Since 1861, the One o’clock Gun has been fired every day at, you guessed it, 1pm. The idea was brought to Edinburgh from Paris by businessman John Hewitt and was designed to help ships in the nearby Firth of Forth ensure their maritime clocks were working correctly. It’s still fired every day, except on Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day and crowds still gather to witness the spectacle. If it’s your first visit to Edinburgh and you’re not checking the time then it may take you by surprise!