Tours

Delegates can easily explore Edinburgh on their own or with a group walking or bus tour. These can be organised with the assistance of the Scottish Tourist Guides Association .

• Edinburgh Bus Tours depart every 15 minutes from Waverley Bridge.
• Rabbies trail Burners and Timberbush Tours both offer re-scheduled and tailor-made tours throughout Scotland.

Attractions

• Edinburgh Castle - Scotland's top visitor attraction and home of the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny.
• Royal Yacht Britannia - explore royal connections dating back over six centuries and experience the life of the Royal family and the crew of the yacht.
• Palace of Holyroodhouse - the Queen's official residence in Scotland.
• Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre - offers an interactive tour of the whisky making process.
• Outlook Tower and Camera Obscura - this unique Victorian camera reflects a live panorama of Edinburgh.
• On the Royal Mile are a number of attractions, including Gladstone's Land , the Writers' Museum , St Giles' Cathedral , the Museum of Childhood , the People's Story, and John Knox's House .
• Dynamic Earth - tells the story of how the earth was created, the changing planet, the evolution of life and its habitats using state-of-the-art technology.
• The Scottish Parliament was officially opened in 2004. The building is open to the public and 45 minute guided tours are available.
• The Scottish Poetry Library : the calmest of retreats in Malcolm Fraser's award-winning building.
• The Museum of Scotland : a striking and impressive contemporary building where visitors can find out all about Scotland and its people.
• The Royal Museum - thirty-six galleries with artefacts from around the globe and natural history specimens, all housed in a stunning Victorian building.
• The National Galleries of Scotland house an outstanding collection of Scottish, International and Modern art.
• The Georgian House , a beautifully restored townhouse where rooms are furnished as they would have been in the 18^th century.
• Edinburgh Zoo - enjoy the world's largest penguin pool and find out more about its specialisation in the care of endangered species.
• Clan Tartan Centre at Leith Mills , where you can discover your Scottish Heritage and shop for quality Scottish woollens, tartans and clothing.
• The Fruitmarket Gallery : one of Scotland's leading contemporary art spaces.
• Kinloch Anderson , kiltmakers to the Royal Family, offer lively and informative talks on the history of the kilt.
• The Royal Botanic Garden , Scotland's premier garden with over 28 hectares of beautifully landscaped gardens and stunning views of the city.

Activities

• Ghost tours through the historic Old Town to experience Edinburgh's haunted past: Mercat Tours , Cadies Witchery Tours or Auld Reekie Tours .
• Whisky tastings : the Scotch Malt Whisky Society .