Edinburgh

Edinburgh makes a stirring first impression. Located only a couple of hours from the border with England, Scotland's capital is one of the world's most distinguished cities. Edinburgh Castle on its high rock and the Palace of Holyroodhouse (once home to Mary, Queen of Scots) in its Royal Park, act as head and tail for the backbone of the Royal Mile, which runs through the Old Town. Across the green space of Princes Street Gardens, symmetrical patterns reveal the plan of the neo-classical New Town.