Edinburgh Old and New Towns

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Old And New Towns Of Edinburgh (1995). A Medieval Old Town Of Closes And Tenements Running Down The Royal Mile From Edinburgh Castle To Holyrood Palace, Set Against The Planned Neoclassical New Town. The Capital Of Scotland And, In August, Host To The World'S Biggest Arts Festival · Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh's Old and New Towns together form a UNESCO World Heritage site and the most dramatic city centre in Britain. The medieval Old Town runs down a ridge of volcanic rock from Edinburgh Castle, home of the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny, along the Royal Mile to Holyrood Palace, with St Giles' Cathedral midway and a maze of narrow closes and underground vaults off both sides. Across the valley of Princes Street Gardens lies the Georgian New Town, a planned grid of pale stone terraces and squares from the late 1700s. Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano, rises behind Holyrood, and Calton Hill gives the best skyline view. Expect steep cobbles, wind and sudden haar, the cold sea mist. The Royal Mile is crowded and lined with tartan shops, so step into a close to escape it. In August the Fringe festival doubles hotel prices and fills everything, so book months ahead, and Hogmanay on 31 December is ticketed and packed.

Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile and Princes Street Gardens in the centre of Scotland's capital, with the Georgian New Town to the north, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

The streets, closes, Princes Street Gardens, Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat are open all day and free to walk, though the gardens close at dusk and the hills are best left before dark. Paid sights keep their own hours: Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace commonly open daily from morning to late afternoon, with shorter days in winter, and the palace can close when the royal family is in residence or for state events. St Giles' Cathedral is free to enter, with a donation or camera fee asked, and closes to visitors during services. Most museums are closed on some weekday or on Christmas Day. Confirm times and closures close to your date.

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