Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland There are around 500,000 people in

Edinburgh Edinburgh has two nicknames. One is the

‘Athens of the North’ because of our medieval and Georgian architecture.

The second is ‘Auld Reekie’ ( Auld meaning old and reekie meaning smelly or smokey) because years ago the chimneys used to spew thick black smoke.

The old town dates back to the 1500s.

Other buildings in Edinburgh include the Scottish Parliament, the Holyrood Palace, the Royal Museum of Scotland and Edinburgh University.

Dates back to 1765 to 1850. Over crowding in the old townStreet names were named after Kings

and Princes. For example Princes Street is the main shopping street which faces the castle.

Edinburgh is also known as the most haunted city in Europe because of our under ground vaults. ‘Under ground 18th century city’

Poor, sick and criminals of society lived in the vaults.

Edinburgh is built on seven hills. Pentland Hills, Braid Hills, Arthurs Seat, Salisbury Crags, Corstorphine Hill, Calton Hill and the Blackford Hills.

The castle is situated on top of an extinct volcano.

Edinburgh attracts over 1 million visitors every year making it the second most visited city in the whole of Great Britain.

Every year Edinburgh hosts the annual Fringe Festival which is the largest arts festival in the world. It celebrates the performing arts: comedy, literature, poetry, plays, music and dance.