Posted by Maris on 28th Nov 2023
10 Strange Facts You Wouldn’t Believe Are True about Edinburgh in Scotland
Edinburgh is the top tourist destination in Scotland and the number one UK destination outside London. Our city’s abundance of curiosities could take even the most seasoned ‘Edinburger’ by surprise.
1. Got the time? Neither does the famous Balmoral Hotel clock (which is never right!)
The Balmoral Hotel, located near to Waverley Station, is tall, gothic, and inaccurate, with a clock that has been showing the wrong time for well over a century. To encourage people to catch the train on time, it only runs 3 minutes faster.
2. Unicorn statues are found all over Scotland, Edinburgh included, but why?
America has an eagle as its national animal, Italy has a wolf, England has a lion, and Scotland has… a unicorn? The unicorn is a symbol of both purity and might in Celtic mythology. Given the long history of conflict between the two, the unicorn was chosen as a 'undefeatable' monster to rival England's lion.
3. Roses are red, much like Rose Street which used to be a Red Light District
These days, the location is better known for its vast variety of pubs to choose from. However, in the 18th century Rose Street was reputedly home to more than 100 brothels.
4. Addressing the Elephant in the room (but actually in the castle!)
The 78th Highlanders regiment returned home with a lot more than planned after a long-running tour to Sri Lanka in 1838. They returned an elephant to Edinburgh Castle as their new regimental mascot, which was said to develop a taste for beer swiftly.
5. Colonel-in-chief of the Norwegian King’s Guard lives in Edinburgh Zoo… He’s a penguin
Sir Nils Olav is the mascot of his guard and the world's only knighted penguin. Guardsmen enjoy paying a visit to this soldierly King Penguin every few years when they come to play at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
6. Edinburgh wasn’t always the capital city of Scotland
Scone was deposed as capital in 1437, and Edinburgh took its place. Scone was an important royal center during the Middle Ages, and Scone Palace is still a famous tourist site today.
7. If you enjoy hiking in Edinburgh then you have the Ice Age to thank
Edinburgh’s iconic landscapes such as Castle Rock, Arthur’s Seat and the Salisbury Crags were all shaped by moving glaciers. The last one in Scotland melted about 11,500 years ago.
8. “You’re hot then you’re cold…” Edinburgh Castle sits on an extinct volcano
Edinburgh Castle's rock is built upon is the plug of an extinct volcano that erupted approximately 340 million years ago, long before Scotland’s last Ice Age.
9. The origins of the name “Edinburgh” are still disputed to this day
"Dùn ideann" is the Scottish Gaelic word for "Edinburgh," which some translate as "Fort Eidyn" or "Edwin's Fort." This was assumed to be owing to Edwin of Northumbria, a prominent English ruler who reigned in 616, but there is no evidence that he ever visited here. The Votadini, the major Iron Age Celtic tribe of the Lothians, are more likely to have coined the term 'Eidyn' for the territory.
10. Edinburgh has a historical track record for its love of dogs
Edinburgh is the only city in the world where a dog is on the list of residents granted "Freedom of the City." Of course, we're talking about Greyfriars Bobby, one of five dog-related statues and memorials within walking distance of the city center. Dogs leave pawprints on our city and our hearts in Edinburgh.