Difference between revisions of "Edinburgh" - New World Encyclopedia

City of Edinburgh
	City of Edinburgh; Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Èideann; Scots: Edinburgh
	— Unitary authority & city —
	City of Edinburgh
	View of Edinburgh from Arthur's Seat
	Nickname: "Auld Reekie," "Athens of the North," "Edina," "Dunedin"
	Motto: "Nisi Dominus Frustra" "Except the Lord in vain" associated with Edinburgh since 1647, it is a normal heraldic contraction of a verse from the 127th Psalm, "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain"
	; City of Edinburgh Location in Scotland
Coordinates: 55°57′N 3°11′W
Founded	prior to the 7th century
Burgh Charter	1125
City status	1889
	Government
- Type	Unitary Authority, City
- Governing body	The City of Edinburgh Council
- Lord Provost	George Grubb
- MSPs	6
- MPs:	5
	Area
- Unitary authority & city	100.00 sq mi (259 km²)
	Population (2010)
- Unitary authority & city	486,120
- Urban	817,800
- Urban Density	4,776/sq mi (1,844/km²)
Time zone	Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0)
- Summer (DST)	British Summer Time (UTC+1)
Postcode	EH
Area code(s)	0131
ISO 3166-2	GB-EDH
ONS code	00QP
OS grid reference	NT275735
NUTS 3	UKM25
	Website: www.edinburgh.gov.uk (Official Council site); www.edinburgh-inspiringcapital.com (Visitor-facing site)

Latest revision as of 18:11, 12 February 2024

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland. It is the seventh largest city in the United Kingdom and the second largest Scottish city after Glasgow. It has been the capitol of Scotland since 1437 and is the seat of the Scottish Parliament. The city was a center of the Enlightenment, led by the University of Edinburgh, earning it the nickname Athens of the North.

Located in the southeast of Scotland, Edinburgh lies on the east coast of the Central Belt, along the Firth of Forth, near the North Sea. Owing to its rugged setting and vast collection of Medieval and Georgian architecture, including numerous stone tenements, it is often considered one of the most picturesque cities in Europe.

The Old Town and New Town districts of Edinburgh were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. They display a "remarkable juxtaposition" between districts carefully planned and built centuries apart which "exerted a major influence on the development of urban architecture and town planning throughout Europe in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries." Edinburgh is one of Europe's foremost tourist destinations, attracting one million visitors a year. It is the second most visited tourist destination in the United Kingdom, after London.

Geography

The origin of the city's name inEnglish is understood to come from the Brythonic Din Eidyn (Fort of Eidyn) from the time when it was a Gododdin hillfort. It came to be known to the English, the Bernician Angles, as Edin-burh. The burgh means "fortress" or "walled group of buildings," while Edin is untranslated.

The city is affectionately nicknamed Auld Reekie (Scots for Old Smoky), because of smoke from coal and wood fires. Edinburgh has also been known as Dunedin, deriving from the Scottish Gaelic, Dùn Èideann. Dunedin, New Zealand, was originally called "New Edinburgh" and is still nicknamed the "Edinburgh of the South."

Edinburgh occupies seven miles (11 km) of the north-facing slope on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth, which is an arm of the North Sea reaching west into the Scottish Lowlands. Much of the city lies among craggy upthrusts of lava and hills—the valleys between were scoured by Pleistocene Epoch glacial action.

Arthur’s Seat has an elevation of 823 feet (251 meters), while Castle Rock, a basalt plug sealing an extinct volcano, stands 250 feet (76 meters) above the valley floor and is crowned by the famous Edinburgh Castle.

Edinburgh has a temperate maritime climate, which is relatively mild despite its northerly latitude. Winters are especially mild, with the average maximum daytime temperature in January of 43.2°F (6.2°C), rising to an average maximum of around 65.8°F (18.8°C) in July. The proximity of the city to the sea mitigates any extremes of climate. Edinburgh is renowned as a windy city. Mean annual precipitation is 26.3 inches (668 mm).

The historic center of Edinburgh is divided by the broad green swathe of Princes Street Gardens. To the south is Edinburgh Castle, perched atop the extinct volcanic crag, and the long sweep of the Old Town trailing after it along the ridge. To the north lies Princes Street and the New Town. The gardens were begun in 1816 on bogland which had once been the Nor Loch. To the immediate west of the castle lies the financial district, housing insurance and banking buildings.


Looking northeast across part of Princes Street Gardens.	View over Auld Reekie, with the Dugald Stewart Monument in the foreground.

History

Detail of the Hereford Mappa Mundi, Edinburgh is clearly labeled on this T and O map of the British isles from c. 1300

An 1802 illustration of Edinburgh from the West.

A nineteenth century view of Holyrood Palace from Calton Hill.

The remains of Holyrood Abbey

Edinburgh Castle, as viewed from Princes St.

The Mound, Edinburgh.

Evidence of human settlement on the shores of the Firth of Forth dates to 7000 B.C.E., while archaeological excavations reveal that the Castle Rock has been occupied since about 1000 B.C.E.

Roman forts were built at Cramond and Inveresk on the western and eastern margins of the present-day city during the second century C.E. A Celtic tribe known as the Votadini was based at Traprain Law, a hill about 20 miles (30 km) east of the modern city at that time, and moved to Castle Rock around 500, after the Romans departed.

In 580, when a military campaign started in Edinburgh (Din Etin) (commemorated in the Welsh poem Y Gododdin) most of the inhabitants of southern Scotland spoke British, the ancestor of modern Welsh. Around 638, Edinburgh was besieged, possibly marking the passing of control of the fort of Din Etin from the Gododdin to the Northumbrian English, led at this time by Oswald of Northumbria (604-642).

However, in the seventh century, Edwin of Northumbria (586-633), an Angle of Deira (the southern part of the Kingdom of Northumbria, captured this location and named it Eiden's burgh (burgh being an old word for "fort"). Edwin made Edinburgh his capital and from it carved out a kingdom, which stretched to the river Humber in England, known as Northumbria/Bernicia.

By 731, Edinburgh was firmly within the kingdom of Northumbria at the time of Bede (672-735), who completed his History in that year. Around 960, Scots captured Edinburgh during the reign of Illulb mac Custantin (954-62). King David I (1085-1153) granted Edinburgh the status of a Royal burgh in 1125, which promoted the manufacture of cloth and trade in the city.

Because of Edinburgh's earlier Anglo-Saxon rule, Edinburgh and the Border counties lay in a disputed zone between England and Scotland, England claiming all Anglo-Saxon Domains as English territory, and Scotland claiming all territory as far south as Hadrians Wall. This resulted in a long series of border wars and clashes, which often left Edinburgh Castle under English control.

After the Wars of Independence (1296–1328) fought against England, Edinburgh became Scotland’s main trading center. In 1329, King Robert the Bruce (reign: 1306–1329) confirmed Edinburgh's privileges as a royal burgh and established a port at Leith. At that time, Edinburgh was renowned for its stench—domestic refuse and offal from skinners, butchers, and fishmongers were dumped on either side of the main street.

King James IV of Scotland (reign: 1488–1513) moved the Royal Court from Stirling to Holyrood, making Edinburgh Scotland's capital. James V established the Court of Session, the central civil-law court, in Edinburgh in 1532.

In 1603, following King James VI's accession to the English and Irish Thrones, James VI (1566-1625) instituted the first executive Parliament of Scotland which met in the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle, later finding a home in the Tolbooth, before moving to purpose-built Parliament House, Edinburgh, which later became home to the Supreme Courts of Scotland

In 1639, disputes over the planned merger, between the Presbyterian Church and the Anglican Church, and the demands by Charles I, to reunify the divided St Giles' Cathedral, led to the Bishops Wars (1639-1640), which in turn led to the English Civil War (1641-1653), and the eventual the occupation of Edinburgh by Commonwealth forces of Oliver Cromwell. In the 1670s, King Charles II commissioned the rebuilding of Holyrood Palace.

In 1707, the Act of Union, which joined the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland (previously separate states) was signed in a cellar in Parliament Square, and Edinburgh lost all independent political life. A surge of building took place within the Old Town.

Edinburgh was occupied by Jacobite forces during the last Jacobite rebellion in 1746, which aimed to return descendants of the Scottish House of Stuart to the throne of England. It was subsequently occupied by British forces under the command of the Prince William, Duke of Cumberland (1721-1765), leading to a long period of reprisals.

From 1772, after the draining of the Nor Loch, which had been both the city's water supply and place for dumping sewage, Edinburgh expanded beyond the Old Town. The Nor Loch area became Castle Gardens. The New Town resulted from a 1776 design competition, which created a rigid, ordered grid, which fitted well with enlightenment ideas of rationality. George Street, Frederick Street, Hanover Street, Queen Street, and Prince’s Street, the main shopping street in Edinburgh, were named in honor of the Hanoverian monarch on the English throne.

A number of Scottish intellectuals, many from Edinburgh, including political economist Adam Smith (1723-1790) and philosopher David Hume (1711-1776), felt it was a time for Scotland to modernize. They promoted the idea of Britishness, and led the British Empire into a golden age of economic and social reform and prosperity. Edinburgh became a cultural center, earning it the nickname "Athens of the North," both due to the Greco-Roman style of the New Towns' architecture, as well as the rise of the Scottish/British intellectual elite there. The creator of the historical novel, Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), was another Edinburgh native.

Excess soil from the construction of the New Town was dumped into the loch, creating what became The Mound. In the mid-nineteenth century the National Gallery of Scotland and Royal Scottish Academy Building were built on The Mound, and tunnels to Waverley Station driven through it.

From 1830 to World War I (1914-1918), Edinburgh, like many cities, industrialized, but most of this happened in Leith. Edinburgh did not grow greatly in size, but the increase in the laboring population brought overcrowding, malnutrition, and epidemics. Glasgow soon replaced it as the largest and most prosperous city in Scotland, becoming the industrial, commercial, and trade center, while Edinburgh remained Scotland's intellectual and cultural center.

Sir Patrick Geddes (1854-1932), a pioneer of urban planning, tried to revive the Old Town in the 1890s. Nationalist poet Hugh MacDiarmid (1892-1978) made Edinburgh the center of the Scottish political and literary renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s.

After World War II (1939-1945), Edinburgh developed as a center for higher education, especially in medicine and surgery, electronics, and artificial intelligence. The cultural life of the city expanded, especially through the Edinburgh International Festival, which began in 1947. The city has begun a movement to conserve its stone architecture.

A new Scottish Parliament and government was established in Edinburgh in 1999, re-establishing the city as the capital and political center of Scotland.

Government

The new Scottish Parliament Building opened in October 2004.

As part of the United Kingdom, Scotland is a liberal democracy and a constitutional monarchy. In elections to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the city is divided into five first-past-the-post constituencies. As capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is host to the national unicameral legislature, the Scottish Parliament, which opened in September 2004. The Scottish Parliament devolves responsibility for health, education, housing, economic development, regional transport, the environment, and agriculture. For elections to the European Parliament, Edinburgh is within the Scotland constituency.

Edinburgh constitutes one of the 32 council areas of Scotland and is represented by the City of Edinburgh Council, comprising 58 elected councillors, each representing a multi-member electoral ward, and led by the Lord Provost. Council elections are held on a four year cycle. Each of the multi-member wards elects three or four councillors by the single transferable vote system.

Economy

The Forth Bridge at night.

Waverley is located in the ravine between the Old and New Town on the drained Nor Loch.

Within the United Kingdom, Edinburgh's economy is second to London—the city's GDP per capita was measured at US$55,000 in 2004, compared with London's US$72,500 in 2005. The city's economy is centered around banking, financial services, higher education, tourism, and government, as well as its legal system.

Banking has been a part of the economic life of Edinburgh for over 300 years with the invention of capitalism in the city, with the establishment of the Bank of Scotland by an act of the original Parliament of Scotland in 1695. The city's financial services industry, particularly insurance and investment, has caused Edinburgh to emerge as Europe's sixth largest financial center. The Royal Bank of Scotland is the fifth largest in the world by market capitalization.

Tourism is an important economic mainstay, enhanced by the city's status as a World Heritage Site, and the annual Edinburgh Festivals, which generates in excess of £100-million for the city.

Manufacturing has never had as strong a presence in Edinburgh as Glasgow. However, brewing, publishing, and electronics have maintained a foothold. Unemployment in Edinburgh was low at 2.2 percent in 2007, below the Scottish average.

Edinburgh is a transport hub, with arterial road and rail routes that connect the city to the rest of Scotland and with England. The Forth Bridge and the Forth Road Bridge are both engineering feats. A bus service provides most public transport. Construction began in 2007 on a light rail tram line to connect Edinburgh Airport and Granton via the city center and Leith Walk.

Leith is the port of Edinburgh and retains a separate identity. Redevelopment attracted the business of a number of companies which provide cruises to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands. Leith has the decommissioned Royal Yacht Britannia. Large parts of the port have been redeveloped into retail and residential buildings. Edinburgh is served by Edinburgh Airport, located about eight miles (13 km) to the west of the city.

Demographics

St Giles' Cathedral.

The University of Edinburgh's Old College, home of its Law School.

The City of Edinburgh council area had an estimated population of 463,510 in 2006.^[2] The population of the greater Edinburgh area was 1.25 million and was projected to grow to 1.33 million by 2020. Though Edinburgh's population is aging, there is a large and transient population of around 100,000 young students.^[3]

Edinburgh is a cosmopolitan city. The main ethnic groups are: Scottish (including those of mixed English and Scottish descent and those born in Scotland of full English descent) 82 percent, English 13 percent, Polish two percent, Chinese one percent, Indian one percent, and Pakistani one percent. The other two percent includes French, Spanish, Lithuanians, Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans, Chileans, Malaysians, and Africans.

The primary languages are Scottish English, (Lowland) Scots, and Scottish Gaelic.

The Church of Scotland claims the largest membership. Its most important and historical church is Saint Giles' Cathedral. The Roman Catholic Church has a sizable presence. The Free Church of Scotland (Reformed and Presbyterian) has congregations on the Royal Mile and Crosscauseway. The Scottish Episcopal Church is part of the Anglican Communion. Independent churches include Destiny Church, Charlotte Chapel, Carrubbers Christian Centre and Bellevue Chapel.

