Visit Edinburgh, the UK's favourite city

Holidaymakers keen to go on a British city break will find it hard to beat the travel experience of visiting the historic Scottish city of Edinburgh.

The city has been voted the UK's favourite city break destination for the eighth year running at the Guardian's 2007 travel awards.

By contrast, holidaymakers rated the ever-popular London the 17th best city to visit in the country, well behind newcomers to the top ten Cambridge, Cardiff and Leeds.

Edinburgh got an overall rating of 90.4 per cent based on the quality visitors felt they got during their visit.

The accolade for the city follows Edinburgh being considered the best place to live in the country by the Channel 4 property show Location, Location, Location.

To complement the travel award, the Scotland tourist board has put together its top tips for visitors to Edinburgh.

When visiting Edinburgh…

Pack your walking shoes. Easy to walk and compact, it is easy to get from place to place and enjoy beautiful cityscape and lots of hidden gems on foot.

Visit any time of the year. The sunshine may not be guaranteed, but Edinburgh is equally beautiful all year round, from the thousands of Christmas lights to the buzz of the summer festivals.

Explore Edinburgh’s green spaces. Built on a series of extinct volcanoes Edinburgh's landscape is dramatic with some great viewpoints, such as Arthur’s Seat or Calton Hill. Relax at the Botanics for a less well known vista of Edinburgh.

Edinburgh is a Unesco City of Literature. Explore Edinburgh’s literary past and learn about the works of Robert Burns, Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson or more modern writers such as Ian Rankin, JK Rowling and Alexander McCall Smith. Climb the Scott Monument, visit the Writers Museum or just browse the numerous second hand book stores.

Get the most out of the city with an Edinburgh Pass. The pass includes entry to over 30 attractions, travel on the Airlink from the airport to the city, bus travel around Edinburgh and discounts in shops and restaurants. Pass holders also get a pocket size guide book, with city centre and transport route maps and details of attractions and offers.

Join in the Edinburgh winter festivals. These include the great Scottish Santa Run, the Highland Village Christmas Market and the Winter Wonderland. Then there is also the Edinburgh Hogmanay New Year’s Eve celebrations, arguably the best known and biggest New Year's party in the UK.