Edinburgh

[WTF1974]

Afternoon all.

I'm
Looking to drive to Edinburgh from the midlands for a 3 or 4 days away in mid to late April

Looking for recommendations for suitable accommodation such as a Premier Inn or Travelodge close to the centre with parking to use as a base whilst there.

Also looking for recommended sightseeing - what's the best thing to see and where to avoid? .

TIA

Who is coming, just you? The national museum is good and it’s free.

We loved the underground catacombs tour and the QE2.

There's a premier inn an Edinburgh Park(the Gyle) which has trams outside that go to centre. It has parking which i think is free if staying.I think finding a hotel with parking in the centre will be hard.

It may be worth looking at the knights residence by mansey which are serviced apartments at the top of the grass market with private parking. They're handy and convenient for the city. Plenty of restaurants and bars on grass market. Re sights etc. we love the botanic gardens, camera obscura, dynamic earth, the open top
Bus, Arthur's seat. The castle is a bit meh to me but depends on what you want from a break. Museum of Scotland and museum of childhood are free and worth a wander round. New shopping centre at st James quarter is nice for a couple of hours with restaurants on top floor. Leith is lovely: depends on what you want and who you are travelling with really but some ideas to google if nothing else. Often some decent things on at the playhouse too depending on what you have locally may be able to see a show you can't get at home. It's a lovely city. Have a good break.

The Camera Obscura is worth a visit as is Mary Kings Close.You can take a walk down the Royal Mile to Holyrood Palace and Park.A walk round Arthur's Seat can I've you good views of the city if you get onto the High road.I'm not familiar with central hotels with parking facilities but there is a Premier Inn at Newcraighall on the outskirts of the city which is directly opposite a train station.Trains are every 30 mins during the week and will get you into the city centre in about 10 minutes.

Hotels with parking (depending on budget but all are bus / tram routes)
the travelodge at Cameron Toll
premier inn or Novotel Edinburgh park - can be quite reasonably priced at weekends as they’re on a business park
holiday inn by the zoo
delta by Marriott on the A8 Glasgow Road
holiday inn express by craigleith retail park
the village hotel
premier inn leith waterfront (it’s actually at Newhaven but the tram extension now stops just along the road)
Braid Hills hotel
best western kings manor
premier inn Edinburgh east (on the A1)

I recommend Motel One, or the Apex Hotel for places to stay. Museum of Scotland is good (and free). A tour of the castle is fantastic. Camera Obscura. The dungeons are good if you don't mind people jumping out at you. The walking tours are always worth doing. There are some "ghost" walks which are interesting, and mostly just historical facts and interesting stories. As far as food goes, check out Makars. The Jolly Judge and The Advocate are nice pubs. There is St Giles cafe down the side street opposite the cathedral which is lovely for lunch. The Whisky Tasting Experience on the way down from (or up to, depending on the way you're going, haha) the castle is fab. Also, there is a shop opposite it (I forget what it is called off the top of my head) which is massive, full of gifts etc which is good to look in. The zoo is a good day out. I'm sure there are loads of other things to do but off the top of my head that's what I would recommend.

The Village Hotel is just on the outskirts, it has a car park and a bus that stops right outside that goes into Edinburgh.

We have stayed there a couple of times and it has almost been a pleasant stay.

QE2?? Do you mean the Royal Yacht Brittania.
Brittania is also worth a visit.You can drive there and park the car in the multi storey car park at Ocean Terminal.

If the weather is fair take a walk along the Water of Leith walkway to Dean Village. You can combine this with a wander round Stockbridge and a visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens.

A wander up Calton Hill gives glorious views across the city and across to Fife.

We liked the Premier Inn on York Place. You can park at the Q Park nearby for a discounted rate.

We've also stayed at the Apex hotels on the Grassmarket but found them too noisy. Although the one with the swimming pool was fun as you can watch people wander past as you take a dip!

Go for the travelodge on either queen’s street or Haymarket. Then you are in town directly. No reason to take a tram or bus trip to the centre.

I would park somewhere outside the centre outside the permit zone and stay in a centrally located hotel. No point in taking a bus/tram in and out of town so you can sleep close to a car you’re not using for those days.

But where are they going to park??

@aintnospringchicken I did mean the Royal Yacht. My mistake! Thank you.

Gosh, I meant to say always been a pleasant stay 🙈

We bought this book and did a few of the walks from it - in particular, the Deans Village one was beautiful. We also enjoyed going in the Castle and the National Gallery (which was free). Also loved the food in Bonnie & Wild food hall and enjoyed the free ceilidh there too (think they have one a month).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edinburghs-Hidden-Walks-Stephen-Millar/dp/1902910699/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2RRA0NVCOK06M&keywords=edinburgh+hidden+walks&qid=1706398537&sprefix=hidden+walks+edin%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1

Thanks for all the suggestions folks. I'm going to sit down this evening with pen and paper and go through all the options.

If you have DC the APEX hotel in the Grassmarket area was good large rooms, two double beds (ok for a couple of nights), reasonably priced and fab view of the castle.

We almost always take the train to Edinburgh so can’t help with parking. Love walking around the castle area (wrap up it can be cold especially on the ears), shopping, Escape room, camera obscura, lots of nice bars and restaurants.

@WTF1974 remember that Edinburgh has a ULEZ so if your car isn't compliant you'll be fined immediately..
Maybe look for a hotel outside the city- anything at the Gyle/ Edinburgh Park will have great links, or you could try the Holiday Inn beside the zoo, there's a great bus service into the city from there.

It’s not being enforced until June.

Is also only in very central area. My friend can walk to Princes Street from her flat in about 10
minutes and she’s not (quite) in it.