Edinburgh

Scotland's capital was recently voted the best place to live in the UK, and it's not hard to see why. It's a compact, unbelievably beautiful city that's rich in history as well as contemporary entertainment. Visitors' lists of must-see attractions include Edinburgh Castle at the west end of the Royal Mile, the Parliament building on the east, the myriad art galleries and museums, the exquisite views from Calton Hill, the bustle of Princes Street and the extraordinary contrast between the higgledy-piggledy charm of the Old Town and the Georgian splendour of the New Town. As well as revelling in all the above, those who live here love the thriving music, clubbing and cinema scene, the rich diversity of Edinburgh's restaurants, bars and parks, the proximity to the coast and the sheer joy of being here.

Popular events

Days Out

• Scottish Kennel Club Championship Show
  Championship dog show featuring the country's finest bred dogs.
• LadyFest
  We know that women are great, but it's nice to have a whole festival to celebrate their…
• Albert and Friends Instant Circus
  A week of music and clown mayhem from Albert the Clown. Suitable for all ages. Please bring a rug…
• Taste of Edinburgh
  Channel 4's high profile food and drink event returns to Scotland. Visitors will be able to sample…
• Antique and Collectors Fair
  With jewellery, pottery, porcelain, coins, pictures, books, carte-de-visites, linen, prints…
• Edinburgh Farmers' Market
  More local, quality, ethical produce than you could shake a stick at.
• Museum on the Mound
  Smell the colour of money at this exhibition where you can see what a million pounds looks like…
• View more Days Out in Edinburgh

Books

• Local Heroes: The Art of the Graphic Novel
  Zap! Klang! Pow! Holy comic book exhibitions, Batman, it's a range of artwork and writing by Alan…
• Scottish International Storytelling Festival
  A celebration of oral storytelling featuring music, song, film, workshops, talks and international…
• Anne Donovan
  Book signing of 'Being Emily' by Anne Donovan, author of 'Buddha Da'.
• Dr Jane Goodall
  The UN Messenger for Peace gives a talk titled 'Gombe and Beyond', followed by a book signing event.
• An Evening of Poetry About Paintings
  Stewart Conn, Dilys Rose and Alan Riach wax poetical about all things artistic over a glass of wine.
• DIY Stories
  Reading of stories with the theme 'In the Last Year', which will then be made into a pamphlet.
• Edinburgh International Book Festival 2008
  2008 will be the EIBF's 25th year of bringing high-profile authors to Edinburgh. Last year saw 700…
• View more Books in Edinburgh

Clubs

• Antics
  Rock, emo, punk and metal dispatches from Edinburgh's alt.scene.
• Motherfunk
  Gino and Fryer are back with their Tuesday institution as they spin rare and classic funky assed…
• Playgirl Mansion
  A night of laid-back lounge music and guilty pleasures. Cutting edge electronic disco and classic…
• Bounce
  Thursday night mix of classic R&B, funky house and dance beats from Tokyoblu's John Hutchison.
• All Back to Mine
  Edinburgh's best DJs dig in their crates for an eclectic mix of personal favourites.
• Kinky Indie
  Indie music with a touch of ska, 60s and 80s.
• Lulu
  Soul, house, funk, electro-disco and Latin from the likes of Gareth Sommerville, Isla Blige, the…
• View more Clubs in Edinburgh

Comedy

• Forgetting Sarah Marshall
  Writer and star Segal is Peter Bretter, a composer who gets dumped by his soap star girlfriend…
• Frankie Boyle
  The razor-tongued star of 'Mock the Week' and '8 out of 10 Cats' makes a stand-up appearance as…
• What Happens in Vegas . . .
  This underwhelming romantic comedy details the love trajectory of Vegas gamblers Joy (Diaz) and…
• Heresy
  Rick Molland's den of inequity welcomes another load of comedians unleashing the darkest pieces of…
• Cashback
  Ben (Biggerstaff) can't sleep since he split up with girlfriend Suzy (Ryan). Maybe Sharon (Fox…
• Fool's Gold (Gold Class)
  Witless, plodding rom-com romp that reunites 'How to Lose A Guy in Ten Days' pretty pair…
• Jongleurs Comedy Club
  Bristolian Mark Olver descends upon the Jongleurs stage, to be joined by other talented folk in a…
• View more Comedy in Edinburgh

