Things to do in Edinburgh

craigpaul85

Hello

The wife, my 3 year old son and I are going to Edinburgh in January for my birthday.

I need a list of things to do (have to be child friendly obviously). I've got the zoo and castle as two. But where to eat? what other things are there to do?

Also, does anyone know where i can get some printable vouchers? For example, BOGOF on tickets or summit else

Many thanks to all

dexyblue

Hi, I was in Edinburgh with my 2 kids just before Christmas, I can say that we ate in The Standing Order (wetherspoons) on George Street. They have a seperate family dining room to the right of the entrance, so your little one wont have to go in the actual bar. Fish Chips and peas, bread and butter and tea £3-20 before 5pm. We went after this time I had Fish and chips and kids had Sausage chips and beans. Good size portions and decent prices. Then you have the McDonalds crap which is just off Princess St. Little cafe near Greyfriars Bobby Statue was excellent value also.
Hope you have a great birthday

Disco

looking to visit in Feb.. also want a 2for1 entry on zoo if any nice people out there :j :j

johnfarquhar74

Things to do;
FREE: National Museum of Scotland, Chambers St. Some hands on stuff for the kids
FREE: Museum of Childhood, Royal Mile(Cannongate/Tolbooth area)

FREE: Botanic Gardens, Inverleith-Nice place to feed the squirrels and there is a large palm house there.

FREE: Princes St Gardens, under the shadow of the castle, more feeding squirrels/pidgeons, watching the trains but there is also a decent(safe) playpark at the western end. Good opportunity to burn off some excess energy.

£: Deeps Sea World, North Queensferry-Short train ride(15 mins) from Waverley to North Queensferry then a 10 minute walk down to the aquarium. Has an underwater travelator allowing you to see the fish/sharks from a new perspective. Kids will love it, lots of hands-on.

£: Dynamic Earth, Holyrood-A science orientated exhibition about the evolution of our planet. Took my daughter there when she was 3, she enjoyed it, plus it's indoors if the weather isn't favourable.

£: Royal Yacht Britannia, Leith-Connected to the Ocean Terminal Shoping Mall where there is also a cinema, restaurants and a softplay area(called Mollys I think).

FOOD;

TGI Fridays, Castle St.-Child friendly, you get the usual crayon colouring pack as you enter so you have peace whilst you order. Nice cocktails.

Hard Rock Cafe, George St.- As above but a little bit pricier, good if you enjoy rock americana.

Italian, North side of Hanover St.-A selection of family run Italians, always welcoming to young family when I have had occasion to frequent them.

Hope this helps, and enjoy your visit.

alison74

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=88

Check out the Scotland board and the 2 relevant stickies

abfmdf

I would recommend Masion bleue
http://www.maisonbleuerestaurant.com/index.php

It serves really good food at a reasonable price esp if you get there for the pre-theatre menu (arrive before 6:30pm) . (its just off the royal mile). Although not orientated toward kids like TFI and hard rock cafe it is very relaxed and I would say a much nicer environment. There are also number of restaurants within a close distance (the Grassmarket) although for a meal I would probably not recommend it for a Friday or Saturday night as there are a number of pubs where you often see hen and stag nights.

On the royal mile the Ghost walks are pretty good and something a bit different (they take you under the city streets)

also if you go to the zoo, go to the information centre first. Im pretty sure on the pamphlet for the zoo if you cut out bit at the back you get a free cuddly toy.

The Palace is also nice too, but I think the castle is better, Stirling castle I would say is even better again. Edinburgh also has a really nice botanical gardens which is free. Roslin chapel were the climax of da vinci code was set (number 15 bus) is also a nice day trip with great walks (into the forest) just behind the graveyard.

Flower_of_Scotland_3

Do the residents of Edinburgh a favour and avoid the Tartan Tat shops especially the ones that blast music into the neighbourhood and display all their merchandise outside their shops. The music and the clutter drives the people living in the vicinity bonkers and makes the Royal Mile look like an Eastern Bazaar. The shop-keepers are aware of this but they dont care. Lidls are currently selling kilts and the rest of the regalia at a very good price.

competitionscafe

Food Glorious Food!

