The New Town is a central area of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is often considered to be a masterpiece ofcity planning, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in stages between 1765 and around 1850, and retains much of the original neo-classical and Georgianperiod architecture.Its most famous street is Princes Street, facing Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town across the geographical depression of the former Nor Loch. The Old and New Towns were together designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.

The principal street was named George Street, after the king at the time, George III. Queen Street was to be located to the north, named after his wife, and St. Giles Street to the south, after the city’s patron saint. St. Andrew’s Square and St. George’s Square were the names chosen to represent the union of Scotland and England. The idea was continued with the smaller Thistle Street (for Scotland’s national emblem) between George Street and Queen Street, and Rose Street (for England’s emblem) between George Street and Princes Street.

King George rejected the name St. Giles Street, St Gilesbeing the patron saint of lepers and also the name of a slum area or ‘rookery’ on the edge of the City of London.

It was therefore renamed Princes Street after his sons. The name of St. George’s Square was changed toCharlotte Square, after the Queen, to avoid confusion with the existing George Square on the South Side of the Old Town. The westernmost blocks of Thistle Street were renamed Hill Street and Young Street, making Thistle Street half the length of Rose Street. The three streets completing the grid, Castle, Frederick and Hanover Streets, were named for the view of the castle, King George’s father Frederick, and the name of the royal family respectively.

In the second photo you can see the triumph of Nature over man !! I love this wee daisy growing through the roadway. It reminds me of Robert Burns Poem ” TO A DAISY”. Perhaps you can also read “To a Haggis” and be inspired to try eating some of this Scottish delicacy.

If you look closely at the wall close to the Scottish Story Telling Centre, you can see this carving from 1606. It was once part of THE NETHERBOW PORT. It was a gatehouse to the city and people had to
pay to enter through the gate. Severed heads were often displayed on this gate – as they say in France “Pour encourager les autres” ( To encourage the others !! ). The gate was demolished in 1764 but there are brass cobbles in the road to mark where it stood.

The fourth photo is of the Stone of Destiny which is housed in Edinburgh Castle. It is the stone on which Scottish kings have traditionally been crowned, Check the amazing history of this on the Internet.

Close to Holyrood Palace is the site of the GIRTH CROSS which is the boundary of the Holyrood Abbey Sanctuary within which debtors were immune from arrest. The Sanctuary was established in the 12th century under a charter from King David 1st and was originally extended to criminals. The first record of a debtor taking sanctuary is in 1531.

In the graveyard of THE CANONGATE  KIRK is a stone which suggests it marks the grave of David Rizzio who was the unfortunate secretary to Mary , Queen of Scots.
Jealousy of him provoked her husband to have him stabbed to death in Holyrood Palace. As a kid I used to go with my mother and gaze in fascinationat what was purported to be his bloodstain on the floor – more than likely it had been fortified with some red dye after a few centuries !

Here is a modest stone for ADAM SMITH. He was a key figure of The Scottish Enlightenment. He was educated at Glasgow and Oxford Universities and then was a Professor at Glasgow and finally after a period of collaboration with David Hume he became a lecturer touring much of Europe where he met many influential thinkers of his day. He published The Wealth of Nations in 1776. A publication which to this day holds much influennce.

Once this was the boundary for the two burghs of Edinburgh and Canongate (owned in the middle ages by the Knights of the Order of St john. Originally it was a standing cross but is now a Maltese Cross formed by cobble stones set into the street outside number 196.

THE HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN is a heart shaped mosaic in the pavement close to the west door of St Giles High Church. It represents the site of the old 15th century Tolbooth of Edinburgh.It was one of the sites for public execution. Sometimes it can be seen that people spit on the stone as a msrk of disdain for the former prison which stood here. Today it is said that by spitting on the heart one will return to Edinburgh.

In the second photo you can see the triumph of Nature over man !! I love this wee daisy growing through the roadway. It reminds me of Robert Burns Poem ” TO A DAISY”. Perhaps you can also read “To a Haggis” and be inspired to try eating some of this Scottish delicacy.

If you look closely at the wall close to the Scottish Story Telling Centre, you can see this carving from 1606. It was once part of THE NETHERBOW PORT. It was a gatehouse to the city and people had to pay to enter through the gate. Severed heads were often displayed on this gate – as they say in France “Pour encourager les autres” ( To encourage the others !! ). The gate was demolished in 1764 but there are brass cobbles in the road to mark where it stood.

The fourth photo is of the Stone of Destiny which is housed in Edinburgh Castle. It is the stone on which Scottish kings have traditionally been crowned, Check the amazing history of this on the Internet.

Close to Holyrood Palace is the site of the GIRTH CROSS which is the boundary of the Holyrood Abbey Sanctuary within which debtors were immune from arrest. The Sanctuary was established in the 12th century under a charter from King David 1st and was originally extended to criminals. The first record of a debtor taking sanctuary is in 1531.

