Leith: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

This article is about Leith, Scotland; see also other places called Leith.

Leith is a town at the mouth of the Water of Leith and is the port of Edinburgh, Scotland. It lies on the south shore of the Firth of Forth.

Historically Leith and Edinburgh were separate, but growth over the centuries means that Leith and Edinburgh now form a contiguous urban area.

Leith gained a charter as a royal burgh after the English army was successfully repealed at the Battle of Leith. The remains of the battlefield are now a park called the Leith Links. An archway of the old Leith Citadel still stands.

The docks at Leith underwent severe decline in the post Second World War period, with the area gaining a reputation for roughness, drugs and prostitution.

At the end of the 20th century Leith saw a revival, initially because the devolved Scottish Parliament purchased a low cost site for its civil service offices, this in turn led to further service and tourist development including the Ocean Terminal complex and the permanently moored Royal Yacht Britannia.

Leith is also home to Hibernian FC, who play at the Easter Road ground.

The Proclaimers had a hit with "Sunshine on Leith" describing the view from Fife.

The Pop Artist and sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi came from Leith.