places of interest and things to do in edinburgh

Whether you like spooky and scary, history and culture or even animal and mineral, there is much to interest you in Edinburgh!

touring Scotland

the edinburgh dungeon

Opened 13th April 2001 (spooky!), the Edinburgh Dungeons is a chamber of horrors reconstructing chapters in Scotland's book of the macabre, including Burke and Hare - the 19th Century body snatchers; and Mary Kings Close. The Dungeons is a scary treat indeed. Visit the Dungeon's official site.

dynamic earth

This place is one of a kind. It tells the story of the planet, using very clever special effects and interactive technology. Visit the official site. Not to be missed!

edinburgh castle

Home of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the Edinburgh Castle stands proud on an inactive volcano. Centuries old, this is the visitors' favourite. View the castle webcam! to see a live webcam image of this majestic building.

holyrood palace

Where the Castle sits at the top end of the Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace stands impressively at the other end. This Royal residence has seen many dramatic events in the history of Scotland dating back to 1498.

edinburgh zoo

The children's favourite. See the penguins! See the lions and tigers! See the elephants and much, much more! Here's a preview of what you can see. A great day out for the family!

royal museum of scotland

This fabulous museum was extended in 1998 to display the historic artifacts of Scotland. The museum also contains examples of wildlife, world history and science. Visit the museum's official site.

edinburgh ghost tours

Ever wanted to see what 18th century Edinburgh looked like? Now you can. Take a ghoulish walk in the underground vaults underneath the Old Town and learn about 18th Edinburgh, the rats and the plague. Can you feel those hairs on the back of your neck rise already? Visit the Mercat Tours site.

walkabout scotland

Walking holidays in Scotland, plus day walking tours from Edinburgh. Explore the beautiful mountains of Scotland with the extremely knowledgable and experienced guides of walkabout Scotland. Trips for all abilities and ages, from the Isle of Arran through to the Highlands of Scotland. Walkabout Scotland site.

heart of Scotland tours

Day bus tours from Edinburgh around the most famous parts of Scotland including Loch Ness, Stirling, the Wallace Monument, Loch Lomond and beyond. Also new for 2004 - bespoke tours - put together your perfect trip and heart of Scotland tours will facilitate it for you with their expert local knowledge. Heart of Scotland Tours site.

Auld Reekie Tours

Probably the Scariest Ghost Tours in the World! Half-way between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood palace on the Royal Mile is the Tron Kirk, the departure point for Auld Reekie's Tours. Located in the old town below South Bridge are our infamous underground vaults that have featured on U.S. and European television as one of the most actively haunted and paranormal experiencing locations in the world. Auld Reekie Tours

Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament is the national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members who are known as Members of the Scottish Parliament, or MSPs. Scottish Parliament site