Local Attractions

Local Attractions

• No. 28 Charlotte Square Robert Adam’s Georgian masterpiece has been beautifully restored and is the head office of the National Trust for Scotland. Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4ET.

• Abercorn Parish Church Historic church near Hopetoun House. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Arniston House South of Edinburgh, the home of the Dundas family for over four hundred years. Gorebridge, Midlothian EH23 4RY

• Auld Reekie Tours Learn about the historical dark side of Edinburgh. Tours depart the Tron Kirk. See website for details.

• Butterfly & Insect World Enter our tropical rainforest paradise. Melville Nursery, Lasswade EH18 1AZ.

• Calton Hill One of Edinburgh's many hills. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Camera Obscura and World of Illusions Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2ND.

• Canongate Kirk Church on Edinburgh's Royal Mile. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Castlelaw Hill Fort An Iron Age hill fort with a souterrain built in one of the ditches. On Castle Knowe, about 1m NW of Glencorse or 2.5m SW from Lothianburn Junction on the City Bypass, off the A702.

• City of Edinburgh Council Museums & Galleries A number of museums and galleries across Edinburgh.

• Corstorphine Dovecot A large circular ‘beehive’ dovecot in a good state of preservation with nesting boxes complete. In Dovecot Road off Saughton Road N leading to and from Corstorphine High Street, Edinburgh.

• Cousland Smiddy Restored Smith's Cottage and 18th century Smiddy building. 21 Hadfast Road, Cousland, Dalkeith EH22 2NZ.

• Craigmillar Castle Well preserved castle on south side of Edinburgh: Historic Scotland. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Cramond Heritage Trust Cramond’s Story exhibition, Cramond.

• Dalmeny House Dalmeny House and estate. South Queensferry EH30 9TQ.

• Eagle Rock, Cramond A much-defaced carving on natural rock said to represent an eagle. On the shore of the Forth about 0.25m West of Cramond off the A90.

• Edinburgh Dungeon Transport yourself back to the darkest moments in the Scotland's history.

• Edinburgh Castle Iconic landmark in the centre of Edinburgh: Historic Scotland. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• The Edinburgh Canal Centre Offering a variety of different cruises. The Bridge Inn, 27 Baird Road, Ratho, EH28 8RA.

• Edinburgh & Dunbar Tour Driving tour taking in Edinburgh and Dunbar. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Edinburgh Festival The festival takes place each August. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour Professional actors offer a witty dramatic romp through the wynds, courtyards and pubs of Edinburgh's Old and New Town.

• Edinburgh Military Tattoo The military part of the Edinburgh Festival. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Edinburgh Pub Guide Undiscovered Scotland's guide to Edinburgh's pubs. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Edinburgh of Rankin & Rebus The Edinburgh of author Ian Rankin's creation Detective Inspector Rebus. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Edinburgh University, Collection Of Historic Musical Instruments Wind, Bowed String and Percussion Instruments from all periods and places. Reid Concert Hall, Bristo Square, Edinburgh EH8 9AG.

• Edinburgh University, St Cecilia's Hall Museum of InstrumentsEarly Keyboard and the Plucked String Instruments. St Cecilia's Hall, Niddry Street, Cowgate, Edinburgh EH1 1LJ.

• Edinburgh University, Talbot Rice Gallery One of Scotland’s leading public galleries of contemporary visual art. Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL.

• Edinburgh Zoo Large zoo on the west side of the city. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Festival Previews A free visual service of festival and fringe content.

• Forth Rail Bridge A masterpiece of heavy engineering. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Forth Road Bridge Built in the 1950s. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• The Fringe The most popular of Edinburgh's August festivals. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Georgian House Elegant late 18th century Georgian Town House, typical of Edinburgh’s New Town, with a fine collection of furniture, porcelain, silver and pictures. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Gladstone's Land Restored tenement house on the Royal Mile: NTS. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Gorgie City Farm Based in the centre of Edinburgh, the farm is a favourite attraction for families, tourists and animal lovers alike. 51 Gorgie Road, Edinburgh EH11 2LA.

• Grand Lodge of Scotland Museum and Library The showcase of Scottish Freemasonry. Freemasons' Hall, 96 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 3DH.