Film

• LadyFest
  We know that women are great, but it's nice to have a whole festival to celebrate their…
• Forgetting Sarah Marshall
  Writer and star Segal is Peter Bretter, a composer who gets dumped by his soap star girlfriend…
• Happy-Go-Lucky
  Leigh returns with a familiar, yet reassuringly different film, an affectionate portrait of…
• Iron Man
  Performing a perfectly poised balancing act between taking the fantastical material seriously and…
• Nim's Island
  Adapted from Wendy Orr's popular book about what happens when agoraphobic authoress Alexandra…
• Persepolis
  This adaptation of Satrapi's autobiographical coming-of-age graphic novel is an exceptionally…
• Speed Racer
  A live action though CG-heavy adaptation of a 1960s Japanese television anime about a futuristic…
• View more Film in Edinburgh

Kids

• Albert and Friends Instant Circus
  A week of music and clown mayhem from Albert the Clown. Suitable for all ages. Please bring a rug…
• The Alba Puppet Show - History with Puppets
  Learn the story of 'The Black Douglas', meet Hamish the Highlander and hear the tale of the last…
• Katie Morag
  Katie Morag comes to life in a musical show full of fun. A play for children originally…
• Aladdin
  Allan Stewart and Grant Stott reprise their annual roles in the King's pantomime, along with…
• The Flea Pit
  With a horsebox turned into a travelling theatre, Belfast-based children's company Cahoots NI are…
• Miniatura Dolls House Show
  International show of dolls houses and miniatures featuring model houses and miniatures…
• Whistle-Stop
  A captivating story about the choice between life and death and the love between a man and his…
• View more Kids in Edinburgh

LGBT

• LadyFest
  We know that women are great, but it's nice to have a whole festival to celebrate their…
• Icebreakers
  Social group for people who want to make new friends in LGBT company. This welcoming and…
• More T Vicar
  A queer drag tea dance, with cake and punch provided if it all gets too energetic. 'Part of…
• Vibe
  The touchstone of Edinburgh's queer club scene. Boasting a solid mix of danceable tunes and cheap…
• Beat Cast
  Lucky Luciano and DJ JT bring the mainstream house, electro house, bootlegs, urban dance and chart.
• Boutique
  Electro and house from Lucky Luciano plus 'orchestrated cheese' from DJ Dowzer.
• Queer Mutiny
  A DIY collective dedicated to creating a space for queer people who are against consumerism…
• View more LGBT in Edinburgh

Music

• The Beach Boys
  The surviving Beach Boys (with one obvious exception) continue to tour their surf flavoured summer…
• Edinburgh International Festival 2008
  Edinburgh's annual cultural extravaganza returns for another exciting year of dance, opera and…
• LadyFest
  We know that women are great, but it's nice to have a whole festival to celebrate their…
• Jamie's Scottish Evening
  A Scottish evening, with a selection of traditional music, song, dance and dining.
• Soul Foundation and Big Hand
  Night of Motown-style soul and ska.
• Assembly Rooms Ceilidh
  Ceilidh band Hebrideans and caller Ken Gourlay lead the festivities.
• Mark Knopfler
  Solo show from the guitarist of Dire Straits.
• View more Music in Edinburgh

