Scotland: Main Centres



Scotsmart Directory Top Scottish Sites Focus On

Scotland: Main Centres - Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Population
~400000
Edinburgh is one of the world's finest capital cities with it's famous hill top castle rising above it. The old city lying along the Royal Mile from the Castle to the Royal Palace of Holyrood is medieval. The 'new' town below the Castle is a fine 18thC matrix of wide streets, magnificent terraces and gardens.

History

The great rock heights in the centre of Edinburgh have probably been continually occupied for 7000 years. The castle is first documented in the 7thC as Din Eidyn the fort on the ridge as the stronghold of the Gododdin, a British tribe - Celts who spoke Welsh. If there ever was a King Arthur this is probably where he carried out his doomed campaigns against the encroaching barbarian Anglo-Saxons. Edinburgh and the Lothians fell into the hands of the Northumbrian Angles.
In 1018 Malcolm secured Lothian and Dun Eiden (in Gaelic) for Scotland. In the 7 centuries of war between Scotland and England which intermittently followed, Edinburgh always had the strategic flaw of being within easy reach of England and was occupied or sacked in a number of occasions.
Edinburgh as a commercial centre grew from it's Royal Burgh status and when from 1364 they alone were allowed to carry out foreign trade, 'things took off'. Edinburgh was to remain Scotland's largest town and main commercial centre until the industrial growth of Glasgow in the early 19thC.

Government

Although Parliament tended to meet in Edinburgh from mid 15thC it can only be described as 'official capital' under James V from around 1530. The Castle tended to always have been military and not the Royal residence. The monarch would stay at Holyrood but was more likely to be found at Falkland, Dunfermline, Stirling or Linlithgow.
In 1603 the Royal court left for London, James VI having inherited England. In 1707 the Parliaments of Scotland and England merged.
From small beginnings in 1892 the Scottish Office in Edinburgh began to take over most Scottish day to day adminstration. But Parliament and Scottish Members sit at Westminster 650km to the south. From 1999 a Scottish Parliament will again sit in Edinburgh to administer that which is already different about Scotland: it's Laws, education, health, agriculture, fisheries etc.

Now

Edinburgh is now one of Europe's major financial centres in addition to being administrative centre of the government. Around the city many new industries have grown up in the past 30 years, many high technology with 'silicon glen' lying to the west.
It has much to offer the visitor with wonderful architecture and fine views across the city. There are shops, restaurants, theatres, National galleries and museums, zoological and botanical gardens.
Edinburgh has 7 of Scotland's 10 most visited tourist attractions:
Edinburgh Castle
Royal Botanic Gardens
Royal Museum of Scotland
National Gallery of Scotland
Edinburgh Zoo
Scottish United Services Museum
Holyrood Palace
also, there's .....
The 'Old Town' around the High Street
The 'New Town' from Princes Street northward
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
Museum of Childhood
City Art Centre
... and much more.
Specifically in terms of culture and entertainment there are the world renowned summer Arts Festivals.
And every New Year 's Eve, Edinburgh has the world's biggest Hogmanay party!

Edinburgh Population ~400000		Edinburgh is one of the world's finest capital cities with it's famous hill top castle rising above it. The old city lying along the Royal Mile from the Castle to the Royal Palace of Holyrood is medieval. The 'new' town below the Castle is a fine 18thC matrix of wide streets, magnificent terraces and gardens.
	History	The great rock heights in the centre of Edinburgh have probably been continually occupied for 7000 years. The castle is first documented in the 7thC as Din Eidyn the fort on the ridge as the stronghold of the Gododdin, a British tribe - Celts who spoke Welsh. If there ever was a King Arthur this is probably where he carried out his doomed campaigns against the encroaching barbarian Anglo-Saxons. Edinburgh and the Lothians fell into the hands of the Northumbrian Angles. In 1018 Malcolm secured Lothian and Dun Eiden (in Gaelic) for Scotland. In the 7 centuries of war between Scotland and England which intermittently followed, Edinburgh always had the strategic flaw of being within easy reach of England and was occupied or sacked in a number of occasions. Edinburgh as a commercial centre grew from it's Royal Burgh status and when from 1364 they alone were allowed to carry out foreign trade, 'things took off'. Edinburgh was to remain Scotland's largest town and main commercial centre until the industrial growth of Glasgow in the early 19thC.
	Government	Although Parliament tended to meet in Edinburgh from mid 15thC it can only be described as 'official capital' under James V from around 1530. The Castle tended to always have been military and not the Royal residence. The monarch would stay at Holyrood but was more likely to be found at Falkland, Dunfermline, Stirling or Linlithgow. In 1603 the Royal court left for London, James VI having inherited England. In 1707 the Parliaments of Scotland and England merged. From small beginnings in 1892 the Scottish Office in Edinburgh began to take over most Scottish day to day adminstration. But Parliament and Scottish Members sit at Westminster 650km to the south. From 1999 a Scottish Parliament will again sit in Edinburgh to administer that which is already different about Scotland: it's Laws, education, health, agriculture, fisheries etc.
	Now	Edinburgh is now one of Europe's major financial centres in addition to being administrative centre of the government. Around the city many new industries have grown up in the past 30 years, many high technology with 'silicon glen' lying to the west. It has much to offer the visitor with wonderful architecture and fine views across the city. There are shops, restaurants, theatres, National galleries and museums, zoological and botanical gardens. Edinburgh has 7 of Scotland's 10 most visited tourist attractions: Edinburgh Castle Royal Botanic Gardens Royal Museum of Scotland National Gallery of Scotland Edinburgh Zoo Scottish United Services Museum Holyrood Palace also, there's ..... The 'Old Town' around the High Street The 'New Town' from Princes Street northward Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Museum of Childhood City Art Centre ... and much more. Specifically in terms of culture and entertainment there are the world renowned summer Arts Festivals. And every New Year 's Eve, Edinburgh has the world's biggest Hogmanay party!