Edinburgh failed to make Time Out’s sixth annual list of the World’s 50 Best Cities when it was released this week, but our friends along the M8 in Glasgow came in at number 30 on the list.
For many years the east/ west debate about whether Edinburgh or Glasgow is Scotland’s best city has raged, so we’ve taken a look at reasons why the Capital is the best, in our humble opinion.
For a start, Glasgow doesn’t have the history Edinburgh has, and of course the Capital welcomes the world’s biggest arts festival every August, with millions of tourists flocking here every year testament to both. And despite Glasgow’s dominance on the football field over the years and the popularity of Celtic and Rangers, Edinburgh still has the country’s largest sports stadium, with 67,000 able to pack into Murrayfield to roar on the Scotland rugby team.
Scotland’s parliament sits at Holyrood, and it would be remiss to forget the biggest advantage Edinburgh has over Glasgow, chippy brown sauce! Why use just vinegar when our special sauce mixes traditional brown sauce with vinegar to create a unique and perfect accompaniment to fish and chips?
9. Edinburgh Castle
There can't be many city centres across the world that have a castle, with Edinburgh Castle looking down on the rest of the city as it expanded over the past few hundred years. With tourists from all corners of the globe spotted taking photos of it from Princes Street and visiting the castle every day. Photo: Submitted
10. Murrayfield Stadium
While Glasgow is often seen as Scotland's home of sport, particularly due to the Old Firm's football dominance over the years and the country's three largest football stadiums being Hampden Park, Ibrox and Parkhead, the biggest stadium in Scotland is in the Capital. Murrayfield Stadium currently holds 67,000 spectators for Scotland rugby matches and the occasional football match, while even more fans can enjoy concerts there, with thousands set to flock there this summer for concerts by Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen and Harry Styles. Photo: Mark Runnacles
11. History
While most of Glasgow's old buildings have been torn down over the years, the centre of Edinburgh attracts millions of tourists every year to see buildings that have stood for hundreds of years, particularly along the length of the Royal Mile, with the city's Old Town and New Town designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Photo: ESPC
12. The seven hills
Not many cities can boast having seven hills, with Edinburgh residents and visitors able to enjoy the stunning scenery from each of the Capital's hills: Castle Rock; Calton Hill; Arthur's Seat; Blackford Hill; Braid Hills; Corstorphine Hill; Craiglockhart Hill. Photo: Photographer: Scott Louden