Old Town Guide

Hassle free and comfortable way to get from airport right into centre of town! It cost £776M.. but an airport ticket costs way less at £6.50 and a non airport ticket £1.80.

One of the worst faux pas you can commit in Scotland is to believe you are in England. Scotland is not part of England, but a separate nation that joined with England in a Union in 1707 to form Great Britain. In 2014, there was a referendum on whether Scotland should become an independent country. The result was close, but Scotland voted to stay in the United Kingdom. Regardless no Scot is happy about their country being mistaken as part of England.

In Edinburgh people do like to queue, i.e. stand in line and wait for their turn.

The main shopping street is called 'Princes Street' not 'Princess Street.'

Tipping is not mandatory in Scotland in the same way as it is in the USA. It is usual to tip in restaurants with an extra 10%, but not compulsory. Scots won't always tip at other places, and wouldn't dream of tipping at a pub when buying drinks. You can tip your tour guide or at your hotel if you like though, if you are an American tourist it may be expected.

It is no exaggeration to say that the British are obsessed with the weather. Scotland has a relatively mild climate compared to many other places, the problem with the weather is that is always changes. It can be brilliant sunshine one minute, and the next bucketing down with rain. You may want to be prepared for this eventuality. Bear in mind that if it is windy umbrellas are mostly useless. Plus the weather is always a good conversation starter with a local!

It is not pronounced Edin-borrow. It is Edin -bur-a or maybe Edin-bra if you are speaking quickly.

Alright, hen (Scottish word for girl) or pal (Scottish word for friend)? Alright! … instead of  Hi how are you? Good thanks, and you?

Yes.  Is Everything Edinburgh worth a read? Aye.

Scottish for beautiful, used more by the older generation. What a bonnie lass (girl).

Something nice. It’s a braw day in Auld Reekie.

Describe something favourably. That tune is decent.

Dirty or disgusting. *Dips fries into the milkshake* You’re manky!

Alternative to “not a problem at all” or “no worries”.

Local produce.. cheese, cakes, books, paella, bread etc

All museums are free!

Walking is the best way to see Edinburgh.

Can randomly rain or be breezy.

Best way to see the city is on foot!

Ships in the Firth of Forth once set their maritime clocks by the One o’Clock Gun. The firing of the gun dates back to 1861, when businessman John Hewat brought the idea to Edinburgh from Paris. The gun is still fired every day at 1pm, except on Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day. Crowds gather to enjoy the spectacle – and the sound often surprises people on Princes Street below. The original gun was a 64-pounder. Since 2001, a 105mm field gun has instead been fired from the Mills Mount Battery. This famous time signal is located just outside the Redcoat Café. Passing through the Portcu

The Heart of Midlothian is a mosaic located outside St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. The heart marks the location of the entrance to Edinburgh's Old Tolbooth which was demolished in 1817.[1] Locals will often spit upon the heart as a sign of good luck. While the tradition is now one of good luck, it was originally believed to be done as a sign of disdain for the executions which took place within the Old Tolbooth.

The Flodden Wall was completed in 1560 to protect the city against an English invasion that never came. After Scottish forces were defeated and King James IV was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, Edinburgh officials feared the victorious English troops would soon descend upon the ancient Scottish city. So, as leaders