Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Located in southeast Scotland, it is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. With a population of 506,520 in 2020, Edinburgh is the second-most-populous city in Scotland and the seventh-most-populous in the United Kingdom.

Recognised as Scotland's capital since at least the 15th century, Edinburgh is home to important institutions such as the Scottish Government, the Scottish Parliament, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. It is also a centre for education, with the University of Edinburgh founded in 1582, and a key financial hub, ranked as the second-largest financial centre in the United Kingdom.

Edinburgh is a vibrant cultural centre, hosting events like the Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe, the world's largest annual international arts festival. Historic sites such as Edinburgh Castle, St Giles' Cathedral, and the Georgian New Town attract visitors from around the world. The city's Old Town and New Town together form a World Heritage Site listed by UNESCO.

Etymology

Main article: Etymology of Edinburgh

The name "Edinburgh" comes from an old region called Eidyn, spoken in a language called Cumbric. The main strong point in Eidyn was a hillfort called Din Eidyn, likely where Edinburgh Castle stands today. Over time, the city's name changed as different languages were spoken, finally becoming Edinburgh. In Scottish Gaelic, the city is called Dùn Èideann.

Nicknames

Edinburgh has a few fun nicknames! One is Auld Reekie, which means "Old Smoky" in Scots. People called it that because from far away, the city looked like it was covered in smoke from all the chimneys.

Another nickname is the Athens of the North. People started calling it that in the early 1800s because, just like Athens in Greece, Edinburgh had grand buildings and a history of smart thinking. The city's hills and neat streets reminded many visitors of ancient Greece.

History

Main article: History of Edinburgh

Edinburgh has a long and rich history. The earliest signs of people living in the area date back to around 8500 BC, with campsites found near Cramond. Over the centuries, different groups lived there, including the Votadini tribe and later the Gododdin kingdom.

During the Middle Ages, Edinburgh became an important place. King David I founded the royal burgh in the 12th century. The city grew and developed, even though it faced challenges like wars and fires. In the 18th century, Edinburgh expanded with the creation of the New Town, and became a center of learning during the Scottish Enlightenment. Thinkers like David Hume and Adam Smith helped make the city famous for its ideas. Today, Edinburgh remains an important cultural and financial center in the United Kingdom.

Geography

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, located in the country's Central Belt. It lies on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth, with the Pentland Hills to the south. The city is famously built on seven hills, including Calton Hill, Corstorphine Hill, and Arthur's Seat, which give it a landscape similar to the seven hills of Rome.

The city's shape is influenced by its natural surroundings. It spreads out in a narrow space between the Firth of Forth and the Pentland Hills, shaped by old volcanic activity and glaciers from the ice age. Notable features include the Castle Rock, where Edinburgh Castle stands, and the Salisbury Crags, a series of cliffs formed by glacial erosion. The Water of Leith river flows through the city, and Edinburgh is surrounded by a green belt to control urban growth and preserve natural spaces.

Demography

Main article: Demographics of Edinburgh

Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, has a population of about 506,520 people. It is known for having many young adults, with a large portion of the population in their 20s and 30s.

The city is very diverse, with people from many different countries and backgrounds. Many residents were born outside the UK, and there are communities from places like Poland, India, Pakistan, China, and Nigeria. Edinburgh also has people from many different religious backgrounds, including Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, and Buddhist groups. The city has many places of worship for these communities.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Edinburgh

Further information: Economy of Scotland

Edinburgh has a very strong economy. It is the second strongest in the United Kingdom after London, with many people having degrees or professional skills. In 2023, Edinburgh’s economy grew more than London’s for the first time.

The city is important for Scotland's government and its legal system. Many government offices are here, including St Andrew's House and Bute House. Other key areas include education, health care, science, and technology. Tourism is also very important, with many visitors coming to see places like Edinburgh Castle and the Old and New Towns, especially during the Edinburgh Festivals each August.

Culture

Festivals and celebrations

Edinburgh festivals

Main article: List of Edinburgh festivals

Edinburgh is well known for its many festivals, which happen between the end of July and early September each year. Some of the most famous are the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the Edinburgh Art Festival, the Edinburgh International Book Festival and Edinburgh International Film Festival.

The Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh International Film Festival both began in 1947. The International Festival features famous theatre and classical music performances from around the world. The Film Festival is the oldest continually running film festival in the world, showing new and exciting films from many countries.

