History and beauty come together in the city of Edinburgh. Arrive at Princes Street, with its array of fine stores on one side, and the beautifully laid-out formal gardens on the other. Visit the imposing Edinburgh Castle, home of Scottish Kings and Queens for centuries, perched on its rocky site 445 feet above the city. See the 15th-century Old Royal Palace which houses the Scottish Crown Jewels and the apartment in which Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to the future King James VI of Scotland who also became James I of England.
This castle has witnessed many tense moments in its thousand-year history. Take a drive through the Old Town, and see the historical area known as the "Royal Mile," Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate with delightful multi-storied houses and quaint side streets. Pass spectacular Holyrood House, the official Scottish residence of the Queen and the new Scottish Parliament building.
