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Edinburgh is Scotland's compact, hilly capital. It is located in central eastern Scotland, near the Firth of Forth, close to the North Sea. Edinburgh occupies 7 miles (11 km) of north-facing slope between the Pentland Hills and the broad Firth of Forth estuary, where it merges with the once-independent seaport of Leith.The city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK. It has a medieval Old Town and elegant Georgian New Town with gardens and neoclassical buildings. Looming over the city is Edinburgh Castle, home to Scotland’s crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny, used in the coronation of Scottish rulers. Arthur’s Seat is an imposing peak in Holyrood Park with sweeping views, and Calton Hill is topped with monuments and memorials.
The Edinburgh international festival offers its visitors various artist performances (classical music, opera, ballet, drama). The Summer Edinburgh Festival traditionally is held during three weeks in August every year, and Edinburgh attracts visitors from all around the world. They can also plan a visit during the Fringe Festival, where you will see comedy performances, drama and artists. Other festivals include Book Festival, Jazz Festival and TV Festival, among others.
The City of Edinburgh Council is the local government authority for the City of Edinburgh. It was created in 1996 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, with the boundaries of the post-1975 City of Edinburgh district of the Lothian region. The Scottish Parliament is responsible for legislation concerning health, education, housing, economic development, regional transport, the environment, and agriculture. The leading parliamentary party or coalition elects a first minister, who heads the Scottish Executive (the word government was avoided so as to preserve ultimate authority in the Westminster Parliament), which implements Scottish legislation. Directly below this tier of government is the City of Edinburgh Council, whose members are elected to four-year terms and implement Scottish laws at the local level. The council oversees services such as local planning, education, social services, housing, roadways and traffic, firefighting, sanitation, parks and recreation, libraries, city museums, and elections.
Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, is a powerhouse of the Scottish economy, as well as the wider UK economy. Edinburgh has been consistently one of the most prosperous parts of the country and has the strongest economy of any city in the UK outside London.
Edinburgh has been ranked as having the second most sustainable transport network in the UK, and sits within the top 20 cities globally for the quality and effectiveness of its transport systems.
This puts it well ahead of major national and international competitors including Birmingham (38th), Manchester (35th), Barcelona (21st) and Milan (18th). The results are according to the Arcadis Sustainable Cities Mobility Index, which ranks 100 of the world’s leading cities according to the three pillars of transport sustainability. People (reflecting quality of life through factors including accessibility, connectivity and uptake of active options such as walking or cycling); Planet (capturing green factors, including congestion, pollution and emissions); and Profit (reflecting public finance, affordability and economic opportunity).