Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, built on a series of volcanic hills and craggy ridges that give it one of the most dramatic urban skylines in the world. The city is divided geographically and historically between the medieval Old Town, dominated by Edinburgh Castle on its volcanic rock and the Royal Mile running down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the elegant 18th-century Georgian New Town. Both areas together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Edinburgh is home to the Scottish Parliament, the headquarters of the Church of Scotland at St Giles' Cathedral, and hosts the world's largest arts festival, the Edinburgh Festival, each August.