Edinburgh - Capital Of Scotland

The city is basically split into two main districts the Old Town and the New Town with Princes Street Gardens separating them.

The Old Town is the largely medieval heart of Edinburgh in which most of its important historical monuments can be found including Edinburgh Castle.

The New Town more a celebration of business order and classical Georgian architecture. This is the terrain of the shops offices and banks. Princes Street just below George Street is the main shopping area of Edinburgh and the most famous part of the New Town. A very busy spot its views of the Castle and proximity to the park happily make up for the crowds of shoppers.

Princes Street Gardens fill the valley between Old Town and New Town with Princes Street itself lining the northern side. In Princes Street Park you never escape the atmospheric sound of the bagpipes though you can escape the hustle and bustle of Princes Street itself.

The city Edinburgh has a year round programme of festivals and events ranging from the world famous summer festivals to the worlds biggest New Year street party.

In Edinburgh the world ranking museums and galleries tell the story of a fascinating past mixed with contemporary exhibitions. Choose from national collections and international blockbusters to more intimate spaces and exhibits.

The city of Edinburgh has a Playhouse with a colourful history. It was designed by Glasgow architect John Fairweather as a variety theatre it was largely modelled on the Roxy Theatre in New York but caught up in the new craze sweeping the country, it opened as a cinema on August 1929 with the talkie The Doctors Secret. Owned by the MacGuire family it remained a cinema for 40 years until it fell victim to the cinema slump in 1973. Tender for demolition were invited by advertisement and a Save the Playhouse group was set up who collected a number of signatures against the closure.

In 1974 the Playhouse was given listed building status. In 1975 the Edinburgh Playhouse Society was formed. A second petition brought a further number of signatures, helping tremendously in saving the building. Over the next twelve years the theatre changed hands five times. Until Apollo Leisure took over ownership in December 1985.

In 1993 a major refurbishment was undertaken and The Edinburgh Playhouse was returned to its former glory soon becoming one of the most successful theatres in Britain.