Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, and one of only three cities
with an international airport. Chances are, in you’re
traveling to Scotland (particularly eastern Scotland),
you’re going to visit Edinburgh. And if you’re going to visit
Edinburgh, you’re going to want to explore the Royal Mile. From
the Palace of Holyrood at Canongate, along High Street to
Edinburgh Castle on Castlehill, the Royal Mile has been the main
thoroughfare of Old Town Edinburgh since the mid 1700′s.
Today, it’s the most bustling tourist zone in the city, but for good
reason. History and modernity mix together along the Royal
Mile, making it a fascinating path of historic travel, a haven for
shoppers and diners, and an entertaining travel experience for
families. Here are five essential stops along Edinburgh’s Royal
Mile for families.
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Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, and one of only three cities with
an international airport. Chances are, in you're traveling to Scotland
(especially eastern Scotland), you're going to visit Edinburgh. And if
you're going to visit Edinburgh, you're going to want to explore the
Royal Mile. From the Palace of Holyrood at Canongate, along High
Street to Edinburgh Castle on Castlehill, the Royal Mile has been
the main road of Old Town Edinburgh since the mid 1700's. Today,
it's the most hurrying/very busy tourist zone in the city, but for good
reason. History and modern ways of thinking and acting mix
together along the Royal Mile, making it a fascinating path of historic
travel, a safe place for shoppers and diners, and an entertaining
travel experience for families. Here are five essential stops along
Edinburgh's Royal Mile for families.
Difficult words with definitions:
Difficult word/phrase Easier replacement
1 particularly
especially
2 thoroughfare
road
3 bustling
hurrying/very busy
4 modernity
modern ways of thinking and acting
5 haven
safe place
Holyrood Palace, or, the Palace of Holyroodhouse
Holyrood Palace, or, the Palace of Holyroodhouse
At the bottom of the Royal Mile –or easternmost part —
At the bottom of the Royal Mile -or easternmost part --
Holyrood Palace has been the official residence of the Kings
Holyrood Palace has been the official residence of the Kings
and Queens of Scotland for centuries (founded as an abbey
and Queens of Scotland for centuries (founded as a church
in 1128, renovated as a palace circa 1679). Families with
in 1128, renovated as a palace(around/approximately)
teens who are interested in the royal family should take
1679 ) . Families with teens who are interested in the royal
note: Queen Elizabeth spends some time at Holyrood
family should take note: Queen Elizabeth spends some time
Palace at the beginning of every summer. We were treated
at Holyrood Palace at the beginning of every summer. We
to a private guided tour of Edinburgh by Kensington Tours;
were treated to a private guided tour of Edinburgh by
when our Kensington Tours guide took us here, Holyrood
Kensington Tours; when our Kensington Tours guide took
was closed to visitors because the Queen was somewhere
us here, Holyrood was closed to visitors because the Queen
inside…and apparently uninterested in meeting my 14 year
was somewhere inside...and apparently not interested in
old. Imagine that!
meeting my 14 year old. Imagine that!
Difficult words with definitions:
Difficult word/phrase Easier replacement
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1 abbey
church
2 circa
(around/approximately)
3 uninterested
not interested
Scotland’s Parliament
England, or more precisely London ruled Edinburgh for
Scotland's Parliament
centuries (you may recall there were a few wars about this).
centuries (you may recall there were a few wars about this).
But when Scotland voted to have its own parliament in
But when Scotland voted to have its own parliament in
1997, London agreed and, for the first time since 1707,
1997, London agreed and, for the first time since 1707,
Edinburgh’s parliament met again, in 1999, here on the
Edinburgh's parliament met again, in 1999, here on the
Royal Mile. There are so many medieval structures
Royal Mile. There are so many (very old time in
in Edinburgh; the modern design of Scotland’s
history) structures in Edinburgh; the modern design of
Parliament building, newly opened in 2004, is
Scotland's Parliament building, newly opened in 2004, is
striking and definitely sends a message: This isn’t
striking and definitely sends a message: This isn't the past,
the past, this is today, and we Scots have our own
this is today, and we Scots have our own government now.
government now. It sure stands out, and the public foyer
It sure stands out, and the public foyer and entrance have
and entrance have many symbols of Scottish history on
many symbols of Scottish history on display. If your kids
display. If your kids are like mine, this won’t be the most
are like mine, this won't be the most thrilling stop on the
thrilling stop on the Royal Mile, but it’s an important one in
Royal Mile, but it's an important one in terms of seeing
terms of seeing Scottish history and modernity along the
Scottish history and modern ways of thinking and
walk.
acting along the walk.
