Must See Sights and Landmarks in Blackford Hill Area

"There’s nowhere quite like the World of Illusions and the range of illusions you’ll find over the five floors here – not to mention the fantastic views of Edinburgh from the rooftop. The 166-year-old Camera Obscura is still the highlight – I remember being wowed when I visited. There’s a 15-minute show with a guide telling tales of Edinburgh history, while showing off the whole city from the rooftop tower using the Victorian contraption, where images of what’s outside are displayed in the room."

"One of the best ways to enjoy the stunning views of the city with your partner is visiting Camera Obscura, which means a dark room. The site is located behind the Edinburgh Castle and it is a Victorian Rooftop chamber with excellent views. It is one of the oldest buildings in Edinburgh and accepts visitors since 1892."

"Calton Hill is another fantastic place for kids to let off steam and as a bonus you’ll get some of the ultimate best views of the city!. When you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with amazing views to the Firth of Forth, Arthurs Seat, the port of Leith, the Pentland hills and of course right down Princes street towards the castle. Calton Hill is also home to several unusual monuments including the national monument which looks like it was built by the Romans."

"Climb Calton HIll Towards the end of the day, I’d suggest you head up Calton Hill. This is a wonderful spot for a view of the city and can be found at the east end of Princes Street. This hill is home to a series of monuments, including the National Monument of Scotland, which bears more than a passing resemblance to the Parthenon in Greece."

"Address: Ocean Terminal, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6JJWebsite: The Royal Yacht Britannia. The Royal Yacht Britannia is the former yacht of the British Royal Family which now takes pride of place at the Ocean Terminal shopping centre at Leith in Edinburgh. Over the course of her working life Britannia sailed over 1 million miles around the world and she’s now open year-round for visitors to follow in the footsteps of world leaders as they walk through her beautifully ornate rooms."

"If you’re planning on visiting a number of the Royal sights in Edinburgh, including Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace and the Royal Yacht Britannia, then you should consider a Royal Edinburgh Ticket. As well as giving you access to those three attractions, it also gives you a two day hop on hop off bus ticket for Edinburgh. See our full review of the Royal Edinburgh ticket to see if it might save you money."

"It may not be sailing the seas anymore with the Royal Family in tow anymore, but the Royal Yacht Britannia is still working hard in her retirement as Scotland's Best Visitor Attraction. Nonetheless, many visitors were less than pleased with what they found when they climbed aboard the ship."

"The Nelson Monument is a commemorative tower in honor of Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, located in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is included in the list of 15 places in Edinburgh because it is situated on top of Calton Hill and provides a dramatic termination to the vista along Princes Street from the west. The Royal Navy’s White Ensign and signal flags spelling out Nelson’s famous message “England expects that every man will do his duty” are flown from the Monument on Trafalgar Day each year."

"Another architecturally inspired monument which sits on Calton Hill is the Nelson Monument. Built in 1807, this commemorative tower is an ode to Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson and is frankly unmissable against Edinburgh's skyline. It is situated at the highest point of Calton Hill and stands at 106 ft. tall, contributing to the towers' epic and majestic quality."

"Up on the hill you will also find Nelson’s Monument and the Royal Observatory, amongst other things, but the highlight for me, really, is the view up here at sunset. From here you can watch the sun set across the city, with the mountains in the background, which is ample reward for the effort required to climb up."

"Completed in 2002, the Falkirk Wheel is a modern engineering marvel, a rotating boat lift that raises vessels 115ft from the Forth & Clyde Canal to the Union Canal. Boat trips depart from the lower basin (eight daily March to October, three daily in winter) and travel into the wheel, which delivers you to the Union Canal high above. Boats then go through Roughcastle Tunnel before the return descent on the wheel."

"Admire the modern 21st-century rotating boat lift known as the Falkirk Wheel that rises 35m in the air transferring craft between the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals."

"This palace is the royal family's official residence in Scotland but is more famous as the 16th-century home of the ill-fated Mary, Queen of Scots. The highlight of the tour is Mary's Bedchamber, home to the unfortunate queen from 1561 to 1567. It was here that her jealous second husband, Lord Darnley, restrained the pregnant queen while his henchmen murdered her secretary – and favourite – David Rizzio. A plaque in the neighbouring room marks the spot where Rizzio bled to death."

"If you want to save money when visiting the city’s popular attractions, consider purchasing the Royal Edinburgh Ticket. This is a pre-paid attraction pass which includes FREE entry to royal sites including, Edinburgh Castle, Royal Yacht Britannia, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse."

"Even if you are not a fan of politics, The Scottish Parliament would be a good sightseeing spot. Not only is the building itself really interesting, you can watch a parliamentary session, it hosts art exhibitions and has a lovely modern garden that you can explore. If you want to know more, The Scottish Parliament also offers a selection of free guided tours focusing on the different aspects and functions of the building."

"Swing by the Scottish Parliament and see a, how shall I say this diplomatically (I made another lame funny!), rather interesting building. Yeah, the design is super offbeat and modern so you will either love it or place a curse upon the man that conceived of the building."

"The Physicians' Gallery is a free public exhibition space which is part of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. Our exhibitions are based on the wealth of historical medical material which the College has collected over the last 300 years. ‘Moonstruck: 500 years of mental health’ is our new free exhibition– opening on 14 June 2019 and running until Spring 2020"

"Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DWOpen 10am to 5pm dailyAdult: £8, Students, NHS staff and children under 16: £4.50, unders 5's go free. If you are fascinated by the wonders of the human body, this museum is a must-visit. Owned by The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Surgeons' Hall Museums consist of the Wohl Pathology Museum, the History of Surgery Museum and The Dental Collection."

"The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh was founded in 1505 and the city has been an important location for medical research ever since. The museum here was originally designed as a teaching museum for students, but it first opened to the public in 1832. There's a history of surgery, a dental collection, and a fascinating collection of pathological anatomy."

"Over the road from the Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Surgeons' Hall Museums house one of the largest collections of surgical material in the UK. As well as permanent exhibitions concerning the history of surgery, dentistry and pathological anatomy, the…"

"The grounds of 17th-century Bonnington House, 10 miles west of Edinburgh, have been lovingly converted by owners and art patrons Robert and Nicky Wilson into a gorgeous, landscaped sculpture park. Meadows and woodland showcase works – many of them specially commissioned – by a clutch of Britain's leading artists, including Antony Gormley, Anish Kapoor, Cornelia Parker and Nathan Coley, anchored by the the vast landscape sculpture Cells of Life by Charles Jencks. A varied events program includes tours every Wednesday at 10.30am."

"The beautiful grounds of a Jacobean manor house have been transformed by an art-loving couple, Robert and Nicky Wilson, into an impressive…"

"In the city centre, seek out the Heart of Midlothian for a uniquely Scottish piece of history. The Heart of Midlothian is set in the pavement on the Royal Mile, constructed from coloured granite blocks that form the shape of a heart and cross. This landmark records the position of the 15th century ‘heart’ of the town, the Old Tolbooth."