Edinburgh City Guide

Edinburgh Overview

Auld Reekie has spruced herself up into Britain's most liveable city.

Edinburgh is unique among Scotland's cities. Tourism, its proximity to England, and its multicultural population set it apart. There's up-to-the-nanosecond dance clubs in 15th-century buildings and firebreathers outside Georgian mansions: this is a place that knows how to blend ancient and modern.

Edinburgh's superb architecture ranges from ancient churches to monumental Victorian masterpieces - all dominated by a castle on a precipitous crag in the city's heart. Pick any street to stroll - you'll be wowed by sudden vistas of looming battlements, cold volcanic peaks and hills steeped in memory.

Edinburgh Photo Gallery

Photographs of Edinburgh

City Observatory on Carlton Hill

The National Monument, a memorial for soldiers who died in the Napoleonic wars

The early morning sun hits Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Fast Facts

Facts about Edinburgh

Currency in Edinburgh

Notes in United Kingdom

Notes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50.00 GBP notes.

Coins in United Kingdom

Coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 pence pieces as well as the 1.00 GBP and 2.00 GBP coins.

Preferred Form of Payment in Edinburgh

Carrying cash around is always convenient and no more risky than any other place in the UK. It's easy to get as ATMs (cashpoints) are widespread, otherwise major credit cards are also widely recognised.

Changing Your Money in Edinburgh

A plastic/travellers cheque combination is the way to go. Travellers cheques are widely accepted in banks and you might as well buy them in pounds sterling to avoid changing currencies twice. The bureaux de change at international airports are the best place to change money as sterling travellers cheques are cashed for free.

Using a Telephone in Edinburgh

There are plenty of public telephones around Edinburgh, all with STD or international access. British Telecom is the largest operator, but there are some others. Public telephones accept coins, prepaid phone cards and credit cards. All phones come with reasonably clear instructions in several languages.

Local calls are charged by time. 'Daytime' rates apply weekdays 08:00-18:00. The 'cheap rate' applies weekdays 18:00-08:00 and from midnight Friday to midnight Sunday.

For directory enquiries call 192. Call 100 to reach an operator, 155 for the international operator. Numbers preceded by 0800 are toll free.

Using a Mobile Phone in Edinburgh

The UK uses the GSM 900 network, which covers the rest of Europe, Australia and New Zealand. It isn't compatible with the North American GSM 1900 system or Japan's system. Some North American GSM 1900/900 phones do work in Scotland, but check with your service provider and beware of calls being routed internationally.

You can rent a mobile phone or buy a 'pay-as-you-go' phone for as little as 20.00 GBP from companies such as Mobell and Cellhire.

Doing Business in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the second most important business centre in the UK, after London, and one of the largest financial centres in the EU. The annual Edinburgh Business Directory has useful information on the city and its business economy.

The Edinburgh International Conference Centre (ph: 300 3000) is the main venue for conferences and meetings in Edinburgh, but most top and mid-range hotels provide business facilities including conference rooms, secretarial services, fax and photocopying services, computers and private office space. At Edinburgh Airport, BMI, British Airways, Scotways and Servisair have executive lounges equipped with telephone, fax and internet facilities. The Hilton Edinburgh Airport Hotel (tel: (0)131 519 4400) has conference facilities for up to 220 delegates.

Media in Edinburgh

The Scots have been publishing newspapers since the mid-17th century and their contemporary cities are blessed with a healthy media scene. Edinburgh's many home-grown dailies are supplemented by a good selection of international papers and magazines. Radio is fed both locally and from neighbouring England. Television is linked to UK-wide networks, giving Edinburgh access to the BBC; Scotland also has its own local commercial broadcasters, which include Gaelic-language programmes.

Periodicals in Edinburgh

Radio Stations in Edinburgh

Books in Edinburgh

Factoids

Chief Puddin'

While in Edinburgh, try a Haggis, praised by poet Robert Burns as 'Chieftain o' the puddin-race'. It's sheep's lungs, heart and liver mixed with onion and oatmeal, all cooked in a sheep's stomach. Sounds awful, is delicious.