Snookie
London
Napalousa
Dundee
Firstly congratulations! My husband got your e-mail too, so I’m writing for both of us. :-)
There are lots of wonderful things to do in Edinburgh. As far as eateries go, I’d definately recommend two places:
Dubh Prais
on the Royal mile is traditional Scottish food/French and a little bit expensive but wonderful! It has a very cosy atmosphere.
A Room in the Town
Is in Stock Bridge and again is Scottish/French. My favourite thing there was their lavendar and white chocolate ice-cream!
http://www.aroomin.co.uk/thetown/
As far as things to do, there are a whole range of wonderful things. You can’t visit Edinburgh without going to the Castle of course. If you get a nice day you should consider going up Nelson’s Column, the Scott Monument or if you’re feeling in the mood for a hike, Arthur’s Seat.
I’d also recommend going down into the underground vaults. The tours actually give you a good overview of Edinburgh history. But be prepared to be spooked, the vaults are quite creepy.
Gladstone’s Land is fun to visit if you’re in to history. The Writer’s museum is also a great place if you’re interested in literature. It’s also free which is another plus.
The bus tours are also a good way of getting around, especially on your first day in Edinburgh. You can jump on and off as much as you want so long as you keep your ticket.
Let me know if you have anything in particular that you’re interested in and I will write you with some more specific travel info.
Congratulations again on getting married!
Snookie
London
Thank you very much.
Yes, my fiance lives in London and I live in New York. He has been to Scotland… I have not. We were planning on staying one night in an inexpensive hostel/bed and breakfast hopefully. We would like to stay 2 days in Scotland. However, I wonder if this is long enough for all the things we want to do.
Anyhow, thanks for the links and info I will check them all out soon. I am very interested in the vaults actually. It sounds really scary. http://www.undergroundedinburgh.com/vaults.htm
I will ask more specific questions when we get our trip more in order. Thanks for the info.
Sissy
hometownzero
Sugar Land
Hey there, congrats and all! Edinburgh’s a great place, I was fortunate enough to have a week there while studying abroad last summer. There’s a bunch of great stuff to do, and places to eat and all.
Things to do:
Climb Arthur’s Seat if you get a nice day. It’s a trek, but if you’ve got a nice day, it’s totally worth it. You can see for miles on end, and it’s neat to take pictures at the top.
The Castle – a given, but can be crowded. If there’s a big set of people there, you might consider skipping this and looking around town more.
Camera Obscura – Near the Castle on the High Street. Pretty sweet experience, it’s all about optical illusions and stuff.
Whiskey Tour – Across from Camera Obscura, this is pretty popular. I think you can put your name down for a later time, if I remember right.
At the other end of the High Street (all the way at the bottom) is the Scottish Parliament. If you’ve got time, you should at least drop by this building, as it’s one of the more interesting pieces of architecture.
If you decide to go around town, the Scott Monument is cool, quick, and costs 3 pounds to go up. It’s tall, and it has like 4 different levels to stop at. Make sure it’s a nice day, though.
I didn’t do the underground tours, but I heard from my professor (from London) that they were pretty hit or miss depending on your tour guide.
As far as places to eat go, there’s a ton of spots to grab a bite (just walk down the high street). Near Hunter’s Square there’s a hole-in-the-wall fish & chips place that was great. There’s a place with a name along the lines of “The Chocolate Bar” in the square – desserts and coffee and such, and various other locations around there.
If you want a real, old-style pub experience then drop by “The End of the World” – named so because it’s where the gates used to end. It’s the oldest pub in Edinburgh (I think).
Enjoy your trip!
hometownzero
Sugar Land
P.S. – If you need a good coffee shop to sit and relax in, there’s a great one by the Parliament… I forget the exact name but it’s got an orange sign. It’s right by this cafe/club/building called “The Tun.”
P.S.S – I don’t know about hostels (we stayed at the university dorms), but check hostelworld.com or hostels.com – that’s how I found a place in Paris (for 25 bucks a night).
Snookie
London
Thanks a lot. Interesting ideas. Mark and I are definitely up for the “The World’s End” pub. We found a url for it: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/edinburgh/pubguide/worldsend.html
It looks fantastic. Yeah, we’re just looking for inexpensive eateries, attractions, and accommodations so we will definitely be taking some of your suggestions.
Cheers!
Gertie
Glasgow
The best way to see the most things in the least amount of time would be to establish yourself on the “Royal Mile”. Here you can enjoy any of the following:
Edinburgh Castle (expensive entry fee, but if the weather is good you will get some fantastic photos of the city)
http://www.scotland-calling.com/forts/edinburgh.htm
Deacon Brodies Tavern (nice staff, decent food)
http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Deacon_Brodie
Barioja Tapas Bar (great staff, great food)
http://www.thefoodplace.co.uk/restaurants/25295/Barioja+Tapas+Bar+in+Edinburgh/
The Witchery Tours (this was a lot of fun, and a nice way to see Edinburgh at night)
http://www.witcherytours.com/
The Museum of Childhood (strange the items you’ve forgotten about until you see them here)
http://www.gnws.co.uk/edinburgh/childhood.htm
Palace of Holyroodhouse and Holyrood Abbey (I wasn’t so hip on the Palace, but LOVED the Abbey)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holyrood_Palace#Palace
The Tass (staff fine, food was great)
http://www.edinburghpubguide.co.uk/PubDetails/Tass__The_166.html
Snookie
London
Thank you for all the links! Very helpful. Thanks for pub suggestions. Yes, we are basically looking for inexpensive yet good food!
Puzzle
Edinburgh
Ohhhh congratulations :)
Where about in Leith do you plan to marry?
I would second the recommendations above to climb Arthur Seat, amazing views of the city, and an opportunity to take time out and enjoy the natural beauty. Definitely my favourite spot within the city, and I never tire of being there.
Edinburgh Castle is over priced – you can still enjoy the views of the city from the esplanade, without forking out the entrance fee.
Witchery Tours – Thumbs up. Good fun, and great to snuggle to if things get too scary ;)
Walk around the old town, down the Royal Mile soak up the atmosphere, peak down the closes.
If you are a chocolate addict I would highly recommend http://www.plaisirduchocolat.com/ – Plasir du Chocalat. Try the hot chocolate I dare you! Or manage to walk past their cake/sweet counter without drooling. If you want to spoiled this is the place.
In and around Leith…. I love sitting out at the shore on a Summer’s night with a glass or two of wine. Walk around that area see what takes your fancy.
http://www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk/ – Royal Yacht Britania. Having been a resident of Leith for more years than I care to remember I haven’t yet been to Britannia. You can view/board the ship from the local centre http://www.oceanterminal.com/ – Ocean Terminal.
Restaurants – If you want to really treat yourself on the higher end of the price range there is http://www.waterfrontwinebar.co.uk/ – The Waterfront.
Coming down the range…..Ship on the Shore http://www.bestpubs.co.uk/layout0.asp?pub=143223
Snookie
London
Thank you for all your help. We decided we’d definitely like to try the Plasir du Chocalat!
Senninha
Milliways
Hello from Edinburgh, and congratulations on your forthcoming wedding!
The suggestion so far have been excellent. I would recommed plaisir du chocolat, and a good wander up and down the High Street (aka the Royal Mile). The underground tour I thought was really good (even as a resident!), and although the castle and Holyrood Palace are expensive, they’re worth a look. Other places would be the Botanic Gardens, take a bus out to Roslyn Chapel (incredible place, really stunning), and several galleries worth a visit.
Food wise I would recommend Restaurant Martin Wishart (you can google this and get the website). It happens to be in Leith, and is arguably the best in Edinburgh, if not Scotland. Not cheap, but it is your wedding!
Final recommendation would be a book, namely ;
Even as a resident I use this to find interesting things around Edinburgh (and Scotland in general). I would heartily recommend getting the most recent one.
Feel free to drop me a mail through the site if I can help with anything. I’ll try to help out if I can.
Snookie
London
Senninha,
Thank you for all the recommendations. We have heard mixed reviews about the castle due to the price and such but we think we might give it a go!
My fiance and I are both really picky eaters so not too sure about expensive restaurants… because we won’t normally try new things to eat :-P
We’d really like to find cheap places to eat food we are used to like chicken, rice/noodles, toasted cheese sandwich, salads, cold sandwhiches, soups, pizzas and pastas :-)
I know, I know… not very exciting LOL.
Appreciate the help.
