Edinburgh is a city in the east of Scotland. It is the nation's capital and one of its 32 council areas. It has been Scotland's most prominent city since at least the time of William Shakespeare when it was known as "Auld Reekie" (literally translated from Scots Gaelic: "Old Smoky") on account of noxious fog and smell around the 17th Century. In modern times, Edinburgh was referred to as "the Athens of the North" due to the many buildings and architecture similar to ancient Greece. It is the seat of the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Executive, as well as being Scotland's second most populous city. It forms part of the Golden Triangle together with Glasgow, Stirling, and Perth - an area recognised as one of Europe's largest financial centres.

Edinburgh architecture doesn't just represent the Greeks, there is also a Gothic style alongside Georgian, Edwardian, and Victorian. The Old Town was a major source for the city's distinctive appearance, with its narrow twisting streets and tall buildings.

The castle is Edinburgh's most popular attraction and grabs the attention with its position perched above the city's streets. Since the Union of Scotland and England in 1707, its architecture has been predominantly influenced by Scottish Palladianism after the arrival in the city of William Adam. The New Town, an 18th-century planned extension to the Old Town, is one of the most important and influential examples of Georgian architecture in Europe with Edinburgh's buildings being cared for by Historic Scotland, a public body responsible for the protection and enhancement of Scotland's heritage.