With its castle dominating it from above and the medieval Gothic-style buildings that characterize its lower part, Edinburgh has always been a popular destination for VIP travelers who decide to fly private to get to the Scottish capital.
The rather gloomy, romantic and simultaneously melancholy atmosphere in Edinburgh make Scotland's most important city quite mysterious, partly because of its very troubled past.
Edinburgh International Airport, in any case, makes it quite easy to charter a private jet because it offers passengers the opportunity to avail themselves of multiple exclusive services and amenities that make the journey comfortable, quick and equipped with every extra luxury.
Edinburgh's cultural, historical and architectural sights are numerous: not surprisingly, it is here that writers of the caliber of J.K.Rowling and Arthur Conan Doyle found inspiration to create their masterpieces that have gone down in the history of world writing.
The Scottish Scotch Festival, which draws to itself a not bad parterre of VIP tourists, Princes Street with its haute couture boutiques and multiple gourmet restaurants where you can try the famous Aberdeen Angus are just some of the most glamorous activities to do in Edinburgh, a city that continues to leave enraptured the tourists who visit it every year.
But what about some more detailed info about chartering a private jet to Edinburgh?
Historical and geographical background on Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and lies on its east coast, more specifically on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, a natural fjord created by the course of the Forth River.
Glasgow, another major Scottish city, is just 70 km from Edinburgh with efficient road connections.
Like several other European cities, Edinburgh sits atop as many as 7 hills, scenic points that have been prominent over the centuries.
The earliest records of the Scottish city date back to Roman times, a period during which its settlement was founded; later, during the Middle Ages, Edinburgh became a small fortress first occupied and run by the English and, only several years later, taken back by the Scots.
In the 14th century, the city began its climb to a leading position in the economy of the entire country, soon becoming a mainstay for wool, hides, cattle and grain trading.
Continued struggles with the British, however, plunged Edinburgh into a spiral of massive fires, plagues and infections, events that triggered a significant decrease in population.
It was not until the mid-1700s that construction of the New Town began, thanks to which the city once again became attractive to tourists, eventually shaping up as an extremely visited city due to the many places of interest there.
What to do and see in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is one of Scotland's best known and oldest fortresses, from which to enjoy splendid panoramic views of the entire Scottish capital given its location on high ground.
The entrance to the majestic structure is bordered by a drawbridge that, once crossed, leads tourists to the halls where the crown jewels are kept, including the legendary Stone of Destiny on which Scotland's royals have been crowned over the centuries.
In addition to being the city's most historic monument, the Castle was also one of the most famous settings for the adventures of Harry Potter, the celebrated character created from the pen of writer J.K.Rowling.
Once the long visit to Edinburgh Castle is over, wealthier tourists can head to the Royal Oak, an exclusive pub that creates a special atmosphere based on live music and the service of aperitifs or cocktails in the name of tradition and distinctly Scottish customs.
Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre
The history of the production of the quintessential Scottish liquor, Scotch Whisky, is described in the museum hub of the same name through audiovisual tours and various tastings.
The distillery offers the opportunity to admire up close all the techniques and secrets of producing the distilled product in all its variations, complete with a hands-on test at the end of the guided tour.
Closely related to this, also available to VIPs is the exclusive tour that gives them the ultimate Scottish whiskey experience.
This is a private visit to factories and distilleries located in Scotland's wildest Highlands complete with exclusive chauffeured transfer service; during the visit, it is also possible to stop in the Scottish countryside to participate in traditional private polo or cricket matches punctuated by breaks with oyster and champagne aperitifs.
Edinburgh festivals
Among Edinburgh's events capable of attracting VIPs is the International Festival, an occasion that takes place in the second half of August and the first weeks of September focused on opera and classical and ballet theater performances marked by an intellectual and serious atmosphere.
Given the limited availability due to the exclusivity of such an event, it is essential to book months in advance to take part in one of the city's most glamorous festivals.
Also worth mentioning is the Edinburgh International Film Festival, an event that draws to itself a parterre of several stars of the world film scene based on both the transposition of a wide range of films and the awarding of exclusive prizes, such as the Standard Life Audience Award or the Michael Powell Award for Best New British Film.
Top restaurants in Edinburgh
The city of Edinburgh is home to as many as four starred restaurants run by as many chefs renowned throughout Europe: among them is The Dome, an establishment located on George Street, one of the main arteries of the historic center, characterized by the presence of a sophisticated menu based on both gourmet and traditional Scottish dishes.
Another Michelin-starred venue is The Kitchin, which is distinguished by the ability for diners to watch as the chefs prepare the various courses due to the presence of a large glass window separating the main room from the kitchen.
The restaurant's sophisticated ambience also overlooks Edinburgh's waterfront, a beautiful panoramic view to admire as you experience the most driven flavors of Scottish culinary tradition.
