Edinburgh Hotels - Smooth Hound Hotel Directory

The city of Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. The city is divided into several districts, including Old Town and New Town. Within the larger metropolitan area, there are about 1 million people living in the Edinburgh area. The well known symbol of Edinburgh is the imposing, Edinburgh castle. Edinburgh has managed to maintain much of its past while also welcoming modern life, including an active night life. Along with the many ancient relics and sites that are situated throughout the city of Edinburgh, tourists will find numerous shops and restaurants in addition to festivals that are held throughout the year.

Edinburgh is Scotland's second largest city and is located on the Firth of Forth, close to the North Sea. The city is home to almost half a million people but this number can easily be equaled by the number of visitors to events such as the annual Edinburgh Festival.

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the world's largest performing arts festival and spreads itself across three weeks in August. It has always attracted a wide variety of performers, including various members of the Monty Python team during the 1960's and more recently performers such as Stephen Fry. As you would expect, the city fills up quickly during the event and hotel rooms are at a premium, so you should expect to book well in advance if you intend to visit Edinburgh during the Fringe.

Other large festivals that take place in Edinburgh include the Comedy Festival, which is the largest such festival in the world, the Military Tattoo, which takes place during August and attracts almost a quarter of a million onlookers, and the International Book Festival which also coincides with the Fringe.

Edinburgh Castle is an impressive building overlooking the city. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country and has been inhabited since the ninth century BC. It stands at the top of the Royal Mile, which runs between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood House. The castle has a number of historical displays which allow you to trace its history from ancient times to the modern day. There are also regular historical re-enactments to help bring history to life.

Shoppers are kept busy by the city's wide range of shops and stores, ranging from Scottish souvenir shops through to specialist boutique shops and of course including national stores and major brands.