1. EDINBURGH

2. Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, in the UK. The city is
situated on the eastern coast of Scotland, on the southern shore of
Firth of Forth. It's the second most populous city in Scotland and
the seventh most populous in the United Kingdom. Edinburgh has
been recognised as the capital of Scotland since 1437.

3. Scotland’s capital grew around its Old Town until the late 18th
century and this area of the city still has a distinct character from
the iconic castle at the top of the Royal Mile to the Grassmarket
below, where public hangings formerly took place. During the
Victorian era, Edinburgh earned itself a nickname as ‘Auld Reekie’
due to the smoke from the steam engines and the pollution of the
industrial revolution.

4. After nearly three
centuries of unitary
government, a measure
of self-government
returned in the shape of
the Scottish Parliament.
1707 saw the Act of
Union, which joined
Scotland and England
together politically, and
moved power from
Edinburgh's old parliament to London's
Westminster. Living conditions were not good at
this time and many wealthy residents moved to
London. Eventually a competition to design a new
part of the city was put in place to try to attract the
wealthy back to Edinburgh. James Craig won this
contest and his ideas and influences are still visible
in the grid pattern of the streets of the Georgian
New Town.

5. After 1583, the city
was also a centre of
educational and
professional
development since
the world-famous
university was
founded. The city
has long been
known abroad as a
centre of education,
particularly in the fields of medicine, law, the sciences and
engineering. The University of Edinburgh, now one of four in the
city, is ranked among the world's top 20, standing today as a symbol
of the knowledge and intellectual talent to be found in the city.

6. The city is also famous for the
Edinburgh International Festival, which
has grown into the biggest annual
international arts festival in the world.
In 2004 Edinburgh became the world's
first UNESCO City of Literature. The
city’s historical and cultural attractions,
together with an annual calendar of
events aimed primarily at the tourist
market, have made it the second most
popular tourist destination in the
United Kingdom, attracting over one
million overseas visitors each year.

7. Edinburgh has many historic buildings, including Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood
Palace, the churches of St. Giles, Greyfriars and the Canongate, and an
extensive Georgian New Town built in the 18th century. Edinburgh’s Old
Town and New Town are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today,
Edinburgh combines both modernity and tradition. Modern architecture such
as the Scottish Parliament sits alongside wonderful baroque buildings including
the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The city is also home to many national
institutions such as the National Museum of Scotland, the National Library of
Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery.

8. Edinburgh’s economy is traditionally centred on banking and
insurance but now it involves a wide range of businesses, making it the
biggest financial centre in the UK after London.

9. Scotland's cuisine involves dairy products, fish, fruit (for example
berries), and vegetables, with simple recipes and a lack of spices.
Scotland is famous for its salmon. In most towns, Chinese and
Indian take-away restaurants exist alongside traditional fish and chip
shops. In larger towns and cities the cuisine may also include Thai,
Japanese, Mexican, Pakistani, Polish and Turkish cuisines.

10. Scotland's cuisine involves dairy products, fish, fruit (for example
berries), and vegetables, with simple recipes and a lack of spices.
Scotland is famous for its salmon. In most towns, Chinese and
Indian take-away restaurants exist alongside traditional fish and chip
shops. In larger towns and cities the cuisine may also include Thai,
Japanese, Mexican, Pakistani, Polish and Turkish cuisines.