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Places to eat: Good cafes and restaurants in Edinburgh:
A good street for something to eat is West Nicolson street - at the Pear Tree Pub end there is the Mosque Kitchen (£5 for a large portion of vegetarian or meat curries: lunchtimes only) and at the opposite end is the excellent Bonsai (Japanese) and Sadivino (Italian cafe: lunch only).

For carnivores keen to try some Scottish beef, the new Well Hung and Tender shop and takeaway at 67 North Castle Street (New Town, near Princes Street) offers Aberdeen Angus beef burgers and steak baguettes, soft drinks, tea and coffee. Open Mon - Sat daytime only (until 6:30pm), closed on Sundays.

For vegetarians and meat-eaters alike, in Tollcross there is Mezbaan (South Indian food) which recently got a rave review in the Independent:
www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/reviews/korma-blimey-mezbaan-tollcross-edinburgh-897330.html Inspired by this review I recently ordered a takeaway and can confirm that the food is excellent, particularly the vegetarian South Indian specialities. Try the idli (steamed rice cakes) and the Masala Dosa - yum! For those who eat meat the Gosht Khaas Bemisal Chaman is quite a mouthful to pronounce but a tasty mouthful to eat. :-) www.mezbaan.co.uk


Also recommended is Kampong Ah Lee (Malaysian) on South Clerk Street.

Tasty Kurdish food (kebabs!) can be found at Hanam's who have recently moved from Tollcross to a bigger place on Johnston Terrace near the Castle:
http://edinburghmenus.com/directory/hanams_eh12pw/

Those perennial favourite cuisines Indian and Chinese can be found at Mother India on Infirmary Street (Old Town, next to Royal Oak pub) and Wine and Wok (Frederick Street, New Town). The cool thing about both of these restaurants is that they serve their dishes in 'tapas style' small portions so you can try loads of different dishes in one meal. Great idea!

Great vegetarian restaurant in Edinburgh? Try David Banns, St Marys Street, Old Town: www.davidbann.co.uk/images/food.pdf ; good
seafood restaurant in Edinburgh: try Fishers in the City, Thistle Street,New Town;
Other good restaurants: Barioja Tapas bar on Jeffrey Street (next to Iggs): www.restaurant-guide.com/barioja-tapas-bar.htm
; Urban Angel on Hanover Street (organic, local, fairtrade); Martin Wishart, Leith (2 Michelin star so ££££££££ but lunch is good value):
http://www.martin-wishart.co.uk/main.html ; 'Chop Chop' excellent Chinese restaurant on Morrison Street; La Garrigue, (French) 31 Jeffrey Street: www.lagarrigue.co.uk/ ; Bella Mbriana, bottom
of Broughton Street, Bonsai (Japanese/Sushi) West Richmond Street, The Dogs, Hanover Street (new bistro with bargain prices for Edinburgh, try the wild mushroom and pearl barley risotto - yum!). More good Edinburgh restaurant, cafe, food shop and coffee bar
recommendations here:
www.finewinediary.com/restaurants/edguide.shtml

Some good cafes and coffee shops in Edinburgh:

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Top 3: Sadivino ; Peter's Yard ; Spoon
(more on all these below)

Elephant House (self-proclaimed 'birthplace of Harry Potter', food is average (and a bit pricey for what it is) but you go for a nice view of the castle from the tables at the back; Herbies on Circus Place Stockbridge (great food); Starbucks on Princes Street has average coffee but great views of the Castle (it's
up the stairs next to the herbal remedies place!); Urban Angel (great place for breakfast/brunch/snack or just a coffee): www.urban-angel.co.uk/www/menus/ ; Sprio, St Stephens Street, Stockbridge - new place run by people from Milan so you know you will get a decent cup of coffee (which is not easy to do in Edinburgh!);
Spoon (Blackfriars Street off the Royal Mile) and the nearby Scottish Storytelling Centre Cafe which is run by the same people as Spoon (both only open during the day). Fruitmarket Gallery Cafe (Market Street, next to Waverley Station) also has a decent cafe with great
coffee (Green Mountain) and good cakes as does the cafe in the National Portrait Gallery on Queen Street - interesting building and good for afternoon tea and scones.

