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Off to Edinburgh tomorrow for 3 days, does anyone have any recommendations for things to do/see, eating, coffee and the like.
Done all the usual searches and reading and have a few ideas but local recommendations are always welcome!
Cheers in advance!
Not the weather this week!
Open top bus is good ( or was went I went on it with pals years ago - interesting snippets of history and you can get on and off it.
Eating - what sort of things? Local to me ( shore leith) there are 25 restaurants from Michelin starred to cheap and cheerful - plenty of cafes as well
Calton hill gives good views of the city centre
World beating roadworks at the mo!
Not the castle. Britannia is more interesting.
Arthur's seat Carlton hill and Scott's monument for views. If you get a clear day... Camera obscura.
Coffee... Many many options
Food... Many many options defo need some guidance.
Getting around, busses are pretty handy, contactless up to 4.50 or something then they won't take any more so make alot of sense of the weather is crap to do alot of hopping.
Museum of Scotland is worth a wander. As are all of the galleries.
Not fish and chips, they put this heinous broon shit all over it.
Stirling Castle
Glasgow Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Riverside Museum.
Falkirk Wheel.
If you only have 3 days there is plenty in Edinburgh to keep you busy, even indoors. The places Crispin mentions (with respect) are all an hour or so away on the train, fair enough if you had a couple of weeks. And despite recent attempts at gentrification Leith remanins Leith and bandit country. I agree with Irvine Welsh in that all tourists should do a circuit on the 52 bus to see the real Edinburgh but I don't believe that is mandatory yet!
Added to what others have suggested and actually in Edinburgh, the modern art gallery is good, you can walk to it along the Water of leith from the bottom of the new town (Glenogle Road) and go past some of the famous colonies houses on the way.
There is a farily recent thread on here about places to eat in Edinburgh.
Not fish and chips, they put this heinous broon shit all over it.
Have some respect, it's called chippy sauce and you're lucky to get it.
And despite recent attempts at gentrification Leith remanins Leith and bandit country.
this is absolute nonsense. Even the "port of leith" has cleaned up and as for the "dirty duck" - its now called the roseleaf and very genteel. When were you last in leith Hels? Even the banana flats are nothing like they were.
jeepers even Muirhouse is nothing like it was 25 years ago
Three days isn't enough really as there is lots to see and do however, a few standout things I'd do if I was you are:
- Walk up Arthur's Seat
- Visit Edinburgh castle
- Scottish museum or any number of galleries to visit, actually a walk along the water of Leith to the modern art museum is pretty smart.
- Walk up Scott Monument
- There's lots of really nice restaurants so prebook a few
- Royal yacht Britannia is worth a visit
- A mini pub crawl down the grass market
- Ghost/history city walk
- Edinburgh zoo to see the pandas
I forgot the obligatory whisky tour... Actually you'd be probably better off just finding a decent pub and ask the bartender to recommend a few.
Mary king's close is pretty good too, especially if it's a dark, damp day. Gives Edinburgh a more atmospheric oldy-worldy feel.
Can't believe that someone has recommended things to do in Edinburgh that are 20-30 miles away. And not even places you'd pass when driving up from England. 🤣
actually a walk along the water of Leith to the modern art museum is pretty smart.
this
You could nip into a few nice places on your way or down (depending on which way you're coming).
Off the A1 you have places like the museum of flight in East Fortune. Or seaside places with great beaches like Gullane or North Berwick.
If coming up the M74 you could go to places like Drumlanrig castle, Bigger, Moffet, Peebles, St Mary's Loch, Stobo Castle etc, etc.
I agree with TJ, Hels opinion of Leith is bizarre it would take a pretty determined effort to visit and come away thinking that even more so as an ex resident of Edinburgh. Plenty of great places down there.
Personally of the touristy things I found Mary Kings Close really interesting even if there are some really naff attempts to tell ghost stories by the guide. And a trip to the vaults can be good fun aswell.
Agree with all of what Josh says, and TJ.
Thanks all, I'm with the wife and kids (11 and 13) so lots to go at there.
Foodwise - we're reasonably adventurous, Sushi is universally loved by the whole family for example, I guess "quite nice but not overly poncey/pricey" is our ballpark?
The ship on the shore is the best seafood I know and would be my recommendation if yo want seafood. I hardly go up town anymore thos so don't know whats up there these days.
Roslyn Chapel is a worth visiting. I enjoyed the Museum of Scotland, Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat. I went round the Parliament building which was fascinating but not sure it's open to the public when it's in session. Great city to just wander round.
[quote=Nobeerinthefridge]
Agree with all of what Josh says, and TJ.
recorded for posterity
🙂
For sushi I'd definitely recommend Kanpai, v tasty and good central location.
For pizza (ok, doesn't tick adventurous), 1926 is excellent and pretty reasonable.