England, or more exactly London ruled Edinburgh for
Difficult words with definitions:
Difficult word/phrase Easier replacement
1 precisely
exactly
2 medieval
(very old time in history)
3 modernity
modern ways of thinking and acting
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Mary King’s Close
Many little courtyards, called closes, branch off from the
Mary King's Close
main street of the royal mile. Edinburgh was once the
main street of the royal mile. Edinburgh was once the
busiest, most congested city in Europe, and its denizens
busiest, most congested city in Europe, and its residents
would take the narrow alleys to these more open areas.
would take the narrow alleys to these more open areas.
Mary King’s Close is probably the most “famous” of these
Mary King's Close is probably the most "famous" of these
closes. Now underground because other building
closes. Now underground because other building
were built on top of it, Mary King’s Close was a
were built on top of it, Mary King's Close was
bustling shopping area with people’s residences
a hurrying/very busy shopping area with people's
around it in the 1600′s. These days it’s a big tourist
residences around it in the 1600's. These days it's a
attraction, so if you’re traveling to Edinburgh in the
big tourist attraction, so if you're traveling to Edinburgh in
summer, plan ahead and make reservations to see “The
the summer, plan ahead and make reservations to see "The
Real Mary King’s Close.” Yes, it has actors portraying the
Real Mary King's Close." Yes, it has actors showing/
various people who lived there, but it’s only a little tacky
representing the different people who lived there, but it's
and genuinely spooky; wandering through the actual dark,
only a little tacky and really/honestlyspooky; wandering
enclose spaces (be warned if you had severe claustrophobia)
through the actual dark, enclose spaces (be warned if you
and makeshift homes, while listening to the story of the
had extreme strong fear of being inside a small space)
bubonic plague and how it affected people living there, it
and temporary/quickly made homes, while listening to the
seems fitting to have short scenes brought to life. Children
story of the bubonicdisease/badly harm and bother and
and young teens will really understand how much more
how it affected people living there, it seems fitting to have
difficult life was in the 17th century.
short scenes brought to life. Children and young teens will
Many little courtyards, called closes, branch off from the
really understand how much more very hard life was in the
17th century.
Difficult words with definitions:
Difficult word/phrase Easier replacement
http://www.rewordify.com/p.php?p=df532f6e03
1
denizen
resident
2
bustling
hurrying/very busy
3
portraying
showing/representing
4
various
different
5
genuinely
really/honestly
6
severe
extreme
7
claustrophobia
strong fear of being inside a small space
8
makeshift
temporary/quickly made
9
plague
disease/badly harm and bother
10 difficult
very hard
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
Camera Obscura and World of Fake images
This building is one of five essential stops along
This building is one of five essential stops along Edinburgh's Royal
Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, but one purely for the kids. Near
Mile, but one purely for the kids. Near the top of the Royal Mile,
the top of the Royal Mile, with the entrance to Edinburgh
Castle almost in sight, it’s a vertical, narrow building
with the entrance to Edinburgh Castle almost in sight, it's an upand-down, narrow building housing a camera unknown and several
floors worth of (things that trick your eyes into making mistakes
housing a camera obscure and several floors worth of
about what they see) and games that play with our sense of visual
optical illusions and games that play with our sense of
perception. This has nothing to do with the history of Edinburgh,
visual perception. This has nothing to do with the history of
mind you, but children love it. It's a nice break from hearing about
Edinburgh, mind you, but children love it. It’s a nice break
women having been accused of practicing witchcraft in the Dark
from hearing about women having been accused of
Ages! Check out the Rotation Tunnel; it's hard to not feel dizzy
practicing witchcraft in the Dark Ages! Check out the Vortex
Tunnel; it’s hard to not feel dizzy though the room itself is
though the room itself is completely unmoving. My younger
daughter had such fun exploring all thedifferent rooms and floors of
the World of Fake images that we had problems convincing her we
completely stationary. My younger daughter had such fun
had to leave. The Camera Obscura is a large Victorian periscope that
exploring all the various rooms and floors of the World of
provides wrap-around views of Edinburgh, including parts of the
Illusions that we had problems convincing her we had to
Castle.
leave. The Camera Obscura is a large Victorian periscope
that provides wrap-around views of Edinburgh, including
parts of the Castle.
