Edinburgh attractions didn't experience the same upward trend in visitor numbers enjoyed by other parts of the country in 2008 according to a report by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA).
The statistics, released yesterday, showed a general upward trend in the number of people visiting the country's foremost museums, galleries, heritage sites, cathedrals, gardens, zoos and leisure parks across the U.K.
In its year of culture, Liverpool saw a 66% average increase of visitors to museums and galleries.
However, North of the border visitor numbers declined last year. Edinburgh's top two attractions among the Association's members were Edinburgh Castle with 1,128,394 visitors over the year (a decline of 8% on 2007) and the National Gallery Complex with 842,958 visitors (a decline of 10.3% on the previous year).
The top Scottish attraction was the Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow with 1,445,098 visitors (down 35% on 2007). Edinburgh Castle was Scotland's second most popular visitor attraction and the top paid attraction.