In the graveyard of THE CANONGATE  KIRK is a stone which suggests it marks the grave of David Rizzio who was the unfortunate secretary to Mary , Queen of Scots. Jealousy of him provoked her husband to have him stabbed to death in Holyrood Palace. As a kid I used to go with my mother and gaze in fascinationat what was purported to be his bloodstain on the floor – more than likely it had been fortified with some red dye after a few centuries !

Here is a modest stone for ADAM SMITH. He was a key figure of The Scottish Enlightenment. He was educated at Glasgow and Oxford Universities and then was a Professor at Glasgow and finally after a period of collaboration with David Hume he became a lecturer touring much of Europe where he met many influential thinkers of his day. He published The Wealth of Nations in 1776. A publication which to this day holds much influennce.

Once this was the boundary for the two burghs of Edinburgh and Canongate (owned in the middle ages by the Knights of the Order of St john. Originally it was a standing cross but is now a Maltese Cross formed by cobble stones set into the street outside number 196.

Wherever you are from in the world you can probably get news from home at the shop I have shown here. It is towards the castle if you need it.Other countries news looks so much more interesting than ours !! Especially of it is in an unknown language.

Across the street from the newsagent is a quirky antique shop and in its window this week was a compendium/container of doctor’s essential unguents from another time. No wonder the people from that time are all dead !!

The smiling guy’s hat just caught my eye (a knitter’s sickness ! ) as he worked at attracting passing customers to his tented street stall for inexpensive wee bits of jewellery and decorative ‘stuff’. There is a group of these wee stalls just beside the City Chambers.Often in this area can be found many street entertainers. Fire Eaters, Stilt Walkers, Bubble Blowers and many other mediaeval wonderfulnesses.

Ragamuffin shop is close to The World’s End pub and has a wonderful selection of clever novel clothing items in a wonderful array of natural colours and patterns. It has been in this spot for several years and I have always liked it looking in the windows.

I loved the tower of teapots in this little antique shop in the street which runs between Ragamuffin and The World’s End. The last time I went in it  was tended by a not so young lady with plenty of valuable knowledge about Scots antiques and bric a brac.

GEOFFREY TAILORS seems to be a true supplier of honest kilts and accessories rather than some cheaply woven and trashily constructed crap. If you need quality wares go here.

I dislike these tartan nightmare shops full of crap scottishnesses. They are an insult to my country. I have included this photo to acknowledge they exist and to show how interesting the building is that surrounds it !! I love all these windows.

Of all the oddball shops you might find, this Christmas shop has to take the biscuit !  It can be a bit of a shock to wander down the Royal Mile in July and see this !! Sometimes they are selling cute things at discount prices.

For no good diet reasons you need to go in and be tempted to sugar yourself to high heaven with these traditional Scottish deights. As a kid i loved when my Mum made these –  both Fudge and Tablet. Yum !! Not too good for the size of the stomach.

My final choice is more traditional and to be expected here next to the Scottish parliament. A Bagpipe shop. I know nothing about this instrument except that ii can be heart stirring outdoors but ear rending indoors !! Lol !

GLADSTONE’S LAND is a surviving 17th century high tenement situated in the Lawnmarket part of The Royal Mile. It has been restored and furnixhed by The National Trust for Scotland. It is open to the public and well worth a visit. The whole building is not available for the tour. The attendants work mainly voluntarily and are well informed.

Beside the Palace of Holyrood is THE QUEEN’S GALLERY. Generally they have a fine exhibition which stagggers me to understand what a collection Her Majesty owns when I see the scope and breadth of these exhibitions. The space for the gallery is very fine and not too huge, Sometimes that can be a blessing for all but the most intense tourist. You can buy a joint ticket for both the Gallery and the Palace. One of my favourite parts of the Palace is the ruins of the Abbey of the Holy Rood. It sits in magnificent gardens.

Close to John Knox’ house is the SCOTTISH STORY TELLING CENTRE where you can relax with your kids and drink either a calming or enervating something along with a biscuit or sandwich. You can buy a ticket for a tour of John Knox’ house in this same place.

Across the way from the Queen’s Gallery is the curious building which houses THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT. I liked going into the debating chamber as there is plenty of room for all and seems to me to support the idea of Scottish democracy – there is a saying “We’re all Jocck Tamson’s bairns – meaning we are all equal with one another.

If you have been lazing and sitting about too much, you can make yourself feel better by climbing ARTHUR’S SEAT or SALISBURY CRAGS. The view at the top is wonderful in 360 degrees. On a sunny daay (yes, we do have some ! ) it can be really exhilarating – just don’t stand too close to the edge of the crags as it is a long way down !

