City of Edinburgh Tour
Exploring Edinburgh with W L Sleigh
Our day tours of Edinburgh are a great way to see the highlights of Scotland’s capital city. Edinburgh Castle is a good place to start as it dominates the city skyline as well as offering fantastic views of the surrounding countryside. The rock, on which the castle sits, has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age (2nd century AD) and there has been a royal castle on the site since the reign of David I in the 12th century.
Edinburgh Castle
The Royal Mile, the road from the castle down to Holyrood, offers many exciting glimpses into the old town of Edinburgh.You can explore the ‘closes’ or alleys that branch off the Royal Mile and imagine them in days gone past. As you head down the hill you’ll find St Giles’ Cathedral. It’s the principal place of worship for the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh and the present building dates back to the late 14th century. It has a very distinctive crown shaped steeple which stands out clearly on the Edinburgh skyline. Further down you’ll find the house of John Knox – leader of the Protestant Reformation in Scotland.
At the end of the Royal Mile sits the Palace of Holyrood, home of the Royal Family in Scotland. It’s a fascinating place to visit, the palace isn’t huge but has a friendly feel to it. If you are interested in art then a visit to the Queen’s Gallery at Holyrood is worth a visit – there are a various exhibitions during the year. The current exhibition is the work of Thomas Rowlandson, one of the chief caricaturists of the Georgian period.
Holyrood House
