What is the Capital of Scotland?

Scotland is a country in the north of the United Kingdom. It’s got a bunch of history and spots where big fights went down all over the place. People know Scotland for its culture, like its traditional music, dancing, and cool events like the Highland Games. In this article, we will learn about what is the capital of Scotland, its former capitals, and much more.

Capital of Scotland – Edinburgh

The capital city of Scotland is Edinburgh. It’s famous for its beautiful buildings. Edinburgh has a place called Edinburgh Castle, sitting up high on an old volcano called Castle Rock. Edinburgh is also known for its big yearly festivals, like the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. People from all over the world come here to perform and enjoy them. Another important part of the city is the Royal Mile, which is a historic street that goes from the castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where the British monarch stays when they’re in Scotland. It is lined with old buildings, shops, pubs, and cool places like St. Giles’ Cathedral.

Besides all the fun stuff, Edinburgh is also a big place for learning. It has many universities and colleges, including the University of Edinburgh, one of the oldest and most respected universities worldwide. You can also find the Scottish Parliament here, which is in a modern building at the bottom of the Royal Mile.

Where is Edinburgh?

Edinburgh is in the southeastern part of Scotland, close to the eastern coast. The city sits on some hills, and is between the Firth of Forth to the north and the Pentland Hills to the south. The land in Edinburgh is hilly, which means you can get nice views of the area.

North of Edinburgh is the Firth of Forth, like a wide river mouth. This place is important because it’s a natural harbor. To the south of Edinburgh are the Pentland Hills, which are low and not very tall. They separate the city from the Scottish Borders area.

Interesting Facts about Edinburgh

• Edinburgh is the UK’s greenest city. It has many parks and more trees per person than any other British city, so it’s perfect for relaxing and being close to nature.
• Edinburgh hosts the biggest arts festival globally, called the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In August, the city comes alive with over 3,000 shows in 300 places. It’s a must-visit if you enjoy theater, comedy, music, and dance.
• The writer of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling, worked on some parts of the first book at a café named The Elephant House in Edinburgh. People also think the city’s buildings gave her ideas for places in the story.
• Beneath the busy streets of Edinburgh lies an irregular and twisting network of underground passages and vaults. These were once used for storage, housing, and even as secret passageways during times of conflict.
• Edinburgh has a lot of special buildings called “listed buildings.” Edinburgh has more listed buildings than any other city in the whole world. Over 75% of the buildings in the center of the city are protected, meaning they can’t be changed or torn down easily.

Former Capitals of Scotland

Edinburgh was not always the capital of Scotland. Several cities served as capitals before Edinburgh became the permanent capital in the 15th century. The following are the cities:

• Dunfermline

  Dunfermline is a place in Fife, Scotland. It was the Royal Residence and Capital during the reign of several Scottish Kings.

• Scone

  Scone is near Perth in Scotland. It was where Scottish kings would go to be crowned for hundreds of years. They used a special stone called the Stone of Scone. Its significance as the ceremonial capital persisted, till the stone was taken by the English King Edward I in 1296.

• Perth

  Perth is a city in Scotland, located by the River Tay. It was once a capital city at different times in history. It was a busy place for trading and running the country.

Related Links

• Edinburgh Postal Code
• Edinburgh Lat Long Map
• Popular Places to Visit in Scotland