First Visit to Edinburgh : What's best to see 21 October 2021 at 4:00PM in UK holidays, days out & entertainments 13 replies 599 views

WLM21

Our daughter (29)and her partner are having a weekend in Edinburgh early in November and have asked me about places of interest.

I thought it best to ask here as it's been a long time since I've visited that beautiful city.

They will be staying in a city centre hotel and are travelling there by train 

thanks for any advice

daveyjp

Royal Yacht Britannia well worth a visit.  Book a slot for opening time as its easy to spend hours on there.  Cafe is also excellent.

National Museum of Scotland.  A mash of the Science Museum, V&A, Natural History Museum all in one and its free.

Scotch Whisky experience and of course the Castle.

Arthurs Seat is worth the walk up if the weather is good.

Grumpelstiltskin

The National Museum is great if the weather is bad.

Walk up the Royal Mile, it is solid with tourist tat but with Holyrood at the bottom and the Castle at the top it is a must do.

honkie_tonk_man

Calton Hill wasn't mentioned yet, but she should visit it.

And maybe an underground city tour.

sheramber

It depends on what they are interested in. No point visiting a museum if the hate museums. 

have a look here https://edinburgh.org/

joebob

Try a fried mars bar at various chip shops, there nicer than you think 

pogofish

As well as Britannia, which is an excellent attraction, Leith itself has largely left its Trainspotting days behind and become a very good part of the city to visit - with a very different historic character (more northern European gothic/post-industrial) compared to the medieval Old and classical New Towns, plus it has some excellent choices for places to eat and drink - a lot of the sort of good quality family/independent places that used to abound in central Edinburgh are now to be found out there (and across the Meadows), having been driven out of the centre by chains and big-money operations.  It can also be far more chilled/less frenetic compared to the centre of an evening.  The place is well served by buses/night buses and Edinburgh Transport day tickets are very good value or they have a daily cap if you use contactless - the network is comprehnesive.

Saying that, places like The Dome in the city centre already have their Christmas decorations-up and are quite spectacular!

Most of the top/most fashionable Cocktail Bars etc are in the George St area and in the streets opposite the Playhouse at the head of Leith Walk, whilst the Grassmarket/Cowgate is more the place for traditional pubs, clubs and live music.

Remember that facemarks are still required for indoor places/circulation in pubs/restaurants etc and that proof of vaccination will be needed for anywhere open after  midnight - and they are allowed to check your status earlier-on in the evening and chuck you out if you don't have it!

WLM21

joebob said:

Try a fried mars bar at various chip shops, there nicer than you think 

That's the best idea yet .. I think    with a can of Irn Bru

ciderboy2009

If they fancy a short trip outside of Edinburgh you can get a bus to Rosslyn Chapel (used in the The Da Vinci Code film).  A good way to spend an hour or so.

shinytop

Apart from what's already been mentioned, Gladstone's Land (17th centure tenement) in the Old Town is very good and Portobello, Edinburgh's own seaside resort is half an hour on the bus and a nice walk, but will be 'bracing' in November. 

zagubov

Sorry this is out of date. It's the edinburgh equivalent of the old London page of the old The Big Project  portal page.

But the best thing to see is the number of people keep everyone safe by wearing masks.