This cannonball embedded in the side of an Edinburgh house once served a surprisingly pedestrian purpose.

The final resting place of soldiers' loyal canine companions.

Brass bricks outline the locations of Edinburgh's lost, lively market stalls.

A statue in the heart of Edinburgh honors a bear that served in the Polish military during World War II.

These characters from a Robert Louis Stevenson novel stand in an unlikely place.

This king penguin is a knighted brigadier of the Norwegian Army.

This ruined medieval castle was the scene of Lord Robert Dudley’s seductive reception for Queen Elizabeth I.

This sculpture marks the spot where one of the greatest Roman rulers was proclaimed emperor.

An incredibly well-preserved piece of ninth-century Viking poop.

Follow the original medieval paths that wind through this intriguing section of the city.

The world’s first museum dedicated to the history of childhood opened in Edinburgh in 1955.

Overlooking the burial ground is a tower designed to prevent thieves from snatching the recently deceased.

The building where Mary, Queen of Scots was said to have bathed in white wine.

This unusual statue overlooking the Royal Mile has an interesting backstory.

Small sculpted heads of prominent phrenologists mark the outside of their former headquarters.

A quartet of brightly colored mythical beasts stand sentry at this gateway.

A roadway designed for a visiting monarch.

This extinct volcano rises above Edinburgh and is special for its panoramic views over the city.

Sprawled across the Great Hall ceiling are various constellations and images relating to the zodiac.

Overlooked by many, the two famous Scottish warriors guard the main gate of Edinburgh Castle.

A sweet symbol marks the place where torturous executions were once carried out.

Remains of the artificial harbours invented for the Allied invasion of Normandy can still be seen at sea.

This enormous "cloth of the conquest" depicts the Norman invasion of England in mind-blowing detail.

The spot where Oxford garnered its name was also home to a medieval philosopher and includes a house covered in statues.