Magnificent Edinburgh Castle & City

Drive into the center of Edinburgh for panoramic sightseeing and continue with a visit to the castle, home of Scottish kings and queens for centuries. You enter the castle via the Esplanade, which slopes steeply towards the main gate. There is much to see within the castle including the 15th century Old Royal Palace where Scottish Crown Jewels are housed. The regalia in the Crown Room have their origins in medieval times. There is also the Apartment in which Mary, Queen of Scots, gave birth to the future King James VI of Scotland who also became James I of England. The castle has witnessed many tense moments in its thousand-year history. Enjoy some free time for shopping before you travelling through the Old Town descending eastwards along the ridge from the castle. This is the historical area known as `Royal Mile` and you drive along Lawnmarket and Canongate passing delightful houses and quaint side streets. Catch a glimpse of St. Giles Cathedral, the finest of the city’s churches, dating from the 14th and 15th centuries, with its famous Crown spire. Then pass by the Palace of Holyrood House, Scotland’s premier Royal Palace. Dating from the late 15th century, it is the official Scottish residence of the Queen. The excursion returns directly from the center of Edinburgh to the pier.