Edinburgh visit...

[TigerCameForTea]

Going to Edinburgh next week for four days, does anyone have any must do recommendations for us while we're there? We've got the castle and DH wants to do Arthur's Seat (I might be ill that day 😂) but, any other ideas would be great!
Thank you!

[SuntanC]

Hello! I don't know if you're going with children or not, but two of my favourite things in Edinburgh are the Edinburgh gin distillery tour and tasting, and also the Royal Yacht Britannia. There are LOADS of good museums etc to go to, and plenty of photo opportunities. If you need any restaurant recommendations, please PM me. Enjoy your trip!

[Isadora2007]

Kids or no kids?

Calton hill is worth a walk up. The castle is disappointing unless you have a historic Scotland pass and go for free.
The national museum in chambers street is free and fab. A hop on hop off bus tour is a really good option and you learn a lot. Dynamic earth is with a trio of you have kids with you. Likewise the Zoo. A train from Edinburgh to Fife- inverkeithing or aberdour- gets you across the iconic forth rail bridge and see the other bridges and aberdour is a nice wee place to have a wander...
Princess street gardens is nice if the weather is good. Rose street has nice pubs and a nice feel to it if you’re child free. Leith is worth a visit for food- nice wee place called The Compass down there which was lovely the other week. Botanic gardens well worth a walk round. Shops are rubbish...

Have fun!!

[Babdoc]

Is it just the two of you or are you bringing any DC?
Mary King’s Close is great, ditto the Zoo, Our Dynamic Earth, the Museum of Scotland and the royal yacht Britannia. There’s a lovely walk down the Water of Leith to the Shore area which is full of gastropubs and good restaurants in pretty cobbled streets.
Princes St Gardens are lovely, and there’s often a concert on at the open air theatre there. You can get endless tartan tat souvenirs down the Royal Mile and enjoy people watching. There’s a hop on hop off tourist bus, and don’t miss the evening ghost walks in the Old Town.

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

The terrace at the top of the museum of Scotland is lovely. Great views.

[Ash39]

The festival will be on. That's pretty much all the entertainment covered. Find your way to the Royal Mile to watch the street performers, plant yourself at Festival Square and take in the atmosphere, try the street food and see a couple of shows.
The open top bus tour is good as it takes you round most of the main sites. You will love it

[TigerCameForTea]

Thanks everyone! We're child free so want to make the most of the week! The Fringe festival doesn't start until the Friday and we're only there until Thursday - bad planning 🤔
On my way to a hospital appointment now so will respond properly later, thank you again 😘

[fancynancyclancy]

We ate at the Witchery which was nice.

[Mrsjayy]

Museum of Scotland is great it is one of my favourites.

[Ash39]

There will be Plenty of Fringe preview shows. It's started already! In fact the few days before the festival
Start are usually the best for 2 for 1 offers and previews...
definitely check it out. And the Royal mike will be buzzing with everyone out promoting themselves!

[roseenglishrose]

Camera Obscura
Fringe previews
Museum of Scotland
Museum of Childhood

[AJPTaylor]

Mary kings close worth doing. Castle ok but I would say pre book everything.even if it's the day before.we went in Feb and the queues for everythi g were incredible. Can't imagine what they are like this time of year.

[trulyconfuseddotcom]

If you're walking along the Water of Leith from town to the Shore (which is a great walk), definitely a stop off at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (Belford Rd), there are signposted steps up to this from Water of Leith - nice collections, not too big and nice cafe. Also stop off in Stockbridge if you like nice independent shops and eating places/pubs. For post-dinner drinks and live music, the Jazz Bar in Chambers St can be a good bet. Ditto The Voodoo Rooms but there might not be anything on immediately prior to Festival kickoff. Worth popping into the Cafe Royal Bar just for a wee drink to see the stunning vintage tiled walls, it's tucked away on a quiet side street in the centre of town. And the pubs and restaurants on Thistle St are great, personally I like a cocktail in the Bon Vivant followed by some contemporary Mexican food across the road at El Cartel but there's other choices too. The Cafe St Honore is a bit of an institution and feels like a bit of Paris tucked away in an Edinburgh side street although not cheap. All these would be nice for a child-free trip, enjoy and I hope the weather is kind to you!

[JesusHRooseveltChrist]

Hop On, Hop Off bus tour is always a good shout. There are a couple of different ones that cover different parts of the city and down into Leith.
I enjoy the Castle and feel it's worth the dosh in but as PP have said, best to pre-book this time of year.
Mary King's Close is really interesting - I have only been the once and am itching to go back again.
I went to Our Dynamic Earth without kids and really enjoyed it, so if that's your thing I would highly recommend!

