Edinburgh

From MyVacationsTo

Edinburgh (Gaelic: Dùn Èideann; [1]) is the capital of Scotland, part of the United Kingdom, located in the Central Belt region of the country. With a population of approximately 450,000, "Auld Reekie" (Edinburgh) manages to combine both ancient and modern in a uniquely Scottish atmosphere. Watched over by the imposing Castle - the symbol of the city - Edinburgh combines medieval relics, Georgian grandeur and a powerful layer of modern life with contemporary avant-garde. In Edinburgh, medieval palaces rub shoulders with the best of modern architecture, Gothic churches with amazing museums and galleries. The throbbing night-life centre of the Scottish north, Edinburgh - "the Athens of the North" is also a feast for the mind and the senses, playing host to great restaurants, shops and an unequalled programme of city festivals throughout the year. Hogmanay - the Scottish New Year - kicks off the festivities, which culminate in the high summer with the Tattoo, the International and the Fringe, amongst many others.

The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh were listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1995.

Contents 1 Districts 2 Understand 2.1 Orientation 2.2 History 2.3 Profile 2.4 Climate 2.5 When to go 3 Get in 3.1 By air 3.2 By train 3.3 By road 3.4 By bus 3.5 By boat 4 Get around 4.1 By bus 4.2 On foot 5 See 5.1 Landmarks 5.2 Museum and Galleries 6 Do 6.1 Festivals 6.2 Hogmanay 6.3 Cinema 7 Learn 8 Buy 9 Eat 9.1 Splurge 10 Drink 11 Sleep 11.1 Budget 11.2 Bed and Breakfast 11.3 Mid-Range 11.4 Splurge 12 Contact 12.1 Internet 13 Stay safe 14 Cope 15 Get out

[edit] Districts

• the Old Town
• the New Town
• Leith

[edit] Understand

Edinburgh is located on the east coast of Scotland's central Lowlands, situated on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth. Edinburgh's landscape is the product of ancient volcanism (both the Castle crag and Arthur's Seat are the eroded plugs of volcanoes) and more recent glaciation (carving out valleys south of the castle and the old Nor'Loch, presently the site of the Princes Street Gardens).

[edit] Orientation

Edinburgh's historic center is bisected by Princes Street Gardens, a broad swathe of parkland in the heart of city. Southwards, the city is Castle, perched on top of an extinct volcanic crag, and flanked by the medieval streets of the Old Town following the Royal Mile along the ridge to the east. To the north of Princes Streets Gardens lies Princes Street itself - Edinburgh's main shopping boulevard - and the Georgian period New Town, built after 1766 on a regular grid plan.

[edit] History

Edinburgh has been the royal capital of Scotland since 1437.

[edit] Profile

Edinburgh is noted as a long-lived literary capital of the English-speaking world.

The great Scottish historical novelist Sir Walter Scott was born in the city and has his great monument on Princes Street. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was also a native of Edinburgh.

More recently, Edinburgh has variously been the home and inspiration for such well-known modern writers as Muriel Spark (author of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie), Irvine Welsh (author of the 1993 novel Trainspotting, set in the gritty district of Leith), Ian Rankin (a crime writer best known for the Inspector Rebus series, set in Edinburgh), Alexander McCall Smith (The No. 1 Lady Detective's Agency and several novels set in the Scottish capital) and J.K Rowling of Harry Potter fame.

[edit] Climate

Edinburgh's climate is most comfortable for the traveler from May to September. That said, the weather in Edinburgh is always changeable and visitors should expect both sunshine and rain, whatever the season. Summer, the main festival season, combines long daylight hours with lengthy evenings (being so far north, it rarely gets dark before 10 or 11 at night!). Winter can be bitterly cold, with short daylight hours, but Edinburgh has an abundance of indoor attractions and activities that make the cold winter days fly by.

[edit] When to go

Travellers should note that Edinburgh becomes overwhelmingly crowded (accommodation-wise) during the main festival periods of high summer (August to early September) and Hogmanay (around New Year's Day / 1 January). Visitors at these times should plan well ahead (even more than a year in advance!) for booking central accommodation and event tickets at these times.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By air

Edinburgh International Airport (EDI) [2], is situated some 10 miles west of the city. Sometimes referred to as "Turnhouse", Edinburgh Airport offers a wide range of domestic and international flights to Europe and North America. Many visitors to the city arrive via a connecting flight from London, the UK's main international hub. Edinburgh Airport does, however, have a daily flight to and from Newark (Continental Airlines), a short drive from New York City and also a daily flight to and from Atlanta, Georgia (Delta Air Lines). In comparison to most Scottish airports Edinburgh's European flight network is well developed, with frequent scheduled flights to destinations such as Amsterdam, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris, Warsaw and Zurich

A dedicated airport bus service, Airlink Express [3], service 100, runs from outside the terminal building to Edinburgh city center (Waverly Bridge) at least every 10 minutes until 00.22 and then every 30 minutes until 04.45. The bus leaves from Waverly for the Airport at the same intervals 24/7. Adult fares are £3 for a single, £5 for an open return and the journey takes an average 25 mins.

A cheaper alternative is the ordinary Lothian Buses number thirty five, which runs from the bus stance outside the arrivals building to Ocean Terminal via the city centre. Although slower, and with less provision for baggage than the 100 it is far cheaper at £1 single, and also allows the use of day tickets and other options that work on all Lothian Buses services - a great option for getting straight to the city if traveling light, or on a budget.

Glasgow International Airport, is 55 miles west of Edinburgh and offers a few more long haul flight options with flights to New York,Orlando Sanford, Philadelphia, Toronto, Vancouver and Dubai. Connections to Glasgow Airport from Edinburgh on public transport are non-existent however, meaning you would have to take a train to Glasgow and then transfer by the airport bus.

[edit] By train

The main railway station in Edinburgh is called Waverley Railway Station [4] and is an attraction in itself. First opened in 1846, Waverley Station was rebuilt 1892-1902. It lies between the old town and modern Edinburgh, adjacent to Princes Street, Edinburgh Castle and the Princes Street Gardens, where it serves over 14 million people per annum. Despite various refurbishments, the past still survives in the station's elaborate, domed ceiling where wreathed cherubs leap amid a wealth of scrolled ironwork.

Waverley Station is a major hub for the Scottish rail network, operated by First Scotrail [5]. There is an hourly service to Aberdeen, and two hourly to Inverness. "Shuttle" trains to Glasgow (Queen Street) run every 15 minutes throughout the day, dropping to 30 minutes on evenings and Sundays, and the journey takes 45-50 minutes. Some services run to Glasgow Central instead, but run via Lanarkshire with many more stops. Certain GNER trains originating from London also continue to Glasgow Central - again your ticket will be valid on these services but the journey will take slightly longer than the shuttle.

The vast majority of train services to Edinburgh from London (and most of eastern England) are operated by GNER [6]; an hourly service leaves from London Kings Cross station throughout the day until 1800. Journey time is approximately 4hrs 20min. Virgin Trains [7] operate a once daily service from London Euston via the West Coast route but at a much slower journey time of 5 hrs 20 mins. Virgin also operate some services via Birmingham and central England to the West Country from Waverely.

For a different travel experience from London try the Caledonian Sleeper service, an overnight train leaving nightly from London Euston at between 2300-2345 and arriving at Waverley anywhere between 0630-0715 the following morning. Cabins sleep two people in bunk beds and two rooms can be adjoining, sleeping 4 in total. See http://www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/content/caledoniansleeper/index.php.

There is a second railway station in the centre of Edinburgh, Haymarket, which is around a mile to the west of Waverley. A shuttle bus service links the two, and Haymarket is a better station to exit at if you are heading straight for the airport, zoo, or modern art gallery as you will avoid the city centre traffic and it is on the major west-bound bus routes.

Both Waverley and Haymarket stations had ticket barriers installed in 2004 so you will need to purchase a ticket in order to enter or leave the platform area. If you get on a train at an unmanned station you can purchase a ticket from the conductor on the train, or from a ticket inspector near the barrier gates - there is usually a long queue during the peak rush hour period. The barrier gates will retain single journey tickets, so be sure to get a receipt if you need one. If you have the larger kind of ticket that does not fit in the barrier you will need to go to the gate which is manned by a member of staff who will check your ticket and let you through. If you do not have a ticket, you will need to go to the ticket office behind the barrier (platform 14 at Waverley) to buy one.

Edinburgh Park is a new train station opened in 2004, which is some miles from the city centre, serves business parks and "The Gyle" shopping center. It should be noted that direct trains from Glasgow do not call at this station. You must either change in Linlithgow or, travel past Edinburgh Park and change at Haymarket to double back, on a train bound for Dunblane or Bathgate.

[edit] By road

By road, Edinburgh can be reached most immediately from the M8 (west from Glasgow), M9 (north-west from Stirling), A90/M90 (north from Perth and Dundee), the A1 (south-east from Newcastle upon Tyne and north-east England) and A701/M74 (south-west from Carlisle and north-western England).

From London the fastest route to Edinburgh is the M1 motorway, followed by the A1(M) and the A1 - a journey of 398 miles and approximately 8-9 hrs driving time (ensure that you rest or change drivers every 2 hrs!).

Edinburgh is not a particularly car friendly city with the myriad of one-way streets and the Old Town's medieval layout, and - with privitization - the dedication of parking wardens to ticketing anything that is not moving legendary. Finding parking can be difficult, though there are several multi-storey car parks in the city centre (Castle Terrace for the West End, try St James Center at the East End (access from York Place). It is often cheaper and quicker to find a railway station on the outskirts and park there for the day before completing the journey into central Edinburgh by train. Recently there have been massive changes to the traffic in the center of town, making it almost impossible to traverse by car. However, there are two new Park and Ride systems in place, so it's even easier to just abandon your car on the outskirts. For visitors arriving from the M8, follow directions for Edinburgh Airport to reach Ingliston Park and Ride; this facility is half a mile from the airport terminal.

[edit] By bus

The city is served by the major inter-city bus companies from around Scotland and England. Most long distance services start and end in the Bus Station in St Andrew Square.

[edit] By boat

• Superfast Ferries sail from Zeebrugge, Belgium to Rosyth, near Edinburgh and passenger liners are a common sight in summer at Leith Docks (north Edinburgh).

• A ferry/bus service from Belfast to Edinburgh can be booked through Citylink. http://www.citylink.co.uk/

[edit] Get around

[edit] By bus

Edinburgh has two bus companies, Lothian [8] and First [9]. These two companies share the same bus stops, but the route numbers are not interchangeable, and neither are the tickets.

Lothian are the larger operator in the city itself, while First service areas to the east and west of the city. Lothian offer an all-day ticket for £2.50 (as of March 07) that covers all transport (except sight-seeing, airport and night services). The all-day ticket is a great way to see the city without the expense of the tour buses, as you can get on and off all Lothian buses for the whole day!

There are also at least three companies that operate sightseeing buses. All have a policy that a sightseeing ticket is valid for 24 hours, so you can get around central Edinburgh quite handily using the sightseeing buses. Each sightseeing bus follows a different route around the city, but they all start and finish at Waverly Bridge, adjacent to Waverly Station on Princes Street.

It can be useful to catch a bus down to the port area of Leith.

[edit] On foot

Edinburgh is a compact city - most of the sights within the Old Town and New Town are no further than a 15 minute walk apart. Walking along elegant or atmospheric streets is one of the pleasures of the city. There are however, a number of hills to be navigated; for example from Princes Street, up The Mound towards Edinburgh Castle requires some significant legwork, but it's worth it for the views en route.

[edit] See

For the budget-conscious and/or avid sightseer, the Edinburgh Pass [10] is well worth bearing in mind, offering a maximum of £155 worth of entry to 27 of Edinburgh's top attractions, a 90-page guidebook, retail and restaurant offers and discounts. All this, as well as free public transport around the city and airport transfers. A one-day pass costs £20, two days £36, three days £45. Can be purchased online or at Tourist Information Centers.

[edit] Landmarks

• Edinburgh Castle [11], tel 0131 225 9846, open daily April-October 9.30am-6pm, November-March 9.30am-5pm, admission adults £11, concessions £9, children £5.50 - Edinburgh Castle, home to the Edinburgh Tattoo, is a magnificently situated royal fortress located on one of the highest points in the city. The castle has been continuously in use for 1000 years and is in excellent condition. The audio tour, which costs £3 per headset, is extremely detailed and worth hiring, providing both location based and chronologically based commentary on the castle. Highlights include the Honours of Scotland (the Scottish Crown Jewels) and the ancient St Margarets' Chapel.

