Edinburgh New Town and the Scottish Enlightenment

The modern world was invented in Scotland and we can prove it! The Scottish Enlightenment made Edinburgh an unparalleled centre of science, philosophy and genius. Born out of the cramped Old Town, this era found its expression in the Georgian architecture of the New Town across the Nor’loch.

Revolutionary ideas in economics, geology, chemistry and philosophy rewrote the way we look at the world. The spirit of the Scottish Enlightenment continued across the Atlantic Ocean and was enshrined in the ideals of the United States of America’s founding fathers. A quick look at the Old Town sets the scene for the incredible changes of the 18th century, and then we cross into the New Town to learn about the most famous characters and architecture of that time.

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• The Old Town
• The Royal Mile
• St Giles’ Cathedral
• Adam Smith’s monument
• David Hume’s monument
• The Poker Club
• The Mound
• The National Gallery
• The Royal Academy
• Princes Street
• The Scott Monument
• The Battle of the Styles
• The New Town
• Rose Street
• St Andrew Square
• The Royal Bank of Scotland
• George Street
• The Oxford Bar
• Charlotte Square
• The Second New Town
• Dean Village
• The Water of Leith