The city experience

Six in the city league

Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland's principal cities on the east and west coast respectively, are only a 50-minute train ride from each other similar to a tube ride from south to north London so, for the adventurer, there's a real opportunity to experience two very different cities in the same weekend. And in a week you could easily do all six!

Already there is a wealth of culture, entertainment, architecture, history and culinary delights to be enjoyed in all six cities. Below is a brief summary of each of Scotland's cities. Whether it's a backpack or a suitcase you need to pack, get packed and get on your way!

Edinburgh 'Athens of the North'

Edinburgh, Scotland's capital is located on the east coast at the mouth of the Firth of Forth and has a population of around 450,000. Like Rome it is built on seven hills and its spectacular skyline is dominated by the famous Castle, the extinct volcano Arthur's Seat, Grecian colonnades and a dizzying array of spires. The world-changing ideas of the Scottish Enlightenment emanated from here and today it is the seat of the devolved Scottish Parliament and the figurehead of a confident, creative new nation. It is a thriving commercial, cultural and educational centre and since 1947 has become known as 'Festival City': today it hosts a dozen or so international arts and science festivals that attract massive audiences from around the world and give a carnival feel to the city. The city is world famous for its mix of medieval and Georgian architecture and is rapidly gaining a new reputation for stunning new buildings. The city is steeped in history yet is also a thriving hub of contemporary culture with many galleries, theatres, concert halls and cinemas not to mention bars, clubs and restaurants. The city has many parks and gardens including the world-famous Royal Botanic Garden and the vistas out to the Firth of Forth, Arthur's Seat and the Pentland Hills are nothing less than breathtaking.

Glasgow 'The Highland City'

Glasgow, on the famous River Clyde, was once called 'The Second City of the Empire' due to the huge importance of and wealth from its shipbuilding industry and there's much splendid architecture from the Victorian era to be enjoyed. Much of the labour for this industry was drawn from the Highlands, which is why poet Iain Crichton Smith called Glasgow 'The Highland City'. There is certainly a very different feel to this west coast metropolis which is a mere 40 miles from the capital. Glasgow is a city that has had to re-invent itself following the decline of its major industry. It is Scotland's biggest city with a population exceeding 600,000 and is surrounded by substantial conurbations and satellite towns but it has faced its social challenges by attracting new investment into the city and today it's a cultural and educational hub that features prominently on the international map for theatre, music, literature, visual art, architecture and film. It's Scotland's media centre, boasts a brand new financial centre and is both the biggest and most fashionable retail centre outside of London with the attendant plethora of bars, clubs and restaurants.

Aberdeen 'The Granite City'

Aberdeen, located between the Dee and Don rivers, is Scotland's third largest city with a population of 216,520. In the 19th century much of the city's neo-classical buildings were designed using local granite, hence its title 'The Granite City'. The city indeed boasts many impressive buildings. It is the largest manufacturing centre in the north with paper, chemicals, machinery and textiles harmonising with the fishing and agricultural heritage of the area. With the coming of offshore oil in the 1970s Aberdeen became the 'Oil Capital of Europe' and a recent survey revealed it as the most prosperous city in Britain outside of the South East of England. The city has a strong academic tradition, is culturally well catered for and regularly wins prizes for its displays of flowers. It is close to some of Scotland's most stunning coastal and mountain landscapes, castles, gardens and whisky distilleries galore.

Dundee 'City of Discovery'

Situated on picturesque Tayside, 'Bonny' Dundee is also famous as the City of Discovery: it's here that you will find the Royal Research Ship Discovery in which the explorers Scott and Shackleton sailed to Antarctica at the beginning of the 20th Century. Dundee is also synonymous with jute, jam and journalism on account of the industries that once dominated the region, which also accounts for the statue of cartoon character Desperate Dan in the city. Discovery is a good theme for the city today which, like many industrial cities in the UK, has had to reinvent itself. Dundee, with its world-class universities, is now a hub for cutting edge medical and life sciences research, the home of many hi-tech companies and one of the world's leading centres in computer games. It's Scotland's fourth largest city with a population of 140,000, has a thriving arts scene, a buzzing nightlife and yet is still close to some of the world's most famous golf courses.

Inverness 'Capital of the Highlands'

Inverness, situated at the top of Loch Ness and beside the Moray Firth is growing at an unprecedented rate. It became Scotland's fifth city in 2001 and its 41,000 or more citizens enjoy a cosmopolitan atmosphere unique in the Highlands. It is the administrative, commercial and industrial centre of the Highlands and thrives on a dynamic combination of traditional industries, inward investment, innovative technology and a well-educated workforce. Tourism is a key industry with an estimated one million visitors each year. Business tourism is growing and the city excels at attracting inward investment in a highly competitive global market. Finally it is the gateway to a beautiful and historic region and the home of the famous Loch Ness Monster. . .

Stirling 'Clasping Highlands and Lowlands together'

With its mighty castle perched dramatically above its rooftops, Stirling is one of Scotland's most historic towns and known as the 'gateway to the Highlands'. It's also a thriving modern city Scotland's newest in fact with excellent arts provision, a go-ahead university and excellent shopping. Also on the skyline is the National Wallace Monument and these are the two cues for the visitor to find out more about the city's history and local heroes Robert the Bruce and William Wallace. As well as having one of the finest medieval cityscapes in Scotland, Stirling is a modern, compact city with a population of 85,000 and HQ for many diverse businesses. Its location in the middle of the central belt makes it highly desirable for commuters and The Trossachs and the Campsie Fells are both on its doorstep.