Cities in Scotland

Scottish cities offer some of the best city breaks in Europe. In Scotland's capital Edinburgh visit
the National Gallery of Scotland, widely acclaimed as one of the world's best collections of art.
Also in Edinburgh the Museum of Scotland offers the definitive history of Scotland under one roof.
Add to this a host of monuments, a historic castle and palace and a huge number of tourist
attractions along Edinburgh's Royal Mile all tightly compact in the centre - you have the recipe for
a top Scottish city break.

Edinburgh
Edinburgh, Scotland's capital, is an inviting package of cultural, historical, architectural and
contemporary attractions and is one of the UK's most visited cities. Boasting a host of
monuments, museums (which include the Museum of Scotland), the historic Edinburgh Castle
and Holyrood Palace, some of the best art galleries in the UK (including Scotland's National
Gallery) and a character medieval Old Town and Georgian New Town, you could easily fill a
week's holiday in Edinburgh with activities which lean to the cultural side.
Edinburgh's natural landscape, set as it is on a selection of old volcanic hills adds to its character.
Most of the city's attractions are packed into the city centre so Edinburgh is easily explored on
foot. This, combined with a choice of Edinburgh guest houses and Edinburgh hotels in both the
Old Town and New Town make Edinburgh one of the best city break locations in Europe, up
there with the likes of Lisbon and Barcelona. Lothian Buses run and excellent and great value bus
service around Edinburgh City centre and north to Leith. They also lay on open top bus
sightseeing tours.

Glasgow

Not by chance has Glasgow come to be regarded as one of Europe's leading cities in art and
design. Glasgow art has particularly come to the fore in recent years when, in 1990 it was voted
European City of Culture and then later in 1999 UK City of Architecture and Design. There's no
doubt it's set to win more awards in the future (watch out for the new Transport Museum Building
- a cutting edge design soon to be at Glasgow harbour and bringing Glasgow's shipbuilding,
maritime and transport history all under one roof).

Inverness

Inverness is the only city in the Highlands of Scotland and was only awarded official city status in
2000. As such it is something of a centre for the Scottish Highlands and Islands with people
regularly flying in or travelling huge distances for a day trip of shopping, stocking up and meeting
friends. Inverness is a compact city often visited for the Eastgate Shopping Centre with its chain
stores, but there are a good variety of contemporary independent shops, cafes, restaurants and
bars springing up all over the town.

Aberdeen

Aberdeen is one of Scotland's great cities. With a youthful, buzzing vibe and its unique granite
architecture, Aberdeen is a centre for Scottish Art and Maritime History. The main Union Street is
Aberdeen's hub, with most shops here. Walk down Belmont Street off Union Bridge to discover
some great cosy bars and specialist shops! There's no end to Aberdeen's architectural marvels,
some of which like Provost Skene's House date from the medieval period.Two attractions not to
be missed here in Aberdeen are the Aberdeen Maritime Museum and Aberdeen Art Gallery.
Dundee
Like a mini Glasgow, Dundee on the Firth of Tay offers a superb selection of attractions relating
to its industrial history around the production of Jute, developments along the Dundee Waterfront
revolving around Scott's ship Discovery at Discovery Point and in contemporary arts with a focus
at the Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre (DCA).
Dundee has a city feel but it's compact, friendly and easily got to grips with orientation wise.
Dundee centre is excellent for shopping and mostly pedestrianised with a rep theatre, a choice of
restaurants, pubs and historic architecture galore. Alongside contemporary art and cinema at the
DCA, the McManus Museum & Galleries (currently undergoing extensive restoration 2007) are
set to be another string to Dundee's fine attractions choice when it reopens shortly with galleries
on local history, natural history, art, archaeology and more.

Perth

Perth is a real centre for Scottish Art. Discover some real gems here at both the Fergusson
Gallery housed now in Perth's historic waterworks and at the Perth Museum & Art Gallery.
Perth town feels half bustle, half rural and is beautifully set alongside the River Tay. The largely
pedestrianised centre offers a host of superb shops, restaurants, pubs and accommodation and
is framed by two large parks - North Inch and South Inch. Alongside the now two acclaimed art
galleries, the Black Watch Regiment Museum to the north of the centre at Balhousie Castle
traces the history of this regiment with fascinating oral history accounts from the soldiers
themselves.

Stirling

Stirling's central Scotland position, combined with its natural hills and rocks providing a strategic
location for Stirling Castle have seen it at the centre of Scottish history for centuries. Two of
Scotland's most famous battles took place in the area - the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 when
William Wallace defeated the English, and perhaps Scotland's most important battle on Scottish
soil - the Battle of Bannockburn. Here at Bannockburn, with strategic Stirling Castle in view,
Robert the Bruce led the Scots to victory in 1314 against the English force under Edward II.