5 Interesting Facts That You Might Not Know About Edinburgh

1. Edinburgh is formed of both an Old and New town

Edinburgh is situated on the Southern shore of the Firth of Forth and has a population of around 500,000 people making it Scotland’s 2nd most populated city. However, the Old Town, which was established in 7AD, had a toll to enter it meaning many of the town’s inhabitants never left the Old Town walls and the city became extremely dirty and unsanitary. Many things changed in Scotland after the Treaty of the Union created the United Kingdom in 1706. Some of the population became exceedingly wealthy and sought to depart the city for London for an improved quality of life. However, to try to keep these wealthy people in Edinburgh they decided to create a new city now known as Princes Street Gardens or the New Town. These two towns form Edinburgh city.

2.Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the largest arts festival in the world

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival started in 1947 and has become the largest arts festival in the world. It takes place in August annually with over 50,000 performers attending the festival and over 4,000 shows in 320 venues. Crowds will be amazed by performances such as music, circus acts, dancers, cabaret, comedy, theatre and exhibitions. In 2019 over 3,000,000 people from around the world came to Edinburgh to enjoy the festival which lasts approximately 25 days.

3. The Royal Mile in Edinburgh isn’t a mile long

Edinburgh’s Royal Mile covers six different parts of the city which are Abby Strand, Canongate, High Street, Lawnmarket, Castlehill and Castle Esplanade. It takes around 20 minutes to walk due to its length of 1.81 km which is approximately one Scottish mile however; Scottish miles haven’t been used since the eighteenth century. This means that in English miles, which we use today The Royal Mile is actually one mile and 107 yards.

4. Edinburgh castle was the inspiration for one of the goriest scenes in Games of Thrones

The Red Wedding episode had some of the goriest scenes in Games of Thrones but author George R.R. Martin states that it was inspired by the Black Dinner that took place in Edinburgh Castle in 1440. In 1439 after the demise of 5th Earl of Douglas, the official governing authority was shared turbulently between three men; the Lord Chancellor of Crichton, Sir Alexander Livingstone of Callendar and James Douglas, the 1st Earl of Avondale. Crichton invited a 16 year old William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas and his younger brother David to a feast at Edinburgh Castle. On this day a bull’s head was served on a platter to them which was a symbol of disapproval. The Earl and his supporters were then hauled by the King’s men out into courtyard and were found guilty of high treason and beheaded.

5.Edinburgh Zoo is home to a knighted penguin

In 1972 Major Nils Egelien of Norway arranged to adopt a king penguin which he named Nils Olav after himself and King Olav. The penguin became the mascot for the Norwegian Guard and in 2008 at Edinburgh Zoo in front of 130 guardsmen ‘Sir’ Nils Orav was given his Knighthood. Sir Nils Orav now lives at Penguin Rock in Edinburgh Zoo. The Norwegian Guardsmen still visit him every few years when they are performing at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.