Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and its second-largest city.
Situated on the east coast of Scotland’s central lowlands on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, it has been the capital of Scotland since 1437 and is the seat of the country’s devolved government. The city was one of the major centres of the enlightenment, led by the University of Edinburgh, which arguably still remains Scotland’s best University. The Old Town and New Town districts of Edinburgh were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. In the census of 2001, Edinburgh had a total resident population of approximately 500,000, making it the 7th largest city in the United Kingdom.
Edinburgh is well-known for its collection of festivals which descend on the city in summer. Few visitors realise the festival is actually a collection of independent festivals held annually over about three weeks from early August, when the population of the city doubles. The most famous of these events are the Edinburgh Fringe (the largest performing arts festival in the world), the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Another famous event is the Hogmanay street party.
The city is one of Europe’s major tourist destinations, attracting roughly 13 million visitors a year, and is the second most visited tourist destination in the United Kingdom, after London.