Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland has a population of well over 475,000 people yet is still second in size to Glasgow.
Edinburgh is famous for its summer International Festival including its Fringe Festival and for its New Year celebrations. Edinburgh city centre is divided along the lines of the famous Princes Street Gardens. Edinburgh Castle dominates the skyline on the side of the Old Town while Princes Street itself marks the edge of the New Town on the other side.
The long expanse of Princes Street is an ideal location for lamp post banner advertising and the many festivals and cultural events make the most of such opportunities. Edinburgh is home to the Scottish Parliament housed in the new buildings of Holyrood. The city attracts students, tourists, politicians and businesses alike.
Students
Edinburgh is a historical seat of learning with one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United Kingdom. Students in Edinburgh account for one fifth of the city’s population. The city has four universities with the University of Edinburgh being the oldest, established in 1583. In 2013 the University of Edinburgh was voted into 17th place in the world rankings of universities. The city has a vibrant student population and they like to make the most of the nightlife as much as the tourists do!
Sporting
Edinburgh is a busy city when it comes to sports and the hosting of sporting events. The city has two football teams in the Scottish Premiership, Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian better known as Hearts and Hibs. Scottish Rugby Union also has a strong presence in the city with the Edinburgh Rugby team playing at Murrayfield. This ground also hosts the national rugby union team for Scotland. Edinburgh has hosted many major sporting events on a national and international level including the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
Diversity
Edinburgh is a relatively young population with around 35% being either in their 20s or 30s. While largely a UK born population, the city’s diversity is increasing with a greater influx of people born outside of the UK. Around 70% of Edinburgh’s population was born in Scotland and approximately 16% come from outside of the UK – the remainder being born in other parts of the UK outside Scotland.
Tourists
Edinburgh is a hugely popular destination for tourists. The city is steeped in history and boasts a very well preserved castle and more than 4,500 listed buildings. The city hosts several major events in the cultural calendar including the Edinburgh International Festival, the ‘Fringe’ Festival, the International Book Festival, and the Military Tattoo. Edinburgh also attracts large numbers of visitors at New Year for its famous celebrations and street parties. Edinburgh is located on the south side of the Firth of Forth in the Scottish Central Belt. The city centre is two and a half miles from the port location of Leith and equally accessible are the Scottish Highlands, lochs and breathtaking scenery so it is a great holiday destination for tourists wanting to experience the many wonders of Scotland. The city runs a popular sightseeing tour bus service which takes passengers around the many historical landmarks of the old and the new town as well as some of the more modern architectural features such as the new parliament buildings.
Commuters
Edinburgh has great transport links with two major train stations, Waverley and Haymarket, a comprehensive bus service and a new tram system which is still in development. Haymarket is a particular hub for commuters as it serves the west of the city which includes the Gyle Business Park. The bus service already links up the airport with the city centre on a quick easy route and the tram service is set to enhance travel around the city in future years if developments go ahead as planned.
