Edinburgh - what to see, what to do
|
There can be few cities in Britain, or indeed elswhere, that have a
finer setting than Edinburgh. Its position on the southern shores of
the Firth of Forth, at the eastern end of the central lowland belt
between the Highlands to the north and the Southern Uplands to the
south, make it the ideal site for Scotland's capital.
One of the greenest and most architecturally beautiful cities in Europe, Edinburgh annually attracts over 2 million visitors, not just for its architecture, but as a city rich in social, cultural, learning and sporting facilities. Each year the city plays host to internationally renowned events such as the Edinburgh International Arts, Fringe, Film, TV and Science Festivals. Here is an excellent and comprehensive guide to the city The Scotsman (main Scottish newspaper) has a City guide including restaurants, bars, clubs, green areas, shopping, travel etc.
Museums and GalleriesEdinburgh is well endowed with museums and galleries for every taste. Only five minutes from Appleton Tower, the new Museum of Scotland presents the history of Scotland - its land, its people and their achievements - from its beginnings to modern times in a striking building (including rooftop restaurant and terrace). Adjacent is the Royal Museum with it's international and natural history collection. The entrance hall alone is worth a visit. The museum houses an art cinema, the Lumière showing three films a day on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.Other museums, such as the Writer's Museum and the Museum of Childhood, are described here The main galleries are the National Gallery of Scotland on the Mound (Princes Street), Scotland's greatest collection of European paintings and sculpture from the Renaissance to Post-Impressionism, and one of the very finest galleries of its size in the world, and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, west of the city centre with a collection of almost 5,000 items, ranging from paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings of the 1890s to contemporary video installations. Other contemporary galleries are the Fruitmarket Gallery next to the train station, and the Stills Gallery in Cockburn Street. ICANN 99 is scheduled to take place immediately following the Edinburgh International Festival, including the spectacular annual pageant, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Ed Web is a good
source for planning your entertainment during your stay in Edinburgh,
whether you want to eat out, sample the local pubs, or even catch up
with the latest film releases.
Places to visit outside EdinburghAlternatively, you may want to get
active! Why not sample the great outdoors and go walking, mountain
biking, off-road driving or even white water rafting - you can do it
all either in Edinburgh itself or within an hour or so drive.
|
[ Back to local ICANN99 home page ]
For questions please email Janet Forbes.