For centuries, Leith was the gateway to Edinburgh, whether for seaborne invasion, commercial trade or royal visit.

The port of Leith prospered during the Middle Ages with the growth of trade in wood, cotton, jute and wine, leading to development of a major a shipbuilding industry on the Firth of Forth. But the Industrial Revolution meant that steam replaced sail and both trade and shipbuilding relocated to the Clyde on Scotland's west coast.

Leith's prosperity declined. The warehouses lay empty and derelict; the remnants of maritime engineering fell silent. The port itself, the largest enclosed area of water in Europe, remained, primarily as a naval dockyard.

For many years, the Port of Leith was an area of dereliction and deprivation on Edinburgh's doorstep. Noticeable regeneration of the area began in 1995 with relocation of the Scottish Executive to Leith. Other significant events were the permanent mooring of The Royal Yacht Britannia in 1998 and the opening of Ocean Terminal in 2001. But alongside these major events has been the continuous redevelopment of the once derelict warehouses and the restoration of Leith's magnificent 18th and 19th century heritage.

Businesses moved back into Leith. The area is now a thriving centre, particularly for the creative industries. Early in 2002, the internationally renowned Leith Agency moved back to Leith.

Leith now looks forward to the 21st century with an unprecedented optimism and a clear vision for the future - a city by the sea.