Four nights in Edinburgh?

[HmmmCat]

Thinking of having a midweek break mid-October in Edinburgh. Two adults.

Any tips, suggestions, recommendations?

My favourite UK city.
The castle is great. They do the 1 o’clock cannon so if you can be there at that time it’s nice to watch.
I love the underground tours….there is so much history in the city. Check the dates for what’s going on as the city hosts lots of great things like the fringe, the tattoo (I know neither are October but there may be something going on)
Last time I went I didnt stay central but the tram network was great.

There are great views from Arthur’s Seat. The easiest way up is to start from the Palace, which we visited in the morning beforehand.
We also really enjoyed the Scotch Whiskey experience and The Real Mary King Close.

Camera Obscura, the National Museum to say hello to Dolly the sheep. Agree with Athurs seat if it's a decent day.

Loads, what do you enjoy doing?

Top things two for me:

Deans Village, then walk along the Leith to Stockbridge.

Arthur's Seat. If you'd really struggle to get near the top of Arthur's Seat, there's Carlton Hill which has good views, but I'd choose Arthur's Seat if you can do.

Royal Yacht Britainnia is interesting, and a drink at the Port of Leith afterwards. The Castle and Holywood are enjoyable, but once seen, I wouldn't return to.

If you're near Greyfriars, visit the churchyard, the Greyfriars Bobby statue (look up history) and the National Museum is really good - something for everyone.

Grassmarket, Victoria Street, Cockburn Street and Royal Mile are all worth walking along.

Deacons Cafe and Southern Cross are good, although I know someone who swears by Black Medicine.

That will be Scottish school holidays, it won't be peak busy but perhaps busier than usual for mid week.

Museum of Scotland on chamber st.
Camera obscura.
Bonnie and wild for food, or Edinburgh Street food in the Omni centre.
See what's on the playhouse or festival theatre.
Portrait gallery.
Modern art gallery.
Walk round Stockbridge charity shops and also the dean village very picturesque.
Afternoon tea at the signet library.

Weather will be getting colder and evenings will be getting darker. Likely to rain, a lot! But just take good shoes and waterproof coat.

Interested in all sorts of things. We'll probably take a half-day to visit the Falkirk Wheel.

Bring comfy shoes and be prepared for hills.
download the Lothian buses phone app.
don’t bother with the HOHO bus
only visit the castle if you’re really really interested in Scottish history
make dinner reservations in advance
make sure your accommodation has a parking (assume you’re driving if you’re planning to visit Falkirk wheel?)

Completely disagree with missing the HOHO bus. City Sightseeing buses are a great way to move around and good value. The 3 day pass means you can jump on it out of the rain whenever you need to and there are 3 routes. The horrible histories commentary is brilliant even for adults. Obviously do the serious one too 🤣

Please don’t rub Bobbys nose but do take him a stick to the kirkyard. Print your own Harry Potter walking tour. Poor Dolly though, go and see her and wonder why they felt the need to put sheep droppings in her cabinet, so unnecessary imo

Don’t get me wrong, I love a HOHO bus, I just don’t think it’s worth it in Edinburgh for the distance it covers round the city centre. You can walk as fast as the bus goes and lots of the route to places like the botanics and royal yacht Britannia is better done by local bus or tram.

Stockbridge is a great area to stay in. It’s only a 10-15 minutes walk into the City centre but it gets you away from some of the busyness. And it’s a great area to wander round.
Mary Kings close is great as are some of the walking tours. Grassmarket ,Victoria street and The Royal Mile are worth seeing. The Royal Mile is very touristy however. I wouldn’t eat there ( although there are nice restaurants in the other places mentioned, and on George 4th bridge .

I found it better in Edinburgh in the rain than in most places tbh! Especially when you’ve slogged up the royal mile and down to grassmarket then back to your hotel…only to want to go back to the nice restaurants you saw for the evening and it’s hoofing it down 😬

Oh yeah, and bring a brolly cos obviously it always rains 🙄

Mate, it’s mid October. It rains fucking everywhere. Why is everyone so easily offended these days?

No need for the eye-roll (or the brolly. Just put your hood up or get on a HOHO bus)

I wouldn't bother with the Falkirk wheel tbh. Personal choice of course, but it's shite. If you get a good weather day maybe doing the wheel and kelpies could be okay but there are better ways to spend your time in Edinburgh.

On a four day break I wouldn’t bother with the Falkirk wheel.

We loved the Surgeons’ Hall museum and I didn’t think I would. Our guide on the guided walk was fantastic and you get to learn so much history in a fun and focused way and see places you’d not really have noticed.

We also loved the HOHO buses which are very well run

Agree with many of the suggestions above. For eating out Edinburgh is a great location - everything from unlicensed Georgian restaurant ‘Hungry Wolf’, to Stuart Ralston’s Lyla (one of the best restaurants in the UK, with a price to match). What are your tastes, and budget?

Falkirk wheel only worth it if an engineering nerd! (& if you do visit it won't take too long so my local recommendations are to explore the Antonine Wall at Rough Castle, Calendar House, plus the Steam trains in Bo'ness & pop by Kinneil House - Watt's cottage will also appeal to an engineer!). The walk along the Union canal from (the top of) the wheel is nicer than the one along the Forth Clyde canal (at the bottom).

Blackness castle is fabulous too.

No need for the HOHO - just tap, tap, cap! (Tap yourself onto any bus and on and off the trams and the maximum you’ll be charged is £5 per day).

Personally I wouldn’t eat on the Royal Mile as it’s full of tourist traps. There’s a woman called Nell Nelson who does a fab food/walking tour, give that a google. Whisky - do the tour at the Port Of Leith or Holyrood distilleries. The underground tours are actually brilliant, but in October I might be tempted to do a ghost walk in the dark.

Please, I beg of you, do not rub Greyfriars Bobby’s nose.

The castle is a one-time visit but it is worth it to see it. Co-incidentally I was in St Giles cathedral the other day and had absolutely forgotten how stunning it was.

And yeah, I wouldn’t bother with the Falkirk Wheel either unless there’s some connection.

Holyrood Distillery was interesting for us (drinkers and non-drinkers).
We went in December and Castle needed prebooking even then. I tried to time our visit for the 1pm gun....but they dont fire it on Sundays, so maybe bear that in mind!
Yes to pottering around the National Museum.
Grassmarket had some nice pubs with good, sensibly priced food.
We weren't there long enough to visit Surgeons Hall, or Real Mary's King's Close so I'm keen to get back there for these, and hopefully get out to the Royal Yacht too.
We had 3 days, didn't seem to pause to catch our breath and feel like we hardly touched the surface of things to see and do.....hope you have a great time.

This is brilliant, thanks! So many things to research that I haven't heard of.

As for the Falkirk Wheel, dh is an engineer - and riding it would make both of us happy.

Someone has suggested Howie's restaurant on Victoria St - anyone been there?

Howies is nice, I think the one at waterloo place is nicer than Victoria street.