Edinburgh has a lot going for everyone, whether you like history or comedy. It is home to the Scottish Parliament, a military tattoo, its castle, and a number of museums. For sightseeing and hosting conferences, it is a wonderful city.
The city is split into two, with the Old Town atop a hill nearest to Edinburgh Castle. As the city boomed, it outgrew the Old Town with new development north of what is now Edinburgh Waverley railway station. To a strict grid system, the New Town was completed in 1810. Owing to the amount of neo-classical architecture, it was known as 'The Athens of the North'.
Today, the East Coast Main Line meets up with the West Coast Main Line and straddles between the New Town and Old Town. In the Old Town, you can see the Scottish Crown Jewels in Edinburgh Castle, look at the city through a Camera Obscura, or visit the Robert Burns museum. You can also visit the National Museum of Scotland, St. Giles Cathedral, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The high point of the city's year, along with the Military Tattoo is the famed Edinburgh International Festival. This takes place each summer with a further ten festivals held the same time. One is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe which has attracted comedians like Al Murray and John Bishop. Others include the Edinburgh International Film Festival and the Edinburgh International Television Festival, the latter best known for its keynote address, the James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture.
The New Town forms the basis of Edinburgh's retail centre. Most of the famous chains and names are situated along Princes Street and Queen Street. Around this part of Edinburgh is the Scott Monument, Scottish National Gallery and Princes Street Gardens.
Culturally and historically, you cannot go wrong. The chances of finding nothing to do or nowhere to go are remote, whether you wish to climb Arthur's Seat or take in a film. Even if you need to leave the city centre, the Royal Yacht Britannia is a short bus or car ride away in Leith. Likewise with the Pentland Hills, the Firth of Forth or Musselburgh. The world's oldest golf course in St. Andrews is a short drive away.
Closer to the city centre itself, are a number of golf courses. Some, like the Dalmahoy Country Club boast conferencing facilities. Rugby and Association Football fans are catered for with Murrayfield, and the homes of Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian also being conference venues.
With its number of hotels, historical and cultural attractions, Edinburgh's a good all-round destination.
