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Edinburgh attractions and things to do (merged)

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  • Another new Edinburgh site is http://www.gotoedinburgh.co.uk/

    DB
  • dktreesea
    dktreesea Posts: 5,736 Forumite
    The Sunday car boot at the Omni centre is good value. It starts at 8.30 (and doesn't matter about just getting there then, because no one can open their boots until then) and runs until 1pm. It's on the 4th level down of the Omni centre carpark, just up from the large roundabout at the top of Leith Walk, and opposite the Leith Walk entrance of John Lewis (St james Centre). It's indoor, so nice and cosy (amazingly - by 11am it really heats up) in the winter time.

    And in the Omni centre itself is a pub called Lloyds, part of the Wetherspoons franchise. Very reasonably priced coffees and full English breakfasts for around £3. Including a full vegetarian breakfast. It opens at 8am, and has an outdoor section overlooking the large roundabout.

    When it comes to buses, I recommend just buying a weekly Lothian buses pass (if coming up here for a week - they are available from the Lothian Buses shop on the east side of Hanover Street, just up from Princes Street in the New Town) and then going on what I think of as the alternative bus tour. If you sit up the top, right near the front, you do get to see things/sights that the tourist buses just don't focus on. I like the one that goes up through the old town to Gorebridge.

    My favourite activity in Britain of all time when it comes to saving money is using my Cineworld unlimited card. For a paltry sum - currently around £12 a month, you can see as many films as you like.
  • pavlovs_dog
    pavlovs_dog Posts: 10,215 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    we're off to Edinburgh next week during half term (Tues-Fri). We've got some great ideas for things to do whilst we're there thanks to this thread, but i'm struggling to find any moneysaving offers for tourist attractions to save us a few quid. We haven't ruled out getting the edinburgh passes if we think we'll get value for our money but there are lots of places we'd liketo visit which the pass doesn't cover.

    anyone aware of any special offers for half term?

    Also, we're thinking of heading to St Andrews for a visit. I'm guessing that, being a univeristy town, it will be easy to get to on public transport, but any advice on the cheapest way of getting there?

    many thanks

    Pavlov
    know thyself
    Nid wy'n gofyn bywyd moethus...
  • "The happiest of people don't necessarily have the
    best of everything; they just make the best
    of everything that comes along their way."
    -- Author Unknown --
  • pavlovs_dog
    pavlovs_dog Posts: 10,215 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 20 February 2010 at 3:03AM
    Made it home safe and had a brilliant time - what a fantastic city! we did loads and still feel like we barely scratched the surface of what Edinburgh has to offer (we didn't make it to St Andrews)!

    We bought the 2 day Edinburgh passes at a total cost of £72, and it had already more than paid for itself by the end of the first day. Over the course of our visit we benefitted from:

    * return travel on the airport shuttle bus
    * 2 days free unlimited travel on the lothian buses
    * Entry to edinburgh zoo
    * Entry to camera obscura (Superb!)
    * mercat vaults tour (also superb)
    * loch ness in 3D (funny, for all the wrong reasons :D)
    * John knox house
    * Dynamic earth (interesting idea but didnt do it for us)
    * discount at various shops and eateries.

    it was also great not having to faff around with money. we also visited the castle (grossly over-priced IMHO) and the real mary kings close (good fun), botantic gardens, museum of childhood (a letdown - very little from our era), the HBOS museum on the mound (interesting), the gallery (overbearing security)

    foodwise - frankensteins pub (good 2-4-1 on wednesdays, nice food but otherwise VERY expensive for a student bar. service could be a lot better), Jimmy chungs - wow!, the tron - cheap, cheerful, good value. halfway house - an expensive round but nice atmosphere. standing order - weatherspoons value but we've seen much better weatherspoons pubs. busy. Elephant cafe - noisy and crowded. don't know how on earth anyone could pen a novel in here. the cakes were worth it though!

    overall my personal favourites were camera obscura, the chimp exhibit at the zoo and the mercat vaults tours (this, ironically, we only did because it was 'free' with the pass). Dynamic earth was the biggest disappointment.

    thanks to all for the tips and advice on thi thread which helped make our holiday what it was - an absolute blast.
    know thyself
    Nid wy'n gofyn bywyd moethus...
  • Skint_Catt
    Skint_Catt Posts: 11,548 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Any offers for this coming fortnight pls? Up seeing OH and have lots of time to kill.

    Is Scotland the same as Wales as in entry to the Museums are free? If not then which are the best to select?

    C xx
  • pavlovs_dog
    pavlovs_dog Posts: 10,215 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    i know the halifax bank musuem was free (museum on the mound), as was the museum of childhood (personally i wouldn't bother if you are younger than 30) and the national gallery, so i'd imagine that they operate on a similar system to us here in Wales

    HTH
    know thyself
    Nid wy'n gofyn bywyd moethus...
  • Skint_Catt
    Skint_Catt Posts: 11,548 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Thanks :) Was wondering about the National Museum looks good. Think I'll give the museum of childhood a miss then as I'm only just over 30!
  • bigmantam
    bigmantam Posts: 11 Forumite
    Noozan wrote: »
    Bit late for Easter time but if anyone is in Edinburgh on 16th or 17th April, entry to Edinburgh castle is free on those dates.
    Hi Im in Edinburgh on those dates. Can you tell me why they are giving free entry into the castle?
  • The Edinburgh Sience festival is on between 3rd and 17th April. This is fab for kids all ages and adults, its on 7 floors at the city art centre, market street. It fantastic, we have been last 2 years and will be going again this year. My kids are 8 and 3. Note: you need the whole day as there is so much to go. Type "Edinburgh Sience Festival" into your search engine and you will find it. You can book slots for workshops and shows online for the day of your visit.
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