• the Royal Yacht Britannia [12] - runner-up Best UK Attraction in 2004

• the Palace of Holyroodhouse [13] - tel 0131 556 5100. fax 020 7930 9625. email bookinginfo@royalcollection.org.uk. The Palace is a royal residence, and hosts the Queen's Gallery containing a collection of art from the Royal Collection. The Palace is best known as the home of Mary Queen of Scots and as the site of the murder of Mary's secretary Rizzio by her husband Lord Darnley. The Palace opens at 9:30am and closes at 6:00pm April to October and 4:30pm during the rest of the year. Palace admission is £8 adults, £6.50 concessions, and £4.00 children. Separate admission to the gallery is £5 adults, £4 concession and £3 children. Joint admission to the gallery and the palace is £11 adults, £9 concessions and £5.50 children.

• Admire the panoramic views from the North Bridge.

• the Scott Monument, East Princes Street Gardens, open April - September Mo-Sa 9-6, Su 10-6; October - March Mo-Sa 9-3, Su 10-3, tel 0131 529 4068, admission £3.00 - built in 1846 to commemorate the life of Sir Walter Scott after his death in 1832, the Gothic spire monument allows you to climb 200 ft above the city centre to enjoy fantastic views and get a closer look at sculpted statuettes of characters from Scott's works.

• St Giles' Cathedral [14], the Royal Mile, between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse - the historic City Church of Edinburgh is also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh and takes its name from the city's patron saint. St Giles' is Presbyterianism's Mother Church and contains the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle (Scotland's chivalric company of knights headed by the Queen). The building bears a distinctive crowned spire and was first officially dedicated in 1243, although a church probably existed on the site since before the 9th century.

• Mary King's Close [15], Warriston's Close (opposite St Giles' Cathedral), open daily except Christmas Day - a slice of Edinburgh's medieval history, preserved since being closed over in the 18th century - watch out for the haunting....

• Gladstone's Land [16], in the Lawnmarket at the top of the Royal Mile. It is a 17th century Old Town tenement (known as a 'Land') decorated with period furniture. It has an impressive painted ceiling.

• Greyfriars Kirkyard is a very old graveyard in Old Town off the Southwest corner of George IV Bridge. It contains some impressive, ancient grave markers and fantastic views of the surrounding Old Town.

• Old Calton Burial Ground just east of Princes Street and Southwest of Calton Hill in New Town contains a range of graves, memorials, and funerary ornaments. Notable memorials include those dedicated to the philosopher David Hume and the Scots who died in the American Civil War

• Visit Edinburgh Zoo [17], entry £10.50 Adults, £7.50 children, £8 students. Watch the world famous Penguin Parade.

• The Scottish Parliament [18], eastern end of the Royal Mile, opposite the Palace of Holyrood House - a unique building (designed by the spanish architect Enric Miralles) with a £431 million price tag which is much higher than the original back-of-an-envelope estimate. Highly controversial among Scots, who consider it either a daring showpiece of postmodern architecture or a national embarrassment. Free access to an exhibition, and the Debating Chamber on non-business days. It is necessary to get (free) tickets to watch the Parliament in session from the Public Gallery.

• Royal Botanic Garden [19], Inverleith Row (East Gate) / Arboretum Place (West Gate). Very impressive gardens with a collection of interesting plants. Great place to wander around on a sunny day, or to sit and have a picnic. Free entry to the gardens, entry to the glasshouses

costs £3.50 adults, £3 concessions, £1 children.

• Rosslyn Chapel Take bus number 15A to see this chapel, featured in "The Da Vinci Code".

[edit] Museum and Galleries

• Museum of Scotland [20] and Royal Museum [21], Chambers Street, tel 0131 247 4422. fax 0131 220 4819. typetalk 18001 0131 247 4422. email info@nms.ac.uk. The museum mixes innovative modern architecture with the best of Scotland's heritage. The Royal Museum has a magnificent airy Victorian atrium now with the Millennium Clock at one end - arrange to be there when it is chiming. Exhibits in the Museum of Scotland include Scottish pottery and weapons from the Roman era and the Renaissance. Opening hours are 10am - 5pm Monday to Saturday with extended opening to 8pm on Tuesdays; and 12pm - 5pm Sundays. Admission is free.

• The National Gallery of Scotland [22] holds much of Scotlands fine artwork and carries exhibitions that change seasonally. The new Western Link was opened in 2004 with an entrance from Prices Street Gardens. It joins The National Gallery with the neighbouring Scottish Academy gallery and gives Scotland it's first world class art space. The Mound, Edinburgh, EH2 2EL, tel. +44 (0)131 624 6200

• The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art [23] contains a fine selection of modern art from Scotland and other countries. Belford Road, off the northwestern fringe of New Town.

• The Fruitmarket Gallery [24] aims to find the most appropriate way to bring artists and audiences together. It is a not-for-profit organization and a registered charity. Centrally situated behind the Edinburgh Waverley Rail Station. Opening hours Mon-Sat 11am-6pm; Sun 12-5pm. Admission free.

[edit] Do

• Climb up to Arthur's Seat [25], an extinct volcano. Wonderful view.
• Climb Calton Hill in the morning or early evening hours to experience a great sunrise/sunset over Edinburgh. However, try to avoid hours of complete darkness.
• Walk along the Water of Leith, a small stream that meanders through Edinburgh, providing a peaceful haven from the busy city.
• Walk around Holyrood Park which is just East of Old Town. Created by King James the VI in the 16th century, it is like a Scottish landscape in miniature, containing Arthur's Seat, three lochs, and the stunning Salisbury Crags.
• Walk through Princes Street Gardens, a small, beautiful park that lies in the small valley between Castle Hill and Princes Street.
• Walk down the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The Royal Mile is the backbone of the sixteenth century Old Town and most of the buildings date from this period.
• Visit a classic Edinburgh bar on the Royal Mile, and relax over a pint of Edinburgh Ale and a classic single malt.
• Edinburgh has an excellent theatre and concert life. Europe's largest theater, the 3000-seat Edinburgh Playhouse (top of Leith Walk) hosts major West End shows. The Festival Theatre frequently hosts opera and ballet, and the Usher Hall (Lothian Road) has weekly orchestral concerts all year round with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. The Queen's Hall (South Clark Street) is home to the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
• Follow a ghost walk around the back street surrounding The Royal Mile and learn about the sinister goings on of Edinburgh's past.
• Don't miss The Real Mary King's Close, a glimpse of life in the medieval Old Town.
• Be sure to go to a chippy and have a deep-fried pizza with brown sauce - or a deep fried Mars Bar - as this is a once in a lifetime never to be repeated taste sensation.

[edit] Festivals

Edinburgh in the summer becomes "festival city" when a huge number of major national and international arts festivals are hosted by the city. These cater for a wide variety of interests and include:

• The Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival [26]
• The Edinburgh Military Tattoo [27] - one of the iconic images of Edinburgh for millions worldwide is the yearly Tattoo, kilted pipers skirling below the battlements of Edinburgh Castle...
• The T on the Fringe Festival [28] - A music festival
• The Edinburgh Fringe Festival [29] - as the name might suggest, this Festival developed on the "Fringe" of the main International Festival and offers more alternative performances, with an emphasis on comedy and avant-garde; it is now the largest arts festival in the world
• The Edinburgh International Book Festival [30]
• The Edinburgh International Festival [31]
• The Edinburgh International Film Festival [32]
• The Edinburgh International Television Festival [33]
• The Edinburgh Mela [34]

One important thing to decide when planning a trip to Edinburgh is whether you wish to go at festival time, which runs from early August through to mid-September. Hotel rooms in and around the city are noticeably much more expensive then, and you will need to book well (at least six months!) in advance.

In the spring there is the Children's International Theatre Festival and the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

[edit] Hogmanay

Edinburgh in the winter Festive Season is also huge: whole sections of central Edinburgh are roped off and accessible only by ticket for the Scottish New Years' Celebrations known as Hogmanay [35], of which the Edinburgh Hogmanay is easily the largest in Scotland.

