Edinburgh

Edinburgh, the iconic capital city of Scotland, is located on the east coast of the Central Belt of the country, in the Firth of Forth, which drains into the North Sea. It is generally considered one of the most picturesque cities in Europe, with a predominance of stone-built architecture and numerous grade listed examples; and has acquired the nickname The Athens of the North as it was a key centre of influence during the Enlightenment. Notable figures of the era included David Hume, Walter Scott, Robert Adam, David Wilkie, Robert Burns, James Hutton and Adam Smith, among others.

Large areas of the city are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1995, which include over 4,500 listed buildings and 40 conservation areas, but Edinburgh's best known attraction is perhaps the annual Edinburgh Festival, as well as the Edinburgh Fringe, which is the largest performing arts festival in the world. Other popular attractions in the city include Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh Dungeon, National Museum of Scotland, Museum of Childhood, St Giles Cathedral, and National Gallery of Scotland, to name only a small selection.