Sissy
stacy
Seattle
i’ve not been to leith – but have spent about three weeks time in edinburgh over the last two years. all of the things to do suggestions above are great – so i thought i’d add a great place to stay.
i’ve always stayed at the brodies 2 hostel. http://www.brodieshostels.co.uk/
the “2” location is the newer, non-smoking one. it’s super, super clean, and the staff and people staying there have always been wonderful. and i know they even have private rooms for two people – if that’s something you two might want to go for on the honeymoon!
also, the location cannot be beat – right on the royal mile.
i love visiting scotland so much – it’s a special place. you will have a lovely time!
ps – with your limited time – i’d def. recommend the royal mile and a trek up arthur’s seat.
Snookie
London
Thanks for the advice… we have booked a private double in a hostel called Palmerston Place.
Thanks for the url to brodies though :-)
leui_guhhu
Aberdeen
The things that hometownzero discribes are pretty much what I would say are the typical tourist things. Arthur’s Seat, and Holyrood park in general I would recommend, particuarly if you get a good day weatherwise. Getting to the top shouldn’t take too long, but you might want to take your time about it.
Edinburgh Castle, I would agree, is an overpriced tourist trap. It’s £10 an adult, I think. If you can get there, go to Craigmillar Castle instead. It’s a bit out of the way, but I always enjoy it when I’m there, and it’s so quiet compared to ‘up town’. Although, for shopping, I would recommend Princes street and the Royal Mile.
Leith itself has had a great revival in the past few years. In terms of eating, just head down to the Shore and see what takes your fancy, there is a lot to chose from. Britannia (agian, bit of a toursit trap) is at Ocean Terminal, a shopping mall basically, but a very nice one, which also has a cinema in it, if you want a movie.
There’s a great range of accomodation in Edinburgh, the greatest outside London, I believe. For truly upmarket, then it would have to be one of the places in town, Balmoral, Caledonian, Carlton or Scotsman. Otherwise there are lot of B&B’s, particularly in East Hermitage Place which faces onto Leith Links (my dad lives just behind them), and also Pilrig Street which is up Leith Walk a bit. You shouldn’t have too much trouble finding something in April.
And for travelling I recommend Lothian Buses (the red ones), as they are fairly reliable and particuarly good for going into town, which is where you could catch one of the tour bues which will show the sights. Otherwise walk, as Edinburgh is pretty easy to get around on foot.
Well, I hope some of this helps, and have a great time!
Snookie
London
Yes, it definitely does help. Thanks a lot for the hints.
We are getting more excited by the day!
Rick Stirling
Edinburgh
I’ve lived in Leith for some time now, and know all the pubs and places to eat.
Martin Wisharts is great, but expensive.
The best food in Edinburgh is EASILY Suruchi Too in Leith. A fantastic Indian with plenty of vegetarian options. The other Suruchi (not Too) is in Edinburgh and is nowhere near as good.
Pubs in Leith that I recommend are The Iso Bar, open till 1am every day, relaxd and contempory. The Pond is a 3 minute walk eastwards and might just be the best pub in Edinburgh.
Snookie
London
Ok, thanks for the info. What makes The Pond the best pub?
I was thinking World’s End Pub would be amazing.
Oh, for after our wedding we were thinking about going to Zinc Bar & Grill – Edinburgh Ocean Terminal Leith
Is this a good choice? It says they have a good selection of cocktails and the food sounded normal enough.
Also, can you tell me any specific sites to visit that clips of the movie Trainspotting were filmed? Like maybe a certain pub (Trainspotting pub?) or other landmarks used in the movie that we could see and photograph.
Thank you very much!
Rick Stirling
Edinburgh
The Pond just is. It’s small, it has 4 fish tanks and a dog, and it sells Kinder Suprise behind the bar. It just fells right, in the same way that a Weatherspoons feels fake.
The Worlds End pub isn’t very good to be honest. In fact most of the pubs on the Royal Mile are poor – it is essenetially a big tourist trap street full of tat shops. Certainly avoid Deacon Brodies, Logie Bairds, The Mitre, The Royal, Clever Dicks.
Generally they are full of tourists and the food is pretty awful.
However, go to alomost any of the sidestreet pubs and it is a different story.
The Zinc Bar And Grill servers great food – my work hired the entire place for our Xmas meal. I’d certainly eat there again – I only live 1/2 a mile away on the Shore. Good Food, good service – but it is in a shopping center, so as long as you don’t mind looking out the window and seeing people in Clinton Cards.