Edinburgh's main mosque and Islamic Centre was opened in the late 1990s, largely financed by a gift from King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. A Jewish community in the city dates to the late 17th century. Edinburgh's Orthodox synagogue was opened in 1932. A Liberal congregation also meets in the city. There is also a Sikh Gurdwara and Hindu Mandir in the Leith district.

The Royal High School that traces its roots to 1128, is considered to be the oldest school in Scotland.

The University of Edinburgh was founded by Royal Charter in 1583,^[4] and is the fourth oldest university in Scotland. The Old College on South Bridge opened in the 1820s. The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh were established by Royal Charter, in 1506 and 1681 respectively. The Trustees Drawing Academy of Edinburgh was established in 1760, an institution that became the Edinburgh College of Art in 1907.

Heriot-Watt University and Napier Technical College were established in the 1960s. Other colleges include Telford College, opened in 1968, and Stevenson College, opened in 1970. Basil Paterson College offers courses in languages and teaching. The Scottish Agricultural College also has a campus in south Edinburgh.

Society and culture

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a native of Edinburgh.

The Royal Mile in the Old Town during the Edinburgh Festival.

Mary King's Close.

Famous authors of the city include Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Ian Rankin, author of the Inspector Rebus series of crime thrillers, J. K. Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, who wrote her first book in an Edinburgh coffee shop and Adam Smith, economist, born in Kirkcaldy, and author of The Wealth of Nations.

On the more sinister side, famous criminals from Edinburgh's history include Deacon Brodie, pillar of society by day and burglar by night, who is said to have influenced Robert Louis Stevenson's story, the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde; the murderers Burke and Hare, who provided fresh corpses for anatomical dissection; and Major Weir a notorious warlock.

Scotland has a rich history of science and Edinburgh has its fair share of famous names. James Clerk Maxwell, the founder of the modern theory of electromagnetism, was born there and educated at the Edinburgh Academy, as was the telephone pioneer Alexander Graham Bell.^[5] Other names connected to the city include Max Born, physicist and Nobel laureate; Charles Darwin, the biologist who discovered natural selection; David Hume a philosopher, economist and historian; James Hutton, regarded as the "Father of Geology"; John Napier inventor of logarithms;^[6] and Ian Wilmut the geneticist involved in the cloning of Dolly the sheep just outside Edinburgh. The stuffed carcass of Dolly the sheep is now on display in the National Museum of Scotland.

Edinburgh has two professional football clubs: Hibernian and Heart of Midlothian. The Scotland national rugby union team plays at Murrayfield Stadium, the Scottish cricket team play home matches at The Grange, and the Edinburgh Capitals are the latest of a succession of ice hockey clubs to represent the Scottish capital. In April 2008, Mark Beaumont, from New Town, Edinburgh, broke the world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle, completing his ride in only 194 days and 17 hours.

The Edinburgh Festival is a collection of festivals held annually over four weeks from early August, and include the Edinburgh Fringe, the Edinburgh Comedy Festival, the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and the Edinburgh International Book Festival. The Hogmanay street party takes place on December 31, Burns Night on January 25, St Andrew's Day on November 30, and the Beltane Fire Festival on April 30.

Places of interest

Edinburgh is home to a large number of museums and libraries, including the Museum of Scotland, the Royal Museum, the National Library of Scotland, National War Museum of Scotland, the Museum of Edinburgh, the Museum of Childhood, and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Buildings and sites of interest include:

Edinburgh Castle, in which the oldest existing building is Saint Margaret's chapel, built in the early twelfth century.

The Royal Mile, which is part of the Old Town, refers to the succession of streets which runs between Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Castle Rock down to Holyrood Abbey. Minor streets or alleyways (called closes or wynds) lead downhill on either side of the main spine in a herringbone pattern. Large squares mark the location of markets or surround public buildings such as Saint Giles Cathedral and the Law Courts.

Mary King's Close, named after a sixteenth century Edinburgh merchant, consists of a number of closes which were originally narrow streets with tenement houses on either side, stretching to seven storys high. Space restrictions in the Old Town gave rise to some of the earliest "high rise" residential buildings, known as lands, with 10 and 11 stories being typical. Additionally, numerous vaults below street level were inhabited to accommodate the influx of (mainly Irish) immigrants during the Industrial Revolution. These continue to fuel legends of an underground city.^[7]

Holyrood Abbey, which is a ruined Augustinian Abbey sited in the grounds of the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse, which it predates, and was built in 1128 at the order of King David I of Scotland.

Holyrood House, officially the Palace of Holyrood, which is situated at the bottom of the Royal Mile, and date largely from the reign of Charles II (c. 1649-1685). The Holyrood Abbey precinct remained a debtors' sanctuary until the 19th century, long after the abbey itself had fallen into disrepair.

Parliament House, which is located on the Royal Mile, and was built between 1632 and 1639. Since the union of the Scottish and English parliaments in 1707 the building has been used by the Court of Session, the highest court of law in Scotland.

Edinburgh Zoo, located on the Corstorphine Hill, and was built in 1913, receives over 600,000 visitors a year, which makes it Scotland's second most popular paid-for tourist attraction, after Edinburgh Castle.

Looking to the future

As a center of the Enlightenment, an intellectual center, arguably the birthplace of capitalism, and the location of a centuries-long financial tradition, Edinburgh offers a rich legacy that transcends the curiosities of Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and the 4,500 heritage buildings listed there. With a GDP second to London, as the location of the Scottish Parliament and with one million visitors a year, Edinburgh's financial future would seem assured.

Panorama of the Old Town and Southside of Edinburgh from the Nelson monument. The term Panorama was originally coined by the Irish painter Robert Barker to describe his panoramic paintings of Edinburgh.

Notes

↑ Population - Vital Statistics Retrieved April 17, 2012.
↑ General Register Office for Scotland, Mid Year Population Estimates, 2006. Retrieved October 19, 2008.
↑ "Napier University Edinburgh," Graduate Prospects.
↑ University of Edinburgh, University of Edinburgh Historical Tour. Retrieved October 19, 2008.
↑ Library and Archives Canada, Alexander Graham Bell. Retrieved October 19, 2008.
↑ J J O'Connor and E F Robertson, John Napier, University of St Andrews. Retrieved October 19, 2008.
↑ Donald Campbell, Edinburgh: A Cultural and Literary History (Oxford: Signal Books, 2003, ISBN 1902669738).

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

Campbell, Donald. Edinburgh: A Cultural and Literary History. Cities of the imagination. New York: Interlink Books, 2004. ISBN 978-1566565158
Davies, Norman. The Isles: A History. London: Macmillan, 1999. ISBN 0333692837
Harris, Nathaniel. Heritage of Scotland: A Cultural History of Scotland & Its People. New York: Checkmark Books, 2000. ISBN 978-0816041367
Magnusson, Magnus. Scotland: The Story of a Nation. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0871137982

External links

All links retrieved February 12, 2024.

Credits

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Edinburgh ^history

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

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[1] Population - Vital Statistics Retrieved April 17, 2012.

[2] General Register Office for Scotland, Mid Year Population Estimates, 2006. Retrieved October 19, 2008.

[3] "Napier University Edinburgh," Graduate Prospects.

[4] University of Edinburgh, University of Edinburgh Historical Tour. Retrieved October 19, 2008.

[5] Library and Archives Canada, Alexander Graham Bell. Retrieved October 19, 2008.

[6] J J O'Connor and E F Robertson, John Napier, University of St Andrews. Retrieved October 19, 2008.

[7] Donald Campbell, Edinburgh: A Cultural and Literary History (Oxford: Signal Books, 2003, ISBN 1902669738).

