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Great Britain is small, and Scotland only makes up a part of it at that. But
what it lacks in square miles is more than made up for by a culture
and identity that go a lot deeper than the occasional sighting of
bagpipes and kilts. And nowhere is this understood better than in
the World Heritage Site of Edinburgh, on Scotland's eastern coast.
For a start you have its incredible location, on the edge of a huge
loch and surrounded by volcanic hills. Then you have the outstanding
architecture dating back centuries, the magnificent castle standing
proud in the middle, the thriving arts and entertainment scene,
a rather turbulent royal past, and an undoubtedly vibrant and pulsating
present. Unsurprisingly this draws in visitors from afar, giving
a warm, cosmopolitan feel to the place - but really, who can blame
them for wanting to be immersed in this captivating, charming city.
Inevitably, Edinburgh's nightlife is at its best during the
Festival, which can make the other 49 weeks of the year seem like
an anticlimax. However, at any time the city has plenty to offer,
especially in the realm of theatre and music.
They don't call Edinburgh the festival city for nothing. The
peak party time of the year is August, when the sun warms into something
worthy of the name, the city explodes with arts events, and the
streets fill with a cosmopolitan melange of visitors high on a heady
mix of culture and single malt. If you're hardy enough to brave
the Scottish winter, you'll be rewarded by the fullest-bore New
Year celebrations you're ever likely to see.
The highlight of Scotland's calendar is the Edinburgh International
Festival, held every August. Since its inception in 1947, it has
grown into one of the world's largest and most important arts festivals.
The Fringe Festival began unofficially at the same time and grew
in tandem to become the largest such event in the world. Over 500
amateur and professional groups present every possible kind of avant-garde
performance in venues all around the city. Also held in the same
period is the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, which takes place on the
Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. The show is an extravaganza of daredevil
displays, regimental posturing and swirling bagpipes and ends with
a single piper playing a lament on the battlefields. Hogmanay, the
Scottish celebration of the New Year, is another major fixture in
Edinburgh's festival calendar with concerts, street parties and
a massive bonfire on Calton Hill. There's also the frenzy of other
international fests: Edinburgh International Jazz and Blues Festival
in July-August, Edinburgh International Book Festival in August,
Edinburgh International Film Festival and a whole lot more in between.
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