Leith Harbour
Leith is the historic port district of Edinburgh, a place with its own strong identity separate from the medieval Old Town on the hill above and now one of the most vibrant and interesting neighbourhoods in Scotland. The harbour has served Edinburgh's maritime needs for over eight centuries and has handled everything from medieval trade with the Baltic and Netherlands to warships, emigrants and whisky exports in more recent centuries. Today Leith's waterfront has been transformed into a bustling destination while retaining strong connections to its working port heritage. The most famous vessel berthed at Leith is the Royal Yacht Britannia, the decommissioned royal yacht that served as the floating residence of the Queen and the Royal Family from 1953 until 1997. Now permanently moored at Ocean Terminal, the yacht offers one of the most intimate and genuinely fascinating royal experiences available anywhere in Britain. Self-guided tours with audio commentary allow visitors to explore the royal apartments, the state dining room and the engine room, giving a vivid sense of life aboard the yacht during state visits and royal holidays. The scale and detail of the royal family's personal quarters, rather modest compared to expectations, is often the element that surprises visitors most. The Shore, Leith's historic waterfront street, runs along the Water of Leith from the harbour and is lined with some of Edinburgh's best independent restaurants, bars and cafés. The area's maritime character has been preserved in the old trading warehouses and merchants' buildings along the water, and the mix of working port infrastructure, converted heritage buildings and contemporary restaurants gives Leith a character distinct from anywhere else in the city. The story of Leith's role in Scotland's history is told at the Leith Archive and through various interpretation boards along the waterfront walk. The area was technically a separate burgh from Edinburgh until it was absorbed into the city in 1920 and still retains a sense of independent identity that its residents tend to cultivate carefully. Mary Queen of Scots arrived in Scotland for the last time at Leith Harbour in 1561, and the area witnessed some of the most dramatic moments in Edinburgh's complex political history. The Water of Leith Walkway follows the river from the harbour upstream through the city, providing a peaceful urban walking route that passes through the Dean Village, the Botanic Gardens and eventually reaches the Pentland Hills. Combined with a visit to the harbour, it provides a rewarding day exploring Edinburgh's neighbourhoods away from the Royal Mile.