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.
In the wake of 2005's bombings in London and Glasgow, the British Home Office still rates the UK's terrorism threat level as severe. Travellers should exercise caution, monitor the media for any developments in the situation and expect delays at airports due to increased security measures.
Restrictions on airline cabin luggage are in place throughout the UK. For details check the UK Department for Transport website .
severity: High-level alert
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article by Lou McGregor, September 2005
Pick yourself out from under that avalanche of flyers and find out about the bohemian excesses of Edinburgh's many festivals. Read the full article ›
Tags: Festivals & Events • Edinburgh
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