Scotland, the U.K’s northernmost country, is world renowned for its spectacular green forests, towering mountains, vast lochs and castles. Scotland has an average of three hundred castles and these were inhabited by various nobles and lords of the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Due to its astounding scenery and unique heritage, it has featured in various movies such as the iconic Harry Potter, Braveheart and Skyfall.
For many years, Scotland was an independent country and did not form part of the UK. It was only until the seventh century that is in 1603, when the King of Scotland was given the throne of England, that both countries merged and formed Great Britain.
Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city, is considered as one of the cities brimming with the most history in the United Kingdom. It is home to just under five hundred thousand inhabitants. The population doubles during the summer months, as it is very popular for its festivals hosted by world-famous American artists. In this article, we shall be discussing some of Edinburgh’s attractions which are definitely worth your time and money.The Edinburgh castle is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh castle was initially inhabited by King Malcolm Canmore and Queen Margaret, and by the 17th century, the castle served as a military base.
This castle is situated on top of a volcanic rock, which is 260 feet above the city. Since the castle is so high up, it is visible from every corner of the city. People who venture up to the highest parts of the castle, will be overwhelmed and amazed by the spectacular views that the city has to offer. Visitors of the castle get the opportunity to explore the Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny and the dungeons. The Edinburgh castle is also famous for the One O’Clock Gun which is a time signal. The gun is fired every day at 13:00 excluding Sundays, as a commemoration of the time the ships entered the harbour of Leith and the Firth of Forth.
No trip to Edinburgh would be complete without a visit to the zoo. The zoo is one of Scotland’s popular main attractions, with over 800,000 visitors a year. It is owned by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and is set on 82 acres of land. The zoo is home to more than 1,000 endangered species such as the Visayan spotted deer, gorals and giant pandas. It is open to the public from Monday to Sunday except for Christmas day and can be easily accessed via public transport, from the Edinburgh city centre.
The city of Edinburgh also boasts an impressive range of dining options and designer stores. It is famous for its Michelin star restaurants such as ‘The Kitchin’, ‘Number One’ and ‘Martin Wishart’ and also for the city centre designer stores of Louis Vuitton, Armani, Calvin Klein, Burberry and Hugo Boss.
Glasgow
One of the most frequented attractions is Glasgow’s cathedral. It is also known as St. Mungo Cathedral or the High Kirk of Glasgow. It is the city’s most significant historic building of the 12th century. Inside the cathedral, is a large chamber housing the tomb of St. Mungo.
Another remarkable attraction is the Kelvingrove Museum. The museum first opened in 1901 and consists of a fine collection of British and continental paintings, pottery, metalwork, furniture and other art pieces.
Are you ready to pack your bags and book a trip to the amazing Scotland?