Difficult words with definitions:
Difficult
word/phrase
Easier replacement
1 illusions
fake images
2 vertical
up-and-down
3 obscure
unknown
4 optical illusions
(things that trick your eyes into making
mistakes about what they see)
5 vortex
rotation
6 stationary
unmoving
7 various
different
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Edinburgh Castle
Now, this is what the Royal Mile leads up to, the castle on
the hill, Edinburgh Castle. You don’t need to buy tickets and
be part of a tour group to explore every (public) part of
Edinburgh Castle, but a private guided tour such as one
provided by Kensington Tours, goes beyond what you’d
learn just from wandering around and reading the
Edinburgh Castle
Now, this is what the Royal Mile leads up to, the castle on
the hill, Edinburgh Castle. You don't need to buy tickets and
be part of a tour group to explore every (public) part of
Edinburgh Castle, but a private guided tour such as
one given by Kensington Tours, goes beyond what you'd
learn just from wandering around and reading the
descriptive plaques.
descriptive plaques.
A private guide will capably cater exploring
Edinburgh Castle to your group or family’s
preferences, but some highlights can’t be missed.
The One o’clock Gun Exhibition, for example; a gun has
been fired every day here (except Sundays, Christmas Day
A private guide will capably cater exploring
Edinburgh Castle to your group or family's
preferences, but some highlights can't be missed.
The One o'clock Gun Exhibition, for example; a gun has
been fired every day here (except Sundays, Christmas Day
and Good Friday) since 1861, to show/point to the time to
ships in the Firth of Forward below. The Royal
palace gave/given luxury for the royal family (and stands in
sharp contract to the homes' seen in Mary King's Close and
other closes along the Royal Mile). Mary Queen of
Scots lived here, and in this palace gave birth to her son
James VI. Mons Meg is one of the world's oldest unharmed
and in one piececannons, dating
from (around/approximately) 1457. The Crown Jewels are
in Edinburgh Castle; these are the Crown, the (royal
wand/royal power), and the Sword of State, and they are
the oldest crown jewels in all of the British Isles. Our
Kensington Tours guide's favorite spot in all of the castle is
quiet, small and calm. St. Margaret's Chapel is a
and Good Friday) since 1861, to indicate the time to ships in
the Firth of Forth below. The Royal palace provided luxury
for the royal family (and stands in sharp contract to the
homes’ seen in Mary King’s Close and other closes along
the Royal Mile). Mary Queen of Scots resided here, and in
this palace gave birth to her son James VI. Mons Meg is one
of the world’s oldest intact cannons, dating from circa 1457.
The Crown Jewels are in Edinburgh Castle; these are the
Crown, the Sceptre, and the Sword of State, and they are the
oldest crown jewels in all of the British Isles. Our
Kensington Tours guide’s favorite spot in all of the castle is
quiet, small and serene. St. Margaret’s Chapel is a
Difficult word/phrase Easier replacement
1 indicate
show/point to
2 forth
forward
3 provided
gave/given
4 resided
lived
5 intact
unharmed and in one piece
6 circa
(around/approximately)
7 sceptre
(royal wand/royal power)
8 serene
calm
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place of peace amidst all the cannons and other
weaponry used for defense through the ages — built
first in 1130, it was once a place of private worship
for the royal family. Even today, it’s a respite from the
crowds, as fewer tourists make their way into the sanctuary.
There are, needless to say, lots of other great things to see
and experience along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. These
five essential stops along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile
are for traveling families. Adults might also like the
Scotch Whiskey Experience, The Hub, The Witchery by the
Castle, St. Giles Cathedral (we loved St Giles Cathedral, but
our kids ere bored), and the garden in Dunbar’s Close. It’s a
fantastic part of the city.
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place of peace in the middle of all the cannons and
other weapons used for defense through the ages -built first in 1130, it was once a place of private
worship for the royal family. Even today, it's an (a)
break from the crowds, as fewer tourists make their way into
the safe place.
There are, needless to say, lots of other great things to see and
experience along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. These five essential
stops along Edinburgh's Royal Mile are for traveling families. Adults
might also like the Scotch Whiskey Experience, The Hub, The
Witchery by the Castle, St. Giles Cathedral (we loved St Giles
Cathedral, but our kids before bored), and the garden in Dunbar's
Close. It's a fantastic part of the city.
word/phrase - Easier replacement
amidst
in the middle of
1 weaponry weapons
2 respite
(a) break
3 sanctuary safe place
4 ere
Before