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AIBU?

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Original poster

Please can I have recommendations for best things to do in Edinburgh

42 replies

recklessgran · 09/08/2018 08:32

Sorry, not really AIBU but posting here for traffic.
DH and I are due to spend a long weekend in Edinburgh and are trying to work out the best itinerary to make best use of our time. We already have tickets for the tattoo which is our main reason for the trip. We have looked at Trip Advisor but it seems to focus more on trips out of the city. We will only have 2 full days so want to make the most of it. We are generally quiet and particularly interested in social history. Would like a walking/ghost tour but there seem to be so many - which would be best? Really grateful for any suggestions. Thanks.

OP posts:
Wedontbelievewhatsontv · 09/08/2018 09:01

There are loads of things to do in Edinburgh😍one of my favourite places in the world ! Off the top of my head .

Castle, Holyrood Palace , Parliament, Leith Docks area with Royal Yacht , Royal Mile , zoo, Grassmarket , Rose Street (pubs😍) Art Galleries , The Fringe x million shows, St Mary's Close..... I'm perplexed as to why you can't find anything to do that's not out of town ??? What are you googling?

ofclocksandkings · 09/08/2018 09:32

If you're going in August (which I assume you are if you're going to the Tattoo?) then there are 3500+ shows on all over the city - definitely see some! Craigmillar Castle is the best castle in the city, the Botanic Gardens are beautiful and the National Museum is great - go on to the roof for views over the city. Oh, and Mary's for the best wierd ice cream you've ever had.

Sleepflower43 · 09/08/2018 09:35

The Witchery ghost tour, Camera Obscura, Mary King's Close, Calton Hill.

It's an amazing city, and quite small so you can cram a lot into 2 days.

maddening · 09/08/2018 09:36

Camera obscura, dynamic earth, museum of Scotland, Castle, holyrood Palace

PurpleFlower1983 · 09/08/2018 09:37

Mary King’s Close, bus to Roselyn Chapel, The Jazz Bar, Holyrood Palace, the Castle.

Jins · 09/08/2018 09:39

We did the city of the dead tour which was great

www.cityofthedeadtours.com

DanSullivan · 09/08/2018 09:40

Camera Obscura and the World of Illusions is great fun. The Real Mary King’s Close is good. There are loads of ghost tours and so on, if that’s your thing.

ApolloandDaphne · 09/08/2018 09:40

You are going during the festival - there will be hundreds of amazing things to do in Edinburgh!

If you are looking for something touristy then Mary King's Close is one of my favourites.

Rarfy · 09/08/2018 09:41

Mary kings close is worth a visit.

Toomanycats99 · 09/08/2018 09:45

I liked the royal yacht at leith. I went to the tattoo many years ago - enjoy!

Groovee · 09/08/2018 09:48

Mary King Close is worth it. Edinburgh is a very walkable place. The Royal Mile can be a lovely walk.

Imnotacelebgetmeouttahere · 09/08/2018 09:48

Wait outsode Pickles on broughton street at 3.45pm for the 4pm opening...

Enter....drink gallons of red wine whilst eating bread, cheeses and meats Grin

I only ever go at xmas so i cant speak for the atmosphere at other times but in December its my fav place to waste a few hours

LoisWilkerson1 · 09/08/2018 09:48

Edinburgh Dungeons
Dynamic Earth
Camera Obscura

Original poster
recklessgran · 09/08/2018 09:49

Thanks so much for all your suggestions - I'm not saying that I can't find anything to do, I know there are hundreds of things to do - that's the problem- how to sift out the best as we only have two full days. Lots of votes for Mary Kings Close so will definitely go with that and the Castle is a given I think.

OP posts:
MakeMineALarge1 · 09/08/2018 09:51

Loved Mary Close, underground tour, ghost bus, Edinburgh gin, Dirty Dicks, Arthurs Seat, lots of stop offs for drinks! I loved Edinburgh.

Beachcomber · 09/08/2018 09:52

The hop on hop off bus is a nice way to see loads in a short time.

Mrsjones17 · 09/08/2018 09:53

If the fringe is on download the app and look at the different shows. We went for two days last year and saw loads! Some were brilliant some were bonkers some were crap that’s the fun of the fringe. Some were free but most we paid I think was about £8 a ticket unless it was a big names comedian but we booked tickets for him in advance. If you like random stuff go and see Paul Curries show. Was the most mental but funniest thing I’ve seen for a while but you might needed to have a bit of a drink first. Just wander up and down the mile there is all sorts on!

Bluebird1234 · 09/08/2018 09:56

Mary Kings Close off the Royal Mile (probably need to book) and the Museum of Scotland on Chambers St.

RedDwarves · 09/08/2018 09:59

Mary King's Close was the best thing we did in Edinburgh.

Would've liked to have gone to the museum as well though.

BurningTheToast · 09/08/2018 10:04

Museums on Chambers Street; The Botanics - many of the hop-on-hop-off bus tours stop there and it's a great place to take a picnic if it's sunny; the National Portrait Gallery is great; The Royal Yacht Brittania if you fancy a trip down to Ocean Terminal in Leith although there's not a lot else there apart from a shopping centre and a cinema; you could climb the Scott Monument. And if you're here this month there are more comedians and theatre shows than you can shake a stick at at and the book festival at Charlotte Square.

LaurieMarlow · 09/08/2018 10:05

Are you going in august? Because if so, the whole city will be taken up with the fringe and I'd just run with that. Grin

Raglansleeve · 09/08/2018 10:07

If you like social history, go for a walk down through the new town to the Colonies and the Botanic Gardens, have a look at the mews behind Royal Circus, Circus lane, Ann Street (my favourite street in Edinburgh), or walk down the Water of Leith pathway.

The Museum of Scotland is fabulous and you can visit Greyfriars Kirk.

Street theatre on the Royal Mile at this time of year means it can take you four hours to get from one end to the other!

We were a bit so-so about going to see the Royal Yacht, but it was actually brilliant - well worth going, very interesting and some of the stats involved are mind boggling!

coles85 · 09/08/2018 10:11

If you're coming in August EVERYTHING will be busy and pre-booked, so make sure you plan in advance and book book book! I presume you already have accommodation sorted?

A lot of what you read on trip adviser etc. might not be relevant during the Festival, as the city turns into something v different in August. It will be absolutely heaving with people, so be prepared for lots more tourists than normal (not a bad thing, but just much busier than normal so be prepared Smile), and if you're planning on eating out, restaurants get booked up fast in the city centre. However this might be a nice opportunity for you to venture out of the touristy bits of the city and eat somewhere different like The Shore at Leith, the Prom in Portobello, or Stockbridge?

Edinburgh is awesome, you'll love it Smile

ScarletAnemone · 09/08/2018 15:41

Definitely go to Mary King’s Close given your interest in social history, and I agree that you probably need to book.

If you want to go to a castle then do consider Craigmillar. It’s on the edge of town, but I find it much more exciting than the one in town and during the festival it’s much less likely to be mobbed. It has ruins, spiral staircases, turrets, battlements, history, and lots of atmosphere - basically everything you could want from a castle. You can wander round everywhere and let your imagination run riot.

BuntyCollocks · 09/08/2018 15:43

Edinburgh gin distillery tour