Did you know?

Key facts

• Edinburgh is the top destination for overseas and UK visitors to Scotland.
• Edinburgh is ranked 6th best student city in Europe and 13th in the world (QS Best Student Cities 2025).
• The city's population just over 500,000, but that figure swells to well over 1 million during the Festival in August.
• Edinburgh has 112 parks, as well as more trees per head of population than any other city in the UK.
• Even though Scotland is known for dreich (bleak) weather, Edinburgh's rainfall is below the Scottish average and less than cities like Rome, Frankfurt, and New York. 
• Although part of the UK, Scotland has its own Parliament, which is situated in Edinburgh.

History and culture

• Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site covers almost 2 square miles and over 75% of all the buildings are listed, giving it the highest concentration of listed buildings anywhere in the UK.
• Edinburgh has the only train station in the world named after a novel: Waverley Station is named after the novels penned by Sir Walter Scott and published in the 1800s.
• Edinburgh has a strong literary tradition, starting with the first Encyclopaedia Britannica, which was published in 1768. Today, the city has more than 60 libraries for every 100,000 people, making it the city with the most libraries per person in the world. This commitment to literature was recognized, in 2004, when Edinburgh became UNESCO’s first City of Literature. 
• Anaesthetics were first used in Edinburgh: physician Sir James Young Simpson used chloroform on his patients in 1847 to relieve the pain of surgery.
• Edinburgh Castle is Scotland's most visited attraction. It is built on top of an extinct volcano. This volcanic plug is called Castle Rock and is a sister site to Arthur’s Seat in nearby Holyrood Park which is also an extinct volcano.  
• Edinburgh is the only city to have a dog on the list of citizens who have been given the prestigious Freedom of the City award. That dog is Greyfriars Bobby.

See and do: culture and heritage

​​​​​​​Animals of Edinburgh

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  Edinburgh uniquely honoured a dog, Greyfriars Bobby, with the Freedom of the City award, marking him the only non-human recipient. Bobby, a Skye Terrier, became famous for his loyalty as he guarded his owner's grave for 14 years until his own death in 1872. This remarkable act of devotion led the city to posthumously commemorate him, celebrating his story with a statue near Greyfriars Kirkyard and enshrining his legacy as an enduring symbol of loyalty and affection within Edinburgh.  

• Edinburgh Castle was once home to an elephant brought back by Highlanders returning from Sri Lanka in 1838. The elephant lived at the castle and gained fame as the mascot and head of the infantry's marching band, captivating locals with its presence. 

• Remarkably, this wasn’t the only elephant to live in Edinburgh. According to records from the Edinburgh City Archives, another elephant resided in a flat above a bakery near Fishmarket Close. These extraordinary details show just how unusual and fascinating the city’s relationship with elephants has been throughout history. 

• Sir Nils Olav, a king penguin at Edinburgh Zoo, holds the unique distinction of being knighted in 2008. He serves as the mascot and colonel-in-chief of the Norwegian King's Guard and symbolizes the strong relationship between Norway and Scotland. This event marked the first time a penguin has ever been knighted, celebrating the bonds through this whimsical honour. 

Films/TV series filmed and set in Edinburgh 

With its historic buildings and beautiful scenery, Edinburgh has become a popular location for many films and TV series. Its mix of old and new makes it a perfect backdrop for different stories. The University of Edinburgh, with its impressive architecture, has also been featured in various productions.  

Discover more about the behind-the-scenes aspects of various productions that have occurred on campus.

How Hollywood stardust comes to campus

Over the years, the city has been showcased in countless films and shows, highlighting its unique charm and culture. 

• The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) - Set in 1930s Edinburgh and based on the novel by Muriel Spark, this film follows an eccentric schoolteacher at an all-girls school, integrating various city landmarks and capturing Edinburgh's societal nuances of the time.

• Trainspotting (1996) - A gritty depiction of life in Edinburgh during the 1990s, featuring notable locations like Princes Street and Calton Road, with Ewan McGregor heading the unforgettable cast.

• The Da Vinci Code (2006) - Filmed in part at the 15th century Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh, based on Dan Brown's bestselling book.

• The Illusionist (2010) - Set in 1956, this film by Sylvain Chomet brings Jacques Tati’s story of a French magician to Edinburgh, featuring various city scenes from Arthur’s Seat to Castle Rock.

• One Day (2011/2023) - With the 2011 film and the 2023 TV series both set in Edinburgh, this narrative spans from university days to later life, featuring locations like Arthur's Seat and the National Museum of Scotland.

• Sunshine on Leith (2013) - A musical based on The Proclaimers' songs, showcasing Edinburgh landmarks from the Castle to Leith.

• Avengers: Infinity War (2018) - Filmed over seven weeks in Edinburgh, featuring high-intensity scenes on the Royal Mile and other historic locations, marking the city's role in this global franchise.

• Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020) - A comedic look at the Eurovision Song Contest with filming in iconic Edinburgh locations like the Royal Mile and Arthur’s Seat.

• Fast & Furious 9 (2021) - The ninth installment of the Fast & Furious series filmed numerous high-speed action scenes across Edinburgh's city centre.

Scottish inventions

Scotland is home to some of the world’s most significant inventions, including:

• the telephone
• the television
• the first cloned mammal (Dolly the Sheep)
• penicillin
• colour photography
• fingerprinting
• the pedal bicycle
• MRI scanner
• the modern steam engine
• the adhesive stamp
• the refrigerator
• the toaster