Coffee, you're spoilt for choice up here, so many good places to choose from.
Roslyn Chapel is a worth visiting
I live in Roslyn/Rosslyn/Roslin. If you're coming to the chapel it's worth a walk down the Glen even if it's pashin doon. If you end up coming I can give you some pointers. The Inn is pretty good for food and a pint too.
Stirling Castle
Glasgow Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Riverside Museum.
Falkirk Wheel.
and The Kelpies
If you like sushi then Yamato at Tollcross is worth a visit. Superb food.
I can't decide if I should be proud or worried that I have been lumped into the same sentence as TJ.
Caveat.. it's been 2 years pretty much since I have had a concerted attempt to try places in Edinburgh for obvious reasons.
On the subject of fish and chips, I swing both ways when it comes to chippy sauce. I'd just say don't get fish and chips because there isn't a particularly good fish and chip shop in Edinburgh.
Vietnam house for eh... Vietnamese
Indian... Loads, I like mother India because I can order many many things but there are literally loads of other good options.
El cartel... For tacos although I will caveat I did have one poor experience but had great meals before and after that one.
Coffee... Cairngorm, Wellington, *something* and Williamson, brewlab artisan roast.
Actually my hot tip would be Mary's milk bar for ice-cream.
I’d just say don’t get fish and chips because there isn’t a particularly good fish and chip shop in Edinburgh.
Oh dear Pierinos in leith is fabulous ( well its not really edinburgh 🙂 )- the best I have ever had and the Alba d'oro in the new town used to be good but I haven't been there for years
Alba d’oro
Living off past glories, don't think they have served alligator in years.
I'm not saying there aren't decent ones. But there's no WeeChippy in anstruther competition. Haven't tried pierinos, I'll look it up.
Fish at Marchmont do an excellent fish and chips and other stuff too, not your bog standard chippy. They have a plaice at Haymarket too. Chez Jules do good value French lunches and Ting Thai Caravan used to be excellent but eating out is not something I get to do much recently.
If you want a bar with a “wow look at that” experience then The Dome fits the bill. If you want a more down to earth ordinary pub then the Bow Bar, despite it being in the heart of tourist country.
The Camera Obscura is worth going to. And a morning walk up to the top of Arthur’s Seat if you’ve been hitting the pubs the night before.
Another recommendation for Chez Jules. I'd put off going there for years for some unknown reason, but it's fast becoming my favourite restaurant in Edinburgh. Good prices, really tasty food.
I’d just say don’t get fish and chips because there isn’t a particularly good fish and chip shop in Edinburgh.
Oh dear Pierinos in leith is fabulous ( well its not really edinburgh 🙂 )- the best I have ever had and the Alba d’oro in the new town used to be good but I haven’t been there for years
Pierinos is nice, perhaps even really nice.... thats it - I've eaten there most weeks for the past year as I'm currently the kind of sleazy ner-do-well that hangs around Leith Docks. Its not fabulous. The chipshop at the Burnside Garage on South Uist is fabulous Peirinos is just a good chipshop by central Scotland standards but not somewhere to seek out.
I had a drink on the rooftop terrace of the new whisky experience on Prince St and it's rather good. Lunch in Harvey Niks rooftop also good. Loads of good boozers , fave is Cafe Royal accepting it isn;t for everyone.
I was there this weekend just gone.
**** me it's hilly.
Bow (sp) bar was good.
Don't remember much else tbh.
Best fish and chips I've found in Edinburgh is the Fishmarket on Newhaven harbour. Expect to queue though.
They have a plaice at Haymarket
I sea what you did there.
If you like hipster beers the Salt Horse is good.
If you like sushi then Yamato at Tollcross is worth a visit. Superb food.
agreed make sure you try the aubergine thing they do too
I sea what you did there.
Thank cod for that, I thought it was too deep for folks on here.
It is difficult to know what to recommend, not knowing what you like doing, and I'm not sure I have similar tastes to many, but (presuming you've not been before):
Walking up Arthur's Seat +/- Salisbury Crags is a must. Then down into Duddingston for a pint in 'The Sheip's Heid' maybe?(others would know better than me about that).
Princes Street including the gardens & gallery, George Street, Queen Street inc the Portrait Gallery.
Walk down through the New Town to the Botanical Gardens.
My personal favourite place for coffee is Soderburgh on Middle Meadow Walk. Their Mazarins and their buns are to die for - so have both! Sit outside and watch people walk and cycle past. You could then walk across the Meadows to Edinburgh Cycles and browse some bikes. Then pop to Bruntsfield and Morningside which are very Edinburgh. Some decent charity shops in Morningside too.
Edinburgh buses are frequent and very reliable, a day ticket for unlimited use is very good value.
