Daytrip to Edinburgh - Any suggestions?

fruitcake_2

Hi, I'm planning a day trip out to lovely Edinburgh from Manchester, trying to book a cheap train ticket and travelodge in the city centre. Will be going in the first week of November by myself, not really done this before- fancy spending some time away from everyone and everything here. Can anyone recommend where to go and what kind of things I can do for a couple of days?

hjb123

Ill second that request! I am off up to Edinburgh on Monday - getting in about lunchtime, staying overnight in a hotel (won in a competition) and getting the train back on Tuesday afternoon.

Intend on doing some retail therapy whilst there - though not too much and not too much walking either as I have CFS and get tired very easy

poppy_f1

have a look here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=65495

Edinburghlass_2

As both of you are doing quick trips I would suggest the open topped bus tour of the city, buses can be caught just opposite Waverley Station near the Scott Monument.

The ticket lasts you all day and you can get off the bus at any of the stops and reboard again later. This saves you the walk up to the Castle or down to the Parliament Buidlings but you can say get off near the Castle and then wonder down the High Street and pick up the bus at another stop.

If you find yourself near the Castle at lunch or dinner time I can certainly recommend Maxies Bistro as being good food and very friendly

Labman_2

If you are interested, the National Portrait Gallery has an exhibition of photographs by Glasgow born Harry Benson. Below is the blurb from his latest book of pics.:-

"Over a glittering 50-year career, award-winning photojournalist Harry Benson has covered the central events and personalities of our time. With a range that is unequaled - from the Beatles to Bosnia, from world leaders to thousands of the most glamorous celebrities - Benson's unforgettable images have found their way onto the pages (and often the covers) of such major magazines as Life, Vanity Fair, the New Yorker, and People. Benson has a lifetime of photographs to show and stories to tell in this fabulous retrospective of his work. As John Loengard, former picture editor of Life and People, says: "He knows where it is important to go and what it is important to see. What he sees informs us all."

Labman again!....there's some seriously good photographs to be seen...google 'Harry Benson' for some examples.

teapot2

fruitcake wrote:

Hi, I'm planning a day trip out to lovely Edinburgh from Manchester, trying to book a cheap train ticket and travelodge in the city centre. QUOTE]

If you haven't already got your train tickets can I recommend Megatrain.com as they do VERY cheap travel from Manchester to Edinburgh :j I've used them no probs

Teapot

alanrowell

Edinburghlass wrote:

The ticket lasts you all day and you can get off the bus at any of the stops and reboard again later.

Ther's several companies that run from outside Waverley Station - at least one of them offers a ticket that lasts 24 hours so you can use it on 2 different days

fruitcake_2

Thanks all, yes I was looking at megatrain...only £1 each way!! and I've booked a travelodge....even though I prefer friendly b&b's.....maybe next time on recommendation. The open bus trip sounds great as does the National Portrait Gallery....thanks...don't mind the walk...now to find some great food...have read some of the other chats and fancy trying some of the eateries....
Is there anything on Nov 6th....apart from the clearing up after Guy Fawkes Night....?

Edinburghlass_2

Well we Edinburgh folk are always up for an Unofficial MSE Meet and a couple of the girls who were at the last one were recently in touch saying its a year since then and when is the next one!!

montrose5

Take a nose around Rose Street or the Grassmarket. Plenty of good eateries. Hope you have a good time

lynseyf

My favourite place to eat, maybe not very moneysaving tho, is vin caffe in Multrees walk next to Harvey Nichols. Excellent Italian Restaurant owed by the same Italian family that own Valvonna & Crolla which is a well known Italian Deli, both worth a visit, you can spend ages browsing in Valvonna & Crolla and can eat fairly reasonably in Vin Caffe if you watch what you choose.

http://www.valvonacrolla.co.uk/

Princess Street has all the Main department stores while George Street, which runs parallel to it has more upmarket shops like Karen Millan and Space NK, again worth a browse and apparently good at giving samples if you ask. The beauty hall at Harvey Nichols is lovely and again I have friend who always asks for samples or a makeover from there. The view from the restaurant on the top floor of Harvey Nichols is stunning and you can just have a coffee to appreciate it .

If you fancy a walk or some fresh air head to Holyrood Park behind the castle or walk along the Water of Leith to Stockbridge which has some lovely little shops and cafes and the best charity shops in Edinburgh IMHO.

The shore area of Leith is also nice for bars etc and less touristy than anything "uptown", it is at the other end of the Water of Leith to Stockbridge. I live in Leith and I love a little shop called the Sicilian Bakery at the corner of Albert Street on Leith walk, excellent cakes, savoury pastries, araccini etc and really, really cheap, takeaway only and often shuts early but if you're in the area look out for it!