Tourist Guide for Perth in Scotland
History and Tourist Attractions in the Scottish Town
Sep 4, 2008
Although Perth is no longer officially a city, it has managed to retain a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Built on the banks of the River Tay it is in a great central location for exploring Scotland. Perth itself also has many attractions to keep tourists occupied. Visitors have a wide choice of accommodation in the city, from splendid hotels to tiny guest houses.
History of Perth City and Town
Perth currently has a population of around 45,000 people but it was initially a much smaller settlement. In medieval times it was often known by the name of St John’s Toun. This is remembered today in the name of the local senior football team, St Johnstone.
Over the centuries Perth was invaded on numerous occasions but eventually established itself as a prosperous trading centre. Its location on the River Tay made it an important port for both importing and exporting. Perth also has Royal connections courtesy of Scone Abbey, where Scottish Kings were crowned up until Alexander III in the 13th century. Sir George Murray, who was born in the city, named Perth in Australia after it.
Visitor Attractions in Perth
Perth has a wide range of cultural sights for tourists to visit, including the Perth Museum and Art Gallery. There is also the Fergusson Gallery, dedicated to the works of the celebrated Scottish artist John Duncan Fergusson. There is also an annual Festival of Arts, which covers many genres. Located in the centre of Perth is an attractive old theatre while, in contrast, the Horsecross Concert Hall is a very recent addition.
Nearby is Scone Palace which is a favourite destination for tourists. The Palace grounds are also the venue for Perth’s horse racing course. Perth is also the home town of the famous Black Watch Regiment. They have their own dedicated museum which can be found in Balhousie Castle.
There are two main public parks in Perth, at North inch and South Inch. The latter has an adventure playground for children and a skate park. The Dewar's Centre has an ice rink and indoor bowling. Exotic foreign plant collections can be admired at Brooklyn Gardens while a large collection of more traditional heather can be found at Cherrybank Gardens.
Perth has a large shopping area in its centre, where major retailers blend in with smaller, privately owned outlets. There are also many restaurants, pubs, coffee shops and street cafes.
Road, Rail and Airport Links to Perth
Due to its central location Perth is well served by both road and rail networks. The A9 connects the town with the Scottish Highlands and Inverness, while the M90 leads south to Edinburgh. The A90 joins Perth with the nearby city of Dundee, and then continues north to Aberdeen.
Perth has a railway and bus station with links to the major Scottish cities and even London. The nearest major airport is Edinburgh, although there is a smaller airport at Dundee which has limited services.
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