Theatre

• The Wedding Singer
  Musical based on the Adam Sandler movie of the same name, about a wedding singer whose only dream…
• Edinburgh International Festival 2008
  Edinburgh's annual cultural extravaganza returns for another exciting year of dance, opera and…
• Doctor Dolittle
  So Tommy Steele was all 'talk to the animals!' and I was all like 'nuh-uh! Talk to my…
• Colin Fry
  The phenomenal 'Sixth Sense' star uses his psychic gifts to wow his audience.
• Nova Scotia
  The long awaited fourth part of John Byrne's 'Slab Boys', er, trilogy, catching up with Phil…
• The Wasp Factory
  Cumbernauld Theatre, working with the Tron, take on the mammoth task of adapting Iain Banks…
• The Alba Puppet Show - History with Puppets
  Learn the story of 'The Black Douglas', meet Hamish the Highlander and hear the tale of the last…
• View more Theatre in Edinburgh

Visual Art

• How to be Hospitable
  Using slogans, performances, billboards and publications, artist collective Freee have created a…
• RSA 182nd Annual Exhibition
  Open submission exhibition, plus work by invited high-profile artists, such as Alex Pollard, Barry…
• Exposure 08
  Curated exhibition bringing together the best amateur and professional photography by the Home…
• Dislocation
  Artist Anna Constantinou and sculptor Thomas Winstanley present two complex bodies of work which…
• Le Fresnoy In Edinburgh
  Programmes of films and videos produced by artists at Studio Le Fresnoy in France will be screened…
• Louise Bourgeois: Nature Study
  New works on paper and assemblages by the French-born American artist.
• Dialogues of Wind and Bamboo
  Artists Susie Bown and Ziggy Campbell along with composer Kimho Ip create a soundscape from…
• View more Visual Art in Edinburgh

Dance

• Scottish Ballet: Romeo and Juliet
  Scottish Ballet adds this contemporary take on the Prokofiev ballet to their award-winning…
• Edinburgh International Festival 2008
  Edinburgh's annual cultural extravaganza returns for another exciting year of dance, opera and…
• Assembly Rooms Ceilidh
  Ceilidh band Hebrideans and caller Ken Gourlay lead the festivities.
• The Curve Foundation Dance Company: Four Seasons
  The Brunton's resident dance company celebrate their tenth anniversary with modern dance…
• Teannaich
  Dance to a funky Ceilidh band with mandolin mischief.
• We Dance, Wee Groove!
  Get down and funky with the Imaginate DJ - a theatrical, Scottish, dancing extravaganza for…
• Assembly Rooms Ceilidh
  Ceilidh bands Alive & Jiggin' and HLI plus caller Ken Gourlay lead the festivities.
• View more Dance in Edinburgh

Talks

• LadyFest
  We know that women are great, but it's nice to have a whole festival to celebrate their…
• Colin Fry
  The phenomenal 'Sixth Sense' star uses his psychic gifts to wow his audience.
• Dr Jane Goodall
  The UN Messenger for Peace gives a talk titled 'Gombe and Beyond', followed by a book signing event.
• Leena Nammari: Illustrated Lecture
  The winner of the Morton Award 2008 for lens-based work discusses the ideas of home and nostalgia.
• Animals Asia Foundation
  'From Prison to Paradise. 225 bears, one incredible journey'. Jill Robinson, Founder of Animals…
• Café Philo
  Enjoy a glass of wine and a philosophical discussion in French on a choice of topics.
• Playwrights Encounter Panel: All About Story
  As part of Bank of Scotland's International Children's Festival, leading playwrights…
• View more Talks in Edinburgh

Sport

• Cancer Research UK's Race for Life
  A 5km walk, jog or run which raises funds for Cancer Research UK. The event is for women of all…
• The Edinburgh Moonwalk
  A sponsored nocturnal power walk to raise funds to combat breast cancer. As an added bonus, all…
• Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s
  Find out which nation will be crowned World Sevens Champions as this climactic clash of the rugby…
• The Moon Walk - Edinburgh
  A unique power walking marathon that raises money and awareness for breast cancer with…
• Air New Zealand Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival
  The world's biggest rugby festival comes to Scotland for the first time, with up to 3,000 visitors…
• The Great Scottish Walk
  A charitable walk open to all abilities. You can either walk an easy mile, a slightly more…
• Great Wee Scottish Walk
  The wee walks engage primary school children and younger, in a fun, charitable and healthy event.
• View more Sport in Edinburgh

Popular places

Cafés

• Centotre
  103 George Street, Edinburgh
• Urban Angel
  121 Hanover Street, Edinburgh
• The Fruitmarket Gallery Café
  Fruitmarket Gallery, 45 Market Street, Edinburgh
• Favorit
  19-20 Teviot Place, Edinburgh
• Café Marina
  61 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh
• The Engine Shed Cafe
  19 St Leonard's Lane, Edinburgh
• Always Sunday
  170 High Street, Edinburgh
• Toast
  146 Marchmont Road, Edinburgh
• Brazilian Sensation
  117-119 Buccleuch Street, Edinburgh
• Dionika
  3-6 Canonmills Bridge, Canonmills, Edinburgh
• View more Cafés in Edinburgh

Cinemas

• Cameo
  38 Home Street, Edinburgh
• Cineworld Edinburgh
  Fountainpark Dundee Street, Edinburgh
• Vue Edinburgh Ocean
  Ocean Terminal Ocean Drive Leith, Edinburgh
• Filmhouse
  88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh
• Vue Edinburgh Omni
  Omni Greenside Place, Edinburgh
• Odeon Wester Hailes
  Westside Plaza 120 Wester Hailes Road, Edinburgh
• Institut Français d'Ecosse
  13 Randolph Crescent, Edinburgh
• Odeon
  118 Lothian Road, Edinburgh
• Odeon Fort Kinnaird
  Kinnaird Park, Edinburgh
• Dominion
  18 Newbattle Terrace, Edinburgh
• View more Cinemas in Edinburgh

Clubs

• The Hive
  15-17 Niddry Street, Edinburgh
• Studio 24
  24-26 Calton Road, Edinburgh
• City Nightclub
  1a Market Street, Edinburgh
• Base
  69 Cowgate, Edinburgh
• Opal Lounge
  51 George Street, Edinburgh
• The GRV
  37 Guthrie Street, Edinburgh
• GHQ
  4 Picardy Place, Edinburgh
• Massa
  36 Market Street, Edinburgh
• The Liquid Room
  9c Victoria Street, Edinburgh
• The Stand
  5 York Place, Edinburgh
• View more Clubs in Edinburgh

Galleries

• Fruitmarket Gallery
  45 Market Street, Edinburgh
• Cameo
  38 Home Street, Edinburgh
• Royal Scottish Academy
  The Mound, Edinburgh
• Queen's Hall
  87-89 Clerk Street, Edinburgh
• The Stand
  5 York Place, Edinburgh
• Filmhouse
  88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh
• Out Of The Blue Drill Hall
  30-36 Dalmeny Street Leith, Edinburgh
• Scottish Storytelling Centre
  43-45 High Street, Edinburgh
• Borders Books
  Fort Kinnaird Retail Park, Edinburgh
• Traverse Theatre
  Cambridge Street, Edinburgh
• View more Galleries in Edinburgh

Hotels

• Edinburgh Thistle Hotel
  107 Leith Street, Edinburgh
• George Hotel
  19-21 George Street, Edinburgh
• Minto Hotel
  16-18 Minto Street, Edinburgh
• Ardmor House
  74 Pilrig Street, Edinburgh
• Caledonian Hilton Hotel
  Princes Street, Edinburgh
• The Hilton Edinburgh Grosvenor Hotel
  5-22 Grosvenor Street, Edinburgh
• Roxburghe Hotel
  38 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh
• The Terrace Hotel
  18 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh
• Apex International Hotel
  31 Grassmarket, Edinburgh
• The Glasshouse
  2 Greenside Place, Edinburgh
• View more Hotels in Edinburgh

Museums

• National Museum of Scotland
  Chambers Street, Edinburgh
• Edinburgh Castle
  Royal Mile, Edinburgh
• Edinburgh Castle
  Castle Hill, Edinburgh
• Museum On The Mound
  The Mound, Edinburgh
• Gladstone's Land
  477b Lawnmarket, Edinburgh
• Hopetoun House
  Shore Road South Queensferry, Edinburgh
• Museum of Edinburgh
  Huntly House 142 Canongate, Edinburgh
• Palace of Holyroodhouse
  Royal Mile, Edinburgh
• Scottish Gallery of Modern Art Sculpture Walk
  Belford Road, Edinburgh
• Dynamic Earth
  Holyrood Road, Edinburgh
• View more Museums in Edinburgh

Pubs & Bars

• The Ark
  3-7 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh
• The Ship on the Shore
  24-26 The Shore, Edinburgh
• The King's Wark
  36 The Shore, Edinburgh
• Baraka
  3-5 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh
• The Albanach
  197 High Street, Royal Mile, Edinburgh
• Biblos
  1 Chambers Street, Edinburgh
• Black Bo's
  57-61 Blackfriars Street, Edinburgh
• Cargo
  Edinburgh Quay, 129 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh
• GHQ
  4 Picardy Place, Edinburgh
• Tonic (Devil's Kitchen)
  34a North Castle Street, Edinburgh
• View more Pubs & Bars in Edinburgh

Restaurants

• Abstract
  33/35 Castle Terrace, Edinburgh
• Sushiya
  19 Dalry Road, Edinburgh
• Home Bistro
  41 West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh
• A Room in the West End
  26 William Street, Edinburgh
• The Kitchin
  78 Commercial Quay, Edinburgh
• Khushi's
  9 Victoria Street, Edinburgh
• The Jam House
  5 Queen Street, Edinburgh
• The Ship on the Shore
  24-26 The Shore, Edinburgh
• The Grain Store
  30 Victoria Street, Edinburgh
• The Jazz Bar
  1 Chambers Street, Edinburgh
• View more Restaurants in Edinburgh

Tourist Attractions

• Edinburgh Castle
  Royal Mile, Edinburgh
• The Real Mary King's Close
  2 Warriston's Close High Street, Edinburgh
• Dynamic Earth
  Holyrood Road, Edinburgh
• Edinburgh Butterfly and Insect World
  Melville Nursery, Lasswade
• The Hub
  Castlehill Royal Mile, Edinburgh
• The Scottish Parliament
  Holyrood, Edinburgh
• St Giles' Cathedral
  Royal Mile, Edinburgh
• Rosslyn Chapel
  Roslin, Edinburgh
• The Esplanade Edinburgh Castle
  Royal Mile, Edinburgh
• Water of Leith Visitor Centre
  24 Lanark Road, Edinburgh
• View more Tourist Attractions in Edinburgh

Theatres

• Edinburgh Playhouse
  18-22 Greenside Place, Edinburgh
• King's Theatre
  2 Leven Street, Edinburgh
• Edinburgh Festival Theatre
  13-29 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh
• Scottish Storytelling Centre
  43-45 High Street, Edinburgh
• Traverse Theatre
  Cambridge Street, Edinburgh
• Royal Lyceum Theatre
  Grindlay Street, Edinburgh
• Brunton Theatre
  Ladywell Way Musselburgh, Edinburgh
• Edinburgh Playhouse: Overtures Function Suite
  18-22 Greenside Place, Edinburgh
• The Famous Spiegeltent
  George Square Gardens, Edinburgh
• Assembly Rooms
  54 George Street, Edinburgh
• View more Theatres in Edinburgh

Venues

• The Hive
  15-17 Niddry Street, Edinburgh
• Royal Highland Centre
  Ingliston, Edinburgh
• The Ark
  3-7 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh
• The Jam House
  5 Queen Street, Edinburgh
• Queen's Hall
  87-89 Clerk Street, Edinburgh
• Base
  69 Cowgate, Edinburgh
• Opal Lounge
  51 George Street, Edinburgh
• Black Bo's
  57-61 Blackfriars Street, Edinburgh
• The Liquid Room
  9c Victoria Street, Edinburgh
• Citrus Club
  40-42 Grindlay Street, Edinburgh
• View more Venues in Edinburgh