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Original poster

Glasgow/Edinburgh people...

31 replies

BananaBonanza · 27/08/2018 14:19

Would you be happy to take the train from Edinburgh to Glasgow late at night with the family. thinking of doing Glasgow and the Edinburgh royal military tattoo. Found somewhere that would suit in Glasgow so just wondering if this journey is doable

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IHaveBrilloHair · 27/08/2018 14:20

Yes, I'd do it no bother

butteriesplease · 27/08/2018 14:23

yes, but day of week may make a difference. If you are on the very last train and it is the weekend, likely more drunks on it.
If it's just late, and not the actual last train, then totally fine.

PleaseLetMummySleep · 27/08/2018 14:28

Do you mean for next year OP? The Edinburgh festival is now over.

Normally late trains even the last train would be fine with young kids. I'd avoid the last train on a Friday or sat night as he drunk people may smell of alcohol and be a bit rowdy (singing etc). However even then you're unlikely to get trouble.

However if it's during xmas season or Edinburgh festival season the trains can get overcrowded so it's best to not aim for the last train as you might not get on it.

rookiemere · 27/08/2018 14:33

It's about a 50 minute train journey and there are frequent trains. However I wouldn't fancy doing it after the tattoo with a huge number of people pouring out and heading in the same direction.
As presumably you're looking for next year you might be able to get a good deal on a Premier Inn for the night - there's one very near the castle.

Original poster
BananaBonanza · 27/08/2018 14:37

Yeah be looking next year. probably about a 12pm train on a Wednesday or Thursday. Other option is to change to a Edinburgh hotel for a night or two but DS is a wheelchair user so finding places that work is a little challenging.

Has anyone done the tattoo? Are the cheap seats reasonable view-wise

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bourbonbabs · 27/08/2018 14:46

It is absolutely fine, lived in Glasgow for 20plus years.

The last train can be busy, but nothing like the carnage you can have on the London Underground. A few party folk as standard, but if you are doing the Festival you will be well used to happy noise by then!

Taxi queue opposite central or Queen St can be long, very long though.

rookiemere · 27/08/2018 14:46

As your DS is in a wheelchair you'll need to get accessible seating www.edintattoo.co.uk/tickets/accessibility and I suspect that will have an ok view although probably lower down rather than high up seating.

Streets are very cobbly and will be busy. What age are the DCs? I'd probably attempt it with 10+ aged DCs but not so much with younger ones.

Original poster
BananaBonanza · 27/08/2018 15:25

Thank you for that link. DC will be 12 and 13. I'm a little concerned about accessibility but the military tattoo is something I really want to do and i think DS might love it DP has connections to Glasgow and I've been promising him a visit for the best part of 10 years. I'm thinking next year we might actually do it, and atm the train is looking like the best option. I think given the cost of hotels in Edinburgh and then train home we might actually be best catching a taxi back to Glasgow if we decide against the train. Moving locations is surprisingly challenging as it's only me and DP who can lug bags and suitcases.

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Original poster
BananaBonanza · 27/08/2018 15:29

We'd probably book the taxi if we did it that way...

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ThePricklySheep · 27/08/2018 15:31

I’m not sure about trains, but local word is that the first weekend is very much quieter than the rest of the festival.

rookiemere · 27/08/2018 15:34

I would offer you bedrooms at our humble Edinburgh abode, but DH may think I'd taken leave of my senses if I did so ! (Plus current houseguest left the house with the front door unlocked and key on the inside, so he may be off visitors for a while)

I'm not sure how much taxis back to Glasgow cost, there's also a bus service which I think goes from Princes Street.

Or you could book taxis at either end of the journey so one to take you from the tattoo ( there might still be a bit of walking - but may be possible to get close due to your DS's wheelchair) to Edinburgh station and then one from Glasgow to your hotel.

Original poster
BananaBonanza · 27/08/2018 15:34

That's good to know!!

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Original poster
BananaBonanza · 27/08/2018 15:40

@rookiemere GrinGrinGrin thank you for the offer!!!

Booking taxis at both ends if we train both ways is probably sensible although tbh I'm not too worried about heading down the hill, but it was the way we tackled Whitby Abbey a few years back! I won't like the uber prediction for a Edinburgh/Glasgow taxi is a bit ouchie but cheaper than a hotel for the night in Edinburgh.

