With a rich and diverse history, Edinburgh is home to a multitude of interesting facts and titbits. It’s why we’ve put together 10 interesting facts about Edinburgh you may not know you needed to know. To find out more about this riveting city and explore all it has to offer, please take a look at our whats on page on the website, which we update regularly with exciting things to see and do in Edinburgh.

1. REEKING OF HISTORY
Contrary to popular belief, Edinburgh’s well-know nickname, Auld Reekie, was not coined as a result of the stench of open sewers in medieval times. In fact, it refers to the smoke emitted by coal and wood burnt in the city’s buildings and homes.

2. TRIAL AND ERROR
Famed for its beautiful blooms, Princess Street Gardens was once a large body of water known as ‘Nor Loch’. Heavily polluted with sewage, the loch is thought to be the location of around 300 witch trials. Women suspected of practicing witchcraft were cast into the watery depths to determine their guilt. If they could float their fate was sealed and they were executed as witches. If they couldn’t, they were presumed innocent … even though they met the same bitter end.