Edinburgh isn’t just Scotland’s capital—it’s a layered city full of myths, legends, old stones, and even the world’s only knighted penguin!
While millions visit its castles and cobbled streets, most travellers are unaware of the quirky stories and fascinating facts about Edinburgh that hide behind its historic walls.
From urban volcanoes to knighted penguins and Royal Mile mysteries, this city has more fun up its sleeve than you’d expect.
And what better way to uncover all these nuggets of trivia than on one of our open-top Edinburgh bus tours? As you ride past dramatic architecture and ancient alleyways listening to the audio commentary, who knows what new facts about Edinburgh you’ll discover!
Table of Contents
Fun and Interesting Facts About Edinburgh
Read on for our interesting facts about Edinburgh, spanning its history, culture, geography, and unique traditions.
1. An elephant once lived in Edinburgh Castle
During the 1830s, the 78th Highlanders returned from Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) with a rather unusual souvenir: a live elephant. This Scottish regiment was stationed in Edinburgh Castle, and they kept it as an unusual pet.
It lived alongside the soldiers in the castle, marched in formation alongside the men when they paraded and reportedly developed a fondness for beer, enjoying a cheeky pint in the castle canteen.
2. There’s a statue of Scotland’s most loyal dog (and his polished nose)
Greyfriars Bobby, Edinburgh’s famously plucky Skye Terrier, rose to fame for allegedly guarding his master’s grave for 14 years. He now has his own statue near Greyfriars Kirkyard.
Fun twist: rubbing his nose used to be a “good luck” tourist thing, but the constant polishing damaged the statue so much the council had to restore it. If you’re visiting Edinburgh with kids, make sure you stop by so they can say hello!
3. Edinburgh was the first city in the world to have its own fire service
Edinburgh became the world’s first city to establish a professional fire brigade in 1824. Commanded by pioneering firefighter James Braidwood. Braidwood and his squad set the standard for urban fire safety globally, long before it was common elsewhere.
But here’s the funny part: you had to pay a special insurance tax to be protected. If your house caught fire and you hadn’t paid up? The brigade might just let it burn. (Imagine firefighters today checking your subscription plan before bringing out the hose!)
Ironically, within just weeks of the service being founded, the Great Fire of Edinburgh broke out in November 1824. It raged for days, destroyed hundreds of homes, and killed at least 10 people.
4. The city has more listed buildings than anywhere else in Scotland
You won’t believe that Edinburgh has over 4,500 listed buildings. To put that in perspective, that’s more than Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dundee combined.
It’s partly because the Old Town and New Town together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In other words, the whole city centre is basically a giant architectural “Do Not Touch” sign.
5. Edinburgh and Glasgow: historic rivals just an hour apart
Despite being only about 50 miles apart, these two cities couldn’t be more different in vibe. Edinburgh’s elegant charm and Glasgow’s gritty coolness have always made for good banter between the cities, dating back more than 300 years.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Edinburgh became famous for the Scottish Enlightenment — philosophers, writers, and scientists earning it the nickname “The Athens of the North”. Meanwhile, Glasgow boomed during the Industrial Revolution, building ships, trading tobacco, and cranking out wealth. The joke? “Edinburgh wrote the books, Glasgow built the ships.”
Today, the friendly competition between the locals continues, and you can experience both cities easily with the Glasgow hop-on hop-off bus.
6. Arthur's Seat is an extinct volcano in the heart of the city
Rising above the dramatic hill in Holyrood Park, Arthur’s Seat is a 350-million-year-old extinct volcano.
Surprisingly, nobody knows why it’s named after Arthur and why this place belongs to him! However, today, Arthur’s Seat offers one of the best views in the city and is a popular spot for sunrise hikes. It’s one of the many fun, free things to do in Edinburgh.
7. The Royal Mile is exactly one Scots mile long
One of the fascinating fun facts about Edinburgh is about its backbone of the Old Town, the historic Royal Mile. Stretching from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Royal Mile measures about 1.81 kilometres—precisely one Scots mile, which is longer than the standard English mile (1.13 of our modern miles).
To add to the confusion, the Royal Mile isn’t one straight street but actually a chain of streets with different names (Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, Canongate, Abbey Strand).
8. The surprising connection between Nessie and Edinburgh
While the Loch Ness Monster, or “Nessie”, is famously associated with the Highlands, the first ever “official” Nessie sighting was reported by an Edinburgh man.
The modern Loch Ness Monster legend kicked off in 1933, when a couple claimed they saw “a large creature” crossing the road near Loch Ness. But the story really took off when it was reported in the press by Alex Campbell, a water bailiff and journalist from… Edinburgh. Without him, Nessie might have stayed a local rumour instead of a global celebrity.
Many tours to Loch Ness start from the Scottish capital. Book a Loch Ness tour and see if you can spot Nessie yourself.
9. Edinburgh's Old Town and New Town are UNESCO World Heritage Sites
That’s right—two UNESCO sites in one city! The Old Town is all mediaeval alleys and underground vaults, while the New Town brings stately Georgian design. Despite the name ‘New Town’, this area was actually built between 1767 and 1890!
10. The world's only knighted penguin lives at Edinburgh Zoo
Edinburgh Zoo is one of the must-see attractions in the city, receiving more than 600,000 visitors each year, second only to Edinburgh Castle. And, one of the quirkiest facts about Edinburgh Zoo is about Sir Nils Olav, a king penguin who lives here.
Sir Nils was knighted in 2008 and continues to delight visitors with his royal status. He even has his own medal collection and inspects troops during visits—waddle and all!
11. The city inspired parts of the Harry Potter universe
Many believe J.K. Rowling found inspiration for Hogwarts in Edinburgh’s gothic skyline, atmospheric streets, graveyards, and cafés. These incredibly Instagrammable Edinburgh locations are unmissable.