Cheap and cheerful:

Monster Mash on Forrest road (opposite Sandy Bells
the folk pub) does bangers (sausages) and mash, steak pie, fish and chips and McSweens Haggis - not much for vegetarians though unless you go for the vegetarian haggis! Not tried Monster Mash myself but have heard that their sausages (from Crombies) and mash are the thing to go for and avoid the puddings (mostly stuff from tins, apparently!) and it's one of the cheaper evening opening restuarants/cafes in the city centre. Suzie's Diner (vegetarian) on West Nicolson Street is another budget option as is Bonsai at the opposite end of the same street. Bonsai 'Japanese Bar Bistro' has a £4.95 lunch special or order a la carte - the ika geso (battered squid with lemon and sea salt, yum) and the agenazu (aubergine with a hot chilli miso dressing) are both highly recommended as is the spicy tuna temaki-zushi and the prawn tempura. Yum!

For a budget eat-in meal during the day I would go for Spoon, Bonsai or Kalpna (indian vegetarian restaurant) or the wonderful Sadivino on West Richmond Street (Italian/Spanish). Falko bakery (see below) has a few tables, so you might be lucky, otherwise just buy a slice of cake and come back to the flat to enjoy it :-) (bring some for me too!).

Live music pubs and bars:

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Some good night time places (pubs with live music):
Jazz Bar on Chambers Street (live music every night and weekend afternoons): www.thejazzbar.co.uk/Gallery.php ; Hendersons Wine Bar on Hanover Street (free live music every night, vegetarian food): www.hendersonsofedinburgh.co.uk/winelist.html ; Antiquary Pub on St Stephen Street, Stockbridge (informal folk music session every Thursday night 9pm until midnightish): www.bestpubs.co.uk/layout0.asp?pub=105763 .

Live music in Edinburgh? See the Edinburgh gig guide at: www.gigguide.co.uk/edinburgh.htm (and see also recommended places above: eg: Jazz bar; Hendersons; Antiquary; etc). Other good venues: Cabaret Voltaire; Liquid Rooms (Currently closed due to water damage from a fire); The Caves (all have websites).

Other Pubs and Bars:

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With so many pubs in Edinburgh choosing just one is almost impossible but there is usually a 'best' one depending on your priorities.

Eg:

Best for live folk music: Royal Oak (most nights) Antiquary (Thursdays)

Best for live jazz: Jazz Bar

Best pubs for other live music: Southsider (Once a month on Saturdays when 'The Offenders' are on); Scotsmans Lounge (Cockburn Street); Hendersons Wine Bar (Hanover Street); 99 Hanover Street; Barony Bar (Broughton Street, Sunday nights).

Best for Cocktails: Bramble Bar (Cnr Hanover St and Queen Street); Dragonfly (off Grassmarket)

Best for drinking outside: Cumberland Bar beer garden (Cumberland Street); Pear Tree beer garden (near George Square); Dalriada (Portobello Beach); Oloroso roof terrace (Castle Street); Patio 'garden' at The Dome (George/Rose Street), Castle Arms (near the Castle, terrace at the back overlooks Victoria Street).

Best for cheapest (drinkable) pint: Standing Order, George Street.

Best for real ale in a nice pub: Cloisters (Tollcross); Cumberland (New Town); Guildford Arms (Off East end of Princes Street behind Burger King); Blue Blazer (Tollcross) Kay's Bar (New Town).

Best for pub crawls: (variety of good pubs on one street/small area): Stockbridge (Hectors, Avoca, Cozi, Baillie, Antiquary, St Vincent); Broughton Street (start at Basement or Outsider and work your way downhill).

