[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA]It's on the east coast of Scotland. It is the country's capital. [ITAL]It is one of the most cultural, beautiful and vibrant cities in the world.[EITAL] It has been called 'the most ideal city to live in'. It is Edinburgh. Enough from the Edinburgh Tourist Office, see below for a fuller advert... There are 4 universities in Edinburgh: [ULNE]Napier[EULNE], [ULNE]Heriot-Watt[EULNE], [ULNE]Queen Margaret College[EULNE], and, of course, Edinburgh University, itself - the 6th oldest in Britain, situated in buildings throughout the city. There are 3 main areas, but departments and halls are dotted all over the place. The largest concentration of departments is in the George Square/Old College area in the city centre and there are almost as many at King's Buildings - the science campus - 2 miles south. The largest group of residences, the Pollock Halls, are east of the centre near Holyrood Park. The University buildings have steadily developed over the last 2 centuries, many appearing in the last 40 years, [ITAL]but almost all have been built with a love for the city's beauty and in local stone.[EITAL][HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]There are over 50,000 students from various colleges in Edinburgh and just as the University buildings are spread throughout the city and reflect its beauty, so the students live as [ULNE]a part[EULNE] of the city - rather than simply [ULNE]in[EULNE] it - and they reflect and merge with its lively culture. Students are often from the south ([EITAL]40% are English[ITAL]) but get on with the locals nevertheless. It's hard to find a student with a bad word to say about either the University or the city. Involvement and enthusiasm are the buzz words with so much buzz that you could say it's a hive of activity.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]THE CITY:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL][STAT][BULL] Population: 421,213 [BULL] London: 391miles [BULL] Glasgow: 44miles [BULL] Newcastle: 93miles[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA][ITAL]Edinburgh is a stunning city with a tremendous heritage[EITAL]. [ITAL] Like all the best cities,[EITAL] it is built on 7 hills, overlooked by Arthur's Seat, a mini mountain. The centre hill is peaked by the castle and old city walls. There are over 16,000 listed buildings, mostly built of the local grey stone [ITAL]that picks up something ethereal in the quality of the light[EITAL]. These buildings date mainly from 2 periods of expansion: the formation of the centre from the 11th century onwards; and later, the New Town, mainly to the north. The broad streets, garden squares, cobbled alleys, parks and [ITAL]gasping [EITAL]views are [ITAL]well planned[EITAL] (all by one guy, George Drummond) with 3 main roads running parallel (Queen Street, George Street and Princes Street). The Royal Mile, a straight stretch of linked roads, runs through the city's heart. 4-storey tenements line the Royal Mile. [ITAL]The Old Town is unique in its ability to look as though Nature intended it to be there, and the names evoke the charm:[EITAL] Grassmarket; Lawnmarket; The Pleasance; Cowgate; The Mound. [ITAL]It is also a place with real people in it - including some of the best buskers this side of New Orleans.[EITAL] There's no shortage of shops, civic amenities or museums. Among the sites that should be first on any tour of the city are the Holyrood Palace, the Royal Museum of Scotland, the National Gallery, National Gallery of Modern Art, Parliament House, the Castle and... forget it. [ITAL]We could carry on praising Edinburgh, drawing out its long history, its heritage and highlights, but frankly we might spoil the fun of exploring every delightful nook and cranny of the place[EITAL].[HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] Edinburgh Waverley Station is the most central in Edinburgh. There is a direct line to Glasgow, another to the north and another to the south through Newcastle and York to London (ú37.60, 4:20hrs, 1/hr). Regular connections also to Birmingham (ú28.40) and Bristol (ú40.90).[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] National Express, Stagecoach and Citylink services to London (ú25.00, 7:50hrs, 2/day), Newcastle (ú12.00, 2:45hrs, 3/day), Glasgow (ú6.30, 1:10hrs, 9/day), Manchester (ú13.75, 5:55hrs, 2/day).[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] The M8 and M9 connect with the A8 on the west of Edinburgh. It is also served by the A1, A7, A68, A70, A71, A702, A703 and A90.[PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] Edinburgh (Turnhouse) Airport, 51/2 miles west of the city centre, has a range of international flights.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD][ITAL] The A1 is a popular road for hitchers. Unfortunately, this part of the A1 isn't so popular with the sort of driver who gives lifts. But the lifts are there - eventually. It's easier to get into Edinburgh than out of it. The M8 and M9 are good for routes to Glasgow and Perth.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Bus services are good all round the city and quite cheap [EITAL](from 40p). They run less frequently after 7pm until midnight. [ITAL]The trains around town are irrelevant except for students living on the west side.[EITAL] For them though, the route (60p) from Waverley to Haymarket is a [ITAL]useful [EITAL]one.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Useful for late night trips, otherwise they're a bit extravagant[EITAL] (ú3 across town).[PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Very useful, but remember Edinburgh is built on 7 hills. Bicycles also have a severe tendency to wheel themselves away.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]FACULTIES and STUDENT NOS:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Arts[EBOLD] 3,773[BOLD][PARA]Divinity[EBOLD] 529[BOLD][PARA]Medicine[EBOLD] 1,499[BOLD][PARA]Law[EBOLD] 862[BOLD][PARA]Music[EBOLD] 143[BOLD][PARA]Science[EBOLD] 5,613[BOLD][PARA]Soc Sci[EBOLD] 3,668[BOLD][PARA]Vet Med[EBOLD] 513[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 1,890,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 11,000 [BULL] Study places: 3,500 [BULL] Computer workstations: 1,500[ESTAT][PARA]There's an enormous Main Library and 7 other more specialised ones (Divinity; Law; Engineering; the Europa Institute; Medicine; Music; Science and Veterinary Medicine). What's more, students can use the City Library and the National Library of Scotland.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 13full/6part [BULL] Unemployed after 6mths (1992): 9.7%[ESTAT][HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]Past Rectors (elected every 3 years by the students) have included Muriel Gray, Donnie Munro, Sir David Steel, Stanley Baldwin and Lloyd George.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]James Barrie (writer, 'Peter Pan'); Dr Barry (world's first qualified woman doctor who impersonated a man in order to study and practice); Elizabeth Blackadder (artist); Sir David Brewster (scientist who graduated at the age of 19 in 1800); Gordon Brown MP (Lab); Ian Charleson (actor, who played Eric Liddel in 'Chariots of Fire'); Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (creator of Sherlock Holmes); Robin Cook MP (Lab); Charles Darwin (revolutionary evolutionary); Sir Nicholas Fairbairn MP (Con, [ITAL]barmy[EITAL]); David Hume (philosopher, who had a nervous breakdown shortly after graduating); Andy Irvine (Rugby player); Eric Liddel ('Chariots of Fire' runner); Lord Mackay of Clashfern (Lord Chancellor); Julius Nyerere (ex-President, Tanzania); Malcolm Rifkind MP (Con); Peter Roget (of Thesaurus fame); Sir Walter Scott (writer); Sir David Steel MP (Lib Dem); Robert Louis Stevenson (writer); Kirsty Wark (TV presenter); James Watt (engineer/ inventor); and so on.[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads, postgrads, mature students, students with special needs and students in continued education. Available from EUSA, an alternative prospectus (ú1) and the Rough Guide to Getting a Degree [ITAL](sounds fun)[EITAL].[PARA][PARA]
