Edinburgh is a city in Scotland that is famous for its medieval characteristics and compact, hilly landscape. I was fortunate to visit Edinburgh in May 2019 through a summer study abroad program. These Edinburgh cultural landmarks are sure to impress.
Follow along on my journey through out the best cultural landmarks in Edinburgh, Scotland.
St. Anthony’s Chapel
Along the hike to Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh sits the ruins of St Anthony’s Chapel. The chapel dates back prior to the 16th century. To me, it is a reminder of the lasting impact that all of our actions have on the Earth and the places which we choose to settle.
Hike to Arthur’s Seat
One of the first things that many of the students learned on the trip was that the Queen of England supposedly “owns” all of the swans in the United Kingdom, therefore making it unlawful to touch one of them. This brought a whole new appreciation and fascination to the plentiful population of Swans in the UK. Upon further research, the class deducted that the rule was most likely more of a public safety regulation because, as it turns out, swan can be quite aggressive!
Farming Plots
On our bike ride through Edinburgh, the class was amazed by a collection of tiny farming plots that we learned are owned and operated by locals. These plots skirt around the city’s edge, and according to our bike tour guide, it can take up to 7 years on a waiting list to obtain one of these small sections of land. This location reminded me of something that would be in a fairytale because of the unique and eclectic designs of the small plots.
The Elephant House
The Elephant House is known as one of the best locations in the heart of Edinburgh, Scotland to stop for a cup of coffee or tea. The café has gained fame due to the time that JK Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, among other famous authors spent there. Standing inside the café, I felt a bit of nostalgia as I could imagine those who have been there before me standing in the exact same spots.
St Giles Cathedral
St Giles Cathedral is located in the heart of Edinburgh Scotland, right off of the Royal Mile. Although the church is a popular tourist attraction due to the ornate detailing and massive size, I was interested to see several locals visiting purely for religious purposes without a second thought that their every day church experience is something that others travel the world for a chance to see.
The Kelpies
The Kelpies are a famous landmark in Falkirk, Scotland. According to Scottish folklore, as we learned during our visit, a kelpie is a shape-shifting water spirit that often took the shape of a Clydesdale horse. The Kelpies bring pride to locals and help to carry on the memory of Scotland’s rich economic history.
Dolly the Sheep
The National Museum of Scotland is the current home of scientific icon, ‘Dolly the Sheep’. Dolly is famous for research related to genetics and genetic diseases, and is most known for being the first cloned mammal. The National Museum if Scotland is a free attraction, and it is amazing to be able to have such open access to knowledge about scientific research and discovery.
Streets of Edinburgh
The streets of Edinburgh are very neat to wander about and get lost in, a feat that is made especially easy due to the multiple levels of which the city is built. Pictured is one case which pedestrians may view the dual leveled surfaces, and ally ways such as Advocates Close connect these levels. These streets are culturally significant not only for their unique architecture and beauty, but the colorful exteriors seen in the distance of the above picture are the inspiration for JK Rowling’s Diagon Ally portrayed in her Harry Potter books.
Edinburgh Graveyard
This is a graveyard that is centrally located in Edinburgh. One reason that this location is culturally significant is that writer JK Rowling was inspired by names in the tomb stones when naming characters in Harry Potter. Tom Riddle himself originated in this graveyard. Additionally, several historically significant people are buried in this beautiful graveyard, and local guides explain the dark history of Scotland’s past on haunted tours.
[…] If you’re visiting Scotland soon, make sure to check out my other posts! […]