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+|area_metro_sq_mi =
+|area_blank1_title =
+|area_blank1_km2 =
+|area_blank1_sq_mi =
+<!-- Population ----------------------->
+|population_as_of =2010<ref>[http://www.edinburgh-inspiringcapital.com/invest/economic_data/population_of_edinburgh/population_vital_statistics.aspx Population - Vital Statistics] Retrieved April 17, 2012.</ref>
+|population_footnotes =
+|population_note =
+|population_total = 486,120
+|population_urban = 817,800
+|population_density_km2 =
+|population_density_sq_mi =
+|population_county =
+|population_density_county_km2 =
+|population_density_county_sq_mi =
+|population_density_urban_km2 =
+|population_density_urban_sq_mi =4776
+|population_blank1_title =
+|population_blank1 =
+|population_density_blank1_title =
+|population_density_blank1_km2 =
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+|population_blank2_title =
+|population_blank2 =
+|population_density_blank2_km2 =
+|population_density_blank2_sq_mi =
+|population_blank3_title =
+|population_blank3 = <!-- General information --------------->
+|timezone = [[Greenwich Mean Time]]
+|utc_offset = +0
+|timezone_DST = [[British Summer Time]]
+|utc_offset_DST = +1
+|latd=55 |latm=57 |latNS=N
+|longd=3 |longm=11 |longEW=W
+|elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use tags—>
+|elevation_m =
+|elevation_ft =
+<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
+|postal_code_type = Postcode
+|postal_code =[[EH postcode area|EH]]
+|area_code =0131
+|blank_name =[[ISO 3166-2:GB|ISO 3166-2]]
+|blank_info =GB-EDH
+|blank1_name =[[ONS coding system|ONS code]]
+|blank1_info =00QP
+|blank2_name =[[British national grid reference system|OS grid reference]]
+|blank2_info = [http://toolserver.org/~rhaworth/os/coor_g.php?params=NT275735_region:GB_scale:25000&myby=//www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Edinburgh NT275735]
+|blank3_name =[[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics|NUTS]] 3
+|blank3_info = UKM25
+|blank4_name =
+|blank4_info =
+|website = [http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/ www.edinburgh.gov.uk] (Official Council site)<br />[http://www.edinburgh-inspiringcapital.com/ www.edinburgh-inspiringcapital.com] (Visitor-facing site)
+|footnotes =
 }}
-'''Edinburgh''' ({{audio2|En-uk-edinburgh.ogg}} [[IPA chart for English|pronounced]] {{IPA|/ˈɛdɪnb(ə)rə/}}; {{lang-gd|Dùn Èideann}}) is the [[capital]] of [[Scotland]] and its second largest [[City status in the United Kingdom|city]]. Edinburgh is 45 miles away from [[Glasgow]], 15 from [[Livingston]] and 100 miles from [[Carlisle]] and [[Aberdeen]]
+'''Edinburgh''' is the [[capital]] city of [[Scotland]]. It is the seventh largest city in the [[United Kingdom]] and the second largest Scottish city after [[Glasgow]]. It has been the capitol of Scotland since 1437 and is the seat of the [[Scottish Parliament]]. The city was a center of [[Age of Enlightenment|the Enlightenment]], led by the [[University of Edinburgh]], earning it the nickname ''Athens of the North''.
-It is in the south-east of Scotland, on the east coast of Scotland's "[[Central Belt]]", on the south shore of the [[Firth of Forth]], on the [[North Sea]] and, because of its rugged setting and vast collection of Medieval and [[Georgian architecture]] including numerous stone [[tenements]], it is one of the most dramatic cities in Europe.
+Located in the southeast of Scotland, Edinburgh lies on the east coast of the [[Central Belt]], along the [[Firth of Forth]], near the [[North Sea]]. Owing to its rugged setting and vast collection of [[Middle Ages|Medieval]] and [[Georgian architecture]], including numerous stone [[tenements]], it is often considered one of the most [[picturesque]] cities in [[Europe]].
+{{toc}}
+The [[Old Town, Edinburgh|Old Town]] and [[New Town of Edinburgh|New Town]] districts of Edinburgh were listed as a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] in 1995. They display a "remarkable juxtaposition" between districts carefully planned and built centuries apart which "exerted a major influence on the development of urban [[architecture]] and town planning throughout [[Europe]] in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries." Edinburgh is one of Europe's foremost [[tourism|tourist]] destinations, attracting one million visitors a year. It is the second most visited tourist destination in the [[United Kingdom]], after [[London]].
-It forms the ''City of Edinburgh'' [[council area]]; the [[City of Edinburgh Council|city council area]] includes urban Edinburgh and a 30sq mile rural area.
+==Geography==
+The origin of the city's name in[[ English language|English]] is understood to come from the [[Brythonic languages|Brythonic]] ''Din Eidyn'' (Fort of Eidyn) from the time when it was a [[Gododdin]] [[hillfort]]. It came to be known to the English, the [[Bernicia]]n [[Angles]], as ''Edin-burh''. The ''[[burgh]]'' means "fortress" or "walled group of buildings," while ''Edin'' is untranslated.
-It has been the capital of Scotland since 1437 (replacing [[Scone]]) and is the seat of the [[Scottish Parliament]]. The city was one of the major centres of [[Age of Enlightenment|the Enlightenment]], led by the [[University of Edinburgh]], gaining the nickname ''Athens of the North''. The [[Old Town, Edinburgh|Old Town]] and [[New Town of Edinburgh|New Town]] districts of Edinburgh were listed as a [[United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] in 1995. There are over 4,500 [[listed buildings]] within the city, the highest concentration in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/Environment/Planning_buildings_i_i_/Built_heritage/CEC_conservation_in_edinburgh_ |title=Conservation in Edinburgh |accessdate=2007-05-20 |publisher=The City of Edinburgh Council }}</ref> In the [[UK census 2001|census of 2001]], Edinburgh had a total resident population of 448,624.
+The city is affectionately nicknamed ''Auld Reekie'' ([[Scots language|Scots]] for ''Old Smoky''), because of smoke from [[coal]] and wood fires. Edinburgh has also been known as ''Dunedin,'' deriving from the [[Scottish Gaelic]], ''Dùn Èideann''. [[Dunedin, New Zealand]], was originally called "New Edinburgh" and is still nicknamed the "Edinburgh of the South."
-Edinburgh is well-known for the annual [[Edinburgh Festival]], a collection of official and independent festivals held annually over about four weeks from early August. The number of visitors attracted to Edinburgh for the Festival, is roughly equal to the settled population of the city.  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]].
+Edinburgh occupies seven miles (11 km) of the north-facing slope on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth, which is an arm of the [[North Sea]] reaching west into the Scottish Lowlands. Much of the city lies among craggy upthrusts of [[lava]] and hills—the valleys between were scoured by [[Pleistocene]] Epoch glacial action.
-Other notable events include the [[Hogmanay]] street party ([[31 December]]), [[Burns Night]] ([[25 January]]), [[St. Andrew's Day]] ([[November 30]]), and the [[Beltane]] celebrations ([[30 April]]).
+Arthur’s Seat has an elevation of 823 feet (251 meters), while Castle Rock, a [[basalt]] plug sealing an extinct [[volcano]], stands 250 feet (76 meters) above the valley floor and is crowned by the famous [[Edinburgh Castle]].
-The city is one of Europe's major [[Tourism in Scotland|tourist]] destinations, attracting roughly 13 million visitors a year, and is the second most visited tourist destination in the [[United Kingdom]], after [[London]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tourismtrade.org.uk/Images/TopTowns2005_tcm12-24666.pdf |title=Overseas Visitors to the UK - Top Towns Visited 2005 |accessdate=2007-01-28 |publisher=VisitBritain }}</ref>
+Edinburgh has a [[temperate]] [[maritime climate]], which is relatively mild despite its northerly [[latitude]]. [[Winter]]s are especially mild, with the average maximum daytime temperature in January of 43.2°F (6.2°C), rising to an average maximum of around 65.8°F (18.8°C) in July. The proximity of the city to the sea mitigates any extremes of climate. Edinburgh is renowned as a windy city. Mean annual precipitation is 26.3 inches (668 mm).
-==Etymology==
+The historic center of Edinburgh is divided by the broad green swathe of [[Princes Street Gardens]]. To the south is [[Edinburgh Castle]], perched atop the extinct volcanic crag, and the long sweep of the [[Old Town, Edinburgh|Old Town]] trailing after it along the ridge. To the north lies [[Princes Street]] and the [[New Town, Edinburgh|New Town]]. The gardens were begun in 1816 on [[bog]]land which had once been the [[Nor Loch]]. To the immediate west of the castle lies the financial district, housing insurance and banking buildings.
-[[Image:EdinburghFromCastle.jpg|thumb|right|Edinburgh viewed from the Castle]]
-[[Image:Hereford Mappa Mundi detail Britain.jpg|thumb|right|Detail of the [[Hereford Mappa Mundi]], Edinburgh is clearly labeled on this [[T and O map]] of the British isles from c. 1300]]
-{{main|Etymology of Edinburgh}}
-The origin of the city's name is understood to come from the [[Brythonic languages|Brythonic]] ''Din Eidyn'' (Fort of Eidyn) from the time when it was a [[Gododdin]] [[hillfort]].<ref name=gododdin>Gardens of the 'Gododdin' Craig Cessford Garden History, Vol. 22, No. 1 (Summer, 1994), pp. 114-115 doi:10.2307/1587005</ref> In the 1st century the [[Roman Empire|Romans]] recorded the [[Votadini]] as a [[Brython]]ic tribe in the area, and about 600 C.E. the poem [[Y Gododdin]], using the Brythonic form of that name, describes warriors feasting "in Eidin's great hall".<ref name=gododdin/>
-It came to be known to the English, the [[Bernicia]]n [[Angles]], as ''Edin-burh'', which some people once believed derived from the [[Old English]] for "Edwin's fort", with a reference to the 7th century king [[Edwin of Northumbria]]. However, since the name apparently predates King Edwin, this is highly unlikely. The ''[[burgh]]'' element means "fortress" or "walled group of buildings", i.e. a town or city and is akin to the [[German language|German]] ''burg'', [[Latin]] ''parcus'', [[Greek language|Greek]] ''pyrgos'' etc. ''Burh'' is simply a translation of Brythonic ''Din''; ''Edin'' is untranslated.
+<center>
+{|
-Documents from the 14th century show the name to have settled into its current form;{{Fact|date=March 2007}} although other spellings ("Edynburgh" and "Edynburghe") appear, these are simply spelling variants of the current name.
+|+
-===Other names===
-The city is affectionately nicknamed ''Auld Reekie'', [[Scots language|Scots]] for ''Old Smoky''. This is because when the only fuels available were [[coal]] and wood, all the chimneys would spew thick columns of smoke into the air.  Auld Reekie also referred to the less than sanitary living conditions that would lead to a strong odour covering the city. Some have called Edinburgh the ''Athens of the North'' and ''Auld Greekie'' for a variety of reasons. The earliest comparison between the two cities showed that they had a similar topography, with the Old Town of Edinburgh performing a similar role to the [[Athens|Athenian]] [[Acropolis, Athens|Acropolis]] and for its intellectual history.<ref>Stoppard, Tom. ''Jumpers'', Grove Press, 1972, p. 69.</ref>
-[[Image:Edinburgh-panoramic.jpg|thumb|centre|800px|[[Panorama]] of the Old Town and Southside of Edinburgh from the Nelson monument. ''Panorama'' was originally coined by the Irish painter Robert Barker to describe his panoramic paintings of Edinburgh]]
-Edinburgh has also been known as ''Dunedin'', deriving from the [[Scottish Gaelic]], ''Dùn Èideann''. [[Dunedin, New Zealand]], was originally called "New Edinburgh" and is still nicknamed the "Edinburgh of the South". The Scots poets [[Robert Burns]] and [[Robert Fergusson]] sometimes used the city's Latin name, ''Edina''. [[Ben Jonson]] described it as ''Britain's other eye''<ref>[http://cco.cambridge.org/extract?id=ccol0521641136_CCOL0521641136A003 The Cambridge Companion to Ben Jonson], retrieved 17th April 2007</ref>, and [[Sir Walter Scott]] referred to the city as ''yon Empress of the North''.<ref>[http://www2.hn.psu.edu/faculty/jmanis/w-scott/marmion.pdf Marmion A Tale of Flodden Field by Walter Scott], retrieved 17th April 2007</ref>
-==Areas==
-{{main|Areas of Edinburgh}}
-===Areas of the centre===
-[[Image:Princes Street Gardens.jpg|thumb|Looking northeast across part of [[Princes Street Gardens]]]]
-The historic centre of Edinburgh is divided in two by the broad green swath of [[Princes Street Gardens]]. To the south the view is dominated by [[Edinburgh Castle]], perched atop the extinct volcanic crag, and the long sweep of the [[Old Town, Edinburgh|Old Town]] trailing after it along the ridge. To the north lies [[Princes Street]] and the [[New Town, Edinburgh|New Town]]. The gardens were begun in 1816 on [[bog]]land which had once been the Nor Loch.
-To the immediate west of the castle lies the financial district, housing insurance and banking buildings. Probably the most noticeable building here is the circular sandstone building that is the [[Edinburgh International Conference Centre]].
-===Old Town===
-{{main|Old Town, Edinburgh}}
-[[Image:EdinburghFromCaltonHill.jpg|thumb|right|View over ''Auld Reekie'', with the [[Dugald Stewart Monument]] in the foreground]]
-The Old Town has preserved its [[medieval]] plan and many [[Reformation]]-era buildings. One end is closed by the castle and the main artery, the [[Royal Mile]], leads away from it; minor streets (called ''closes'' or ''wynds'') lead downhill on either side of the main spine in a herringbone pattern. Large squares mark the location of markets or surround major public buildings such as [[St Giles Cathedral]] and the [[Courts of Scotland|Law Courts]]. Other notable places of interest nearby include the [[Royal Museum of Scotland]], Surgeons' Hall, the [[University of Edinburgh]], and numerous underground streets and vaults, relics of previous phases of construction. The street layout, typical of the old quarters of many northern European cities, is made especially picturesque in Edinburgh, where the castle perches on top of a rocky crag, the remnants of an extinct volcano, and the main street runs down the crest of a ridge from it.
-[[Image:Edinburgh Royal Mile01.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Royal Mile]] in the Old Town during the [[Edinburgh Festival]]]]
-Due to the space restrictions imposed by the narrowness of the "tail" the Old Town became home to some of the earliest "high rise" residential buildings. Multi-storey dwellings known as ''lands'' were the norm from the 1500s onwards with ten and eleven stories being typical and one even reaching fourteen stories.
-===New Town===
-{{main|New Town, Edinburgh}}
-The New Town was an 18th century solution to the problem of an increasingly crowded Old Town. The city had remained incredibly compact, confined to the ridge running down from the castle. In 1766 a competition to design the New Town was won by [[James Craig (architect)|James Craig]], a 22-year-old architect. The plan that was built created a rigid, ordered grid, which fitted well with [[Age of Enlightenment|enlightenment]] ideas of rationality. The principal street was to be [[George Street, Edinburgh|George Street]], which follows the natural ridge to the north of the Old Town. Either side of it are the other main streets of [[Princes Street]] and Queen Street. Princes Street has since become the main shopping street in Edinburgh, and few [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] buildings survive on it. Linking these streets were a series of perpendicular streets. At the east and west ends are [[St. Andrew's Square]] and [[Charlotte Square]] respectively. The latter was designed by [[Robert Adam]] and is often considered one of the finest Georgian squares in the world. [[Bute House]], the official residence of the [[First Minister of Scotland]], is on the north side of Charlotte Square.
-Sitting in the [[glen]] between the Old and New Towns was the Nor' Loch, which had been both the city's water supply and place for dumping [[sewage]]. By the 1820s it was drained. Some plans show that a [[canal]] was intended, but [[Princes Street Gardens]] were created instead. Excess soil from the construction of the buildings was dumped into the [[loch]], creating what is now [[The Mound]]. In the mid-19th century the [[National Gallery of Scotland]] and [[Royal Scottish Academy Building]] were built on The Mound, and tunnels to [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Waverley Station]] driven through it.
-The New Town was so successful that it was extended greatly. The grid pattern was not maintained, but rather a more picturesque layout was created. Today the New Town is considered by many to be one of the finest examples of [[Georgian architecture]] and planning in the world.
-===Southside===
-[[Image:Bank of Scotland HQ.jpg|thumb|right|The Mound, Edinburgh]]
-A popular residential part of the city is its southside, comprising a number of areas including [[Saint Leonards]], [[Marchmont]], [[Haymarket]],  [[Newington, Edinburgh|Newington]], [[Sciennes]], [[The Grange, Edinburgh|The Grange]], [[Bruntsfield]], [[Morningside, Edinburgh|Morningside]], and [[Merchiston]]. "South side" is broadly analogous to the area covered by the [[Burgh Muir]], and grew in popularity as a residential area following the opening of the [[South Bridge]]. These areas are particularly popular with families (many well-regarded state and private schools are located here), students (the central University of Edinburgh campus is based around George Square just north of Marchmont and [[the Meadows]], and Napier University has major campuses around Merchiston & Morningside), and with Festival-goers. These areas are also the subject of fictional work: Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus lives in Marchmont and worked in St Leonards; and Morningside is the home of [[Muriel Spark]]'s Miss Jean Brodie. Today, the literary connection continues, with the area being home to the authors [[J. K. Rowling]], [[Ian Rankin]], and [[Alexander McCall Smith]].
-===Leith===
-[[Image:LeithView.JPG|thumb|right|The [[Water of Leith]]]]
-[[Leith]] is the port of Edinburgh. It still retains a separate identity from Edinburgh, and it was a matter of great resentment when, in 1920, the [[burgh]] of Leith was merged<ref>[http://www.electricscotland.com/history/leith/33.htm The Story of Leith XXXIII. How Leith was Governed]</ref> into the [[Counties of Scotland|county of]] Edinburgh. Even today the parliamentary seat is known as 'Edinburgh North ''and'' Leith'. With the redevelopment of Leith, Edinburgh has gained the business of a number of [[cruise liner]] companies who now provide cruises to [[Norway]], [[Sweden]], [[Denmark]], [[Germany]] and the [[Netherlands]]. Leith also boasts the [[Royal Yacht Britannia]], berthed behind the [[Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh|Ocean Terminal]] as well as being home to [[Hibernian F.C.]]
-==Viewpoints==
-[[Image:Scott monument.jpg|thumb|The [[Scott Monument]]]]
-The varied [[terrain]] of the city includes several summits which command sweeping views over Edinburgh.
-To the southeast of central Edinburgh stands the eminence known as [[Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh|Arthur's Seat]], overlooking [[Holyroodhouse]] and the Old Town beside it. The crag is a collection of side vents of the main volcano on which Edinburgh is built. The volcano slipped and tipped sideways, leaving these vents as the highest points for kilometres around. Arthur's Seat is now part of [[Holyrood Park]], originally owned by the monarch and part of the grounds of the [[Palace of Holyroodhouse]]. It contains the United Kingdom's largest concentration of [[geology|geological]] [[Site of Special Scientific Interest|SSSIs]], as well as providing the people of Edinburgh with spectacular views of and from Arthur's Seat and somewhere to relax after a long day in the city.
