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Key Attractions Edinburgh Castle This is Scotland’s most famous tourist attraction, built on the core of an extinct volcano. There has been a stronghold on this site since at least the first century AD. Edinburgh Castle now houses the Scottish Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny, Mons Meg (a massive 15th-century cannon) and the army headquarters of the Scottish Division. The panorama from the battlements provides a splendid view over the city. Castlehill Tel: (0131) 225 9846. Fax: (0131) 220 4733. Website: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk Transport: Bus 35. Opening hours: Daily 0930-1800 (Apr-Sep); daily 0930-1700 (Oct-Mar); last entrance 45 minutes before closing time. Admission: £8 (concessions available). Palace of Holyroodhouse The Palace of Holyroodhouse sits at the eastern end of the Royal Mile and has been the Royal quarter of Edinburgh since 1128, when David I founded an abbey here. Most of the present building dates from the reign of Charles II, who ordered the palace’s reconstruction. The Palace remains the Queen’s official residence in Scotland and may be closed when the royal family is stopping over. Canongate, Royal Mile Tel: (0131) 556 1096. Fax: (0131) 557 5256. Website: www.royal.gov.uk Transport: Bus 35 or 1. Opening hours: Daily 0930-1800 (Apr-Oct); daily 0930-1630 (Nov-Mar); last entrance 45 minutes before closing time. Admission: £6.50 (concessions available). National Gallery of Scotland The collection of European paintings and sculpture dating from the Renaissance to the 19th century is Scotland’s greatest and includes works by Van Dyck, Tiepolo, Pisarro, Monet, Cézanne, El Greco, Raphael, Titian and Botticelli. The Scottish Portrait Gallery is located nearby, at 1 Queen Street. The Mound Tel: (0131) 624 6200 or 332 2266 (recorded information). Fax: (0131) 220 0917. E-mail: enquiries@nationalgalleries.org Website: www.nationalgalleries.org Transport: Bus 23, 27, 28 or 41/41A. Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1700 and Sun 1200-1700. Admission: Free. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art This gallery first opened in 1960 and moved to its present location – a William Burn building, west of the city centre – in 1984. Paintings by 20th-century masters, such as Lucien Freud, Adrian Wiszniewski and the Scottish Colourists, are on display indoors, while the garden is dotted with sculptures by Henry Moore (among others). Opposite is the Dean Gallery, a stylish gallery that opened in 1999 to house a large collection of works by sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi. The gallery also contains works by Surrealists, such as Dali and Magritte, as well as works by Picasso. A free galleries bus operates hourly 1100-1700 between this gallery and Dean Gallery in the West End and the National Gallery of Scotland and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in the Old Town. Belford Road Tel: (0131) 624 6200or 332 2266 (recorded information). Fax: (0131) 343 3250. Website: www.nationalgalleries.org Transport: Bus 13, westbound from George Street; free galleries bus. Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1700 and Sun 1200-1700. Admission: Free. Museum of Scotland This museum opened in December 1998, in a spectacular new building. The exhibits detail the country’s history from its geological formation and earliest inhabitants up to the 20th century. Scotland’s regional treasures are also on display. Exhibits include a travelling canteen belonging to Bonnie Prince Charlie. Two days could easily be spent in the museum. However, to enjoy the highlights there are daily guided tours. It is conveniently joined to the Royal Museum of Scotland, which has displays covering everything Japanese art to natural history. Chambers Street Tel: (0131) 247 4422. Fax: (0131) 220 4819. Website: www.nms.ac.uk Transport: Bus 2, 23, 27, 28/28A or 40. Opening hours: Mon, Wed-Sat 1000-1700, Tues 1000-2000 and Sun 1200-1700. Admission: Free. Our Dynamic Earth One of Edinburgh’s latest attractions, Our Dynamic Earth tells the story of how the earth was created. Using special effects and advanced technology, visitors can travel back in time (via a ‘time machine’) to witness the birth of the earth, before journeying to the centre of the planet to experience a volcanic eruption, see polar ice caps and a tropical rainforest. A visit lasts approximately 90 minutes. Holyrood Road Tel: (0131) 550 7800. Fax: (0131) 550 7801. E-mail: enquiries@dynamicearth.co.uk Website: www.dynamicearth.co.uk Transport: Bus 35. Opening hours: Daily 1000-1800, last entry 1650 (Apr-Oct); Wed-Sun 1000-1700, last entry 1550 (Nov-Mar). Admission: £7.95; £8.45 from 8 Jan 2003; concessions available. Georgian House Part of Charlotte Square, at the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town, the Georgian House is furnished with the same kind of china, silver, paintings and furniture that would have been in use around 1796. National Trust of Scotland, 7 Charlotte Square Tel: (0131) 225 2160. Fax: (0131) 226 3318. E-mail: thegeorgianhouse@nts.org.uk Website: www.nts.org.uk Transport: Bus 3/3A, 10/10A, 11, 12, 26/26A, 21,69,33,31,40,41. Opening hours: Daily 1000-1800, last admission 1730 (Feb-Sep); daily 1100-1600, last admission 1530 (Oct-Dec); hours liable to change Admission: £5 (concessions available). St Giles’ Cathedral A church has stood on the site of St Giles’ Cathedral, the High Kirk of Edinburgh, since the 12th century. The present building, with its distinctive open-crown steeple supported by eight flying buttresses, dates back to the 16th century. John Knox became the first Protestant minister here, after the Reformation. Inside, the stunning Thistle Chapel is noted for its ornate wooden carving. High Street, Royal Mile Tel: (0131) 225 9442. Fax: (0131) 225 9576. E-mail: info@stgiles.net Website: www.stgiles.net Transport: A five-minute walk from Waverley station; bus 35, 23, 28, 42 or 27. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1900, Sat 0900-1700, Sun 1300-1700 (May-Sep); Mon-Sat 0900-1700, Sun 1300-1700 (Oct-Apr). Admission: Free; donations are welcome. Britannia Now that the Royal Yacht Britannia has been decommissioned, it is open to the public, who can explore its decks and gain an insight into the lives of both the Royal Family and the ship’s crew. The Queen’s bedroom is top of everyone’s ‘must see’ list. A complementary exhibition outlines the vessel’s final year in service as the Royal Yacht. Ocean Terminal, Leith Tel: (0131) 555 8800. Fax: (0131) 555 8835. E-mail: enquiries@tryb.co.uk Website: www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk Transport: Bus 22. Opening hours: Daily 0930-1630 (Apr-Sep); daily 1000-1500 (Mar-Oct) Admission: £8; concessions available. Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre Scotland is defined by its fine whiskeys – tourists flock from far afield to sample the smooth wares. The one-hour tour of the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre includes talks on the production of single malt whisky, the different whisky-producing regions and how whisky is blended. 354 Castlehill, Royal Mile Tel: (0131) 220 0441. Fax: (0131) 220 6288. E-mail: enquiry@whisky-heritage.co.uk Website: www.whisky-heritage.co.uk Transport: Bus 35. Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700 (Oct-Apr); daily 0930-1830 (May-Sep). Admission: £6.95 (concessions available). |
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