The Royal Mile

Royal Mile as stage for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Summers see the Royal Mile swarming with tourists and the street is too busy to walk along during the Edinburgh Festival. Colourful and unusual street theatre displays are a regular, all day, every day feature in August.

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The Royal Mile is completely closed to traffic as artists take to the street trying to impress people passing by. There are several temporary stages artists use but many of them perform wherever there is space. Edinburgh's Royal Mile has live statues, singers, painters, stalls with crafts, magicians, acrobats, actors, etc.

Even if you don't have a particular interest in theatre and street shows, it's still fascinating to experience the Royal Mile's bustling energy. Particularly funny is the extent to which actors go to in order to attract attention and sell tickets.

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All Edinburgh Royal Mile articles:

Edinburgh Old Town An introduction to historic Edinburgh.

Highlights of the Royal Mile Overview of the most important visitor attractions on the Royal Mile.

Other tourist attractions on the Royal Mile Brief description of other places and things of interest on the Royal Mile.

Wynds and closes of the Royal Mile Description of the most picturesque narrow streets off the Royal Mile.

Royal Mile during Edinburgh Festival Information on the Royal Mile during August's Fringe Festival.

Royal Mile shops and pubs Some particularly attractive shops and pubs on Edinburgh's historic street.

St Giles Cathedral Picture and information on the High Kirk of Edinburgh.

Mary Kings Close The allegedly haunted street beneath the Royal Mile.

Scottish Parliament Pictures and information on the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood.

Photos of the Royal Mile Pictures taken along the Royal Mile.

Attraction Details - Royal Mile, Edinburgh Old Town Practical information on the Old Town and the Royal Mile including the Hub and Tourist Information Centre.

Royal Mile and Old Town on the web Web links and information on the Old Town and its attractions.

Also see:

Ghost walks in the Old Town Tourist information on day and evening ghost tours in Edinburgh's Old Town

Edinburgh attractions and sightseeing All of the best attractions in Edinburgh plus pictures and sightseeing tips.

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Edinburgh Travel Essentials

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Beautiful Photos from Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle from Blackford HillPhotograph of Edinburgh Castle taken from Blackford Hill near the Royal Observatory. Photo #4033

Edinburgh Old Town from Calton HillPicture of Old Town buildings and North Bridge from Edinburgh's Calton Hill. Photo #G3895

Old Town from Scott Monument, Edinburgh Panorama of Edinburgh Old Town with North Bridge and Salisbury Crags and Arthur's Seat in the background seen from the top of the Scott Monument. Photo #G5585

Origin of 'Edinburgh'

Tourists have problems with the name of Edinburgh. There are hundreds of ways people write it and the most common writings include 'edinburg', 'edinborough', 'edimburgh', 'edinbourgh', 'ediburgh', 'edinbugh', 'edinboro', 'edingburgh', 'edinbrugh', 'edimburg', 'edinburugh', 'edingurgh', 'edinbrough', etc.

According to the Scottish Place Names dictionary, the name Edinburgh means 'Fort of the Rock Face'. The 'edin' part comes from Scottish Gaelic and means 'rock face', while 'burgh' comes from Old English meaning stronghold.

Some more obscure (and quite funny) ways of writing Edinburgh include: edinburough, edingburg, edinbourg, edinburh, edinurgh, edenburg, edinbough, edinbourough, edinbrgh, edingborough, edenburgh, edinberg, edinborgh, edinborugh, edinburge, edinburhg, edingbourgh, etc.

Edinburgh is spelt Edimburgo in Spanish and Italian and Édimbourg in French.

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