-To the northeast, overlooking the New Town, is [[Calton Hill, Edinburgh|Calton Hill]]. It is topped by an assortment of buildings and monuments: two [[Observatory|observatories]], [[Nelson's Monument]] (a tower dedicated to Admiral [[Horatio Nelson]]), the old [[Royal High School (Edinburgh)|Royal High School]] (once almost the home of a devolved [[Scottish Assembly]]), and the unfinished [[National Monument, Edinburgh|National Monument]], which is modelled on the [[Parthenon]] from the [[Athens|Athenian]] [[Acropolis]] and is nicknamed "Edinburgh's Disgrace". The nickname of the city, "Athens of the North", also hails partly from this monument. Calton Hill plays host to the [[Beltane Fire Festival]] on [[May 1]].
-The [[Royal Observatory, Edinburgh|Royal Observatory]] rests on [[Blackford Hill]], the third and Southernmost viewpoint of the city.
-==Geography==
-===Climate===
-Like much of the rest of Scotland, Edinburgh has a [[temperate]] [[maritime climate]], which is relatively mild despite its northerly [[latitude]]. Winters are especially mild, considering that [[Moscow]] and [[Labrador]] in [[Newfoundland]] lie on the same latitude, with daytime temperatures rarely falling below freezing. Summer temperatures are normally moderate, with daily upper maxima rarely exceeding 23 °C. The proximity of the city to the sea mitigates any large variations in temperature or extremes of climate. Given Edinburgh's position between the coast and hills it is renowned as a [[wind]]y city, with the prevailing wind direction coming from the south-west which is associated with warm, unstable air from the [[Gulf Stream]] that can give rise to rainfall - although far less than cities to the west such as [[Glasgow]]. Indeed Edinburgh has a lower annual precipitation than most UK cities outwith the South East and over 100 mm less than [[Dublin]]. Winds from an easterly direction are usually drier but colder. Rainfall is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year. Vigorous Atlantic depressions - sometimes called [[European windstorms]] can affect the city between October and March.
-{{-}}
-{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;width:100%;border:0px;text-align:center;line-height:120%;"
-! style="background: #FFFFFF; color: #000080" height="17" | Average / Month
-! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Average
-! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Jan
-! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Feb
-! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Mar
-! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Apr
-! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | May
-! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Jun
-! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Jul
-! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Aug
-! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Sep
-! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Oct
-! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Nov
-! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Dec
-|-
-! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | High temperature Celsius (°F)
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000000;" | 12.1 (53.8)
-| style="background: #FFFFCC; color:#000000;" | 6.2  (43.2)
-| style="background: #FFFFCC; color:#000000;" | 6.5 (43.7)
-| style="background: #FFFFCC; color:#000000;" | 8.7 (47.7)
-| style="background: #FFCC66; color:#000000;" | 11.1 (52.0)
-| style="background: #FFCC66; color:#000000;" | 14.2 (57.6)
-| style="background: #FF8000; color:#000000;" | 17.3 (63.1)
-| style="background: #FF8000; color:#000000;" | 18.8 (65.8)
-| style="background: #FF8000; color:#000000;" | 18.5 (65.3)
-| style="background: #FFCC66; color:#000000;" | 16.2 (61.2)
-| style="background: #FFCC66; color:#000000;" | 13.2 (55.8)
-| style="background: #FFFFCC; color:#000000;" | 8.7 (46.6)
-| style="background: #FFFFCC; color:#000000;" | 6.9 (44.4)
-|-
-! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" height="16;" | Low temperature Celsius (°F)
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 4.8 (40.6)
-| style="background: #80FFFF; color: black;" | 0.3 (32.5)
-| style="background: #80FFFF; color: black;" | 0.0 (32.0)
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 1.5 (34.7)
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 3.1 (37.6)
-| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | 5.7 (42.3)
-| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | 8.7 (47.7)
-| style="background: #FFFF99; color: black;" | 10.3 (50.5)
-| style="background: #FFFF99; color: black;" | 10.2 (50.4)
-| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | 8.4 (47.1)
-| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | 5.9 (42.6)
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 2.1 (35.8)
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 0.9 (33.6)
-|-
-! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" height="16;" | Precipitation millimetres (in)
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | year: 668 (26.3)
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 57 (2.24)
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 42 (1.65)
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 51 (2.01)
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 41 (1.61)
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 51 (2.01)
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 51 (2.01)
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 57 (2.24)
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 65 (2.56)
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 67 (2.64)
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 65 (2.56)
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 63 (2.48)
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 58 (2.28)
-|-
-! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" height="16;" | Number of rain days
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | year: 182.8
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 17.2
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 13.6
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 16.2
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 14.0
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 14.4
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 13.3
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 13.1
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 15.2
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 16.5
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 16.7
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 16.3
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 16.3
-|-
-| colspan="14" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|<small>'''Source:''' [http://www.worldweather.org/010/c00033.htm World Meteorological Organization]</small>
-|}
-[[Image:Edinburgh climate graph.png|500px|center]]
-===Demographics===
-[[Image:Portobello Beach.jpg|thumb|right|[[Portobello, Edinburgh|Portobello Beach]]]]
-As of 2005, the [[General Register Office for Scotland]] estimated that the City of Edinburgh council area had a resident population of 457,830.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/press/2006-news/scotlands-population-rises-for-third-year-in-a-row.html |title=Mid Year Population Estimates, 2006 |accessdate=2007-01-28 |publisher=General Register Office for Scotland, 2006 }}</ref> The [[2001 UK census]] reported the population to be 448,624, making the city the seventh largest in the [[United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://download.edinburgh.gov.uk/Census_2001_City_Comparisons/CCTable1Population.pdf |title=City Comparisons Table |accessdate=2007-01-28 |publisher=Edinburgh City Council }}</ref> The General Register Office also reported that this resident population was split between 220,094 males and 237,736 females.
-Though Edinburgh's population is ageing, a very large and transient population of young students studying at the city universities, has offset this [[demographic]] problem. There are estimated to be around 100,000 students studying at the various Higher Education institutions in the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Featured_institutions/Profile_display/p!epmikfF?mode=View&profileNo=48&from=H  |title=Napier University Edinburgh |accessdate=2007-03-23 |publisher=Graduate Prospects }}</ref>
-The population of the greater Edinburgh area (including parts of Fife and the Scottish Borders) is 1.25 million and is projected to grow to 1.33 million by 2020. City of Edinburgh Council hopes this will continue to grow to 1.5 million by 2040, which is in line with the current average population of the three leading city regions in northern Europe: Stockholm, Helsinki and Oslo.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/Attachments/Internet/Environment/2040_Vision.pdf |title=A Vision for Capital Growth |accessdate=2007-03-23 |date=2006 |publisher=City of Edinburgh Council }}</ref>
-{{-}}
-{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;width:100%;border:0px;text-align:center;line-height:120%;"
-! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" | Year
-! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1755
-! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1791
-! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1811
-! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1831
-! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1851
-! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1871
-! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1891
-! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1911
-! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1931
-! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1951
-! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1971
-! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1991
-! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 2001
-! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 2005
 |-
-! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" | Population
+| valign="top"|
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 57,195
+[[Image:Princes Street Gardens.jpg|thumb|150px|Looking northeast across part of [[Princes Street Gardens]].]]
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 81,865
+| valign="top"|
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 82,624
+[[Image:EdinburghFromCaltonHill.jpg|thumb|150px|View over ''Auld Reekie'', with the [[Dugald Stewart Monument]] in the foreground.]]
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 136,054
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 160,511
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 196,979
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 261,225
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 320,318
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 439,010
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 466,761
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 453,575
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 418,914
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 448,624
-| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 457,830
 |-
-| colspan="15" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|<small>'''Source:'''[http://download.edinburgh.gov.uk/Census_City_Trends/Citytrends.pdf City of Edinburgh Council] and [http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/1_edin/1_edinburgh_history_-_dates_population.htm Edinphoto]</small>
 |}
+</center>
-===Geology===
+==History==
-[[Image:Edinburgh Castle princes.jpg|thumb|right|[[Edinburgh Castle]], as viewed from [[Princes Street]]]]
+[[Image:Hereford Mappa Mundi detail Britain.jpg|thumb|right|210px|Detail of the [[Hereford Mappa Mundi]], Edinburgh is clearly labeled on this [[T and O map]] of the British isles from c. 1300]]
-Some 6 thousand years ago, the cores of several [[volcanic vent]]s in the area cooled and solidified to form tough [[basalt]] [[volcanic plug]]s. Later, during the [[Wisconsin glaciation|last ice age]], [[glacier]]s moving from west to east eroded the area to its current conformation.
+[[Image:Edinburgh from the West.jpg|thumb|right|210px|An 1802 illustration of Edinburgh from the West.]]
+[[Image:Holyrood from Calton Hill by James Valentine. 1878 or earlier..jpg|thumb||right|210px|A nineteenth century view of [[Holyrood Palace]] from [[Calton Hill]].]]
-====Old Town====
+[[Image:HolyroodAbbeyRuin200411 CopyrightKaihsuTai.jpg|thumb|right|210px|The remains of [[Holyrood Abbey]]]]
-[[Castle Rock, Edinburgh|Castle Rock]] is one such plug, which during ice ages sheltered the softer rock to the east forming a mile-long tail of material to the east, creating a distinctive [[crag and tail]] formation. This structure, along with a ravine to the south and a swampy valley to the north, formed an ideal natural [[fortress]] and recent excavations found material dating back to the [[Late Bronze Age]], as long ago as 850 years Before Christ (BC).<ref>''Excavations within Edinburgh Castle'' by Stephen T. Driscoll & Peter Yeoman, [[Society of Antiquaries of Scotland]] Monograph Series no.12 1997</ref>
+[[Image:Edinburgh Castle princes.jpg|thumb|right|210px|[[Edinburgh Castle]], as viewed from Princes St.]]
+[[Image:Bank of Scotland HQ.jpg|thumb|right|210px|The Mound, Edinburgh.]]
-Over the last few hundred years, the area occupied by this geological feature has come to be known as the [[Old Town, Edinburgh|Old Town]]. [[Edinburgh Castle]] stands on the crag, and the [[Royal Mile]] follows the narrow crest of the steep-sided tail, descending from the castle to meet general ground level at [[Holyrood|Holyrood Palace]]. The [[Grassmarket]] and [[Cowgate]] run east-west through the ravine to the south, while the swamp of the [[Nor Loch]] has now been drained to form [[Princes Street Gardens]], and accommodates [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station]].
+Evidence of human settlement on the shores of the Firth of Forth dates to 7000 B.C.E..E., while [[archaeology|archaeological]] excavations reveal that the Castle Rock has been occupied since about 1000 B.C.E..E.
-====Arthur's Seat====
-Like the castle rock on which Edinburgh Castle is built, [[Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh|Arthur's Seat]] was formed by an extinct [[volcano]] system of the [[Carboniferous period]], which was eroded by a [[glacier]] moving from west to east during the Quaternary, exposing rocky [[crag]]s to the west and leaving a tail of material swept to the east.<ref>{{cite book |author=[[Stuart Piggott]] |title=Scotland before History |publisher=[[Edinburgh University Press]] |year=1982 |id=ISBN 0-85224-470-3}}</ref> This is how the [[Salisbury Crags]] formed and became basalt cliffs between Arthur's Seat and the city centre.
-[[Image:Edinburgh wiki.jpg|thumb|800px|center|Panoramic view of Edinburgh from the top of [[Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh|Arthur's Seat]]]]
-==Culture==
-===Festivals===
-Culturally, Edinburgh is best known for the [[Edinburgh Festival]], although this is in fact a series of separate events, which run from the end of July until early September each year. The longest established festival is the [[Edinburgh International Festival]], which first ran in 1947. The International Festival centres on a programme of high-profile theatre productions and classical music performances, featuring international directors, conductors, theatre companies and orchestras.
-The International Festival has since been taken over in both size and popularity by the [[Edinburgh Fringe]]. What began as a programme of marginal acts has become the largest arts festival in the world, with 1867 different shows being staged in 2006, in 261 venues. Comedy is now one of the mainstays of the Fringe, with numerous notable comedians getting their 'break' here, often through receipt of the [[Perrier Comedy Award|Perrier Award]].
+Roman forts were built at Cramond and Inveresk on the western and eastern margins of the present-day city during the second century C.E. A Celtic tribe known as the Votadini was based at Traprain Law, a hill about 20 miles (30 km) east of the modern city at that time, and moved to Castle Rock around 500, after the Romans departed.
-[[Image:Wellington Statue.jpg|left|thumb|The [[Iron Duke]] in bronze by [[John Steell]] outside the [[Balmoral Hotel]]]]
-Alongside these major festivals, there is also the Edinburgh Art Festival, [[Edinburgh International Film Festival]], the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, and the [[Edinburgh International Book Festival]]. T on the Fringe, a popular music offshoot of the Fringe, began in 2000, replacing the smaller Flux and Planet Pop series of shows. Tigerfest is an independent music festival which ran concurrently with the Fringe in 2004 and 2005 before moving to a May slot in 2006.
-Running concurrently with the summer festivals, the [[Edinburgh Military Tattoo]] occupies the Castle Esplanade every night, with massed [[bagpipes|pipers]] and fireworks.
+In 580, when a military campaign started in Edinburgh ''(Din Etin)'' (commemorated in the Welsh poem ''[[Y Gododdin]]'') most of the inhabitants of southern [[Scotland]] spoke British, the ancestor of modern [[Welsh]]. Around 638, Edinburgh was besieged, possibly marking the passing of control of the fort of Din Etin from the [[Gododdin]] to the Northumbrian English, led at this time by [[Oswald of Northumbria]] (604-642).
-The [[Edinburgh International Science Festival]] is held annually in April and is one of the most popular science festivals in the world.
+However, in the seventh century, [[Edwin of Northumbria]] (586-633), an [[Angle]] of [[Deira]] (the southern part of the [[Kingdom of Northumbria]], captured this location and named it Eiden's burgh (burgh being an old word for "fort"). Edwin made Edinburgh his capital and from it carved out a [[kingdom]], which stretched to the river Humber in England, known as [[Northumbria]]/[[Bernicia]].
-===Celebrations===
+By 731, Edinburgh was firmly within the kingdom of Northumbria at the time of [[Bede]] (672-735), who completed his ''History'' in that year. Around 960, Scots captured Edinburgh during the reign of [[Illulb mac Custantin]] (954-62). [[King David I]] (1085-1153) granted Edinburgh the status of a Royal burgh in 1125, which promoted the manufacture of cloth and trade in the city.
-[[Image:Edinburgh Hogmanay Longship.jpg|thumb|A Viking longship being burnt during Edinburgh's annual [[Hogmanay]] celebrations.]]
-Equally famous is the annual [[Hogmanay]] celebration. Originally simply a street party held on [[Princes Street]] and the [[Royal Mile]], the Hogmanay event has been officially organised since 1993. In 1996, over 300,000 people attended, leading to ticketing of the main street party in later years, with a limit of 100,000 tickets. Hogmanay now covers four days of processions, concerts and fireworks, and the event regularly attracts thousands of people.
-On the night of [[30 April]], the [[Beltane Fire Festival]] takes place on Edinburgh's [[Calton Hill, Edinburgh|Calton Hill]]. The festival involves a procession followed by the re-enactment of scenes inspired by [[Paganism|pagan]] spring fertility celebrations.
-===Museums and libraries===
+Because of Edinburgh's earlier Anglo-Saxon rule, Edinburgh and the Border counties lay in a disputed zone between [[England]] and [[Scotland]], England claiming all Anglo-Saxon [[Domains]] as English territory, and Scotland claiming all territory as far south as [[Hadrians Wall]]. This resulted in a long series of border wars and clashes, which often left [[Edinburgh Castle]] under English control.
