Introducing Edinburgh

The Scottish capital is a beauty alright. Edinburgh is a vibrant city that marries historical stature and small town charm with the cosmopolitan prestige and economic potency of a mega city.

Edinburgh is essentially a village collective defined by each area’s Old Town or New Town status. The backbone of the Old Town is the Royal Mile, an architectural showcase. Tourist activity centers upon the Baroque Palace of Holyroodhouse, the former home of Mary Queen of Scots, now the Queen of England’s digs when she’s in town. Snaking down from the Royal Mile are the Closes, cobblestone alleyways packed with bars, cafés, unique stores, and a clutch of museums.

‘New’ in Edinburgh is a relative term. In the New Town, stunning Georgian mansions (built between 1765 and 1850) encircle the new, ultra modern Scottish Parliament building. Designed by Spanish architect Enric Miralles Moya, it was completed in 2004. Not without its detractors, the building cost UK tax payers as much as $100 million dollars to construct and it still costs a further $72 million per year to run (if England’s Tory press is to be believed).

While Edinburgh’s 11th-century castle may be the city’s poster child, the jewel in Edinburgh’s cultural crown is the National Gallery. The building itself is a statement; the original Neoclassical building blends seamlessly with a new modern wing that fronts Princess Street Gardens.

Every August, the city plays host to the world renowned Edinburgh Festival—the largest annual cultural festival in the world—featuring a wealth of performing arts and cultural events/festivals that take place in venues across the city. The Fringe Festival is known as the UK’s artistic petri dish, open to performers of every ilk.

Airports within a 25-mile radius of Edinburgh:

    Edinburgh International Airport (EDI, 7 miles from the city center)

      Leuchars Airport (ADX)
      Dundee Airport (DND)

Popular aircraft charters* in the Edinburgh region include:

  • Citation Excel (super light)
  • Learjet 45 XR (super light)
  • Citation CJ3 (light)
  • Learjet 31ER 400A (light)
  • Learjet 60 XR (midsize)
  • Citation III (midsize)
  • Gulfstream G200 (super midsize)
  • Citation Sovereign (super midsize)

*This is just a sample. Zephyr provides access to aircraft at every end of the spectrum, from luxurious VIP airliners, to ultra long range business jet, helicopters, and economical turboprops.