English Courses in Edinburgh
Overview
Scotland’s fantastic capital city is one of the most culturally exciting and beautiful cities in the world, with miles of unspoiled countryside and picturesque coastline. Edinburgh offers an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and adventure. From the atmospheric cobbled streets of the Old Town to the beautiful Georgian avenues of the New Town, Edinburgh is a city of contrasts, blending shopping, historic attractions, gardens, and plenty of restaurants and cafés. Edinburgh has an international airport and plenty of great, convenient bus and rail links. Edinburgh boasts an amazing variety of different visitor attractions, catering to all tastes, such as St Giles Cathedral and the Royal Yacht Britannia. Edinburgh is also home to Arthur’s Seat, a dormant volcano in Holyrood Park. Looming over the city is the spectacular Edinburgh Castle, home to Scotland’s Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny, which was traditionally used in the coronation of Scottish rulers. With an array of outstanding and award-winning restaurants, cafés and bars, eating out in Edinburgh is a culinary delight, offering a diverse mix of places to eat and drink which appeal to all tastes and budgets. The city comes alive in August, with a host of festivals covering art, books, politics, music, theatre, dance, food, spirituality and everything else in between. The most popular festivals include the Edinburgh International Festival, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the PHB’s Free Fringe.
Why study English in Edinburgh?
There are so many reasons to learn English in Edinburgh, Scotland, quite apart from it being one of the most beautiful and well-loved cities in the world! Here are the top ones:
- Edinburgh was recently rated the Best Place to Live in the UK.
- Edinburgh has a good selection of high quality English language schools, including a famous one for teacher training.
- It is a friendly and welcoming Scottish city, with a small population of only 500,000.
- It is a brilliant student city, with an affordable and vibrant social scene.
- The city is home to the world-famous Edinburgh Festivals, the largest collection of arts festivals in the world
- It is the capital city of Scotland, an innovative country that has given the world television, radio, telephones, penicillin, modern economics, the MRI scanner, Dolly the Sheep and Grand Theft Auto!
- Edinburgh is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and 75% of the city is made up of historic buildings
- Edinburgh has low levels of air pollution compared to other cities in the UK, partly because it has an abundance of green space, with over 100 parks and public gardens.
- It is also the first ever UNESCO City of Literature, home to celebrated authors such as Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns, Arthur Conan Doyle and J.K. Rowling.
Language Schools and Camps in this Destination
In Edinburgh, Marshall Language Services also works with the following English language schools:
- Basil Paterson
- Regent Edinburgh
- The Edinburgh School of English
- Kaplan Edinburgh
- Experience English/British Study Centres (BSC) Edinburgh
Please contact us for more information.
Images of Edinburgh, Scotland
Things to Do and See During a Vacation Study
Outlook Tower and Camera Obscura
The Camera Obscura and World of Illusion is a tower with five floors of attractions related to optical illusions and a roof top observation deck. The tower is located on Castle Hill next to Edinburgh Castle.
Writers’ Museum
This unique museum is housed in Lady Stair’s House on the Royal Mile. The remarkable castle-like house was built in 1622 for Sir Walter Grey.
The Meadows
The Meadows is a large green space south of the Old Town adjoining Edinburgh University. The site is used by locals to relax and enjoy the facilities, which include tennis courts, a putting course, large open lawns, cricket grounds in West Meadows, and cycle and pedestrian paths.
Scottish Parliament Building
Each element in the hall has a story and artistic twist. Visitors can enter the public areas of the building, and public gallery of the Debating Chamber. There is artwork displayed in the building, which represents 50 Scottish artists and craft people.
Edinburgh Literature Pub Tour
This tour takes place across the city on foot and is led by professional actors. Along the way, the actors recite from famous Scottish books in a humorous, dramatic and entertaining manner.
Edinburgh Castle
On the top of the massive Castle Rock, in the center of the city sits Edinburgh Castle. The rock has been settled by humans since the 2nd century and there has been a castle on the summit since the 12th century. Until 1603 (when England, Scotland and Ireland were united) the castle was the official royal residence. Today the castle has been restored and various remnants of past eras remain.
Museum of Childhood
This toy collection is conveniently located on the Royal Mile and housed in two historic buildings. It was the first museum of its kind in the world and holds items spanning the 18th to the 21st centuries.
Malt Whisky Tasting in Edinburgh
Scotch Whisky is world renowned and this intimate 90-minute tasting tour at Edinburgh’s Jeffrey Street whisky shop offers the perfect introduction to it, with the chance to sample four single malt whiskies and learn more about Scotland’s whisky-making heritage.
Cupcake and Macaron Walking Tour of Edinburgh
Explore the city by foot and sample six sweets – from cupcakes and candies to macarons and shortbread cookies – at artisanal stores and bakeries. Spend over two hours strolling the Royal Mile and nibbling on treats while your guide shares some local history.
Royal Yacht Brittania
A visit to this decommissioned Royal Yacht used by Queen Elizabeth II on her state visits and holidays is the visitor’s peek at the “real” life of the royals. Complete with family snapshots and their furnishings just as they left them in the 1990s, it is the ultimate guilty pleasure.
How to Arrive at your Language Course
By rail
The city of Edinburgh has three railway stations: Waverley, the main stain station, followed by Haymarket, both of which are in the center, and the third one, Edinburgh Park, is outside of the center. Waverley Station is managed by First Scotrail and operates trains between many destinations in Scotland and the United Kingdom. The connections to and from London are managed by East Coast trains, departing and arriving from Kings Cross Station, for a journey of less than 5 hours. London-Edinburgh connections are also offered by Virgin Trains, to and from London’s Euston station, with a change at Birmingham (for a total of 4 hours’ journey).
By bus
Edinburgh International Airport (EDI) is located 9 km from the center of the city. The stops for buses going and coming from there are at Waverley Bridge, near Princes Street. The connections are provided by Airlink Express Bus 100 (every 10 minutes, for a journey of approximately 25 minutes) and Lothian Bus 35 from the the city center to the Ocean terminal, with all the main city center stops in between (RBS, the Parliament, and Holyrood Palace). More information about the Lothian bus is available here.