Best for drinking after 1am (free entry): Nicol Edwards (Old Town); Pivo (top of Leith walk)

Best for food: Caley Sample Room; Iglu; Avoca (Stockbridge); Black Bo's (Old Town, vegetarian); Cambridge Bar (burgers); The Dogs (latter is more of a bistro than a bar though)

Best for wine: Ecco Vino (Cockburn Street)

Best for skittles or a pint after walking up Arthur's Seat: Sheeps Heid Inn.

Best for Swedish meatballs (and nice friendly atmosphere):
Pearces Bar (Elm Row); Boda Bar (Leith Walk)

Best before/after a film: Cameo Bar.

Best avoided: too many to mention!

Other good pubs and bars in Edinburgh: 99 Hanover Street (that's the address and the name - it's opposite Hendersons Wine bar); Bramble (Queen Street); Blue Blazer (Tollcross); Cloisters (Tollcross); Guildford Arms and Cafe Royal (next to each other on West Register Street, which is behind !!!!!! King at the Waverley Station end of Princes Street); Stockbridge Tap; Hector's and Avoca (all near me in Stockbridge); Under the Stairs (Old Town, off Candlemaker Row). The Pond, Salamander Street in Leith.

Beer:

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"More than 70 new small brewers have opened in the past year, according to 2009 Camra Good Beer Guide. Such is the proliferation that the UK now has 550 breweries – more than at any point since 1945". That is great - so support them - please DON'T order that crap chemical swill produced by massive corporations. Yuck. Try a local beer from a small brewery, it's an adventure it's fun and it will taste nicer. Some good Scottish breweries: Orkney Brewery (Try Northern Light); Black Isle Brewery (based near Inverness, organic beer, they sell at Edinburgh Farmers Market, try Yellowhammer or Red Kite); Cairngorm Brewery (try Trade Winds); William Brothers, Alloa (try Grozner or Fraoch); Harviestoun (try Bitter and Twisted or Schiehallion); Isle of Skye Brewery (try Red Cuillin); The Highland Brewing Company (from Orkney despite the name - try my favourite - Orkney Best or try the Scapa Special - Champion Beer of Scotland 2008!) and last but not least, Edinburgh's own Stewart Brewery (try Edinburgh Gold) - there are many more good Scottish breweries and some great English ones too. Bottled beers from most of these breweries can be purchased in Edinburgh - try Peckhams (Bruntsfield or Stockbridge); Oddbins; Cornelius Beer & Wine on Easter Road or Peter Green in Marchmont. To try the cask versions visit a pub! Cloisters or Blue Blazer in Tollcross; Bow Bar on Victoria Street; Cumberland Bar in the New Town; Halfway House (Fleshmarket Close, Old Town near Waverley Station) or the Guildford Arms; The Stockbridge Tap (amongst others)....
If you are really keen try the Real Ale Trail: www.scotlandsrealaletrail.com/

Shopping in Edinburgh:

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(mostly food shops coz that's the only kind of shopping I like)