Edinburgh's VIP shopping experience
Wealthy tourists have the opportunity to embark on a high-end shopping experience via a one-day tour covering the Scottish capital's most exclusive high-end boutiques.
For the occasion, a private driver is provided to take care of the various shopping bags, accompany the VIP to the various locations, as well as offer a selection of champagne to toast the purchases made.
Classy boutiques touched by the tour include Hawico Scotland, one of the world's most prestigious cashmere brands; Harvey Nichols, a luxurious warehouse offering designer clothing; and Strathberry, an international brand specializing in luxury leather goods.
Climate and best time to visit Edinburgh
Edinburgh enjoys a temperate and rather mild climate, with rainfall of moderate intensity and frequency and often unpredictable days.
The spring season, that is, the period between March and May, is characterized by cool but overall pleasant temperatures and days that begin to lengthen.
Tourist influx is not as pronounced as in summer, a period that nonetheless remains mild compared to temperatures in other European cities in summer: it is rare to go above 25°C, and rainy days are not so unusual.
Temperatures begin to drop during September and autumn, when the scenery in the city changes dramatically and rainfall increases, while in winter there is a real drop in temperatures, which can drop even below 0 resulting in not too much snowfall.
The high tourist season is summer, especially because of the pleasant temperatures and the many events that are organized, making it the best time to charter a private jet to Edinburgh.
However, spring could also be a good choice, as tourist turnout is less than in summer and visiting the sights of the Scottish capital becomes less stressful.
How and why to charter a private jet to Edinburgh
Edinburgh International Airport (ICAO code EGPH) is Scotland's largest and most important airport hub, originally designed as a commercial hub before being expanded, enlarged and improved to accommodate civilian flights as well.
The number of passengers passing through it each year ranges from 11 to 13 million, which contributes to its even more efficient infrastructure and services.
In any case, chartering a private jet allows the tourist to enjoy a very high level of flexibility and comfort level indeed, so as to halve the waiting time during check-in and security checks in order to reach the city center as soon as possible.
Inside the terminal dedicated to charter flights are various facilities, such as a free WiFi connection, private lounges equipped with smart TVs, bars with a wide range of cocktails and aperitifs, exclusive catering services, meeting rooms, and rather spacious VIP lounges.
The 2 runways are perfectly suited to accommodate private jets of any class and weight, at any time slot and regardless of weather conditions-this allows the passenger to customize their trip to suit their needs.
Edinburgh Airport is about 7 km from the center, which can be covered by the many private shuttle or car rental services with or without a driver available in the terminal.
The costs of flying privately to Edinburgh
One of the routes most frequently operated by private jets capable of reaching Edinburgh is the one that connects the Scottish capital to London's Biggin Hill Airport, some 560 kilometers (560 miles) away and about 1 hour and 20 minutes flight time.
The total rental cost of a Light Jet is about €7,000, a figure that rises to about €14,000 if a Medium Jet is used and about €19,000 with a Large Jet.
In addition to London, another destination from which to depart for Edinburgh is Paris Le Bourget Airport, about 850 km away that can be traveled in about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Again, the rental price of a Light Jet is around €9,000, while that for a Medium and a Large Jet are about €17,000 and about €24,000, respectively.
A somewhat more distant departure point from Edinburgh but still well connected to the Scottish capital is Madrid: the two cities are separated by about 1,700 km and a 3-hour, 5-minute flight.
The rental of a Light Jet, in this case, hovers around 15,000€, while the price of a Medium Jet is about 27,000€ and that of a Large Jet is about 38,000€.
Best planes to fly privately to Edinburgh
Prominent in the light jet category is the Cessna Citation CJ2, an aircraft that can take off and reach an altitude of 37,000 feet in just 17 minutes.
Its maximum cruising speed is around 400 kts (about 750 km/h), while its cabin provides high standards of comfort and convenience with 6 seats that can be moved into the aisle or away from the side walls.
In addition to this, the tables present are foldable, and a power outlet is placed under each seat to allow charging of one's device even in flight.
A shining example of a high-performance Medium Jet is the Cessna Citation Sovereign, with its as many as 9 seats, 460 kts attainable (about 800 km/h) and 3200 nm (about 6000 km) travel distance that make the aircraft perfect for operating long routes.
Its spacious cabin allows passengers to relax and enjoy a good flight while foreshadowing the destination ahead as it gets closer and closer.
Finally, in Large Jets, the Gulfstream G450 stands out, equipped with a cabin that can hold up to 13 passengers, as well as engines that propel it to a top speed of 460 kts.
The nautical miles the aircraft can travel on a single full tank of fuel is an impressive 4200 (about 7000 km), a parameter that makes it a more than excellent choice for moving from place to place regardless of distance.
The spacious cabin is equipped with comfortable sofas and coffee tables where you can enjoy some relaxation before landing at your intended destination.
The most frequent flights to and from Edinburgh
Below of the most frequent links to Edinburgh:
