4 hours in Edinburgh

[ChasingFate]

Next Friday I am getting into Edinburgh Waverley at 11 and have 4 hours before my next train. I will be on my own so need something to occupy my time. Any ideas on things to do or where to eat close to the station?

Have you ever been before? Do you want to go to shops (George street nicest) or see old buildings (Royal Mile) or sit outside (Princes Street Gardens)? All of these easily within ten minutes walk from Waverley.

10 min walk from Waverley,

www.howies.uk.com/wp-content/uploads/howies-victoria-lunch-menu.pdf
www.instagram.com/howiesrestaurant/

Award winning restaurant; 2 COURSES 17.95 opens at midday (would definitely pre-book)

You'd also be able to take in wonderful architecture on the Royal Mile, Victoria Street (alleged inspo for Diagon alley in HP)😉etc.

If museums are your thing? Only a five minute walk from Howies
https://www.nms.ac.uk/

Have a wonderful time whatever you decide @ChasingFate

You could visit Edinburgh Castle, it’s about a 15 minute walk from Waverley Station and you can easily spend 2/3 hours there. There are a few art galleries near the Waverley as well. If you’re feeling very energetic & it’s a nice day you could climb to the top of Arthur’s Seat & get fabulous views all around Edinburgh. Enjoy your visit 😀.

It depends if you've been before or seen anything there before? I too was going to recommend the National museum of Scotland. Its free and there is so much to see there, that I spent 2 days wandering about.

If you want something different, a 10min walk away, there is the Surgeons' Hall Museum (like a pathology museum). From memory I spent about 1-1.5hrs there.
Home - Surgeons' Hall Museums, Edinburgh (rcsed.ac.uk)

Thanks All. I have been before but about 10 years ago. The history side is more appealing than the shops so the castle or national museum could be a good shout

You could also walk up Arthur's seat in that time, easily, if that's the kind of thing you like...

Calton Hill - and then a mooch in John Lewis in the nearby shopping centre
National Museum of Scotland (my seven-year-old HATES museums but she loves this one. We have happily spent entire days here).
Walk along the Waters of Leith to the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art
A tram ride somewhere - and back
Scott Monument - directly opposite Waverley Station
A stroll through the Princess Gardens to the National Galleries of Scotland (lovely cafes, too)
A walk up to Edinburgh Castle, taking in the likes of Fleshmarket Close
A walk along the Royal Mile and a visit to the Museum of Childhood

The Waterstones cafe has the most fabulous view of the castle and is perfect for a coffee stop if you enjoy books.

I could spend ages just wandering round the cemeteries, there's some fabulous graves - depends if this is your thing though as realise it's not for everyone

Second the National museum of Scotland is great for a wander.

Greyfriars Bobby - and the cemetery, where the names on the graves are inspiration for many Harry Potter characters
As you stroll up to the National Museum of Scotland (a 10-minute walk from Waverley), head over the George 1V Bridge and you’ll see the Blue Elephant cafe where JKR apparently wrote large parts of the first Harry Potter book (the cafe sadly burned down a few years ago but you can still see the exterior).

I'd go to the national museum, they have a cloakroom on the lowest level if you need to leave any luggage.

@ChasingFate Just to add to this thread (again), if you’re not a food snob, then my not-very-discerning children and I always enjoy the Wetherspoons at Waverley Station: you simply walk up the exit ramp and you’re there. It’s endless free refills of hot drinks, affordable and traceable food and it’s in the old ticket office for the station and, as such, is in the most beautiful Victorian building. If you get there early enough, you can bagsy the booth in the picture window and enjoy a magnificent view up to the Castle and across to Princess Gardens and the Scott Monument. It’s a brilliant place to watch the tourist world go by and be serenaded, if that’s the word, by the obligatory lone piper.

On the assumption your train is on time, the National Gallery, just along Princes Street. It's relaxing usually.

I second Howie’s for food. This summer there were some interesting exhibitions - Grayson Perry at the National gallery and beyond the little black dress at the National museum, don’t know if they are still on. Avoid the castle, really disappointing and way overpriced. If it’sa nice day and you like walking you could walk up Cockburn street then down the royal mile to holyrood.