Visit Edinburgh This Spring

Our in-house illustrator extraordinaire Jessica has been busy designing our wonderful window display celebrating some of Edinburgh's most famous locations enthralled in the joys of spring. From Edinburgh Castle and Greyfriars Bobby; to the Scott Monument and Dean Village, join us as we explore the history of the iconic Edinburgh landmarks featured in our beautiful display.

The Scott Monument is one of Edinburgh's most iconic landmarks, and it stands as an ode to one of Scotland's most famous sons, Sir Walter Scott. For the millions of people who travel to Edinburgh by railway each year, the Scott Monument is one of the first places they experience due to its proximity to Waverly Station. This is apt, with the station being named after Scott's 'Waverly' novels. Located in East Princes Street Gardens, opposite the famous Jenners department store, the Scott Monument dominates the Princes Street skyline. At just over 200 feet tall, it is the second-largest monument dedicated to a writer in the world, with the tallest being the José Marti monument in Havana, Cuba.

The monument, which is sometimes known as 'the gothic spaceship' by locals, was designed by George Meikle Kemp in 1832. The 45-year-old joiner and self-taught architect had won a competition, following Scott's death, to design a monument in his memory. Curiously, he had used the pseudonym 'John Morvo', the name of the architect who designed Melrose Abbey, when applying, as he feared that his lack of formal qualifications would see him disqualified. However, his fears were misplaced, with the design being popular with the competition's judges.

Building began in 1840 and was finished in the autumn of 1844, with Kemp's son placing the final brick. Its design features a statue of the famous writer alongside his faithful dog, Madia, sculpted by John Steell, who was famous for creating several Burns statues. In addition to the statue of Scott, the structure features 64 different characters from his novels. Sadly, Kemp, the monuments creator, did not see his design come to fruition having fallen and drowned in Edinburgh's Union Canal on the foggy evening of 6th March 1844.

Today the monument houses a series of viewing platforms that can be accessed by a series of spiral staircases, the highest of which can be reached by a total of 288 steps. The viewing platform provides beautiful panoramic vistas of Central Edinburgh and the surrounding area, (you can just about see our Edinburgh Shop!) making it a must-see attraction when visiting the Athens of the North.

Across the world, many landmarks are synonymous with the city that they call home. From the Sydney Opera House to the Empire State Building, and the Burj Khalifa, each of these buildings is symbolic of their host city; and for Edinburgh, this symbol is its castle. Edinburgh Castle has kept a watchful eye over the historic city for centuries and is one of the oldest fortified places in Europe.

The castle has had many uses throughout its long and illustrious history, from a Royal residence and fortress; to a military garrison and prison. It holds the title of the most besieged place in Britain. Edinburgh Castle changed hands many times throughout the Wars of Independence, given its importance and strategic position. On one such instance, a group of 30 hand-picked men navigated the precarious rock-face of The Mound, on which the castle sits, and scaled its high walls. Upon gaining entry, the brave warriors routed the English soldiers and secured the ancient stronghold. Robert the Bruce then ordered the immediate destruction of its defences to prevent the English from re-taking it.

In more peaceful times the castle was home to an unusual guest. Following a tour of Sri Lanka, in 1838, the 78th Highlander Regiment returned to their home of Edinburgh Castle with an Elephant! The elephant lived in Edinburgh Castle for many years and was even known to enjoy a wee dram' or a taste of beer with its comrades.

Today the castle is a world-famous tourist attraction, sitting directly between the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Edinburgh's Old and New Towns. With over 2.1 million visitors each year, the castle is Scotland's most and the United Kingdom's second most-visited paid tourist attraction. The castle has achieved global status, becoming a symbol of not just Edinburgh, but Scotland itself.

Situated only 5 minutes from the bustling Princes Street is Edinburgh's historic Dean Village. A walk through Dean Village is like taking a step back to a more peaceful time with its beautiful picturesque architecture alongside the meandering Water of Leith. The village is over 800 years old and was the centrepiece of a successful grain milling area. At its peak, there were no fewer than eleven working mills being driven by the strong currents of the Water of Leith.

The name Dean Village originates from dene, meaning 'deep valley', and was first mentioned in King David I's charter of Holyrood Abbey in 1145. It remained as a separate village until the 19th Century when it was purchased and incorporated into the city of Edinburgh. The four-arched Dean Bridge was designed by famous architect Thomas Telford and was opened in 1833, providing a link to the city's West End.

As the larger and more modern mills began production in Leith, the area, unfortunately, began to decay into a state of poverty as trade dried up. However, by the mid-1970s the area was revitalised with many of the buildings being renovated and restored. Today it is one of the most beautiful areas of the city and has become a desirable residential area. It is also home to the Water of Leith Walkway which stretches 12.25 miles from Balerno to Leith. This hidden gem is well worth a visit as one of Edinburgh's best secret locations.

The city of Edinburgh has a long and illustrious history with plenty of tales to tell. One of our favourite stories is that of Greyfriars Bobby, which follows the life of an Edinburgh man, named John, and his beloved dog. So the story goes, that a watchman patrolled the cobbled streets of the capital with the help of his partner, his Skye Terrier called Bobby. The pair were a common sight, as the faithful friends patrolled the city's streets.

Following years on the beat, Edinburgh's harsh winters had taken their toll on the watchman. After a battle with tuberculosis, John passed away on the 15th of February 1858. Faithful in life and death, his trusted partner, Bobby, refused to leave his graveside in Greyfriars Churchyard. Bobby kept vigil over his master through the worst weather conditions and even managed to avoid being evicted by the churchyard's gardener. The gardener eventually gave up trying and instead build the terrier shelter beside his master's grave.

Bobby soon became a celebrity in Edinburgh, with the city's residents huddling around the gate of the Kirkyard hoping to catch a glimpse. The people of Edinburgh took great care of Bobby, as he remained by his master's side. For fourteen years, he kept vigil until old age took him in 1872.

Today Bobby's likeness can be found outside Greyfriars Churchyard on the corner of Candlemaker Row. His headstone reads "Greyfriars Bobby - died 14th January 1872 - aged 16 years - Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all.