Top Ten Free Edinburgh Attractions

Arthur's Seat and the surrounding hills are a wild and untamed wonder

Feature by Sarah Hunter | 13 Sep 2006

The Scottish Parliament, Royal Mile
Opening hours: Business days (Tues-Thurs) – 9am – 7pm. Non business days (Mon/Fri) – 10am – 6pm
Money! Money! Money! £400 million to be exact, but was it all worth it? Get down there and judge for yourselves. Go on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday for a chance to see a Committee or Parliament meeting in motion. Tickets are free but booking is recommended.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Inverleith Row (East Gate), Arboretum Place (West Gate)
Opening hours: Daily 10am – 7pm (6pm in Oct, 4pm Nov-Feb)
Having a romantic moment? Indulge your poetic soul with a walk through this beautifully landscaped garden. Paintings by American modernist Robert Ryman can be seen in Inverleith House until October 1st while the Exhibition Hall features the island chain of Soqotra – 'the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean'.

The New Town
It may be an Edinburgh landmark now but a few centuries ago the Old Town was overcrowded, dirty and downright unsanitary. The New Town was built to relieve the strain and is now one of the city's most desirable areas. Charlotte Square is a beautiful example of Georgian architecture and visitors can admire Bute House, home to First Minister Jack McConnell (from the outside at least).

Arthur's Seat, Holyrood Park
Arthur's Seat and the surrounding hills are a wild and untamed wonder. Wander up or roll down but mind you don't end up in one of the Lochs. Watch out for Salisbury crags, that rocky outcrop is not for the faint-hearted.

Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street
Opening hours: Daily 10am – 5pm
Museums, dull aren't they? Bah! Not so. Learn about Scotland's wildlife, lands and people from its very beginning right up to life in the midst of the industrial revolution. Fear not the great halls of history!

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and the Dean Gallery, Belford Road
Opening hours: Daily 10am – 5pm
Bored of all the high-culture and ye olde art? Check out the world of contemporary, challenging and somewhat baffling modern art at these splendid galleries, conveniently situated across the road from each other. Marvel over Picasso, Matisse, Mackintosh and Paolozzi, or shake your head with disdain, the choice is yours.

Portobello Beach
Back in the day, Portobello was a tourist destination in its own right, now the community has more than a touch of suburbia about it. Still, it has a beach – complete with traditional promenade – which is something the rest of the city can't boast.

St Gile's Catherdral and the Royal Mile
Opening hours: Mon – Fri - 9am – 7pm (Oct 5pm)
Saturday – 9am – 7pm (Oct 5pm)
Sunday - 1pm – 5pm and for services
One does not have to be of a religious bent to enjoy this airy erection. Some admire its magnificent architecture and stained glass windows while others are happy merely sitting quietly, soaking up the peaceful atmosphere that pervades the church.

National Gallery of Scotland, Princes Street
Opening hours: Daily 10am – 5pm (7pm Thurs)
No delusions of grandeur here, with masterpieces from the Renaissance to post-impressionist era. Monet, Botticelli, Titian and Gauguin vie for space alongside the largest collection of Scottish art in the world – something which one would hope to see in the country's Capital.

The Water of Leith
It ain't the cleanest of environments, recently dredged up along with the usual city detritus was a surfboard, a corset and a blow-up doll. Other than that it is difficult to fault this is a beautiful and leafy 12-mile walkway, much loved by locals.