OK so now you have climbed the Crags and need another wee libation. You can find more than one delightful Victorian pub for a thirst quenching something and nowadays most have an interesting menu of Pub Grub. One of these is THE DEACON BRODIE named after an historic person. He was a real special character – a pillar of the community by day and a highwayman at night.

If you can still move yourself go up to near the castle and into the CAMERA OBSCURA which allows you, through the miracle of past science, to see a panorama of the whole city. This is greatly entertaining for kids of all ages and intellects.

OLD FISHMARKET CLOSE One can imagine what a stinking hole this must have been  in medieval times when it was the place to buy fish and poultry.This area was the officail home of the City Hangman, the last being John high who died in 1817. Daniel Defoe is rumoured to have lived here and worked as an English Government spyat the Treaty of the Union in 1707. The start of this close was where the elemental fire engine existed.

BAKEHOUSE CLOSE is a deep archway dating from 1570. The name BAKEHOUSE comes from the bakehouse on the west side which was the quarters of bakers and metalsmiths. In addition the Acheson family lived here . They were the household staff of James VI and Charles i. Part of this area was bought in 1924 and is now a City Museum.

THE OLD STAMP OFFICE This close had the Government Stamp Office here until 1821.The Royal Bank was also here from 1727 until 1753. The Countess of Eglinton lived here with her seven daughters and they all went to dancing assemblies in Assembly Close carried there in individual sedan chairs (almost across the street !! ). It is said that Flora Mc Donald attended school here

THE OLD ASSEMBLY CLOSE was originally Little’s Close after the brothers who founded the University Library William Little became Provost of EdinUNDATIONS FOR THE City Chambers built in 1753 as The Royal Exchangeburgh in 1585. The assemblies held between 1720 and 1766 brought the current name in to use. The little turreted affair in the front was a water supply for the locals.

MARY KING’S CLOSE is a 17th Century close and is one of the underground streets built over wwhen the area was ‘modernised’. It acted as the foundations for what is today The City Chambers formerly The Royal Exchange built in 1753. In 1645 when the plague hit, it is rumoured that the ciuncil decided to brick up the space in which the sick inhabitants were thus giving rise to exciting ghost stories !! It is today open to the public.

WHITE HORSE CLOSE was the site of the Royal Mews in the 16th century but was later known as Davidson’s Close and Ord’s Close. The current name came about when Laurence Ord built  an Inn there and he named it in Honour of Queen Mary’s white palfrey. This inn was used to billet Jacobite Officers when Bonnie Prince Charlie was staying at Holyrood Palace.

THE ADVOCATE’S CLOSE dates from about 1544 and offers this view of The Sscott Monument.The close takes its name from Sir James Stewart who was the last advocat of Scotland during the time of the Restoration and the Union of the Crowns. The close leads to Cockburn Street

TWEEDALE COURT was leading to the mansion of Margaret Kerr, daughter of the 1st Earl of Lothian. this building later became the headquarters of the British Linen Bank. It is now the Scottish Poetry Library. The head of the close has original wrought iron gates and was a shelter for sedan chairs which carried the rich over the filthy streets.

it is not actually a standard mile. It is, in fact 107 yards longer. There, now you have a really useless piece of information ! It is connecting two former burghs Edinburgh and Canongate. the names of the streets are Castlehill, Lawnmarket,High Street,Canongate and Abbey Strand. 70,000 people lived within the confines of the Canongate alone and some buildings were 14 stories high. The gaps between the buildings were enclusures for the tenants animals /and came to be known as closes. I shall introduce you to some of these in my next blog.

The photos here are only of the principal places = Edinburgh Castle and St Giles Church for the area of Edinburgh and then Holyrood Palace and The Canongate Kirk as well as John Knox house in the Canongate. I have also included a couple of general street views to gibe you a taste of this remarkable part of the city of Edinburgh.

I am attaching some photos here of areas and buildings in the square where, nowadays the marvellous Edinburgh Book Festival is held. Marquees are erected for various talks by well known writers and, of course, a beer or two. There is also a large marquee as a book shop which stocks the books of the authors and personalities who appear during the festival.

In the square, all year round at number 6 is a restored version of a working Georgian house with a fascinating kitchen and the lower floors of the servants as well as the public and private rooms attributed to the family of John Lamont, 18th Chief of Clan Lamont. He lived there in the early days of the square. He bought the house for £1,600.00 in 1796. One can see a really interesting video in the basement and there are well imformed guides to tell you about the various bits and pieces to be seen in the well restructured rooms.

The square was named after the king of the times – George the Third. Her name was Charlotte. I guess the main church was some kind of tribute to the king himself. Today it holds The National Archives of Scotland.

Number 7 Charlotte Square is the official residence of the First Minister of Scotland – i.e  The Prime Minister of Scotland.

Between the Modern Art Gallery and Leith keep your eyes peeled for the six sculptures by Antony Gormley sitting in the flowing water.