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Tourist
Information for Edinburgh
Scotland's showpiece. A
shop window of delights, a cornucopia of entertainment, from the precision of
the Military Tattoo to spontaneous street mimicry, flash restaurants to
smoky pubs. It's all brilliant - you'll love it.
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The Tourist Information office is on the top
of the Princes Mall. This is probably your first port of call when arriving in
the city You can get a map from there to plan your days and
also The Essential Guide to Edinburgh should be available to give you an idea of
what's on. There should be a wealth of information with loads of brochures to
take back to your hotel to help you plan the next day (fill in those little gaps).
For entertainment mags then try The List which gives monthly what's on from
news stands. |
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Edinburgh Castle:
You can't miss it as it surveys the city from on a rock. Bit of a walk up
there but its worth it.. Recommended viewing are the
Crown Jewels, The Stone of Scone (thankfully returned home in 1996 having sat in
the sassenachs' Westminster Abbey since 1296), Great Hall, St Margaret's Chapel
(oldest building in Edinburgh), National War Museum of Scotland ( a
must).
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The Royal Mile:
A mile of historical interest with lots of shops
and places to eat.
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Why not try a walking tour of the Mile
- you will at least gain some local knowledge and little known information.
Mercat Tours offers tours starting at the Mercat Cross on the Royal Mile. Phone
for details 0131 557 6464.
Castle Esplanade is at at
the top of the Mile
and used for the Military Tattoo (other times parking).
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Camera Obscura fascinating
creature and naturally a splendid place for a view. Opens 9.30am. |
The Hub: Neo-Gothic church that is now
Edinburgh's Ticket and Information Centre.
Writers' Museum
at Lady Stair's House.
For collectors of Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott or Robert Louis Stevenson this
is not to be missed.
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St Giles Cathedral. The oldest parts date
back to about the same time of as the Borders abbeys, 1120. John Knox preached here around 1560. Possibly one of the most
important churches in Scotland |
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Mercat Cross
- a meeting place for all sorts
- mainly tours.
John Knox House
- He didn't actually live
here but there is enough information on him to keep you going for a while anyway.
(closed Sunday - naturally)
Dynamic Earth:
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You don't have to be a child
to enjoy this huge exhibit which sits strangely enough under a massive tent. Let
them wind back the time.
Situated at the bottom of Holyrood Road, go down the High Street and turn right. See their site:
Web
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Charlotte Square The Square is regarded by many as the finest
Georgian square in Europe. One of the centres of financial business in
Edinburgh, Charlotte Square was designed by Robert Adam just before his
death in the late 18th century. |
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Grassmarket:
For centuries the area served as the site for public executions. The Grassmarket
also served as the city's main weekly market after being granted a charter by
James III in 1477. The area is now one of Edinburgh's main night spots with
numerous pubs and clubs lining the street. Sir Walter Scott described the
Grassmarket in his 1818 novel The Heart of Midlothian |
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Holyrood: The Queen's official
residence while in Scotland - not that she spends much time here.
At the end of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Open April 1st to Oct 31st ,
daily except for when the Queen is in residence. Set in beautiful grounds. In
the grounds are the ruins of Holyrood Abbey |
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Carlton Hill which offers some of
the best views of the City Centre of Edinburgh |
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A few things to see not in the Royal Mile:
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National Gallery of Scotland is
open all the year round, and is found just to the south of the middle of
Princes Street. Just big enough not to get leg sore. Collection of
Monet, van Gogh, Rubens to name but a few. |
Museum of Scotland: A definite place for
museum fatigue but it's worth it - you don't have to see everything.
See their site: Web
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Princes Street Gardens
Exhausted? Take a
break from having fun. If you brought your lunch with you then eat it
here. People watch for a while - some might even be Scottish! |
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The Royals don't use it any more
but it's far from ready for the scrap yard. Moored at Port of Leith you can get
there by bus or taxi (about 15 mins). see
Web |
Royal Yacht Britannia
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To get there:
by car, follow the signs for Leith or North Edinburgh, Britannia and Ocean
Terminal which is well signposted. Guide Friday and MacTours
both offer bus services from Waverley Bridge and Lothian Buses run frequent
services from the City Centre |
Royal Botanic Garden: Very popular - 70 acres of beautiful, landscaped
grounds. Not quite in town. Off the A902, one mile (1.6km) north of the
city centre. Open daily from 9:30am. Closing times: Nov.-Jan. 4pm., Feb. and
Oct. 5pm, March and Sept. 6pm, April-Aug. 7pm.
Edinburgh Festival:
This is The time to be in Edinburgh (apart
from Hogmanay) Everyone comes here for the Festival. There is every conceivable
variety of culture you would hope to find anywhere and it's all in one city - all
types of music, theatre, indoors and out, street fun - mostly spontaneous!
A very comprehensive site with details of most festivals Web
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The formal 2005 Edinburgh International Festival runs from 14th August - 4th September. To
Book tickets use their web or go to The Hub (Royal Mile) to get tickets but
they do sell out quickly for most popular events. Tel: 0131 473 2000 |
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Fringe Festival
is just as popular in its own way and comes around 6-28th August. Book 0131 226 0000 |
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Music - wonderful jazz and blues - phone 0131
467 5200 for details.
Films try: Web |
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I'm just
singin' the blues! |
If you do want to see any of the festival
events it is wize to book in advance.
Photos thanks to Edinburgh
Military Tattoo
Bits and Bobs:
Ghosly walks: A bit of fun. Best to
book 0131 225 6745.
Folk music- try the Gig Guide listings for live music.
Web
For a place to 'hang' and listen to live
music try Grassmarket Street and play it by ear.
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A great idea for
orientation or keeping your legs intact for another day is to take a
city bus
tour - if it's not raining the ones with no
roof on are fun. Tours leave Waverley Bridge around every 15 minutes and
the entire tour takes about 60 mins.
Driving in Edinburgh is pesky. Leave you car
at the hotel and take a bus in. For schedules try 0131 555 6363. The hotel
you're staying at will also know what route to take - local information can be
best. Don't give the driver a £10 note for a 70p ride - he won't like you!
Tourist information for the Borders
New Year's Eve -
Hogmanay Edinburgh
Where should you stay?
Obviously the best place would be in Edinburgh but the hotels do get booked up.
Some choose to stay outside Edinburgh and drive in all the way or as far as
Dalkeith then leave their car and take a taxi or bus. You can get buses from
Galashiels and Jedburgh to Edinburgh but it's about a two hour trip.
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Galashiels - About 25 miles from
Edinburgh - an hour's drive
Jedburgh - About 50 miles from
Edinburgh - one and a half hours
Links:
A very comprehensive site with details of most festivals Web
Dynamic Earth: Web
Museum of Scotland
Web
To
Book Festival tickets Web
Military Tattoo
Web
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