Locations like Victoria Street, the spooky Greyfriars Kirkyard and the coffee shop where she wrote are said to have influenced Diagon Alley and the characters’ names. Potterheads will feel right at home!
12. Edinburgh has more trees per person than any other UK city
Unknown to many, with more than 112 parks and nearly half a million trees, Edinburgh’s urban greenery is unmatched. That’s roughly 1 tree for every 7–8 residents. It’s not just castles and cobbles—there’s plenty of nature to go around, even in the city centre. One of the greenest cities in Britain, Edinburgh’s public spaces are perfect for relaxing or exploring.
Historical Facts About Scotland's Capital
13. Edinburgh became Scotland's capital in the 15th century
Edinburgh wasn’t Scotland’s capital till 1436. Prior to that, it was Scone, a town in Perth and Kinross, famous for being home to the Earls of Mansfield.
This shift happened after King James I was assassinated in Perth, prompting the royal court to move permanently to Edinburgh for its strategic hilltop location and fortified castle. Since then, it has remained the political heart of the nation, housing Parliament, monarchs, and later the devolved Scottish Government.
14. It was a centre of the Enlightenment in the 18th century
During the 18th century, Edinburgh was at the forefront of the Scottish Enlightenment, a period of intellectual and scientific advancement that shaped its modern form. The city’s coffeehouses and lecture halls buzzed with revolutionary ideas in philosophy, medicine, science, and economics.
15. The city's nickname ‘Auld Reekie’ refers to its smoky past
“Auld Reekie”, or “Old Smoky” in Scots, is the affectionate nickname locals use for their city. It came from the thick columns of smoke that billowed from tenement chimneys burning coal and peat.
With no modern sanitation and homes crammed together in the Old Town, the city was grimy but lively, and the nickname captured its smoky charm before the arrival of modern heating and urban planning.
Interestingly, the smoke had a silver lining: it helped preserve some of the stone buildings by creating a kind of protective layer — an accidental “patina of history.”
16. Famous thinkers like David Hume and Adam Smith lived here
David Hume, the father of modern scepticism, and Adam Smith, the pioneer of economics, both lived and worked in Edinburgh during the Scottish Enlightenment.
They weren’t just theorists—they were residents who walked the Royal Mile, debated in salons, and helped shape the intellectual foundation of Europe. Their ideas didn’t just change Scotland—they influenced modern Western thought.
17. The University of Edinburgh is one of the oldest in the English-speaking world
Established in 1582, the University of Edinburgh quickly gained a reputation for excellence in medicine, law, and philosophy. It played a pivotal role in the Enlightenment and has educated some of the greatest minds in history—Charles Darwin, Sir Walter Scott, Alexander Graham Bell, and Arthur Conan Doyle among them.
Today, it continues to rank among the top universities worldwide.
Interesting facts about Edinburgh Zoo
18. Edinburgh Zoo was the first in the world to host king penguins
In 1914, a group of king penguins from South Georgia made Edinburgh Zoo their home. It marked the first time this species was displayed outside its native habitat. The penguins caused a stir almost immediately. Newspapers reported that Edinburgh residents were fascinated by these “miniature soldiers in tuxedos” waddling about the enclosures.
Since then, the zoo has kept and bred king penguins, a tradition that continues to this day. Because of Edinburgh’s northern latitude, these penguins live farther north than anywhere else in the world, making the zoo a unique place to see them in the wild-ish.
19. Sir Nils Olav, the knighted penguin, is a Norwegian military mascot
Sir Nils Olav is not just a local celebrity—he’s the official mascot of the Norwegian King’s Guard and has received several honorary titles. This beloved bird isn’t just a fun photo op—he’s got real duties. Every few years, the Norwegian military returns to renew his rank.
20. Edinburgh Zoo was home to the UK's only giant pandas
Edinburgh Zoo is home to Tian Tian (“Sweetie”) and Yang Guang (“Sunshine”), a pair of giant pandas on loan from China. They arrived in 2011 as part of a 12-year conservation loan from the Chinese government and returned in 2023.
21. It pioneered ‘Penguin Parade’ as a daily animal enrichment routine
What started as a happy accident (in the 1950s a keeper accidentally left a gate open, and the penguins marched out; some even escaped!) turned into a beloved tradition.
Every day, a group of penguins walks out of their enclosure and parades around the zoo, much to the delight of guests.
22. Opened in 1913, it remains one of Scotland's top attractions
Over a century old, with over 600,000 visitors annually, Edinburgh Zoo continues to lead in animal care, conservation and education.
Over 110 years later, Edinburgh Zoo remains a mix of historic charm, educational significance, and quirky entertainment, which keeps visitors coming back year after year. It’s not just a tourist stop—it’s a scientific hub.
Not just a destination: a place to make travel fun and memorable
These are some funny, historic and surprising facts about Edinburgh. Whether you’re searching for some old places that resemble history or want to take the modern route, this city has exciting places for every kind of traveller.
So, if you found these facts fun and a bit surprising, and want to discover more, the easiest way to do it is with the Edinburgh hop-on hop-off bus.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburgh is famous for so many things—the historic Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, the knighted penguin Sir Nils Olav, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, fantastic Edinburgh museums and its beautiful mix of Old and New Towns.
Yes, Edinburgh is considered one of the safest cities in the UK for travellers. As with any city, it’s wise to stay alert, especially at night.
Summer (June to August) is the most popular time due to festivals and mild weather. However, spring and early autumn offer fewer crowds and beautiful scenery.
Accordion ContentYes, you can explore the castle at your own pace. Guided tours and audio guides are optional but help bring the history to life and provide interesting facts about Edinburgh Castle.
City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off buses are a great option to cover more ground without the hassle.