Trainspotting was filmed here, and some parts in Glasgow. There is (or at least was) a tour specifically for that – I’ll check out what the situation was.
Our offices used to be in Leith, and most of the wall and ground textures from GTA 3 were taken in Leith.
Snookie
London
That sounds great… thanks for the reply. The Pond sounds excellent and Mark really loves the sound of it. I really want a Kinder Suprise as I’ve never had one before… not even as a child :-(, as they were outlawed by the FDA (deemed unsafe).
We are still considering Zinc Bar and Grill for our wedding meal because we hear it has a nice outside terrace with panoramic views overlooking the Water of Leith.
Thanks for all the time you spent replying! We welcome any further recommendations.
Sissy & Mark
Rick Stirling
Edinburgh
Where the word Britannia is, thats the Zinc Bar and Grill.
The window side (with terrace) do have nice views, but most of that is currently taken up by dockland redevelopment. We have several digital photos taken on either side of Ocean Terminal, where the Zinc is which I can provide. I just checked and we have several of the shore area too – which really is a lovely place.
Rick Stirling
Edinburgh
You’re not getting married at Inchcolm abbey by any chance?
Aileen reckons it might be the Leith Parish church though, on Constitution street.
Snookie
London
Nope, neither. We’re just going with the Leith Registry Office :-P
Wow, that Inchcolm Abby looks beautiful though!
http://www.scottishweddingconsultants.co.uk/ruins/inchcolm/inchcolm.htm
Snookie
London
Hi Rick,
We’d love to see your photos.
If the Zinc’s area is under redevelopment then perhaps we wouldn’t want to have our wedding luncheon there. Can you suggest other places to choose from that aren’t too pricy, have good atmosphere, serve good cocktails (this is a MUST), and serve good food that I won’t be scared to eat (I’m kinda picky and won’t try many new things or lots of other meaty things – mostly I like grilled chicken and Mark likes burgers or things along that line).
Cheers!
Sissy
Rick Stirling
Edinburgh
I’ll pop the photos up somewhere.
I was talking to Woody on the bus abotu this, and he suggested Pizza express – its RIGHT on The Shore, the lst part of the waters, has a huge window that overlooks the water, it’s cheap and the food is standard.
Next door to the that is superb place, The Kings Wark. It’s an old, dark pub -you will have to reserve a table. There are not really any views to speak of as the windows are fairly small (its a REALLY old place).
The Waterline has just changed it’s chef and the food is not as good as it used to be. Dining is at the back, so no views, but drinks in the front have nice views (its ont he same street as Wisharts, Pizza Express, The Kings Wark.
You really wont have a problem gettin ggood food of the type you like, however combining that with a good view is tricky. You certainly won’t see for very far except at Zinc – most of the building are old warehouse converson or new build flats, 4 or 6 stories high, and all of the food places are on the first floor.
The Iso Bar is the best cocktail place. The Lighthouse has won several awards and has a second floor overlooking The Shore
Snookie
London
lots of those places sound great! I guess the quality of the food is more important than the view!
Anyhow, I didn’t get a chance to share these recommendations with Mark yet as our time together was pressed tonight. I will look all these up on google with him tomorrow and let u know what we think.
I can’t wait to see the pics :-)
Sissy
Snookie
London
Hi Rick,
Ok, sorry for the delay but we’ve finally looked them all up. We actually were able to find pictures of some of them like Pizza Express, Kings Wark. I found some nice write ups on some of them and I think that the ISO Bar sounds good. The review said their desserts aren’t all that great but that the choice of wraps and sandwiches and soups was good and average price of lunch £9, not too awfully bad. Pizza express sounds like my type of place… you can’t go wrong with pizza.
You know what – I love the sound of The Lighthouse! I’m just frothing at the mouth for a cocktail! http://www.lthse.com/drinks.html
Don’t know about the Long Island Ice Tea though… doubt anyone could make that quite like a New Yorker ;-) Anyhow, I’ll be sure and have a cocktail in your honour!
Thanks to you and Woody for your very wonderful recommendations! We will gladly accept more ideas for things to do. I’m getting very excited. It’s not long now!
Cheers,
Sissy
Snookie
London
O, I did reply to your message but it isn’t showing up. I hope you go the reply! Anyhow, thanks for the suggestions. They all sound wonderful.