The Edinburgh Fringe started with a few small shows alongside the main festival and has grown into the largest performing arts festival in the world. In 2023, over 3,700 shows were performed in 300 different places across the city. Comedy is very popular at the Fringe, and many comedians start their careers there. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place on Castle Esplanade for three weeks every August, featuring pipe bands and military bands from many countries, ending with a fireworks show.

Besides the summer festivals, Edinburgh hosts many other events throughout the year, including the Edinburgh International Science Festival. The festivals were not held in 2020 for the first time in 70 years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected many businesses that rely on summer tourism.

Edinburgh's Hogmanay

Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebration began as a street party near the Tron Kirk in the Old Town. Since 1993, it has been organized officially and moved to Princes Street. By 1996, so many people attended that tickets were required, with a limit of 100,000 people. Today, Hogmanay lasts four days with processions, concerts, and fireworks. The street party starts on Hogmanay night, and there are also tickets for concerts in Princes Street Gardens and traditional Scottish dancing events.

Beltane and other festivals

On the night of April 30, the Beltane Fire Festival happens on Calton Hill. It includes a procession and performances inspired by old spring celebrations. In early October, the Dussehra Hindu Festival is also held on Calton Hill.

Music, theatre and film

Edinburgh has many theatres and places for watching films. The Royal Lyceum Theatre has its own theatre company, while the King's Theatre, Edinburgh Festival Theatre and Edinburgh Playhouse show big touring productions. The Traverse Theatre offers more modern plays. Amateur theatre groups perform at the Bedlam Theatre, Church Hill Theatre and King's Theatre among others. The Usher Hall is a main venue for classical music concerts and sometimes hosts popular music too. It was the place for the Eurovision Song Contest 1972. Other music and theatre venues include The Hub, the Assembly Rooms and the Queen's Hall. The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is based in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh has two cinemas that show many different films, The Cameo and the Edinburgh Filmhouse, as well as the independent Dominion Cinema and several multiplex cinemas. Big concerts sometimes happen at Murrayfield Stadium and Meadowbank Stadium, while smaller concerts are at places like O2 Academy Edinburgh. In 2010, Edinburgh was named one of the top ten most musical cities in the UK by PRS for Music. Many city pubs are famous for live folk music performances. Nightclubs in the city also host electronic dance music events.

Media

The main local newspaper is the Edinburgh Evening News. It is published with The Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday by JPIMedia. Student newspapers include The Journal for Scotland's universities and The Student from the University of Edinburgh, which began in 1887. Community newspapers are The Spurtle from Broughton, Spokes Bulletin, and The Edinburgh Reporter.

Edinburgh has many commercial radio stations such as Forth 1, which plays popular music, and Greatest Hits Edinburgh on DAB for classic hits. Capital Scotland and Heart Scotland also broadcast to Edinburgh. Along with UK national radio, BBC Radio Scotland and the Gaelic service BBC Radio nan Gàidheal are available. DAB digital radio is broadcast over two local multiplexes. BFBS Radio broadcasts from Dreghorn Barracks on 98.5FM. Small community radio stations began broadcasting in October 2022.

Television and most radio services are broadcast from the Craigkelly transmitting station in Fife and the Black Hill transmitting station in North Lanarkshire. There are no television stations based in Edinburgh. Edinburgh Television operated from the late 1990s to early 2003, and STV Edinburgh was on air from 2015 to 2018.

Museums, libraries, and galleries

Edinburgh has many museums and libraries, including the National Museum of Scotland, the National Library of Scotland, National War Museum, the Museum of Edinburgh, Surgeons' Hall Museum, the Writers' Museum, the Museum of Childhood and Dynamic Earth. The Museum on The Mound displays items about money and banking. Edinburgh Zoo, on Corstorphine Hill, is Scotland's second most visited paid attraction. It was home to two giant pandas, Tian Tian and Yang Guang, who were on loan from China. Edinburgh also has The Royal Yacht Britannia, which was decommissioned in 1997 and is now a visitor attraction at Ocean Terminal.

Scotland's three National Galleries of Art are in Edinburgh. The main collection is in the Scottish National Gallery on The Mound, which includes the National Gallery of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Academy building. Modern art is shown at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art on Belford. The Scottish National Portrait Gallery on Queen Street focuses on portraits and photographs. The city also has the City Art Centre and The Fruitmarket Gallery for contemporary art exhibitions.

