Half a day in Edinburgh (tomorrow)

[ElizabethinherGermanGarden]

Any suggestions for great things to do? We'll be arriving about 11am and leaving on the 9pm train. None of us have ever been before. We don't want to climb up Arthur's Mount!

*Arthur's Seat

You have enough to have a walk along Princes Street, back through the Princes Street Gardens and have a wander up the South Bridge to the upper part of the Royal Mile and the Castle. You would see lots of cool buildings and some street performances.

That sounds like a good plan and will give us a feel of the city.

Come out of Waverly on the market Street side, walk up Cockburn Street and then take a wee wander up and down some of the closes. Walk up the high street and spend some time in the castle and taking endless selfies on the esplanade. It's expensive but good.

Then wander down the high street to the junction with Bank Street and George IV bridge. If into museums turn right along George IV bridge (the road might be shut after a fire), and head for chambers Street to the national museum. Into art? Turn left and head down the mound to the national gallery. Interested in architecture take a look at st Giles cathedral or ask to see the old parliament ceiling in the high court (great stained glass too, but might not get in and if you do you'll need to scan your bags). If you want to see the parliament (weird architectural boat thing) head down the high street - views are great across East Lothian. The old town is great for mooching around or you can do a bus tour to see more of Edinburgh - I wouldn't but people do.

Normally I'd say that if you've got potter heads with you go to see the elephant house (even though it's not where she wrote the first one) but it's shut because of a fire.

I'd have picnic lunch in Princes Street gardens if weather is nice; drink good pints of ale in cafe royal, Oxford bar (might still be shut but it's the rebus pub) or Guildford arms and have a nice dinner in cafe st honore. All bars and restaurant within shooting distance of Waverly.

Enjoy and cross your fingers for weather as nice as it was today!

Thank you both. Taking notes!

The open top bus tours in Edinburgh are actually really good as there are so many great stories (and really good value for money). I took my kids on one this summer (even though I lived in Edinburgh for many years and never bothered)