fitted. Motorcyclists must wear helmets. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.08%. Non-British national driving licenses and International Driving Permits are valid for driving in Britain for up to one year and drivers must be over 18 years. Insurance is mandatory. Overseas visitors bringing their own cars should bring registration documents and check with their insurance company as to whether a Green Card is needed.

Routes to the city: Edinburgh is linked to Glasgow by the M8 motorway and from there to England and Wales by the M74 and on to the A74 and M6 further to the south (toward Manchester). Edinburgh is also directly linked to London by the A1.

Approximate driving times to Edinburgh: From Glasgow – 1 hour; Manchester – 4 hours and 15 minutes; London – 7 hours and 30 minutes.

Coach services: National Express operates regular daily coach services from both London and Manchester to Edinburgh.

Getting There By Rail:

While long distance services are fairly reliable (especially the award winning GNER service to London, Aberdeen and Inverness), domestic First Scotrail routes are often dogged by delays and cancellations, especially on the ‘flagship’ Edinburgh-Glasgow route. The major rail service provider for routes to and from England is Great North East Railway (GNER), while First Scotrail operates all services within Scotland, as well as a London-Edinburgh overnight sleeper link.

Edinburgh has two main train stations – Waverley station (located right in the heart of the city, at the East End of Princes Street) and Haymarket station (at the junction of Dalry Road and Haymarket, in the West End). Facilities at Waverley include a food mall, a newsagent and a pub. There are also small stations at Newcraighall, South Gyle and at the new Edinburgh Park.

Transport to the city: Both Waverley station and Haymarket station are within walking distance of the Old Town and the New Town. The stations are also served by numerous bus routes and taxis.

Getting Around:

Public Transport
Traveline provides information on all bus, coach and train routes within the Lothians. The office is open from Monday to Friday 0830-1700 (telephone lines operate until 2000). There is no light rail or tram system within the city and Edinburgh commuters rely on the frequent bus services, though plans for a tram system are currently under consideration.

Taxis
Edinburgh’s taxis are mainly black hackney cabs and can be safely hailed in the street. All are licensed and have meters fitted. Some form of driver ID should be prominently displayed.

Driving in the City
Driving around congested Edinburgh is increasingly more hassle than it is worth, so the general advice to visitors is to walk, cycle or use public transport. Visitors who do bring a car should be aware that parking is particularly problematic. Metered parking (in force Monday to Saturday 0830-1830) is restricted in the city and a resident’s parking permit is required in many areas. In central locations, such as George Street, parking can cost up to 55p for 15 minutes. Failure to comply with parking regulations can result in a costly fine and the offending vehicle being towed away. The easiest option is for drivers to use one of the NCP car parks, such as at the St James Center or Castle Terrace.