Why Edinburgh is a Great Starting Point for Your Scottish Holiday This Summer

If you’re on the lookout for interesting spots to stop at while travelling, you can’t go wrong with the Scottish capital.

Edinburgh is a city that is absolutely buzzing with history, culture and architectural beauty.

A perfect vacation idea is to look into hiring a motorhome; type ‘motorhome hire Edinburgh’ into your fave search engine see what comes up.

By making this search, your taking that first magical step on a magical cross-country Scottish road trip. 

Why is it the best first stop? We will explore more here.  

Fantastical Vibes

Edinburgh is a magical city.

And that’s not an exaggeration; there’s magic everywhere!

If the theatre, the history, and the literature don’t interest you, know that Edinburgh has a vibrant element to it that’s bound to capture your attention.

First, let’s address the obvious: a particularly famous author has often mentioned that she was wandering the streets of Edinburgh when she was inspired by the city to create her magical school for witches and wizards—Hogwarts and all that it entails.

We don’t need to tell you that the franchise is a massive hit, therefore Edinburgh is now lined with odes and stores dedicated to the craft of witches and wizardry.

If Harry Potter World is too expensive, simply walk down Victoria Street instead.

Additionally, Edinburgh has an interesting history of witchcraft.

The government drained the river not too long ago, finding an astonishing 300 bodies of accused witches.

In only 2022, the First Minister at the time, Nicola Sturgeon, offered an official apology to witches persecuted by Scottish authorities throughout history.

And that’s just the beginning. Edinburgh in general is famed for the “Dark academic” aesthetic, which should appeal to anyone who has read a Court of Thorn and Roses and anything similar.

Edinburgh is one of the few places in the world that really shines on a foggy day, so if you’ve got an eye for photography, wander the old buildings and cobbled streets to get some good photos that feel like a different time.

The Home of Literature, Medication, and Theatre

But the real magic of Edinburgh is that it’s like Paris: in that you’ll always find a new reason to go back.

When you’re a kid, you go to Paris for Disneyland, but when you’re an adult you go for the food, fashion, art, history, etc.

The sinitial attraction of Edinburgh is the beautiful buildings, Arthur’s Seat and the Castle, but there is much more to see when you peel back the layers: sometimes literally.

For instance, did you know that Edinburgh is a city built on top of a city, which is why bridges cross over streets and you’ll find a lot of Irish pubs going down below street level.

The Irish immigrated to the city, and the aristocrats of the time didn’t want to deal with them, so would build and move into buildings created on top of the pubs and homes of the Irish.

But Edinburgh was once the hub of every element of Scottish society, and just see this viral list from The Grand Tour to see what implications that has.

Edinburgh was the pioneer of medication, which makes for a lot of interesting stories involving graverobbers and spooky catacombs on top of giving us penicillin, which really comes to life if you take part in the spooky tours and visit it’s many haunted houses.

Literature fans, even those who have never picked up the Prisoner of Azkaban, can find someone to love in Edinburgh.

The city has various pubs named after famous literature figures (the highest esteem one can get, move over, Oscars), such as The Conan Doyle pub, named for the creator of Sherlock Holmes.

And if you walk into the right pub on Princes Street it’s rumoured you could run into Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh or crime author Ian Rankin.

If you want to combine the history of Edinburgh’s relationship with medication and literature, might we suggest Dana Schwartz’s Anatomy series.

It’s a great young adult series about an aristocratic girl who wants to be a surgeon and her graverobbing love interest, inspired by the real graverobbing trend that was made famous by Burke & Hare.

Also, don’t forget the fact that Edinburgh is the home of Scottish theatre. You can always catch a show, from famous musicals like SIX, to comedy acts like Tom Allen to music acts like Nile Rodgers and CHIC.

Eat, Drink, Don’t Sleep

All of that to being said, lets not forget the city’s vibrant nightlife.

Edinburgh’s obviously famed for the Fringe Festival, which gives you plenty of opportunity to see unique shows and comedy like Fleabag and Baby Reindeer which debuted at the event.

However, hotels are scarce and accommodations are limited during the Fringe.

All year round, Edinburgh has amazing nightlife, from the restaurants to the pubs and clubs.

You’ll never be back in your hotel room by 8 PM due to the fun and entertainment Edinburgh has to offer, and you’ll also not want to miss out on the incomparable banter of the locals.

Final Thoughts

Edinburgh stands out as a premier destination brimming with history, culture, and architectural splendor.

Whether you’re drawn by its enchanting connection to the Harry Potter universe, its rich literary heritage, or its intriguing history of witchcraft and medicine, the city offers endless layers to explore.

From the foggy streets perfect for photography to the bustling nightlife that keeps you entertained well into the evening, Edinburgh ensures an unforgettable experience.

So, consider hiring a motorhome and starting your magical Scottish adventure in this captivating city—you’ll find countless reasons to return again and again.

Photo Credit: Depositphotos