Shopping

The main shopping area is around Princes Street, with many souvenir shops and chain stores like Boots the Chemist, Edinburgh Woollen Mill and H&M. George Street, north of Princes Street, has more expensive shops and independent stores. The St James Quarter opened in June 2021 at the east end of Princes Street. Next to the Balmoral Hotel and Waverley Station is Waverley Market. Multrees Walk is a shopping street with stores like Harvey Nichols, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry and Michael Kors.

Edinburgh also has large shopping areas outside the city centre, such as The Gyle Shopping Centre, Hermiston Gait, Cameron Toll Shopping Centre, Straiton Retail Park, Fort Kinnaird and Ocean Terminal on the Leith waterfront.

Government and politics

Main articles: Politics of Edinburgh and City of Edinburgh Council

Edinburgh is governed by the City of Edinburgh Council, which is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. The council has 63 elected councillors who help make decisions about things like housing, parks, and local transport.

The city is also represented in the Scottish Parliament and the UK’s House of Commons. In the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh has six areas that each elect a Member of the Scottish Parliament, or MSP. In the UK Parliament, Edinburgh has five areas that each elect a Member of Parliament, or MP.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Edinburgh

Edinburgh has many ways to get around, making it easy for people to travel. The city has an important airport called Edinburgh Airport, which is the busiest in Scotland. It handles millions of passengers each year and connects Edinburgh to many places around the world.

The city also has many bus services. Lothian Buses runs most of the buses within the city and to nearby towns. There are also special tour buses and night buses to help people get around. Edinburgh has several train stations, with Edinburgh Waverley being the busiest. It is a major stop for trains coming from London and other parts of Scotland. There are also trams in Edinburgh. The tram system started in 2014 and runs from the airport to the city center. More tram lines are being planned for the future.

Education

Edinburgh has many schools and universities. There are 18 nursery schools, 94 primary schools, and 23 secondary schools managed by the City of Edinburgh Council. One famous school is The Royal High School, which is one of the oldest schools in the country and the world. The city also has several independent, fee-paying schools such as Edinburgh Academy, Fettes College, and George Heriot's School.

Edinburgh is home to three universities: the University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University, and Edinburgh Napier University. The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is one of Scotland's ancient universities. Heriot-Watt University, established in 1821, is known for its international reach. Edinburgh Napier University was originally Napier College before becoming a university in 1992. These universities offer many opportunities for students to learn and grow.

Healthcare

Edinburgh has several important hospitals that help take care of people. The main hospitals include the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, which also works with the University of Edinburgh Medical School, and the Western General Hospital, which has a center for treating cancer. There is also the Royal Edinburgh Hospital that focuses on mental health, and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, known as the Sick Kids, which looks after children’s health needs. Additionally, there are two private hospitals: Murrayfield Hospital and Shawfair Hospital, both owned by Spire Healthcare.

See also: List of hospitals in Edinburgh

Sport

Edinburgh has a rich sporting history with many teams and events. The city is home to four football clubs in the Scottish Professional Football League: Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian, Edinburgh City F.C., and Spartans. Hearts and Hibs are especially famous, with a long-standing rivalry known as the Edinburgh derby.

Rugby is also popular in Edinburgh. The Scotland national rugby union team and the professional Edinburgh Rugby team both play at Murrayfield Stadium, which can seat over 67,000 spectators. Edinburgh has hosted many important rugby matches, including the world's first international rugby game in 1871.

Other sports in Edinburgh include cricket, ice hockey, basketball, and baseball. The city has also been a venue for major events such as the Commonwealth Games and hosts annual races like the Edinburgh Marathon.

People

Main article: List of people from Edinburgh

See also: List of University of Edinburgh people

Edinburgh has a rich literary history, becoming the first UNESCO City of Literature in 2004. Famous writers from Edinburgh include Adam Smith, James Boswell, Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Muriel Spark, Irvine Welsh, Ian Rankin, Alexander McCall Smith, and J. K. Rowling.

The city has also been home to important scientists and engineers such as John Napier, who invented logarithms, and James Clerk Maxwell, who helped develop our understanding of electromagnetism. Edinburgh is also the birthplace of famous actors like Sean Connery and musicians including Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull and Shirley Manson of Garbage.

International relations

The City of Edinburgh has formed 14 international friendships since 1954. Most of these are called Twin Cities, but the agreement with Kraków is called a Partner City, and the one with Kyoto Prefecture is a Friendship Link.

In June 2024, plans for a friendship with Kaohsiung, Taiwan were stopped because of concerns about cyber attacks. Before this decision, the Chinese consul general spoke with a Scottish government minister about the issue.