-Edinburgh is home to a large number of museums and libraries, especially ones that are considered the main national institutions, the most important are the [[Museum of Scotland]], the [[Royal Museum]], the [[National Library of Scotland]], [[National War Museum of Scotland]], the [[Museum of Edinburgh]], [[Museum of Childhood (Edinburgh)]] and the [[Royal Society of Edinburgh]].
-===Music, theatre and film===
+After the Wars of Independence (1296–1328) fought against England, Edinburgh became Scotland’s main trading center. In 1329, King [[Robert the Bruce]] (reign: 1306–1329) confirmed Edinburgh's privileges as a royal burgh and established a port at Leith. At that time, Edinburgh was renowned for its stench—domestic refuse and offal from skinners, butchers, and fishmongers were dumped on either side of the main street.
-[[Image:Royal mile edinburgh.jpg|thumb|The [[Royal Mile]]]]
-Outside festival season, Edinburgh continues to support a number of theatres and production companies. The Royal Lyceum Theatre has its own company, while the King's Theatre, [[Edinburgh Festival Theatre]], and [[Edinburgh Playhouse]] stage large touring shows. The [[Traverse Theatre]] presents a more contemporary programme of plays. [[Edinburgh amateur theatre|Amateur theatre companies]] productions are staged at the [[Bedlam Theatre]], Church Hill Theatre, and the King's Theatre amongst others.
-The [[Usher Hall]] is Edinburgh's premier venue for classical music, as well as the occasional prestige popular music gig. Other halls staging music and theatre include [[The Hub (Edinburgh)|The Hub]], the [[Assembly Rooms]] and the [[Queen's Hall]]. The [[Scottish Chamber Orchestra]] is based in Edinburgh.
+[[King James IV of Scotland]] (reign: 1488–1513) moved the [[Royal Court]] from [[Stirling]] to [[Holyrood]], making Edinburgh Scotland's capital. [[James V]] established the Court of Session, the central civil-law court, in Edinburgh in 1532.
-Edinburgh has two [[repertory]] cinemas, the Edinburgh Filmhouse, and the [[The Cameo, Edinburgh|Cameo]], and the independent Dominion Cinema, as well as the usual range of [[multiplex]]es.
+In 1603, following [[King James VI]]'s accession to the English and [[Kingdom of Ireland|Irish]] Thrones, James VI (1566-1625) instituted the first executive [[Parliament of Scotland]] which met in the Great Hall of [[Edinburgh Castle]], later finding a home in the [[Tolbooth]], before moving to purpose-built [[Parliament House, Edinburgh]], which later became home to the [[College of Justice| Supreme Courts of Scotland]]
-Edinburgh has a healthy popular music scene, despite the recent closure of The Venue and the attempted closure of Studio 24. Occasional large gigs are staged at [[Murrayfield Stadium|Murrayfield]], the Liquid Rooms, [[Meadowbank Stadium|Meadowbank]], as well as the relatively new Edinburgh Corn Exchange.
+In 1639, disputes over the planned merger, between the [[Presbyterian Church]] and the [[Anglican Church]], and the demands by [[Charles I]], to reunify the divided [[St Giles' Cathedral]], led to the [[Bishops Wars]] (1639-1640), which in turn led to the [[English Civil War]] (1641-1653), and the eventual the occupation of Edinburgh by [[Commonwealth]] forces of [[Oliver Cromwell]]. In the 1670s, [[King Charles II]] commissioned the rebuilding of [[Holyrood Palace]].
-<br clear=all/>
+In 1707, the [[Act of Union]], which joined the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland (previously separate states) was signed in a cellar in Parliament Square, and Edinburgh lost all independent political life. A surge of building took place within the Old Town.
-===Visual arts===
-[[Image:National Gallery of Scotland 2005-08-07.jpg|thumb|The [[National Gallery of Scotland]]]]
-Edinburgh is home to Scotland's five [[National Galleries of Scotland|National Galleries]]. The national collection is housed in the [[National Gallery of Scotland]], located on the Mound, and now linked to the [[Royal Scottish Academy]], which holds regular major exhibitions of painting. The contemporary collections are shown in the [[Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art]], and the nearby [[Dean Gallery]]. The [[Scottish National Portrait Gallery]] focuses on portraits and photography.
-The council-owned City Arts Centre shows regular art exhibitions. Across the road, The [[Fruitmarket Gallery]] offers world class exhibitions of contemporary art, featuring work by British and international artists with both emerging and established international reputations.
+Edinburgh was occupied by Jacobite forces during the last [[Jacobite]] rebellion in 1746, which aimed to return descendants of the Scottish [[House of Stuart]] to the throne of England. It was subsequently occupied by British forces under the command of the [[Prince William, Duke of Cumberland]] (1721-1765), leading to a long period of reprisals.
-[[Image:Nelson's Monument.jpg|thumb|[[Nelson's Monument]] on top of [[Calton Hill, Edinburgh|Calton Hill]]]] Edinburgh is also home to several of Scotland’s galleries and organisations dedicated to contemporary visual art. Significant strands of this infrastructure include: The Scottish Arts Council, New Media Scotland, Inverleith House, Edinburgh College of Art, Talbot Rice Gallery (University of Edinburgh), The Travelling Gallery, Edinburgh Printmakers, WASPS, Artlink, Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, Doggerfisher, Stills, Collective Gallery, Out of the Blue, The Embassy, Magnifitat, Sleeper, Total Kunst, OneZero, Standby, Portfolio Magazine, MAP magazine, Edinburgh's One O'Clock Gun Periodical and Product magazine and the [[Edinburgh Annuale]].
+From 1772, after the draining of the [[Nor Loch]], which had been both the city's water supply and place for dumping [[sewage]], Edinburgh expanded beyond the Old Town. The Nor Loch area became [[Castle Gardens]]. The New Town resulted from a 1776 design competition, which created a rigid, ordered grid, which fitted well with [[Age of Enlightenment|enlightenment]] ideas of rationality. George Street, Frederick Street, Hanover Street, Queen Street, and Prince’s Street, the main shopping street in Edinburgh, were named in honor of the Hanoverian monarch on the English throne.
-Edinburgh has a long literary tradition, going back to the [[Scottish Enlightenment]]. Writers such as [[James Boswell]], [[Robert Louis Stevenson]], Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, [[J.K. Rowling]], and Sir [[Walter Scott]] all lived and worked in Edinburgh. More recently, Edinburgh has become associated with the crime novels of [[Ian Rankin]]; the work of [[Leith]] native [[Irvine Welsh]], whose novels are mostly set in the city and are often written in colloquial [[Scots language|Scots]]; and two of Edinburgh resident [[Alexander McCall Smith]]'s book series. Edinburgh has been declared the first [[UNESCO]] City of Literature. J K Rowling is also a resident of Edinburgh.
+A number of Scottish intellectuals, many from Edinburgh, including political economist [[Adam Smith]] (1723-1790) and philosopher [[David Hume]] (1711-1776), felt it was a time for [[Scotland]] to modernize. They promoted the idea of [[Britishness]], and led the [[British Empire]] into a golden age of [[economics|economic]] and [[social]] reform and prosperity. Edinburgh became a cultural center, earning it the nickname "Athens of the North," both due to the [[Greco-Roman]] style of the New Towns' [[architecture]], as well as the rise of the Scottish/British intellectual elite there. The creator of the historical novel, [[Sir Walter Scott]] (1771-1832), was another Edinburgh native.
-Edinburgh's Enlightenment also produced philosopher [[David Hume]] and the pioneer of economics, [[Adam Smith]]. Further scientific and philosophical inquiry was discussed at [[The Poker Club]] in the city.
+Excess soil from the construction of the New Town was dumped into the [[loch]], creating what became [[The Mound]]. In the mid-nineteenth century the [[National Gallery of Scotland]] and [[Royal Scottish Academy Building]] were built on The Mound, and tunnels to [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Waverley Station]] driven through it.
-Edinburgh is also home to a flourishing group of contemporary composers such as Nigel Osborne, Peter Nelson, Lyell Cresswell, Haflidi Hallgrimsson, Edward Harper, Robert Crawford and John McLeod (http://www.johnmcleod.uk.com) whose music is also heard regularly on BBC Radio 3 and throughout the UK.
+From 1830 to [[World War I]] (1914-1918), Edinburgh, like many cities, [[industrialization|industrialized]], but most of this happened in [[Leith]]. Edinburgh did not grow greatly in size, but the increase in the laboring population brought overcrowding, malnutrition, and [[epidemic]]s. [[Glasgow]] soon replaced it as the largest and most prosperous city in Scotland, becoming the industrial, commercial, and trade center, while Edinburgh remained Scotland's intellectual and cultural center.
-===Nightlife===
+[[Sir Patrick Geddes]] (1854-1932), a pioneer of urban planning, tried to revive the Old Town in the 1890s. Nationalist poet [[Hugh MacDiarmid]] (1892-1978) made Edinburgh the center of the Scottish political and literary renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s.
-[[Image:Edinburgh from the Illustrated London News 1868.jpg|thumb|400px|A panorama of Edinburgh published by the ''[[Illustrated London News]]'' in 1868]]
-Edinburgh has a large number of pubs, clubs and restaurants. The traditional areas were the [[Grassmarket]], [[Lothian Road]] and surrounding streets, [[Rose Street]] and its surrounds and the Bridges. In recent years [[George Street]] in the [[New Town]] has grown in prominence, with a large number of new, upmarket public houses and nightclubs opening, along with a number on the parallel [[Queen Street]]. [[Stockbridge]] and the waterfront at [[Leith]] are also increasingly fashionable areas, with a number of pubs, clubs and restaurants.
+After [[World War II]] (1939-1945), Edinburgh developed as a center for higher [[education]], especially in medicine and surgery, electronics, and artificial intelligence. The cultural life of the city expanded, especially through the Edinburgh International Festival, which began in 1947. The city has begun a movement to conserve its stone architecture.
-A fortnightly publication, [[The List]], is dedicated to life in Edinburgh and [[Glasgow]], and contains listings of all Nightclubs, as well as music, theatrical and other events. The List also regularly produces specialist guides such as its Food and Drink guide and its guide to the [[Edinburgh Festival]]s. There are also many competing magazines that can be found for free such as Flash Edinburgh or Gig Guide.
+A new Scottish Parliament and government was established in Edinburgh in 1999, re-establishing the city as the capital and political center of Scotland.
-==Sport==
+==Government==
-===Football===
+[[Image:Edinburgh Scottish Parliament01 2006-04-29.jpg|thumb|right|210px|The new [[Scottish Parliament Building]] opened in October 2004.]]
-Edinburgh has two professional [[football (soccer)|football]] clubs: [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Heart of Midlothian]] and [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]]. They are known locally as Hearts (or the Jambos) and Hibs (or the Hibees). Both teams currently play in the [[Scottish Premier League]]: Hearts at [[Tynecastle Stadium]] in [[Gorgie]], and Hibernian at [[Easter Road Stadium]], which straddles the former boundary between Edinburgh and [[Leith]].
-Edinburgh was also home to senior sides [[St Bernard's F.C.|St Bernard's]], [[Ferranti Thistle F.C.]] and most recently, [[Meadowbank Thistle F.C.|Meadowbank Thistle]] until 1995, when the club moved to [[Livingston]], shedding their old name and becoming [[Livingston F.C.]]. The [[Scotland national football team|Scottish national team]] usually plays at [[Hampden Park]], in [[Glasgow]], although in recent years it has played some [[friendly match]]es at [[Easter Road]] and [[Tynecastle]].
+As part of the [[United Kingdom]], [[Scotland]] is a [[democracy|liberal democracy]] and a [[constitutional monarchy]]. In elections to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the city is divided into five first-past-the-post constituencies. As [[capital]] of Scotland, Edinburgh is host to the national [[unicameral]] [[legislature]], the [[Scottish Parliament]], which opened in September 2004. The Scottish Parliament devolves  responsibility for health, education, housing, economic development, regional transport, the environment, and agriculture. For elections to the [[European Parliament]], Edinburgh is within the [[Scotland (European Parliament constituency)|Scotland constituency]].
-Non-league sides include [[Spartans F.C.|Spartans]], [[Leith Athletic F.C.|Leith Athletic]] and [[Edinburgh City F.C.|Edinburgh City]], who all play in the [[East of Scotland League]] along with [[Civil Service Strollers F.C.]], [[Lothian Thistle F.C.]], [[Edinburgh University A.F.C.]], [[Whitehill Welfare F.C.]], [[Edinburgh Athletic F.C.]] and [[Tynecastle F.C.]] There are also several teams who play in the [[Scottish Junior Football Association, East Region]] including [[Edinburgh United F.C.]], [[Linlithgow Rose F.C.]], [[Musselburgh Athletic F.C.]] and [[Penicuik Athletic F.C.]]
+Edinburgh constitutes one of the 32 [[council areas of Scotland]] and is represented by the [[City of Edinburgh Council]], comprising 58 elected [[councillor]]s, each representing a multi-member electoral ward, and led by the [[Lord Provost]]. Council elections are held on a four year cycle. Each of the multi-member wards elects three or four councillors by the [[single transferable vote]] system.
-===Other sports===
-The [[Scotland national rugby union team]] plays at [[Murrayfield Stadium]], which is owned by the [[Scottish Rugby Union]] and is also used as a venue for other events, including music concerts. Edinburgh's professional rugby team, [[Edinburgh Rugby]], play in the [[Celtic League (Rugby Union)|Celtic League]] at Murrayfield. It is the largest capacity stadium in [[Scotland]].
-[[Raeburn Place]] is notable for holding the first ever rugby international game between Scotland and England.
-The [[Scottish cricket team]], who represent Scotland at [[cricket]] internationally and in the [[C&G Trophy]], play their home matches at [[The Grange, Edinburgh (cricket and sports club)|The Grange]] in [[Stockbridge, Edinburgh|Stockbridge]].
-The [[Edinburgh Capitals]] are the latest of a succession of [[ice hockey]] clubs to represent the Scottish capital. Previously Edinburgh was represented by the [[Murrayfield Racers]] and the Edinburgh Racers. The club play their home games at the [[Murrayfield Ice Rink]] and are the sole Scottish representative in the [[Elite Ice Hockey League]].
-[[Image:HeartOfMidlothian 2004 SeanMcClean.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Heart of Midlothian]]]]
-The [[Edinburgh Diamond Devils]] are a baseball club claiming its first Scottish Championship in 1991 as the "Reivers." 1992 saw the team repeat as national champions, becoming the first team to do so in league history and saw the start of the club's first youth team, the [[Blue Jays]]. The name of the club was changed in 1999.
-Edinburgh has also hosted various national and international sports events including the [[World Student Games]], the [[1970 British Commonwealth Games]], the [[1986 Commonwealth Games]] and the inaugural 2000 Commonwealth Youth Games. For the Games in 1970 the city built major [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] standard venues and facilities including the [[Royal Commonwealth Pool]] and the [[Meadowbank Stadium]].
-In [[American football]], the [[Scottish Claymores]] played [[WLAF]]/[[NFL Europe]] games at Murrayfield, including their [[World Bowl IV|World Bowl 96]] victory. From 1995 to 1997 they played all their games there, from 1998 to 2000 they split their home matches between Murrayfield and Glasgow's Hampden Park, then moved to Glasgow full-time, with one final Murrayfield appearance in 2002. Their most successful non-professional team are the Edinburgh Wolves.
-The [[Edinburgh Marathon]] has been held in the city since 1999 with more than 13,000 taking part annually.
 ==Economy==
-{{main|Economy of Edinburgh}}
+[[Image:forth bridge evening.jpg|thumb|right|210px|The [[Forth Bridge (railway)|Forth Bridge]] at night.]]
+[[Image:Edinburgh-scottm.600px.jpg|right|thumb|210px|[[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Waverley]] is located in the ravine between the Old and New Town on the drained [[Nor Loch]].]]
-[[Image:One OClock Gun.jpg|thumb|left|[[Edinburgh Castle#The One O'Clock Gun|The One O'Clock Gun]]]]
+Within the [[United Kingdom]], Edinburgh's economy is second to [[London]]—the city's GDP per capita was measured at US$55,000 in 2004, compared with London's US$72,500 in 2005. The city's economy is centered around [[banking]], financial services, higher [[education]], [[tourism]], and government, as well as its [[Scots Law|legal system]].
-Edinburgh has the strongest economy of any city in the [[UK]] outside [[London]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Major Development Projects 2006| url=http://www.capitalreview.co.uk/pdf/MajDev06.pdf| author=Edinburgh City Council| accessdate=2007-04-21}}</ref> The strength of Edinburgh's economy is reflected by its GDP per capita, which was measured at £27,600 (€40,700, $55,000) in 2004. The economy of Edinburgh and its hinterland has recently been announced as one of the fastest growing [[city region]]s in [[Europe]].<ref>{{cite news| author=Aura Sabadus| work=The Scotsman| date=2006-05-26| url=http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=779272006| title=Edinburgh's business focus proves a world beater for economic growth| accessdate=2007-04-21}}</ref> Education and health, finance and business services, retailing and tourism are the largest employers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lifelonglearning.co.uk/learningcities/s10-edin.htm |title=Edinburgh City of Learning |accessdate=2007-03-23 |publisher=Learning Towns and Cities }}</ref> The economy of Edinburgh is largely based around the services sector — centred around [[banking]], financial services, higher education, and [[Tourism in Scotland|tourism]]. [[Unemployment]] in Edinburgh is low at 2.2%, which has been consistently below the [[Scotland|Scottish]] average.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/sedotcom_home/about_se/local_enterprise_companies/edinburghandlothian/edinburgh-industry-employment-profile.htm?siblingtoggle=1 |title=Industry/employment profile |accessdate=2007-03-23 |publisher=Scottish Enterprise}}</ref> [[Image:HolyroodAbbeyRuin200411 CopyrightKaihsuTai.jpg|thumb|left|The remains of [[Holyrood Abbey]]]]
-Banking has been a part of the economic life of Edinburgh for over 300 years with the invention of capitalism in the city, with the establishment of the [[Bank of Scotland]] by an act of the original [[Parliament of Scotland]] in 1695. Their headquarters are on the Mound, overlooking Princes Street.  Today, together with the burgeoning financial services industry, with particular strengths in [[insurance]] and [[investment]] underpinned by the presence Edinburgh based firms such as [[Scottish Widows]] and [[Standard Life]], Edinburgh has emerged as Europe’s sixth largest financial centre.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.edinburghbrand.com/news/information/ |title=Information for Journalists |accessdate=2007-03-23 |publisher=Edinburgh Brand }}</ref> The [[Royal Bank of Scotland]], which is the fifth largest in the world by [[market capitalization|market capitalisation]], opened their new global headquarters at [[Gogarburn]] in the west of the city in October 2005; their [[registered office]] remains in St. Andrew Square.
-Manufacturing has never had as strong presence in Edinburgh compared to [[Glasgow]]; however [[brewing]], [[publishing]], and nowadays [[electronics]] have maintained a foothold in the city. Whilst brewing has been in decline in recent years, with the closure of the [[McEwan's Brewery]] in 2005, [[Caledonian Brewery]] remains as the largest, with [[Scottish and Newcastle]] retaining their headquarters in the city.
-[[Tourism]] is an important economic mainstay in the city. As a [[World Heritage Site]], tourists come to visit such historical sites as [[Edinburgh Castle]], the [[Palace of Holyroodhouse]] and the Georgian [[New Town, Edinburgh|New Town]]. This is augmented in August of each year with the presence of the [[Edinburgh Festival]]s, which bring in large numbers of visitors, generating in excess of £100m for the Edinburgh economy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.edfringe.com/story.html?id=923 |title=2004 Festival Economic Impact Study results |accessdate=2007-03-23 |date=14 October 2005 |publisher=Edinburgh Festival Fringe }}</ref>
-As the centre of Scotland’s devolved government, as well as its [[Scots Law|legal system]], the public sector plays a central role in the economy of Edinburgh with many departments of the [[Scottish Executive]] located in the city. Other major employers include [[NHS Scotland]] and [[local government of Scotland|local government]] administration.
+Banking has been a part of the economic life of Edinburgh for over 300 years with the invention of [[capitalism]] in the city, with the establishment of the [[Bank of Scotland]] by an act of the original [[Parliament of Scotland]] in 1695. The city's financial services industry, particularly [[insurance]] and [[investment]], has caused Edinburgh to emerge as Europe's sixth largest financial center. The [[Royal Bank of Scotland]] is the fifth largest in the world by market capitalization.
-Edinburgh has seventy post offices, one in St. Mary's Street (in the Old Town close to Waverley Station) is "central", in that it is the only one within the EH1 1 [[postcode]] zone, but the Royal Mail sorting office at 10 Brunswick Road has the latest collection. Edinburgh's [[General Post Office]] building, in Waterloo Place, no longer houses a post office, which has been moved into the nearby St. James' Centre. The façades of the Waterloo Place building still stand, but the interior has been removed and replaced with offices.
+[[Tourism]] is an important economic mainstay, enhanced by the city's status as a [[World Heritage Site]], and the annual [[Edinburgh Festival]]s, which generates in excess of £100-million for the city.
-==Government and politics==
+Manufacturing has never had as strong a presence in Edinburgh as [[Glasgow]]. However, [[brewing]], [[publishing]], and [[electronics]] have maintained a foothold. [[Unemployment]] in Edinburgh was low at 2.2 percent in 2007, below the [[Scotland|Scottish]] average.
-{{Main|Politics of the City of Edinburgh council area}}
-[[Image:Edinburgh-coa.png|thumb|[[Coat of arms]] of Edinburgh]]
-As [[capital]] of Scotland, Edinburgh is host to the national [[unicameral]] [[legislature]], the [[Scottish Parliament]]. The [[Scottish Parliament Building]], in the [[Holyrood, Edinburgh|Holyrood]] area of Edinburgh, opened in September 2004.
-The [[Scottish Executive]], the [[devolved]] government of Scotland, has offices at [[St Andrew's House]] on [[Calton Hill, Edinburgh|Calton Hill]] in the city centre, and Victoria Quay in [[Leith]]. [[Bute House]] on [[Charlotte Square]] is the official residence of the [[First Minister of Scotland]].
+Edinburgh is a transport hub, with arterial road and rail routes that connect the [[city]] to the rest of [[Scotland]] and with [[England]]. The [[Forth Bridge (railway)|Forth Bridge]] and the [[Forth Road Bridge]] are both [[engineering]] feats. A bus service provides most public transport. Construction began in 2007 on a light rail tram line to connect [[Edinburgh Airport]] and Granton via the city center and Leith Walk.
-The city has hosted a number of international events, such as [[CHOGM|Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting]] and the [[Council of Europe]].
+Leith is the port of Edinburgh and retains a separate identity. Redevelopment attracted the business of a number of companies which provide cruises to [[Norway]], [[Sweden]], [[Denmark]], [[Germany]], and the [[Netherlands]]. Leith has the decommissioned [[Royal Yacht Britannia]]. Large parts of the port have been redeveloped into retail and residential buildings. Edinburgh is served by [[Edinburgh Airport]], located about eight miles (13 km) to the west of the city.
-Apart from elections to the Scottish Parliament, politics in Edinburgh are evident in elections to the [[City of Edinburgh Council]] and the [[House of Commons (UK)|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]]. For elections to the [[European Parliament]], Edinburgh is within the [[Scotland (European Parliament constituency)|Scotland constituency]].
+==Demographics==
+[[Image:St. Giles' Cathedral front.jpg|thumb|right|210px|St Giles' Cathedral.]]
+[[Image:University of Edinburgh, Old College.jpg|thumb|left|190px|The University of Edinburgh's Old College, home of its Law School.]]
+The City of Edinburgh council area had an estimated population of 463,510 in 2006.<ref>''General Register Office for Scotland,'' [http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/press/2007-news/scotlands-mid-year-population-estimates.html Mid Year Population Estimates, 2006.] Retrieved October 19, 2008. </ref> The population of the greater Edinburgh area was 1.25 million and was projected to grow to 1.33 million by 2020. Though Edinburgh's population is aging, there is a large and transient population of around 100,000 young students.<ref>"Napier University Edinburgh," ''Graduate Prospects.'' </ref>
-<br clear=all/>
+Edinburgh is a cosmopolitan city. The main ethnic groups are: Scottish (including those of mixed English and Scottish descent and those born in Scotland of full English descent) 82 percent, English 13 percent, Polish two percent, Chinese one percent, Indian one percent, and Pakistani one percent. The other two percent includes French, Spanish, Lithuanians, Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans, Chileans, Malaysians, and Africans.
-===Local government===
-:''see also [[List of Lord Provosts of Edinburgh]]''
-[[Image:Butehouse.jpg|left|thumb|[[Bute House]] in [[Charlotte Square]], official residence of the [[First Minister of Scotland]]]]
-Edinburgh constitutes one of the 32 [[council areas of Scotland]] and, as such, is represented by the [[Edinburgh City Council]], a local authority composed of 58 elected [[councillor]]s, each representing an [[Wards of the United Kingdom|electoral ward]] in the city. The council is led by the [[Lord Provost]].
-Of the 58 council seats, 30 are held by the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], with that party therefore in control of the administration, as it has been since the council area was created in 1996. The [[Lord Provost of Edinburgh]], [[Lesley Hinds]] (who replaced Eric Milligan on [[May 8]], [[2003]]), and the Majority Leader of the Council, [[Ewan Aitken|Rev. Ewan Aitken]], are both Labour Party members. There are also 14 [[Liberal Democrat (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] councillors, 13 [[Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party]] councillors and one [[Scottish National Party]] councillor.
+The primary [[language]]s are Scottish English, (Lowland) Scots, and Scottish Gaelic.
-[[General election]]s to the council are held on a four year cycle, the last on [[5 May]] [[2007]]. At present, councillors are elected from single-member wards by the [[first past the post]] system of election. For the 2007 election, however, as a result of the [[Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004]], multi-member wards was introduced, each electing three or four councillors by the [[single transferable vote]] system, to produce a form of [[proportional representation]].
+The [[Church of Scotland]] claims the largest membership. Its most important and historical church is [[Saint Giles' Cathedral]]. The [[Roman Catholic Church]] has a sizable presence. The [[Free Church of Scotland]] (Reformed and Presbyterian) has congregations on the Royal Mile and Crosscauseway. The [[Scottish Episcopal Church]] is part of the Anglican Communion. Independent churches include Destiny Church, Charlotte Chapel, [[Carrubbers Christian Centre]] and [[Bellevue Chapel]].
-<br clear=all/>
-===Scottish Parliament===
+Edinburgh's main [[mosque]] and Islamic Centre was opened in the late 1990s, largely financed by a gift from [[King Fahd]] of [[Saudi Arabia]]. A [[Jew]]ish community in the city dates to the late 17th century. Edinburgh's [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] [[synagogue]] was opened in 1932. A [[Liberal Judaism|Liberal]] congregation also meets in the city. There is also a [[Sikh]] [[Gurdwara]] and [[Hindu]] [[Mandir]] in the Leith district.
-[[Image:Edinburgh Scottish Parliament01 2006-04-29.jpg|thumb|right|The new [[Scottish Parliament Building]] opened in October 2004.]]
-In elections to the [[Scottish Parliament]] ([[Scottish Parliament Building|Holyrood]]), the city area is divided between six of the nine [[United Kingdom constituencies|constituencies]] in the [[Lothians (Scottish Parliamentary Electoral Area)|Lothians]] [[Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions|electoral region]]. Each constituency elects one [[Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)]] by the [[first past the post]] system of election, and the region elects seven [[Aditional member system|additional MSPs]], to produce a form of [[proportional representation]].
-Five of the six Edinburgh constituencies, [[Edinburgh North and Leith (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh North and Leith]], [[Edinburgh Central (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh Central]], [[Edinburgh Pentlands (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh Pentlands]], [[Edinburgh South (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh South]] and [[Edinburgh West (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh West]], are entirely within the city area. [[Musselburgh]], in [[East Lothian]], is included in the sixth, [[Edinburgh East and Musselburgh (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh East and Musselburgh]].
+The [[Royal High School (Edinburgh)|Royal High School]] that traces its roots to 1128, is considered to be the oldest school in Scotland.
-Boundaries date from [[Scottish Parliament election, 1999|1999]], and the creation of the Scottish Parliament itself.
+The [[University of Edinburgh]] was founded by Royal Charter in 1583,<ref>''University of Edinburgh,'' [http://www.ed.ac.uk/explore/history/ University of Edinburgh Historical Tour.] Retrieved October 19, 2008. </ref> and is the fourth oldest university in Scotland. The [[Old College, University of Edinburgh|Old College]] on South Bridge opened in the 1820s. The [[Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh]] and the [[Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh]] were established by Royal Charter, in 1506 and 1681 respectively. The Trustees Drawing Academy of Edinburgh was established in 1760, an institution that became the [[Edinburgh College of Art]] in 1907.
-===Parliament of the United Kingdom===
+[[Heriot-Watt University]] and Napier Technical College were established in the 1960s. Other [[college]]s include Telford College, opened in 1968, and Stevenson College, opened in 1970. Basil Paterson College offers courses in [[language]]s and teaching. The [[Scottish Agricultural College]] also has a campus in south Edinburgh.
-In elections to the [[House of Commons (UK)|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] ([[Westminster Palace|Westminster]]), the city area is divided between five first past the post constituencies, all entirely within the city area, and each electing one [[Member of Parliament (MP)]]: [[Edinburgh South (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh South]], [[Edinburgh West (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh West]], [[Edinburgh South West (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh South West]], [[Edinburgh North and Leith (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh North and Leith]], and [[Edinburgh East (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh East]].
-[[Image:Edinburgh-Princesstreet.jpg|thumb|right|[[Princes Street]], one of the main thoroughfares in the [[City of Edinburgh]].]]
-Boundaries date from [[United Kingdom general election, 2005|2005]].
-===Twin cities===
+==Society and culture==
-Edinburgh is [[Town twinning|twinned]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/city_living/CEC_international_links |title=Twin and partner cities |accessdate=2007-03-23 |publisher=City of Edinburgh Council }}</ref> with several cities across the world, these are:
+{| align="right" width="340"
-{|
+| [[Image:Conan doyle.jpg|thumb|145px|right|Sir [[Arthur Conan Doyle]], a native of Edinburgh.]]
-| valign="top" |
-* {{flagicon|Denmark}} - [[Aalborg]], [[Denmark]] (1991)
-* {{flagicon|New Zealand}} - [[Dunedin]], [[New Zealand]] (1974)
-* {{flagicon|Italy}} - [[Florence]], [[Italy]] (1964)
-* {{flagicon|Ukraine}} - [[Kiev]], [[Ukraine]] (1989)
-* {{flagicon|Poland}} - [[Kraków]], [[Poland]] (1995)
-| valign="top" |
-* {{flagicon|Germany}} - [[Munich]], [[Germany]] (1954)
-* {{flagicon|France}} - [[Nice]], [[France]] (1958)
-* {{flagicon|United States}} - [[San Diego]], [[United States]] (1977)
-* {{flagicon|Canada}} - [[Vancouver]], [[Canada]] (1977)
-* {{flagicon|China}} - [[Xi'an]], [[China]] (1985)
 |}
+[[Image:Edinburgh Royal Mile01.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The [[Royal Mile]] in the Old Town during the [[Edinburgh Festival]].]]
+[[Image:Marykingsclose006.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Mary King's Close.]]
-==Transport==
+Famous authors of the city include [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]], the creator of ''[[Sherlock Holmes]],'' [[Ian Rankin]], author of the ''Inspector Rebus'' series of crime thrillers, [[J. K. Rowling]], the author of ''[[Harry Potter]],'' who wrote her first book in an Edinburgh coffee shop and [[Adam Smith]], economist, born in [[Kirkcaldy]], and author of ''[[The Wealth of Nations]]''.
-{{Main|Transport in Edinburgh}}
-[[Image:forth bridge evening.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Forth Bridge (railway)|Forth Railway Bridge]] at night]]
-Edinburgh is a major transport hub in east central [[Scotland]], with arterial road and rail routes that connect the city to the rest of Scotland and with [[England]]. It is connected to the north of Scotland by the famous feats of engineering, the [[Forth Bridge (railway)|Forth Rail Bridge]] and the [[Forth Road Bridge]].
-===Buses===
-Most public transport trips in Edinburgh are taken by [[bus]], with [[Lothian Buses]] and [[First Group|First Bus]] operating an extensive system connecting most parts of the city, suburbs and surrounding [[city region]].
-===Trams===
-It was hoped that in 2007 construction might begin on the [[Edinburgh Tram Network]], a [[light rail|light rapid transit]] system of trams that might connect the airport and western suburbs with the city centre. Another loop may connect the city centre and the northern waterfront areas of [[Leith]] and [[Granton, Edinburgh|Granton]] &mdash; areas which are undergoing major regeneration and redevelopment. This now looks unlikey given the opposition of First Minister Alec Salmond and the SNP Minority Government.<!-- Mentioned in [[Leith]] —>
-[[Image:Edinburgh Airport Control Tower.jpg|right|thumb|[[Edinburgh Airport]] Control Tower]]
-===Rail===
-[[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Edinburgh Waverley]] is the main railway station for the city. It is on the [[East Coast Main Line]] and is a through station as well as a terminus for many services to and from [[London Kings Cross]] operated by [[GNER]] and to [[London Euston]] operated by [[Virgin Trains]] and [[First Scotrail]], as well as services from within Scotland operated by [[First Scotrail]]. [[Haymarket railway station|Haymarket Station]] is a smaller station located to the west of the city centre.
-[[Image:Edinburgh-scottm.600px.jpg|left|thumb|[[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Waverley]] (viewed from the [[Scott Monument]]), is located in the ravine between the Old and New Town on the drained [[Nor Loch]].]]
-===Airport===
-Edinburgh is served by [[Edinburgh Airport]] (EDI), located approximately 13 km to the west of the city, with scheduled connections to many cities in Europe and an expanding international long-haul route network, including daily flights to [[Atlanta]] and [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]]. Construction of a rail link to the airport had been due to commence in 2007 and be operational by 2009 however this is threatened by opposition from the SNP. The airport will also be served by the [[Edinburgh Tram Network]].
-===Cycling===
-Attempts to make Edinburgh more "cycle friendly" have been made, particularly by ''Spokes'', the Lothian cycle campaign.
-===Park and Ride===
-Two new [[park and ride]] sites were opened in 2005 at [[Ingliston]] and [[Riccarton, Edinburgh|Riccarton]] on the western outskirts of the city, in addition to facilities in [[Fife]] and [[Newcraighall, Edinburgh|Newcraighall]]
-===Congestion===
-[[Traffic congestion]], especially at peak times, is viewed as a problem. The rise in car use in the city caused commuting trips to grow by 72% in Edinburgh between 1981 and 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4740816.stm |title=City traffic congestion warning |accessdate=2007-03-23 |date=22 February 2006 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> Various initiatives have been put in place to combat this, with "Greenways", dedicated [[bus lane]]s on primary routes into the city centre with strict traffic regulations, have been initiated in recent years. Improvements to the bus network have included [[guided bus]]ways in the west of the city and major improvements to bus services, such as clearer ticketing arrangements and better provision of bus stops.
-[[Image:Firth of Forth bridges panorama by Greg Barbier 13750x1915.jpg|thumb|800px|center|Panorama of the Forth Bridges]]
-==Education==
-===Universities and colleges===
-[[Image:University of Edinburgh, Old College.jpg|thumb|The [[University of Edinburgh]]'s [[Robert Adam]]-designed [[Old College, University of Edinburgh|Old College]] building, home of its [[University of Edinburgh School of Law|Law School]]]]
-The [[University of Edinburgh]] was founded by Royal Charter in 1583,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.ed.ac.uk/explore/history/| title=University of Edinburgh Historical Tour| accessdate=2007-04-21}}</ref> and is the fourth oldest [[university in Scotland]], after [[University of St Andrews|St Andrews]], [[University of Glasgow|Glasgow]] and [[University of Aberdeen|Aberdeen]]. The [[Old College, University of Edinburgh|Old College]] on South Bridge opened in the 1820s.<!-- again mentioned in article itself —> As the institution continued to expand, new buildings were constructed around George Square, where the heart of the university remains, and the [[King's Buildings]] campus in southern Edinburgh. A third campus at [[Little France]] was established in 2002. Development of the University's estate continues on all three campuses in the 21st century.
-The [[Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh]] and the [[Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh]] were established by Royal Charter, in 1506 and 1681 respectively. The Trustees Drawing Academy of Edinburgh was established in 1760,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.gashe.ac.uk:443/isaar/C1267.html| title=Trustees Academy School of Art, Edinburgh| accessdate=2007-04-17}}</ref> an institution that became the [[Edinburgh College of Art]] in 1907.
+On the more sinister side, famous criminals from Edinburgh's history include [[Deacon Brodie]], pillar of society by day and burglar by night, who is said to have influenced [[Robert Louis Stevenson]]'s story, the ''[[Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde]];'' the murderers [[Burke and Hare]], who provided fresh corpses for anatomical dissection; and [[Major Weir]] a notorious [[warlock]].
-In the 1960s [[Heriot-Watt University]] and Napier Technical College were established. Heriot-Watt traces its origins to 1821, when a school for technical education of the [[working classes]] was opened. Heriot-Watt continues to have a strong reputation in [[engineering]], and is based at [[Riccarton, Edinburgh|Riccarton]], in the west of the city.
+Scotland has a rich history of [[science]] and Edinburgh has its fair share of famous names. [[James Clerk Maxwell]], the founder of the modern theory of [[electromagnetism]], was born there and educated at the [[Edinburgh Academy]], as was the telephone pioneer [[Alexander Graham Bell]].<ref> ''Library and Archives Canada,'' [http://www.biographi.ca/EN/ShowBio.asp?BioId=42027 Alexander Graham Bell.] Retrieved October 19, 2008. </ref> Other names connected to the city include [[Max Born]], physicist and [[Nobel Prize in Physics|Nobel laureate]]; [[Charles Darwin]], the biologist who discovered [[natural selection]];  [[David Hume]] a philosopher, economist and historian; [[James Hutton]], regarded as the "Father of [[Geology]]"; [[John Napier]] inventor of [[logarithm]]s;<ref> J J O'Connor and E F Robertson, [http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Napier.html John Napier,] ''University of St Andrews.'' Retrieved October 19, 2008. </ref> and [[Ian Wilmut]] the [[genetics|geneticist]] involved in the cloning of [[Dolly (sheep)|Dolly the sheep]] just outside Edinburgh. The stuffed carcass of Dolly the sheep is now on display in the [[National Museum of Scotland]].
-Napier College, renamed Napier Polytechnic in 1986, gained university status in 1992. [[Napier University]] has several campuses in the south and west of the city, including the former [[Craiglockhart Hydropathic]] (of [[Siegfried Sassoon]] and [[Wilfred Owen]] fame) and [[Merchiston Castle|Merchiston Tower]] (the family home of [[John Napier]]). The University contains several specialised research centres (including the [[Centre for Timber Engineering]], the [[International Teledemocracy Centre]] and a large [[business school]]. In 2005 the University secured Skillset Screen Academy status for its film courses and now operates (in conjunction with Edinburgh College of Art) the [[Screen Academy Scotland]], one of six accredited centres in the UK.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.skillset.org/film/training_and_events/screen_academies/| title=Skillset Screen Academy Network| accessdate=2007-04-21}}</ref>
+Edinburgh has two professional [[football (soccer)|football]] clubs: [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] and [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Heart of Midlothian]]. The [[Scotland national rugby union team]] plays at [[Murrayfield Stadium]], the [[Scottish cricket team]] play home matches at The Grange, and the [[Edinburgh Capitals]] are the latest of a succession of [[ice hockey]] clubs to represent the Scottish capital. In April 2008, Mark Beaumont, from [[New Town, Edinburgh]], broke the world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by [[bicycle]], completing his ride in only 194 days and 17 hours.
-[[Queen Margaret University]] was founded in 1875 as a women's college, and today specialises in healthcare, theatre, media, hospitality and business.
+The [[Edinburgh Festival]] is a collection of festivals held annually over four weeks from early August, and include the [[Edinburgh Fringe]], the [[Edinburgh Comedy Festival]], the [[Edinburgh International Festival]], the [[Edinburgh Military Tattoo]], and the [[Edinburgh International Book Festival]]. The [[Hogmanay]] street party takes place on December 31, [[Burns Night]] on January 25, [[St Andrew's Day]] on November 30, and the [[Beltane Fire Festival]] on April 30.
-Other colleges offering further education in Edinburgh include [[Edinburgh's Telford College|Telford College]], opened in 1968, and Stevenson College, opened in 1970. Basil Paterson offers courses in languages and teaching. The [[Scottish Agricultural College]] also has a campus in south Edinburgh.
+===Places of interest===
-[[Image:Royal High School Calton Hill Edinburgh.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Royal High School]]]]
+Edinburgh is home to a large number of [[museum]]s and [[library|libraries]], including the [[Museum of Scotland]], the [[Royal Museum]], the [[National Library of Scotland]], [[National War Museum of Scotland]], the [[Museum of Edinburgh]], the Museum of Childhood, and the [[Royal Society of Edinburgh]]. Buildings and sites of interest include:
-===Schools===
+* Edinburgh Castle, in which the oldest existing building is Saint Margaret's chapel, built in the early twelfth century.
-:''[[List of schools in Edinburgh|List of Edinburgh Schools]]''
-Schools in Edinburgh include, [[Donaldson's College]] and the [http://www.royalblind.org/school/|Royal Blind School], Scotland’s national residential and day schools for deaf and blind students, which both serve Scotland and the North East of England. The [[Royal High School (Edinburgh)|Royal High School]] is considered to be the oldest school in Scotland. Edinburgh also boasts a large collection of independent schools such as [[Stewarts Melville College]] and [[Fettes College]], the latter of which was attended by [[Tony Blair]].
-<br clear=all/>
-==Health==
+* The Royal Mile, which is part of the Old Town, refers to the succession of streets which runs between [[Edinburgh Castle]] at the top of the [[Castle Rock, Edinburgh|Castle Rock]] down to [[Holyrood Abbey]]. Minor streets or alleyways (called ''closes'' or ''wynds'') lead downhill on either side of the main spine in a herringbone pattern. Large squares mark the location of markets or surround public buildings such as [[Saint Giles Cathedral]] and the [[Courts of Scotland|Law Courts]].
-[[Image:Palmhouse.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh|Royal Botanic Gardens]] Palm House]]
-:''[[List of hospitals in Scotland#City of Edinburgh|List of hospitals in Edinburgh]]
-Hospitals in Edinburgh include the [[Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh]], which includes Edinburgh University Medical School, and the [[Western General Hospital]], which includes a large cancer treatment centre. There is one private hospital, [[BUPA]]'s Murrayfield Hospital. The Royal Infirmary is the main Accident & Emergency hospital not just for Edinburgh but also Midlothian and East Lothian, and is the headquarters of NHS Lothian, making it a centric focus for Edinburgh and its hinterland. The [[Royal Edinburgh Hospital]] specialises in mental health, it is situated in Morningside. The Royal Hospital for Sick Children is located in Sciennes Road; it is popularly known as the 'Sick Kids'.
-==Religion==
+* Mary King's Close, named after a sixteenth century Edinburgh merchant, consists of a number of closes which were originally narrow streets with [[tenement]] houses on either side, stretching to seven storys high. Space restrictions in the Old Town gave rise to some of the earliest "high rise" residential buildings, known as ''lands'', with 10 and 11 stories being typical. Additionally, numerous vaults below street level were inhabited to accommodate the influx of (mainly Irish) immigrants during the [[Industrial Revolution]]. These continue to fuel legends of an [[underground city]].<ref> Donald Campbell, ''Edinburgh: A Cultural and Literary History'' (Oxford: Signal Books, 2003, ISBN 1902669738).</ref>
-[[Image:St Mary's 3 spires.jpg|thumb|left|The three spires of [[St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh (Episcopal)|St Mary's Cathedral]]]]
-Edinburgh has a large number of churches of many different [[religious denomination|denomination]]s. As well as their religious significance, many of the city's church buildings are of considerable architectural and historic interest.
-The [[National church|national]] [[Church of Scotland]] is numerically the largest denomination in Edinburgh; notable historic church buildings in the city centre include [[St Giles' Cathedral]], [[Greyfriars Kirk]], [[Barclay Church]], [[Canongate Kirk]] and [[St Andrew's and St George's Church]]. On the city's south east can be found the 12th century [[Duddingston Kirk]]. The [[Church of Scotland Offices]] are located in Edinburgh, as is the Church's [[General Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland|Assembly Hall]] (used as the home of the [[Scottish Parliament]] 1999-2004) and [[New College, Edinburgh|New College]] on The Mound.
+* Holyrood Abbey, which is a ruined [[Augustinian]] [[Abbey]] sited in the grounds of the Royal [[Palace of Holyroodhouse]], which it predates, and was built in 1128 at the order of King [[David I of Scotland]].
-The second-largest church in Edinburgh (in terms of membership) is the [[Roman Catholic Church in Scotland|Catholic Church]].{{Fact|date=March 2007}} Notable buildings include [[St. Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh (Catholic)|St Mary's Cathedral]] at the top of Leith Walk, The Sacred Heart of Jesus, St Patrick's, St. Columba's, St. Peter's, and Star of the Sea. The [[Scottish Episcopal Church]] is part of the [[Anglican Communion]]. Its largest Edinburgh church is [[St. Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh (Episcopal)|St Mary's Cathedral]] in Palmerston Place. The [[Free Church of Scotland]] (Reformed and Presbyterian) has its offices and College on the Mound and has congregations on the Royal Mile and Crosscauseway.
+* Holyrood House, officially the Palace of Holyrood, which is situated at the bottom of the Royal Mile, and date largely from the reign of [[Charles II]] (c. 1649-1685). The Holyrood Abbey precinct remained a debtors' sanctuary until the 19th century, long after the abbey itself had fallen into disrepair.
-[[Image:St. Giles' Cathedral front.jpg|thumb|[[St. Giles' Cathedral]]'s facade]]
+* Parliament House, which is located on the Royal Mile, and was built between 1632 and 1639. Since the union of the Scottish and English parliaments in 1707 the building has been used by the Court of Session, the highest court of law in Scotland.
-An increasing number{{Fact|date=March 2007}} of independent evangelical churches are situated throughout the city.  These churches have a high percentage of students and include [http://www.destinyedinburgh.com]Destiny Church, [[Charlotte Chapel]], [[Carrubbers Christian Centre]] and [[Bellevue Chapel]].
-Edinburgh's main [[mosque]] and Islamic Centre is located on Potterow on the city's southside, near Bristo Square. It was opened in the late 1990s. Construction was largely financed by a gift from [[King Fahd]] of [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.icetrust.org/col/htm/about/finance.htm |title=Financing the project |accessdate=2007-03-23 |publisher=Edinburgh Islamic Centre }}</ref>
+* [[Edinburgh Zoo]], located on the [[Corstorphine Hill]], and was built in 1913, receives over 600,000 visitors a year, which makes it Scotland's second most popular paid-for tourist attraction, after [[Edinburgh Castle]].
-The first recorded presence of a [[Jew]]ish community in Edinburgh dates back to the late 17th century.{{Fact|date=March 2007}} Edinburgh's [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] [[synagogue]] is located in Salisbury Road. The present building was opened in 1932 and can accommodate 2000 people. A [[Liberal Judaism|Liberal]] congregation also meets in the City.
+==Looking to the future==
+As a center of [[Age of Enlightenment|the Enlightenment]], an intellectual center, arguably the birthplace of [[capitalism]], and the location of a centuries-long financial tradition, Edinburgh offers a rich legacy that transcends the curiosities of [[Edinburgh Castle]], the Royal Mile, and the 4,500 heritage buildings listed there. With a [[GDP]] second to [[London]], as the location of the Scottish Parliament and with one million visitors a year, Edinburgh's financial future would seem assured.
-There are over 50 [[Bahá'í Faith|Bahá'ís]] in Edinburgh, dating from [[`Abdu'l-Bahá|`Abdu'l-Bahá's]] visit to the city in 1911. The current Bahá'í Centre is located on Albany Street in the city's [[New Town, Edinburgh|New Town]].
+[[Image:Edinburgh-panoramic.jpg|thumb|center|800px|[[Panorama]] of the Old Town and Southside of Edinburgh from the Nelson monument. The term ''Panorama'' was originally coined by the Irish painter Robert Barker to describe his panoramic paintings of Edinburgh.]]
-==Notable residents==
+==Notes==
-{{Main|List of Edinburgh people}}
+<references/>
-Many famous people in the past and present have been born in Edinburgh, resident in the city, or connected to it in some way. Famous authors of the city include [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]], the creator of ''[[Sherlock Holmes]]'', [[Ian Rankin]], author of the ''[[Detective Inspector John Rebus|Inspector Rebus]]'' series of crime thrillers, [[J. K. Rowling]], the author of ''[[Harry Potter]]'', who wrote her first book in an Edinburgh coffee shop ([[Nicolson's Cafe]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/s2.cfm?id=662772003 |title=The JK Rowling story |accessdate=2007-03-23 |date=16 June 2003 |author=Stephen McGinty |publisher=Scotsman.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=3&id=1500742006 |title=Plaque spells out Harry's birthplace |accessdate=2007-03-23 |date=10 October 2006 |author=Rosalind Gibb & John Gibson |publisher=Scotsman.com }}</ref>) and [[Adam Smith]], economist, author of ''[[The Wealth of Nations]]'', born in [[Kirkcaldy]].
-A city of culture, Edinburgh has been home to the actor [[Sean Connery|Sir Sean Connery]], famed as the first cinematic [[James Bond]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/573476.stm |title=Connery: Bond and beyond |accessdate=2007-03-23 |date=21 December 1999 |publisher=BBC News }}</ref>; [[Ronnie Corbett]], a comedian and actor, best known as one of [[The Two Ronnies]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/features.cfm?id=1635762006 |title=I won't say goodnight yet... |accessdate=2007-03-23 |date=4 November 2006 |author=Hannah Stephanson |publisher=Scotsman.com }}</ref>; and [[Dylan Moran]], the Irish comedian. Famous city artists include the portrait painters [[Sir Henry Raeburn]], [[David Wilkie (artist)|Sir David Wilkie]] and [[Allan Ramsay (1713-1784)|Allan Ramsay]]. Historians such as [[Douglas Johnson]] and [[Arthur Marwick]] had roots here.
-The city has produced or been home to musicians that have been extremely successful in modern times, particularly [[Ian Anderson (musician)|Ian Anderson]], frontman of the band [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]]; [[Wattie Buchan]], lead singer and founding member of punk band ''[[The Exploited]]''; [[Shirley Manson]], lead singer for the band [[Garbage (band)|Garbage]]; [[The Proclaimers]], a musical ensemble of two brothers; the [[Bay City Rollers]]; and [[Idlewild (band)|Idlewild]].
-Politically, Edinburgh is the hometown of the former [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]], [[Tony Blair]] who was born in the city and attended [[Fettes College]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1156262006 |title=Blair's birthplace is bulldozed in Edinburgh |accessdate=2007-03-23 |date=09 August 2006 |publisher=Scotsman.com }}</ref>; [[Robin Harper]] the co-convener of the [[Scottish Green Party]]; and [[John Witherspoon]], the only clergyman to sign the [[United States Declaration of Independence]], and later president of [[Princeton University]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://etc.princeton.edu/CampusWWW/Companion/witherspoon_john.html |title=John Witherspoon |accessdate=2007-03-23 |date=1978 |author=W. Frank Craven |publisher=Princeton University Press }}</ref>
-Scotland has a rich history of science and Edinburgh has its fair share of famous names. [[James Clerk Maxwell]], the founder of the modern theory of [[electromagnetism]], was born and educated there, as was the telephone pioneer [[Alexander Graham Bell]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.biographi.ca/EN/ShowBio.asp?BioId=42027 |title=Alexander Graham Bell |accessdate=2007-03-23 |publisher=University of Toronto }}</ref>. Other names connected to the city include [[Max Born]], physicist and [[Nobel Prize in Physics|Nobel laureate]]; [[Charles Darwin]], the biologist who discovered [[natural selection]];  [[David Hume]] a philosopher, economist and historian; [[James Hutton]], regarded as the "Father of [[Geology]]"; [[John Napier]] inventor of [[logarithm]]s<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Napier.html |title=John Napier |accessdate=2007-03-23 |date=April 1998 |author=J J O'Connor and E F Robertson |publisher=University of St Andrews }}</ref>; and [[Ian Wilmut]] the geneticist involved in the cloning of [[Dolly the Sheep]] just outside Edinburgh.
-==See also==
-*[[List of foreign consulates in Edinburgh]]
-*[[Timeline of Edinburgh history]]
-*[[EH postal area]]
-*[[Dean Cemetery]]
-*[[Edinburgh Zoo]]
-*[[National Archives of Scotland]]
-*[[Scottish Enlightenment]]
-*[[Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh]]
 ==References==
-{{Reflist|2}}
+* Campbell, Donald. ''Edinburgh: A Cultural and Literary History''. Cities of the imagination. New York: Interlink Books, 2004. ISBN 978-1566565158
+* Davies, Norman. ''The Isles: A History.'' London: Macmillan, 1999. ISBN 0333692837
+* Harris, Nathaniel. ''Heritage of Scotland: A Cultural History of Scotland & Its People.'' New York: Checkmark Books, 2000. ISBN 978-0816041367
+* Magnusson, Magnus. ''Scotland: The Story of a Nation''. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0871137982
 ==External links==
-{{Commons|Edinburgh}}
+All links retrieved February 12, 2024.
-*[http://www.edinburgh.org/ Edinburgh Tourist Information]
-*[http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk City of Edinburgh Council]
-*[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9436269/Edinburgh-A-City-of-Stories Encyclopedia Britannica, Edinburgh - City of Stories]
-*[http://www.cityofliterature.com City of Literature homepage]
-*[http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/index.htm website with many old photographs, engravings, postcards, maps etc of Edinburgh]
-*{{wikitravel}}
-{{oscoor gbx|NT251735}}
-{{Scottish Cities}}
-{{Commonwealth Games Host Cities}}
-[[be-x-old:Эдынбург]]
-[[Category:British capitals]]
-[[Category:Districts of Scotland]]
-[[Category:Edinburgh| ]]
-[[Category:Hanseatic League]]
-[[Category:Capitals in Europe]]
-[[Category:Host cities of the Commonwealth Games]]
-[[Category:Port cities in the United Kingdom]]
-[[Category:Scottish names]]
-[[Category:Unitary authorities of Scotland|Edinburgh]]
-{{Link FA|fr}}
+*[http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk City of Edinburgh Council]
-[[af:Edinburgh]]
+*[http://www.edinburgh.org/ Edinburgh Tourist Information]
-[[ar:إدنبرة]]
+*[http://www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk/ Edinburgh Festival]
-[[ast:Edimburgo]]
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+[[Category:Geography]]
+[[Category:Cities]]
+[[Category:Europe]]
-{{credit|142009245}}
+{{credit|Edinburgh|244754651|}}