However, if you have bicycles there are many places that you'd likely not see otherwise. An off road, circular route along the canal, down to Crammond on the sea, along the coast (through Leith) and on to Portobello with fish and chips sitting on the promenade (swimming in the sea optional, although very trendy). Then back along the Innocent Railway cyclepath is highly recommended.
If it's raining, Vue cinema at Ocean Terminal (near Leith) has very luxurious all reclining seats at £6.99.
Room & Rumours for coffee and donuts. It’s near the Royal Mile and the station.
The old railway tunnel between Arthur's seat and duddingston is worth a walk for the imaginative grafitti
Good call on the Botanic Gardens. Take a walk via Stockbridge on the way there and stop at the pubs/cafes. If you like SE Asian style food then Wee Buddha is great.
Went to the castle for the first time in years over the summer. Wouldn't rush back TBH.
On the flip side, I got dragged to dynamic Earth and really enjoyed it.
Personally I just love wondering around, but appreciate with kids in tow that's not always possible.
Fairly adventurous food-wise? I’d recommend Six by Nico - you’ll get a lunch or late reservation at short notice. Six course tasting menu for £32 a head - it’s well worth the price.
Maki and Ramen for sushi, you’ll find a fair few of them dotted around.
Dynamic Earth is interesting enough, as is the Arthur’s Seat area in general. A volcano in a city.
Supposedly the Royal Yacht Brittania (down at the Shore in Leith), the Edinburgh Dungeon, The Bus Tours and Mary King's Close are the best "tourist" things to do. The National Museum is pretty good too and I like the Portrait Gallery.
All pretty good options if the weather is poor.
I'd wrap up well as it's to get much colder when the dreich ,cloudy and rainy weather clears
If the sun comes out the Scott monument just suck your belly in at the top , but if it's still raining a trip to the Dominion to watch James Bond , comfy reclining seats, maybe a wee drink and your inclusive pringles
So comfy I fall asleep
I've been up the fore flag pole / mast on a few occasions of Brittania at work, i've subsequently had a quick nose around and can recommend it to see how the top few 0.000% get by. I've always mena to go back for a tour.
Britannia is a mile away from Shore ( not "the Shore" ) Its a street named "Shore" and is only a couple of hundred m long. Its weird and makes constructing sentences hard but thats its proper name - same as "Pleasance" No "the" involved
🙂
I have not been on one of these tours but very good by all accounts
https://www.hettyshistorywalks.co.uk/
Re my comments on Leith - I am sure people have other experiences - I passed through in the car a few months ago and witnessed an assault on the pavement. Other people in the traffic jam got out to intervene. This is just one (OK maybe 20 or so who saw it from their cars) person's experience and an isolated incident, I am sure many people live safe happy lives. It has always been a place of contrasts, I lived on Henderson Street for six months a few years ago, in one direction cars set on fire most weekends, a few doors down the road a Michelin starred restaurant....
Did anybody mention Rosslyn Chapel yet? That just counts as Edinburgh I think? And no fire-bombing there recently. Penicuik now...
Indeed you are an outlier Hels
i have lived about 100m from where you were for 30 years. Seen one assault in that time and never seen a car being burnt nor seen the remains of burnt out cars
Lets put it this way - the area is now one of the highest priced places for property in the city. a 2 bed flat can be £400 000+
Last time I was in Leith a weird junkie guy showed me his stoma and asked me to go to Granton with him to buy a colostomy bag.
I've been in three street brawls and an attempted mugging in my time in Edinburgh. Every one was in Leith.
I think the area is a dump.
To be fair, I also think the same of Nicolson Street where my flat is.
Oi ygh - don't refer to me as a "weird junkie guy"!
Lets put it this way – the area is now one of the highest priced places for property in the city. a 2 bed flat can be £400 000+
Maybe 'one of' but I doubt it would be in the top 10 priciest areas in Edinburgh.
It's a funny place Leith, whilst I feel totally safe when there, it definitely has an air of menace.
I have lived in leith for 30 years - I really do not recognize this leith you describe at all. maybe 40 years ago in trainspotting days but no longer. No one I know that lives here has ever been mugged or in a fight.
I guess you see what you want to. maybe its because I used to live on the whalley range / mosside border in manchester before leith where shotguns in the night were commonplace
and yes - Leith is one of the most expensive parts of the city to live in. My block has a 25% premium over the rest of the area because location location location
anyway - huge thread drift.
Can't resist it
https://www.coultersproperty.co.uk/blog/edinburghs-leith-area-is-one-of-the-coolest-places-to-live/
There are plenty things to do in Edinburgh, be regards food and drink, really I'd be tempted not to take anyone's advice.
It would be harder to find a crap place than find a decent place in Edinburgh nowadays.
Leith is ok as well. Some nice places round the water of Leith bit.
Had food and drink in the Guildford https://guildfordarms.com/ behind the Apple shop in Princes street a few days ago, was really braw, but there are probably 50 as good places within 300yrds of it.