Edinburgh Tourist Attractions

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Edinburgh is home to a diverse selection of tourist attractions that encapsulate the city’s past, present, geography, landscapes, art, sport and leisure. Knowing where to start exploring Edinburgh’s endless list of tourist attractions always proves to be a difficult feat for visitors each time.

Why not explore the wonders of light and optical illusions at Camera Obscura at the top of Edinburgh's Royal Mile. This engaging Toursit Attraction allows visitors to interact with a specacular array of vision images ranging from 3D cityscapes of Edinburgh's splendid Victorian and Georgian architecture to live viewcams. Many enjoy the breathtaking views from the roof top terrace and marvel at the 3D hologram display in the Light Fantastic exhibtion space and mush more.

At the opposite end of the Royal Mile near Holyrood House and and The Scottish Parliament, The Dynamic Earth is undoubtedly one of the most striking and captivating attractions to have opened in Edinburgh over the last few years. Dynamic Earth allows visitors to discover the biodiversity and extremes of our planet, featuring Equatorial rainstorms, erupting volcanos and retreating glaciers.

Edinburgh is home to an abundance of open spaces, allowing people to escape from the hustle and bustle and to simply unwind in natural and peaceful surroundings. The city's hidden natural treasure, The Water of Leith, is a popular spot for walkers and features a Visitor Centre with an interactive display on the river's heritage and wildlife.

For wildlife enthusiasts, come and explore the amazing diversity of creatures at Edinburgh Zoo, home to more than 1,000 animals from minute Poison Arrow Frogs to Amur Tigers and Majestic White Rhinos. Featuring the world's largest penguin pool, there is something for everyone at this wildlife oasis in the west of Edinburgh. The Zoo is proud of its logstanding devotion to conservation of endangered species and is one of Europe's finest zoological parks.

No visit to Scotland's capital is complete without experiencing Edinburgh Castle, towering majestically above Princes Street Gardens on a steep rock-faced cliff. The Castle is undoubtedly Edinburgh's most distinctive and most visited attractions, drawing in one million visitors annually. Edinburgh Castle is not only a place of historical interest. This remarkable fortress offers spectacular panoramic vistas across the city to the Forth of Forth and beyond. There is a wealth of attractions to see within the confines of the castle, including a sparkling collection of armour and artillery, The Royal Apartments, The Crown and Sword of State and not forgetting the famous One O'Clock Gun that is fired at 1.00pm precisely everyday except Sunday. The Edinburgh Castle experience is a must see visitor attraction, rivalling other world heritage sites such as the The Tower of London.

Camera Obscura and The World of Illusions in Castlehill Castlehill, City of Edinburgh, EH1 2ND Tel: 0131 226 3709 Originally founded in the 1850’s by optician Maria Theresa Short, Camera Obscura and The World of Illusions is housed in the striking Outlook Tower at the summit of the Royal Mile near Edinburgh Castle and the Castle Esplanade.
Edinburgh Castle Castle Hill, City of Edinburgh, EH1 2NG Tel: 0131 225 9846 Towering majestically above Central Edinburgh at the top of the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle is inarguably Scotland’s national treasure and is monumental to the country’s regal and chequered history.
Edinburgh Zoo Murrayfield, City of Edinburgh, EH12 6TS Tel: 0131 334 9171 Established in 1913 by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Edinburgh Zoo is one of Europe’s leading zoological gardens and its ethos lies in the strong commitment and dedication to conservation and survival of endangered animal species from all ecosystems of our natural world.
Loch Ness Discovery Centre 1A Parliament Square, High Street, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH1 1RE Tel: 0131 225 2290 Situated in the cultural heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town invites visitors to uncover the truth behind Loch Ness and it’s world famous mythical creature, Nessie through an intriguing collection of displays and presentations devised by erudite Loch Ness enthusiast and expert Adrian Shine, the designer of the award-winning Loch Ness 2000 Visitor Centre in Drumnadrochit.
Movies N Motors Royal Highland Showground, Ingliston, Newbridge, City of Edinburgh, EH28 8NB Tel: 0131 333 1117
National Monument Calton Hill, Edinburgh Tel: 0131 556 2716 Perched high above the eastern section of Princes Street, Scotland's National Monument in Calton Hill is one of Edinburgh's most prominent landmarks, lending to the city being affectionately known as 'The Athens of The North'. Arguably regarded as a folly, The National Monument features the hallmarks of the Acropolis in Athens.
Nelson Monument Calton Hill, City of Edinburgh, EH7 5AA Tel: 0131 556 2716 Standing on the summit of Calton Hill above the east end of Edinburgh’s Princes Street, Nelson’s Monument is an imposing stone structure commemorating the death of Admiral Horatio Nelson and Britain’s victory over French and Spanish forces at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
Our Dynamic Earth Holyrood Road, City of Edinburgh, EH8 8AS Tel: 0131 550 7800 Inarguably one of Edinburgh’s premier cultural and visitor attractions, Our Dynamic Earth was opened in 1999 as part of the Millenium Commission and is situated in the William Younger Centre adjacent to the Palace of Holyrood House and The Scottish Parliament at the foot of the world-renowned Royal Mile.
Royal Observatory Visitor Centre Blackford HIll, Edinburgh Tel: 0131 668 8404 Situated 3 miles south of Central Edinburgh and perched above Blackford Hill is The Royal Observatory of Edinburgh (ROE) dating from 1896. Originally founded a century earlier by the University of Edinburgh in 1796, the Royal Observatory continues to forge close links with the University’s Science Faculty located in the King’s Buildings nearby and is the home of the University’s Institute for Astronomy.
Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre 354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, City of Edinburgh, EH1 2NE Tel: 0131 220 0441
Scott Monument East Princes Street Gardens, City of Edinburgh, EH2 2EJ Tel: 0131-529-4068 Edinburgh's Scott Monument was erected following the death of Sir Walter Scott on the 21st September 1832.
Scottish Rugby (Murrayfield Stadium Tours) Murrayfield, City of Edinburgh, EH12 5PJ Tel: 0131 346 5044 Home to Scottish Rugby Union, Scotland's National Ruby Stadium at Murrayfield was officially operned in 21 March 1925 to an opening match against England.
The Palace Of Holyrood House Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8AE Tel: 0131 556 5100
The People's Story Canongate Tolbooth, Royal Mile, City of Edinburgh, EH8 8BN Tel: 0131 529 4057 A museum in Edinburgh detailing the history of Scotland's capital, and it's people. Situated on the Royal Mile this former prison is an impressive building with an even more interesting past.
The Royal Yacht Britannia Ocean Terminal, Leith, City of Edinburgh, EH6 6JJ Tel: 0131 555 5566 One of the world's finest ships and was built in Scotland on the banks of the river Clyde at John Brown's Shipyard, one of the surviving Glasgow Shipyards. Launced in 1953, The Royal Yacht Briatnnia proudly served the Royal Family for over forty years, completing 968 official trips to some of the most isolated and exotic destinations in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Scottish Parliament Holyrood Road, City of Edinburgh, EH99 1SP Tel: 0131 348 5200 or 0845 278 1999 Established since 1707 following the formation of the Scotland Act 1988. Devolution was the result of years of strong campaigning for a devolved parliament in Scotland, taking partial control of Scotland’s affairs from Westminster. The term devolution means the delegation of power from central government to local bodies.