Royal Mile Hotels, Edinburgh- General Information

• The City

  Edinburgh is Scotland's capital. It is an exciting blend of traditional, cultural and modern. The city appears to be split into two contrasting areas, separated by Princes Street Gardens. The Old Town, with it's narrow lanes and cobbled streets is steeped in history, while The New Town has orderly, elegant Georgian buildings and Neo-classical architecture. A bustling, cosmopolitan city, Edinburgh has something to suit everyone from designer shops, museums and art galleries to lively bars, restaurants, clubs and the theatres. And, of course Edinburgh Castle which dominates the skyline and provides spectacular photo opportunities.

• Getting Around

  Edinburgh is very accessible and easy to get around. By foot is the best way, as most of the popular tourist attractions are all close to hand. The open-topped bus tours are a great way to familiarise yourself with the city, and you can hop on and off as you please. These leave from Waverley Bridge.. Edinburgh has two main train stations, Waverley, just off Princess Street, and Haymarket in the west end. Both provide excellent rail liks to the rest of Scotland as well as south of the border. Glasgow can be reached in just under one hour. Buses are another option for getting around, they are frequent, cheap and cover the whole of the city.

• When to go - Climate

  With regards to the weather, the best time to visit Edinburgh is between between May and September, when as it is summer, the weather is considerably better. There will probably still be rain during this time but it will be warmer with longer daylight hours. In June/July it does not get dark until 10pm. Although winter is still a very popular time for visitors it can be very cold, and daylight hours are much shorter. August and September are the busiest times for visitors due to the Festival.

  Edinburgh Climate Chart
  The following are approximate daily temperatures for Edinburgh:
  JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
  6°C	7°C	9°C	11°C	14°C	17°C	19°C	19°C	16°C	13°C	8°C	7°C
  43°F	45°F	48°F	52°F	57°F	63°F	66°F	66°F	61°F	55°F	46°F	44°F

  
  

• Entertainment

  You will be spoilt for choice for things to entertain you whilst in Edinburgh particularly around festival time (Aug-Sep) when there are concerts, stand up comedians and shows as well as the world famous Military Tattoo. This is a great time to visit the city as it is even more vibrant and there is a constant buzz of activity. Edinburgh Castle, steeped in history, is well worth a visit. The Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny can be seen as well as magnificent views over the city. The Palace of Holyrood and Royal Museum of Scotland are also popular as are the many art galleries on offer. Edinburgh Zoo is always a favourite, especially with children, as is the Museum of Childhood.

  Edinburgh is home to several theatres with a choice of top shows, or you may wish to have some drinks in one of Edinburgh's many pubs before you head off to a club or casino.

• Eating Out

  Restaurants are in abundance and whether you want to try traditional Scottish fare or want an international or ethnic option, there is a wide choice available to suit all tastes and budgets, in both the New and Old Town. Some Scottish specialities to try include porridge or smoked kippers for breakfast, scones, Scotch pies, Scotch broth, Aberdeen Angus steak, venison, Scottish salmon and of course, Scotland's National Dish, haggis - all washed down with a whisky, or Scotland's other favourite drink, Irn-Bru.