I just love generally pottering about as well. It is just the most beautiful city. I've never been at this time of year, so I'm sure there'll be lots of entertainment in the run up to the Festival.

[Disfordarkchocolate]

I love Edinburgh. I'd only do the castle if I could get in free (EH get free entry too) as it's so busy. I love the camera obscura no matter how busy it. National Museum is amazing and free.

[Leggyfrog]

The Fridge starts the 2nd - there may be the odd preview from the Wednesday though.
2 for 1 days are the next week - 5/6 August.

I wouldn't overplan too much - half the charm of Edinburgh is pottering and looking at the buildings.

Calton Hill is fab for an easy view and if you've never been before a bus tour would be good to get your bearings. The centre is compact but hilly.

[TheLovleyChebbyMcGee]

Mary kings close is fab, as are the vault tours if you are into spooky stuff. There's a few good cemeteries around too, one at the corner of Lothian rd and the Carlton hill are very interesting. I love the museum of Scotland too. If you are into weird stuff, surgeons museum is good too!

[Ca55andraMortmain]

I agree about the bus tours, they're a great way to get around, but don't book online before you go - go to Waverley bridge and get them there - there are two different tour operators this year (the new one is called bright tours or similar I think) and they both sell tickets at the same place and try to undercut each other - we ended up getting our tour for £8 when it was £16 online.

If you like history I would recommend Gladstone's Land up near the camera obscura - it doesn't look like much from the outside but it's a 17th century tenement and one of the oldest surviving buildings on the Royal Mile. It's set out to look as it would have in 1800 and the staff there are so knowledgeable and interesting. By Edinburgh tourist standards it's quite cheap (about £7 if I recall) and I really enjoyed it when I went.

Feel free to PM me for any other info you might want for your trip and enjoy!

[ChristineBaskets]

If you have kids and the time, watch Greyfriar's Bobby before you go. We got the dvd from eBay and did this and the kids enjoyed seeing the statue and grave and had lunch in the Greyfriar's Bobby pub. The same kirkyard also has some gravestone names that inspired characters in Harry Potter, you can see how to find them on YouTube.

[ChristineBaskets]

Oops I see you're not taking the kids- well dh and I still enjoyed the film and seeing the Greyfriar's Bobby stuff!

[MrStateTrooper]

Whereabouts will you be staying OP?

St Giles Cathedral is nice to pop into for a bit of quiet time away from the crowds.

The Scottish Storytelling Centre (Royal Mile) often has a few shows on, and has a wonderful café. There's a few other museums down that way, like the Museum of Childhood, The People's History museum, and the Museum of Edinburgh. After that, Holyrood Park is nearby, and you've got the Scottish Government building, Holyrood Palace etc.

Regarding Arthur's Seat, just be aware that Radical Road is closed, so you will need to take a different route up to the top (but there are many!). You could always send DH up while you chill out with the ducks by the Loch

[Groovee]

Mary Kings Close is good. Best to pre book.

Ice cream from Mary Milk Bar in the Grassmarket.

The royal mile has lots going on just now as we were at the fringe office on Sunday.

There's lots of Oor Wullies dotted about just now too.

Think the hot weather is to change too from tomorrow.

[Knitwit99]

Arthur's Seat is not that high, you can drive half way up or get a taxi if you don't have a car. Or climb Calton Hill instead, the view is just as nice and there is a cafe.
Royal Mile for walking around, there will be lots going on. I agree the castle is not very interesting. Depends on your interests, there's the Surgeons Hall museum which I think is fascinating.
If the weather is nice a train ride to Fife is a good idea. Dunfermline is not far and the Abbey is nice. Or the beach at Aberdour.
And there's Portobello, a quick bus ride from the city centre. Has a lovely beach, lots of nice cafes and restaurants, an amazing new independent bookshop which just opened this week. There's often a guy renting paddle boards if you fancy giving that a go, or the Turkish Baths at the swimming pool. Or just sit on the prom with a coffee watching the world go by. I spend a lot of my child free time doing that.

[TigerCameForTea]

I didn't expect so many replies, thank you again everyone!
We're staying on Rose St, a Hub by Premier Inn thing?!
Ooh, I'm really looking forward to it now, I was worried we wouldn't have enough to do!
Love the sound of the surgeons museum!
I follow a vegan diet so hoping it won't be too tricky, DH isn't fussy!
Thank you again!

[trulyconfuseddotcom]

You're close to Hendersons, nice veggie & vegan cafe.

[trulyconfuseddotcom]

For a slightly posher option, David Bsnns is v good.