Edinburgh Icons coming to a building near YOU

Some of the Scottish capital's most iconic monuments and buildings will be projected onto buildings in Northern English cities, including Manchester, Newcastle and Leeds. The move is said to have been inspired by FHM magazine's decision to project a 100ft image of a naked Gail Porter onto the Houses of Parliament ten years ago.

A spokeswoman for Edinburgh Sparkles the company organising the campaign told The Scotsman that "There's never been any kind of co-ordinated campaign like this before and Edinburgh hasn't promoted itself properly to other parts of the country before now."

The newspaper notes that: "Official permission does not need to be sought to use projections."

Shops in the Scottish capital are being urged to remain open until 21:00 on November 26 - the day the city's Christmas Markets, outdoor ice rink and big wheel are due to open. City grandees hope that the campaign will entice visitors from around the UK and Scots disenchanted by the protracted tram works in the capital.

Visitors can enjoy the best of the Scottish capital with two audio downloadable walking tours which listeners can hear via their iPhone, MP3 player, cell phone or iPod. Listeners will hear about some of the heroes, villains and interesting characters that have shaped the Scottish capital down the years. Both tours begins outside Edinburgh Castle featured top.

Both WalkTalk Tour Edinburgh walking tours are narrated by Scotsman Graeme Mackenzie. To hear a short audio sample from the Royal Mile & More tour please click here. Both tours are downloadable in MP3 format and can be completed in two hours, though listeners have the freedom to take as long as they wish to take in the sights of the city.

Listeners to the Old and New Towns Edinburgh walking tour will hear about dubious goings on, on the Grassmarket, the Scott Monument, the young architect who designed the first part of the city's New Town. And the city's Assembly Rooms and Charlotte Square - now home to the official residence of Scotland's First Minister, Bute House (pictured above) and a recreated Georgian House.

Purchase any Walk Talk Tour and get a second one free by entering the following promotional code in the shopping basket page: BI123.