Coordinates: 55°57′N 3°11′W
City of Edinburgh Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Èideann Scots: Edinburgh
— Unitary authority & city —
City of Edinburgh
View of Edinburgh from Arthur's Seat
Nickname: "Auld Reekie," "Athens of the North," "Edina," "Dunedin"
Motto: "Nisi Dominus Frustra" "Except the Lord in vain" associated with Edinburgh since 1647, it is a normal heraldic contraction of a verse from the 127th Psalm, "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain"
City of Edinburgh Location in Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Country	Scotland
Council area	City of Edinburgh
Lieutenancy area	Edinburgh
Admin HQ	Edinburgh City Centre
Founded	prior to the 7th century
Burgh Charter	1125
City status	1889
Government
- Type	Unitary Authority, City
- Governing body	The City of Edinburgh Council
- Lord Provost	George Grubb
- MSPs	6 Kenny MacAskill (SNP) Marco Biagi (SNP) Malcolm Chisholm (L) Gordon MacDonald (SNP) Jim Eadie (SNP) Colin Keir (SNP)
- MPs:	5 Alistair Darling (L) Gavin Strang (L) Nigel Griffiths (L) Mark Lazarowicz (L) John Barrett (LD)
Area
- Unitary authority & city	100.00 sq mi (259 km²)
Population (2010^[1])
- Unitary authority & city	486,120
- Urban	817,800
- Urban Density	4,776/sq mi (1,844/km²)
Time zone	Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0)
- Summer (DST)	British Summer Time (UTC+1)
Postcode	EH
Area code(s)	0131
ISO 3166-2	GB-EDH
ONS code	00QP
OS grid reference	NT275735
NUTS 3	UKM25
Website: www.edinburgh.gov.uk (Official Council site) www.edinburgh-inspiringcapital.com (Visitor-facing site)