The question is whether we could manage a look round the castle and tattoo in one day? Arriving say 11am stopping for Dinner nearby at 6pm then back for the tattoo.

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LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 27/08/2018 15:47

The castle and tattoo in one day is do-able but you would really want to book dinner near the castle. Getting a wheelchair up and down the Royal Mile will be challenging. I also think navigating the crowds down to the station with a chair will be hard at the end. BUT why don't you go to the early show on the Saturday? That way you'll have more time to catch the train and more time to get through the crowds.

TakeAChanseyOnMe · 27/08/2018 15:59

Taxi definitely a better idea - it'd be £100 odd. The trains are absolutely mobbed during the Fringe, you'll likely be standing.

Have you been to Edinburgh before? It's really not very wheelchair friendly - lots of cobbles and hills. What might look like a street on the map may be a 50 step staircase!

Original poster
BananaBonanza · 27/08/2018 16:22

Oh good grief why is the fringe and the military tattoo on on the same dates!!

Tbh I'm don't fancy Edinburgh much for the reasons you've listed. I literally would want to do the tattoo and the castle. Learning so much from this thread....

so the castle offer a mobility vehicle from the esplanade to the castle? But the royal mile is the road leading to the castle? And that too is very steep....

According to the website for the royal military tattoo you can get a pass allowing you to take a taxi onto the esplanade....

So could I say go down the hill to either of the bella Italia and catch a taxi back...

What about from Edinburgh Waverley station to the castle? Is that an uphill push?

An early Saturday performance would ve really good. But DPs weeks off run Sunday to Saturday. It would be really hard for him to be off on a Saturday afternoon. And we would definitely need a night in Edinburgh which stacks stupid amounts onto the cost of the trip. If I could do the tattoo and castle in a day it makes much more sense

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Original poster
BananaBonanza · 27/08/2018 16:24

Oh what about food/lunch in Edinburgh castle. Can you get something like a panini? Save weight on the chair...

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CraftyGin · 27/08/2018 16:33

Can’t you do Glasgow and the Tattoo on separate days?

Original poster
BananaBonanza · 27/08/2018 16:36

The castle or Glasgow?

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KingLooieCatz · 27/08/2018 16:40

Mega uphill from Waverley station to the Castle.

The tattoo is kind of part of the overall Festival Fringe festivities. Having eaten there a couple of times, I'd avoid Bella Italia on the Royal Mile like the plague, and I'm generally happy with Bella Italia. Hanover Street one is nice enough. There are lots of other places to eat between the castle and there. It would be worth checking how wheelchair accessible any given restaurant is, most of the buildings in the old town are medieval so it is tricky to include accessible toilets etc. Once you get to Princes Street less of an issue.

Wish I could think of a better idea, our second floor two bed is no use to you!

You'll not have any problem doing the castle and the tattoo in a day time wise.

A colleague just had an AirBnB for him and his wife in Edinburgh during the festival for £40 for one night. That's an absolute steal. Might be worth trying. Appreciate accessibility likely to be an issue.

KingLooieCatz · 27/08/2018 16:44

There's a tea room at the castle:

www.edinburghcastle.scot/shop-eat

There's a posher eatery as well. We didn't feel we could cross the threshold, but we're pretty scruffy.

You may already have looked at their accessibility stuff:

www.edinburghcastle.scot/visit/access-for-all

KingLooieCatz · 27/08/2018 16:46

They're not shy when it comes to pricing!!

www.edinburghcastle.scot/media/95905/tea-rooms-menu.pdf

TheConquestOfHappiness · 27/08/2018 16:48

My first thought was just get a taxi to and from Glasgow. It’ll be much less hassle and not much dearer than train.

rookiemere · 27/08/2018 16:48

Pizza express is about a 10 mins walk from the castle and the staff when we went recently were lovely.

I'd say it's easy enough to do Castle and tattoo on same day. Stay local for dinner after castle and there isn't much walking.
PreBook taxi from after tattoo to train station

Castle has a nice cafe with good range of soups and salads for lunch

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