Historical attractions in Edinburgh are plentiful yet the colourful history of our capital city can be seen, felt and read about on almost every street corner

 

Don't be fooled by the serenity, Edinburgh is a city with a vibrant and violent history. It was once home to brutal murderers, grave robbers and cannibals who have left the locals with more than a handful of tales that will make your blood run cold... find out all about it at the Edinburgh Dungeon!

'Auld Reekie' (or 'Old Smoky', Edinburgh's nickname as a result of the notoriously poor air quality in the past) is also a city of writers, inventors and royalty.

World-renowned authors Sir Walter Scott and Sir Arthur Conan Dolye were both born in Edinburgh as was Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone.

For history buffs, the first stop in Edinburgh should always be Edinburgh Castle.

The crown jewel of our town has always been and always will be the most important of all the historical attractions in Edinburgh.

Having played a role in the key passages of Scottish history, such as the Wars of Independence and the Jacobite uprising, a visit to Edinburgh Castle is essentially a tour through Scottish history itself.

Sloping downhill from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace, the Royal Mile or High Street is the backbone of Edinburgh's Old Town and the most famous street in Scotland. It is also your point of descent into Edinburgh's dark past on one of our famous ghost tours.

At the bottom of the Royal Mile you will find the futuristic tent-like structure which houses Our Dynamic Earth, an amazing interactive museum which will fill your boots with the history of our planet if Edinburgh's colourful history isn't enough for you!

A short walk from the Royal Mile down George IV Bridge will take you to the National Museum of Scotland where you can learn all about the history of Scotland and its people. Historical attractions in Edinburgh appear around every corner.

The mile-long High Street has played a central role in the history of Edinburgh since the 12th century. Once the scene of an open-air trading market, the Royal Mile became home to thousands of people when timber buildings were put up. The gaps between these buildings were and still are referred to as 'closes'. On your visit to the Royal Mile, be sure to explore the dozens of alleyways which branch off the main street.

After the destruction of the medieval township in 1544 by the English, stone housing was erected and the Royal Mile gradually became more and more overcrowded. By the mid 17th century, around 70,000 people called the Royal Mile their home.

Modernisation of the street took place in the mid-19th century and began to take on the appearance of the Royal Mile we see today. As you walk down this street, try to imagine what life was like back then, the squalor, the dirt and disease. It would be difficult to find a more distinctive street anywhere in the world. Of all the historical attractions in Edinburgh, it is certainly the most atmospheric.

The Old Town of Edinburgh

Effectively, the section of the city centre to the south of Princes Street Gardens and Edinburgh Castle is the Old Town. This part of Edinburgh along with the New Town is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Being situated on the slopes of the volcanic Castle Rock, the Old Town is laid out on different levels meaning steep streets, tight alleyways and small bridges are the norm. In my opinion, this makes the Old Town an excellent location to explore and get lost!

In the past thirty years, underground vaults have been discovered which at one time were used for storage and as living quarters for relatively poor tradesmen. It is also rumoured that serial killers Burke and Hare scoured the vaults for potential victims and also stored corpses there!

Edinburgh's famous ghost tours will give you access to some sections of the vaults and also to underground streets like Mary King's Close, which were reportedly closed off during the 17th century to contain the spread of the bubonic plague. Historical attractions in Edinburgh don't come scarier than that!

Nowadays, the Old Town where 80,000 people lived in the 18th century, is extremely popular among locals and tourists looking to learn about 10 centuries of history and spend time in some of the countless pubs, bars and clubs which line almost every street corner.

Areas of the Old Town like the Cowgate and the Grassmarket, which was a place of execution in times gone by, are now partying hotspots. It is a special feeling relaxing with your friends in traditional pubs and modern hangouts surrounded by hundreds of years of history.

Greyfriars Bobby

The story of Greyfriars Bobby is one which has touched the hearts of so many people around the world.

Bobby was a Skye Terrier who belonged to a Mr John Gray, a night watchman for the Edinburgh City Police. After spending two years almost permanently by his owner's side, Bobby was left to fend for himself when Gray sadly died of tubercolosis in the winter of 1858.

The little Terrier spent the last fourteen years of his life guarding John Gray's grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard in the Old Town of Edinburgh. Greyfriars Bobby died in 1872 and was buried near the gate of Greyfriars Kirkyard only a few metres from his owner's grave.

This fourteen year-long display of loyalty and devotion touched the local citizens and Lady Burdett-Coutts had a small statue of Bobby set up on the corner of George IV Bridge and Candlemaker Row a year after his death. This statue has become one of the most popular and significant historical attractions in Edinburgh.

This story has spawned a number of books and films and Bobby's statue and grave have become popular with tourists and locals wishing to pay their respects to the loyal creature.

Such is the importance of Bobby's heart-rendering story to the people of Edinburgh, it is as much a part of Edinburgh's history as any other key figure or event.