Some good Edinburgh shops and delis (I like to support small local shops rather than the supermarkets where possible): Herbies Deli, Raeburn Place, Stockbridge:
www.herbieofedinburgh.co.uk/ (best brie in Edinburgh, plus fab pesto, cold roast beef, bread etc); 'One World' Fairtrade shop St Johns Church, West End of Princes Street: www.oneworldshop.co.uk/ ; Mad Jacks [handmade crafts and gifts] on Elm Row (top of Leith Walk); Valvonna & Crolla Deli also on Elm Row: www.valvonacrolla.co.uk/ ; Edinburgh Farmers Market (every Saturday morning; Castle Terrace):
www.edinburghcc.com/farm_market.htm ; Real Food on Broughton Street, Broughton and Brougham Street, Tollcross: www.nurseryandschoolguide.co.uk/id77.html ; Ian Mellis cheese shops (Stockbridge, Morningside and Victoria Street, Old Town); Demijohn
(wonderful olive oils, vinegars and much more) Victoria Street; Stoats porridge vans (Meadows; St James, Farmers Market, or @ Juice Almighty on Castle
Street): www.stoatsporridgebars.co.uk/ [try the Belgian white chocolate and roasted hazelnut porridge - yum!] Falko Konditormeister baker - 7 Bruntsfield Place, Marchmont (great bread and amazing cakes!):
www.FoodwithLust.com/ ; Peter's Yard: Middle Meadow Walk (great pastries, cakes [try the parsnip cake - much yummier than it sounds!), bread and their own homemade Swedish Ice-cream: www.petersyard.com/img/32/petersyard_sundayheraldreview.jpg ; Eddies Seafood Market in Marchmont/Bruntsfield (Edinburghs best fishmonger); The greengrocers (fruit and veg shops) on Argyle Place in Bruntsfield (there are 2 or 3 of them); The Manna House, on Easter Road (excellent local baker, great bread): www.manna-house-edinburgh.co.uk/ Earthy - new local food market on Ratcliffe Terrace: www.earthy.co.uk; Clarkes on Bruntsfield Place (excellent cheeses, fruit and veg direct from Paris, good bread, unsalted butter, free-range eggs,), Peter Green, Warrender Park Road, Marchmont - good selection of wines and beer.

Favourite places in Edinburgh:

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Arthurs Seat (watch the sunset/sunrise or just go for the view on a clear day) head to the Sheeps Heid (oldest pub in Edinburgh) for a post walk pint.

Water of Leith riverside walk: www.waterofleith.org.uk/river/river.shtm
(One of the best bits is near the centre: Stockbridge colonies to Dean Village and the gallery of modern art)

Royal Botanical Gardens:
http://www.rbge.org.uk/rbge/web/visiting/ebg.jsp (Why not buy some food and wine in Herbies or Peckhams and go for a picnic in the gardens - watch out for the cheeky wee squirrels!)

Stockbridge - 10 mins walk downhill from Princes Street near the Botanic Gardens - a 'village' in the city with riverside walks and some of the best cafes (Herbies, Maxis, Red Sugar) delis (Herbies, The Store, Ian Mellis cheesemonger) and pubs in Edinburgh (Hectors, Avoca, Antiquary, Stockbridge Tap) (+lots of other good small, independent shops, Oxfam (2nd hand) book and music shops, wine shops and a 24 hour co-op). With the little river and the Botanical gardens nearby it's a good place just to wander around: some great photos (not mine!) of Stockbridge here:
http://flickr.com/photos/curlsdiva/sets/72057594102647576/

Edinburgh Farmers Market:
Castle Terrace, Saturdays from 8:30 am to 2pm ish.
(The earlier you go the better the choice!)

River Almond walk and Cramond village.

Hermitage of Braid (Morningside). A wooded gorge with a river and lots of trails through the forest. Bus 23 from near me will take you there.

Some ideas for things to do in and around Edinburgh:

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> Spend a sunny afternoon walking around the Botanic Gardens, take a picnic lunch - and some peanuts to feed the friendly squirrels.
> Walk up Arthurs Seat, Salisbury Crags, Calton Hill or Blackford Hill to watch the sunset or sunrise.
> Spend a rainy afternoon exploring the National Museum of Scotland (it's free) If the sun comes out you get great views of Edinburgh from the roof terrace.
> Go for a few beers and see some live jazz at the Jazz Bar (Chambers Street).
> Go for afternoon tea and cakes (yum!) at the National Portrait Gallery cafe (Queen Street).
> Go for lunch at Sadivino or Spoon. (yum! yum!)
> Walk the water of Leith footpath from Stockbridge to the Gallery of Modern Art where you can enjoy tea and cake or wine, cheese and oatcakes in their tearoom/cafe with sunny garden.
> Take a 25 minute bus ride out to the Pentland Hills on Mcewans bus 100/101/102 (from St Andrew Square bus station or PRinces Street bus stop: £1.45 return), walk the hills and valleys and then enjoy a pint of local beer and some chips in the Flotterstone Inn. Burp!
> Take the train out to North Berwick (30 minutes from Edinburgh, £5.30 day return) for walks along the coast to Tantallon Castle and Seacliff Beach.
> Take the badger bus (First Bus 124 or X5 from St. Andrew Square) out to Aberlady or Gullane for walks along the sandy beaches with views across the sea to Edinburgh, to Dirleton Castle and gardens and Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve followed by lunch or afternoon coffee and cakes in the fantastic Falko bakery/coffee shop in Gullane (or their gorgeous homemade ice-cream in summer!) Yum! (closed on Mondays).
www.eastlothian.gov.uk/documents/contentmanage/Walks%20Around%20Gullane-2855.PDF
www.sundayherald.com/life/people/display.var.2068499.0.savour_the_flavours.php
www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/dirleton/dirletoncastle/
> Take the bus to Roslin (Lothian Bus #15, 40 mins, £1.10 each way) for the chapel, a ruined castle and woodland walks along the River Esk.
http://lothianbuses.com/downloads/timetables/r15.pdf
>A wander around the Edinburgh Farmers Market on a Saturday and then back to the flat for lunch in the garden with fresh local bread, cheeses, strawberries or whatever else looks good in the market.
> Take the bus or train to South Queensferry and then the 'Maid of the Forth' boat out to Inchcolm Island with it's 12th century abbey.
http://www.maidoftheforth.co.uk/inchcolm.shtml
If you are driving there don't forget to stop at the wonderful Craigies farm shop, deli and cafe on the way back for a bite to eat and to stock up on tasty local
produce - including Scottish soft fruit in summer (strawberries, raspberries, etc). www.craigies.co.uk/delicafe.htm

Some ideas if you want to do something different in Edinburgh:

Discover the secret underground badger vaults of Edinburgh:
< www.mercattours.com/the-vaults-tour.asp >
Explore Mary Kings Close:
< www.realmarykingsclose.com/experience.htm >
< en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_King\'s_Close >
(Expensive though at almost £10!)
or take a trip down into the spooky South Bridge vaults:
< www.mercattours.com/scheduled-tours.asp >
Go on a ghost walk (Murder & Mystery Tour):
http://www.witcherytours.com/meettheghosts.html


FREE Walking Tours of Edinburgh:

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There is also a 'Free' guided walking tour of Edinburgh which leaves everyday at 11am from in front of the Starbucks by the Tron Kirk on the High Street (they ask for tips at the end, as it's aimed at budget backpackers around £2 or £3 seems the average although you can give more or less) - more info at: www.newedinburghtours.com

Favourite outdoors places near Edinburgh:

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Pentlands (30 mins bus ride); East Neuk fishing villages, Fife; Sea Cliff beach and Tantallon castle near North Berwick (which is a 30 minute train ride from Edinburgh); Roslin Glen (30 mins by bus or 20
minute drive, woodlands, river gorge, ruined castle and some kind of a chapel or something). Speaking of which, Rosslyn Chapel is a 40 minute bus ride from Edinburgh on the number 15 bus from St Andrews Square -
there is one every half hour during the day. More info here: www.midlothian.gov.uk/images/cms/PDFs/walks/Roslin_glen_lft_web.pdf

Agent_C

If you're not booked in for breakfast at your hotel, then for the full artery-busting experience try the BHS cafe on Princes Street - they do an '8 items for £2.99' breakfast and it kept us going past lunch! The Kenilworth pub on Rose Street does good beer and reasonable food, and has a 2 meals for £10 menu - perhaps not so ideal for kids though there is a room at the back that is often empty.

Dynamic Earth is good fun, and we also used our Tesco clubcard vouchers to go down Real Mary King's Close - bit spooky so not for the easily scared!

At the zoo we gift aided our entry fee which means paying a slightly higher price - but then if you do this you get a £1.50 voucher to use towards the shop or cafe.