Day off! No kids!! Where will we go?

[Goldrill]

Just that! DH and I have a day off together on Friday and kids looked after till 8pm. This is UNHEARD OF!!!

We are in Perthshire and could get to Edinburgh, Dundee or possibly Glasgow; would need to be on our way back by 7ish.

I would like to go somewhere with people not wearing fleeces and with actual shops and cafes and restaurants (and no kids!!). We are not big on art but do like a museum, zoo, botanic garden - although probably done all of those with the sprogs. I do like the sea too.

Where shall we go, wise scotsnetters?

Are you deffo set on Scotland? It's fab of course I love going there but have you thought about Liverpool

St Andrew’s

Have you been to the riverside museum in Glasgow? We went recently and between that, lunch and shopping we filled a whole day!

Or Dundee - McManus gallery, walk around the sea front, the doughnuts are amazing! V&A. Main city centre is a bit dire at the moment but wonder round the little streets behind Malmaison and there are lots of lovely quirky shops and cafes opening up

@sophienelisse

Are you deffo set on Scotland? It's fab of course I love going there but have you thought about Liverpool

It would take the majority of the day to drive there and back.

It was a nice day in Inverness today although a cold wind. Utopia do a lovely “light bite” lunch!

I’d stay home, put PJs on, order some nice food and day time drink, like the old days! Lol. Or go out for breakfast somewhere nice and come home and spend time in bed with hubby (sleeping! 😉)

Got to be Scotland cos kids need to be picked up (working our way up to a weekend away by the end of the decade).

@drawingpad we have been to riverside and yes- really enjoyed it. Anything else along those lines in Glasgow?

@Fandangoes we've been to st andrew's quite often but I think I may have failed to spot more than the beach. Is there a town bit I have missed? I love cambo gardens so we go there and to tentsmuir quite often.

Dundee McManus and v&a also done with kids. Don't fancy the ship, but do like the botanic gardens and the zoo bit at camperdown (probably not popular with kids if we go without them).

Edinburgh looking appealing too.

@helpfulAlex childcare and dog care will be located at... our house. Did vaguely contemplate going to a hotel just for the day!

What about a spa day? Blythswood in Glasgow is amazing! They do lunch packages too.

Definitely Edinburgh. Climb Carlton hill / do a walking tour ( esp the vaults) or see Mary Kings close.
If you don’t mind walking go to Stockbridge and have lunch at the Scran and Scallie. Menu looks like regular pub grub- but food is amazing. From Stockbridge you can walk along the Waterof Leith to Dean Village .
There’s the new shopping centre too.

I spent a few days in Edinburgh earlier this month.
I did The Portrait Gallery, GOMA, Mary King's Close, Open Top Bus, Princes Street Gardens, Victoria Street, St Giles Cathedral generally lots of walking/stopping for hot drinks and people watching.
Shops at St James quarter plus ate at the lobster cart and Japanese cart there, and went to Chez Jules twice.
I also went to the Cinema three times, but that's not really an Edinburgh thing!
On my way back towards Glasgow I went to 5 sisters Zoo and The Kelpies.
The only thing that was a bit crap was Mary King's Close, I loved everything else and could have stayed longer.

I'd go to Glasgow.
Morning wonder around the shops/ coffee
Afternoon wonder to kelvingrove museum have some lunch on the go.
Evening go to 6 by Nico for some incredible food

Spa day coupled with afternoon tea, we’ve done that a few times, it was bliss!

There is a whole town at St Andrews!! And some really interesting quirky little museums as part of the university, lovely shops with some variety from usual high street. Nice cafes and bars. If you are in a car you could head along to Elie or Pittenweem for some gorgeous little coastal villages.

@Goldrill I did wonder if that was the reason! If you’d prefer not to do much then a hotel is the way forward. I know during covid times the Marriott near me did a day rate, maybe one near you does that too - it would feel indulgent!

Have you been to the new St James shopping centre in Edinburgh?

@emmathedilemma I think last time we were there it was still a building site- took me a while to work out!

Thanks very much for all the suggestions. Going for Edinburgh and think we might go to the surgeon's museum and then have a mooch round the shops. And eat lots!

And next time we go to st Andrew's we will definitely look beyond the beach!

I read about The Surgeon's Museum just last night whilst looking for different things to do when I'm back in Edinburgh next month!
Please report back.
I've already decided to eat at Chez Jules again for one meal, but have a couple of ideas for others, possibly one of the apparently amazing sandwiches or the best pizza, or if I'm being lazy then Dishoom.

if you're doing edinburgh you could have a look at the chocolatarium if they have stuff on the day you need. we did with DS (14) but everyone else there was a couple - valentines weekend!

it's about £20 but we found it good value - not least cause we ate LOADS of the samples...

Book a beforenoon tea at Mimis Bakehouse in Edinburgh. It's lovely

In Edinburgh, I’d do the vaults rather than Mary Kings Close. Gilmerton Cove is fascinating too but a journey to the edge of town. 12 Triangles bakeries are worth the trip alone. Surgeon’s Hall does really interesting walking tours.