fiogf49gjkf0d EDINBURGH FESTIVALS. FOR THE WHOLE MONTH OF
AUGUST, EDINBURGH PLAYS HOST TO THE LARGEST ARTS
AND ENTERTAINMENT FESTIVAL IN THE WORLD.
EDINBURGH CASTLE. THIS MOST FAMOUS OF SCOTTISH
CASTLES HAS A COMPLEX HISTORY. THE OLDEST PART,
ST MARGARETS CHAPEL, DATES FROM THE 12TH
CENTURY, THE GREAT HALL WAS ERECTED BY JAMES IV
AROUND 1510, THE HALF MOON BATTERY BY THE REGENT
MORTON IN THE LATE 16TH CENTURY, AND THE SCOTTISH
NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL AFTER THE FIRST WORLD WAR.
THE CASTLE HOUSES THE HONOURS - THE CROWN JEWELS
- OF SCOTLAND, THE STONE OF DESTINY, THE FAMOUS
15TH-CENTURY GUN MONS MEG, THE ONE O CLOCK GUN
AND THE NATIONAL WAR MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND. IN
ADDITION TO GUIDED TOURS PROVIDED BY THE CASTLE
STEWARDS, THERE IS AN AUDIO GUIDE TOUR AVAILABLE
IN SIX LANGUAGES. THE AUDIO TOUR TAKES THE
VISITOR ON A TOUR AROUND THE CASTLE, EXPLAINS ITS
ARCHITECTURE, AND TELLS ITS DRAMATIC HISTORY.
THIS GUIDE IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH, FRENCH,
ITALIAN, SPANISH, DUTCH, JAPANESE AND GERMAN. THE
CROWN JEWEL SHOP IN THE ROYAL APARTMENTS OFFERS
EXCLUSIVE LINES OF SPECIALLY DESIGNED JEWELLERY.
A COURTESY VEHICLE, CAN TAKE VISITORS WITH A
DISABILITY TO THE TOP OF THE CASTLE. RAMPS AND A
LIFT GIVE ACCESS TO THE CROWN JEWELS, STONE OF
DESTINY AND ASSOCIATED EXHIBITION, AND RAMPS
PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE WAR MEMORIAL. FOR THOSE
WITH IMPAIRED VISION, THERE IS A FREE BRAILLE
GUIDE AND HANDS-ON MODELS OF THE CROWN JEWELS
WITH BRAILLE TEXTS.
EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO. SCOTLANDS STUNNING
ANNUAL OUTDOOR MILITARY SPECTACULAR SET AGAINST
THE MAJESTIC BACKDROP OF EDINBURGH CASTLE.
FEATURING THE EVER POPULAR MASSED PIPES AND DRUMS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
THE REAL MARY KINGS CLOSE A HISTORICAL ACCURATE
INTERPRETATION OF LIFE IN EDINBURGH FROM THE
SIXTEENTH TO THE NINETEENTH CENTURIES.
ACCOMPANIED BY A COSTUMED TOUR GUIDE, VISITORS
WALK THROUGH A WARREN OF HIDDEN STREETS BENEATH
THE ROYAL MILE TO DISCOVER DRAMATIC EPISODES FROM
THE PAST.
THE PALACE OF HOLYROOD HOUSE THE OFFICIAL
RESIDENCE IN SCOTLAND OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN,
STANDS AT THE END OF EDINBURGHS ROYAL MILE,
AGAINST THE SPECTACULAR BACKDROP OF ARTHURS
SEAT. THIS FINE BAROQUE PALACE IS CLOSELY
ASSOCIATED WITH SCOTLANDS RICH HISTORY.
NO.22 CHARLOTTE SQUARE CHARLOTTE SQUARE, IN
EDINBURGH S RENOWNED NEW TOWN, IS CONSIDERED BY
MANY AS THE FINEST GEORGIAN SQUARE IN BRITAIN. IT
WAS THE LAST COMMISSION OF ROBERT ADAM 1728-92,
ONE OF THE WORLD S MOST INFLUENTIAL ARCHITECTS.
THE SQUARE S LIGHT, SPACIOUS TOWN HOUSES
ATTRACTED SCOTTISH LANDOWNERS AND PROFESSIONAL
PEOPLE, WHO COULD AFFORD TO MOVE OUT OF THE
CROWDED TENEMENTS OF THE OLD TOWN, AND THE SOUTH
SIDE S FIRST FEUS WERE SOLD IN 1796. DURING THE
20TH CENTURY THE HOUSES ON THE SOUTH SIDE WERE
USED INCREASINGLY AS OFFICES BY LEGAL AND
FINANCIAL COMPANIES, MANY OF WHOM HAD MOVED OUT
BY THE EARLY 1990S. IN 1996 THE TRUST BOUGHT NOS
26-31, WITH THE VISION OF INITIATING A
RENAISSANCE OF THE SQUARE. THE HOUSES ARE NOW THE
HEAD OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND,
WITH THE DRAWING ROOM GALLERY, GIFT SHOP, COFFEE
HOUSE AND RESTAURANT OPEN TO VISITORS. ON DISPLAY
IS A COLLECTION OF 20TH-CENTURY SCOTTISH
PAINTINGS, INCLUDING WORKS BY THE SCOTTISH
COLOURISTS. IT IS COMPLEMENTED BY A LOAN
COLLECTION OF FINE REGENCY FURNITURE AND OBJETS
D ART. THE DRAWING ROOM GALLERY ALSO ACTS AS AN
INFORMATION CENTRE ABOUT THE TRUST AND ITS WORK.
THERE IS A WIDE RANGE OF EXCITING GOODS IN THE
SHOP, AND VISITORS CAN ENJOY MORNING COFFEE,
LIGHT LUNCH OR AFTERNOON TEA IN STYLE IN THE
COFFEE HOUSE. THE TASTE OF SCOTLAND RESTAURANT
OFFERS A LUNCH MENU WITH FRESH SEASONAL PRODUCE
IN A RELAXED ATMOSPHERE.
THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT EXPLORE THE VISITOR
CENTRES HANDS-ON INTERACTIVE DISPLAYS AND
DISCOVER THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT. VISIT THE DEBATING CHAMBER
AND SEE THE PARLIAMENT IN ACTION
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS KNOWN LOCALLY AS THE
BOTANICS AND ESTABLISHED WAY BACK IN 1670,
SCOTLANDS PREMIER GARDEN IS ONE OF THE UKS
FAVOURITE ATTRACTIONS WELCOMING OVER 660,000
VISITORS EACH YEAR. ORIGINALLY FOUNDED AS A
PHYSIC GARDEN IN HOLYROOD, THE GARDEN MOVED TO
LEITH AND FINALLY, SETTLED AND EXPANDED IN
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