Edinburgh is one of the world's great capital cities — a UNESCO World Heritage city of extraordinary beauty, whose medieval Old Town and Georgian New Town together form one of the finest urban landscapes in Europe. As the capital of Scotland, it is the seat of the Scottish Parliament, a major financial centre, one of the world's leading university cities and home to the most visited arts festival on the planet.
Edinburgh's defining landmark is its Castle — perched on an ancient volcanic rock above the city, visible from almost everywhere, housing the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny. The Royal Mile connects the castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse (the King's official Scottish residence) through a dense medieval streetscape of closes, wynds, tall tenements and extraordinary historical layers. The Scottish Parliament building, designed by Enric Miralles and opened in 2004, sits at the foot of the Royal Mile beside Holyrood Park and the volcanic crags of Arthur's Seat.
The Edinburgh Festival — actually a cluster of overlapping festivals including the International Festival, the Fringe (the world's largest arts festival), the Book Festival and the Military Tattoo — transforms the city each August into the cultural capital of the world. Over 3 million tickets are sold annually across 300+ venues. The rest of the year, Edinburgh has a vibrant year-round cultural scene anchored by the National Museum of Scotland, the Scottish National Gallery, the Usher Hall and dozens of smaller venues.
Direct trains reach London King's Cross in 4 hours 20 minutes — the fastest journey on the East Coast Main Line. Edinburgh Airport is just 8 miles from the city centre with direct flights to over 100 destinations. House prices average £330,000 — exceptional for a world-class European capital.
Housing & Property Prices
HM Land RegistrySchools & Ofsted Ratings
Ofsted- Outstanding
- Outstanding
- Good
- Good
- Good
Crime Statistics
Police.ukBroadband & Connectivity
OfcomHealth & NHS Access
NHS DigitalEnvironment & Green Space
DEFRA / ONSTransport & Connectivity
DfT / National RailEdinburgh at a Glance — Area Scorecard
TownData.co.ukScores calculated from official data sources including ONS, Police.uk, Ofsted and Ofcom. Rated out of 10.
Who is Edinburgh Good For?
TownData.co.ukThings to Do & Local Attractions
VisitBritain- Edinburgh CastleScotland's most iconic landmark — perched on volcanic rock above the city, housing the Scottish Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny and one of the most dramatic settings of any castle in Europe.
- Edinburgh Festival & FringeThe world's largest arts festival — held every August, the Fringe alone sells over 3 million tickets across 300+ venues. The Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade is one of the great spectacles of the world.
- National Museum of ScotlandOne of the finest museums in Britain — Dolly the sheep, the Lewis Chessmen, natural history, Scottish history and world cultures in a magnificent Victorian and contemporary building. Free entry.
- Arthur's Seat & Holyrood ParkAn ancient volcano rising 251m from the city centre — a 2-hour walk from Holyrood gives panoramic views over Edinburgh, the Firth of Forth and the Highlands on a clear day.
- Scottish National GalleryScotland's national art collection — Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt, Velázquez, Monet, Van Gogh and the finest collection of Scottish art in the world. Free entry.
- Royal Mile & Old TownThe medieval spine of Edinburgh — a kilometre of closes, wynds, tenements and extraordinary history running from the Castle to Holyrood. Packed with independent shops, restaurants and history.
- Scottish ParliamentEnric Miralles's controversial and extraordinary building at the foot of the Royal Mile — free guided tours explain the architecture and the work of Scotland's Parliament. Open to visitors year-round.
- Edinburgh's Whisky SceneEdinburgh is the gateway to Scotland's whisky culture — the Scotch Whisky Experience on the Royal Mile, dozens of whisky bars and easy day trips to distilleries in the Borders and Highlands.
Nearby Towns & Villages
ONS / Ordnance SurveyWeather & Climate
Met OfficeFrequently Asked Questions
Data sourced from official UK government datasets. All figures are for informational purposes only. TownData.co.uk is an independent website and is not affiliated with any government body.