• Holyrood Abbey and Abbey Strand The ruined nave of the 12th and 13th century abbey church, built for Augustinian canons. At the foot of the Canongate, Edinburgh, in the grounds of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

• Holyrood Park Remarkable area of mountainous wilderness within Edinburgh. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Hopetoun House Magnificent stately home overlooking the River Forth. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Inveresk Lodge Garden Garden on a sloping site in Musselburgh: NTS. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• International Book Festival The literary arm of Edinburgh's August festivals. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Malleny Garden Walled garden in Balerno, west of the city. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Mavisbank Ruined stately home south of Edinburgh. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Mercat Tours Engages, enthralls and entertains. Mercat House, 28 Blair Street, Edinburgh EH1 1QR. STB 4 Star Tour.

• National Galleries of Scotland Five galleries across Edinburgh with some of the world's best art.

• National Museum of Scotland Magnificent museum in the centre of Edinburgh. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• National War Museum Housed in part of Edinburgh Castle. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• The National Library of Scotland An information treasure trove of Scotland's knowledge, history and culture, with millions of books, manuscripts and maps covering every subject.

• Newhailes An amazing survival of early 18th century decorative art and collections, set within a late 17th century mansion. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Our Dynamic Earth A fantastic journey of discovery from the beginning of time to the unknown future of our planet. Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH3 8AS. STB 4 Star Visitor Attraction.

• Palace of Holyroodhouse Her Majesty The Queen's official residence in Scotland. Open all year. Canongate, Royal Mile, Edinburgh.

• The Prestoungrange Gothenburg Recently restored 1908 arts and crafts building which is now home to a Bistro, Bars and Fowler’s Ales microbrewery which is open for tours. 227-229 High Street, Prestonpans, EH32 9BE.

• Prestongrange Museum Mining and industrial museum east of Edinburgh. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Preston Market Cross The only surviving example of a market cross of its type on its original site. 0.5m NE of the B1361 near the railway station.

• Real Mary King’s Close Hidden beneath the Royal Mile lies Edinburgh’s deepest secret: a warren of hidden closesd. 2 Warriston’s Close Writers Court Edinburgh EH1 1PG. STB 5 Star Attraction.

• Rebustours Providing visitors to Edinburgh with walking tours of the background to Ian Rankin's bestselling Inspector Rebus novels.

• Rosslyn Tours Offering guided tours of Rosslyn Chapel, trails of Rosslyn Glen and castle and private tours of Scotland. 3b Station Road, Roslin, EH25 9LP.

• Rosslyn Castle Fascinating ruin close to the better-known Rosslyn Chapel. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Rosslyn Chapel Beautiful chapel made more famous by "The Da Vinci Code". (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Royal Botanic Garden Beautiful green area between Edinburgh and Leith. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Royal Highland Show Agricultural show held in late June near Edinburgh Airport. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Royal Observatory Visitor Centre Blackford Hill, Edinburgh. STB 3 Star Visitor Attraction.

• Royal Scots Regimental Museum The story of the Royal Scots Regiment. The Castle, Edinburgh EH1 2YT.

• Royal Scottish Academy The home of contemporary art in Scotland. The Mound, Edinburgh EH2 2EL.

• Royal Yacht Britannia Moored at Leith. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Scotch Whisky Centre Set at the top of the Royal Mile. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Scottish Mining Museum Museum to one of Scotland's most important industries in a preserved colliery. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Scottish Parliament Controversial but magnificent home of Scotland's devolved parliament. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Seton Collegiate Church Beautiful collegiate church east of Edinburgh. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• St Anthony's Chapel Ruined chapel in Holyrood Park. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• St Giles' Cathedral Historic cathedral in the Royal Mile. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• St John's Church Imposing church on one of Edinburgh's busiest corners. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• St Mary's Cathedral Edinburgh's Episcopal Cathedral. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• St Triduana’s Chapel, Restalrig Collegiate Church The lower part of a chapel built by James III, housing the shrine of St Triduana, a Pictish saint. The hexagonal vaulted chamber is unique. Off Restalrig Road South, on the east side of Edinburgh.

• Surgeons' Hall Museums Scotland's largest medical museum houses one of the most significant surgical collections in the world. Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DW. STB 4 Star Attraction.

• Trinity House Maritime Museum An outstanding collection of maritime memorabilia inside an elegant Georgian house. 99 Kirkgate, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6BJ.

• The World Famous Taste of Scotland Scottish Show & Dinner at Prestonfield Enjoy an evening of traditional fare and Celtic cabaret. The Stables at Prestonfield, Priestfield Road, Edinburgh, EH16 5UT.

For Activities in the area, see the relevant links pages. For Local Businesses, see the relevant links pages. For Events in the area, see the What's On? page.