[edit] Cinema

• Go to the cinema. Edinburgh has a number of cinema's covering mainstream, foreign language and arthouse films.
  • Cineworld, 130 Dundee Street, Edinburgh (0871 200 2000) - Mainly mainstream and arthouse
  • Cameo Cinema, Home Street (0131 228 4141) - Mainstream & alternative films
  • Filmhouse, Lothian Road (0131 228 2688) - Arthouse & foreign language films
  • Odeon Cinema, Lothian Road (0870 50 50 007)
  • Vue, Leith Street (08702 40 60 20)

[edit] Learn

Edinburgh is host to a number of higher and further education organisations including:

• The University of Edinburgh [36] - over 400 years old
• Heriot-Watt University [37] - specializes in science
• Napier University [38]
• Queen Margaret University [39]
• Edinburgh College of Art [40]
• Stevenson College [41]

[edit] Buy

• Princes Street, north of the castle, is the main shopping street in Edinburgh. It runs through the middle of the city from the train station to Lothian Road. It contains large chain stores such as HMV for music, Topshop and H&M for clothes, tourist oriented shops, and department stores.
• There are many more upmarket shops, restaurants and bars on George Street which runs parallel to Princes Street.
• Cockburn Street (pronounced "co-burn") in the Old Town has many small alternative shops selling novelty toys, underground clothing, body piercings and spiritual items.
• The Royal Mile, especially the higher end near the castle, has a many tourist-oriented shops selling Scottish souvenirs from postcards to whiskey and kilts.
• Multrees Walk (also known as The Walk), for high-end labels such as Vidal Sasoon, Armani, Vuitton, Harvey Nichols or Calvin Klein.
• Other malls include Princes Mall or St James Mall (both within walkable distances).
• Try and take home a bottle of Scotland's finest export - a single malt whiskey.

[edit] Eat

Edinburgh is a great city for the food lover. There is a vast selection of eateries scattered throughout every part of the city, catering for all tastes, prices and styles.

As well as the center of Edinburgh it is also worth checking out Leith and the West End when looking for a place to eat.

Rose St, running parallel to Princes St. is a pedestrian precinct that has a huge number of pubs offering a variety of pub fare food.

And if you're up to it, be sure to drop by a chippy (fish and chip shop) and experience such Scottish delights as deep fried pizza, deep fried hamburgers, deep fried blood sausage, deep fried haggis and deep fried Mars bars.

• A Room in the West End, 26 William Street, [42]. Recommended.

Excellent French restaurants include:

• Cafe Marlayne, 7 Fishmarket Close.
• Cafe St Honore, 34 Thistle Street Lane.
• Le Sept, 5 Hunter Square,, [43].
• Petit Paris, 38-40 Grassmarket.

Vegetarians are catered for with:

• David Bann's Vegetarian Restaurant, 56-58 St Mary's Street,, [44]. Imaginative and tasty vegetarian food; some courses are suitable for vegans. Main courses cost about £10.
• Black Bo's, 57-61 Blackfriars St,, [45]. Just off the Royal Mile.

Edinburgh also has a number of fine seafood restaurants; ones to try include:

• Fishers Bistro, 1 The Shore.
• The Mussel Inn, 61-65 Rose Street,, [46].
• Maxi's,.

Edinburgh has a wide selection of Chinese restaurants including:

• Lune Town Cantonese Restaurant, 38 William Street,.

And Thai restaurants aplenty, of which a recommendation would be:

• Thai Orchid, 5A Johnston Terrace,. Not cheap, but very good, including for vegetarians.

Edinburgh hosts a number of excellent Indian restaurants including:

• Mezbaan, 14 Brougham Street, Toll Cross. A South Indian restaurant and a rare treat because it serves Indian "street food" dishes such as dosas. There also can't be very many restaurants in the world serving (vegetarian) haggis pakoras. And tasty they are too.
• <eat name="Kebab Mahal", address="7 Nicolson Street", url=http://www.kebabmahal.co.uk>Kebab Mahal, 7 Nicolson Street,,Very popular with students as it is close to Edinburgh University.</eat>
• Suruchi, 14a Nicholson Street,, [47].
• Namaste, 41 West Preston Street, 6 Broughton Street.
• Britannia Spice, 150 Commercial Street, Leith,, [48].
• The Bombay Bicycle Club, 6 Broughton Street.
• The Far Pavilions, 10-12 Craigleith Road,, [49].
• The Clay Oven in Churchill (Bruntsfield) is very good.

Other good restaurants include:

• Jacques, 8 Gillespie Place,, [50].
• Maison Bleue,. 36-38 Victoria Street.
• First Coast, 99-101 Dalry Road,, [51].
• reform, 267 Canongate, The Royal Mile,, [52]. They brand themselves as being "consistently different". Food is often unusual, always fresh. Most dishes are offered in starter and main course sizes, which is a great idea if you're finding it hard to choose.
• Izzi, 119 Lothian Road,, [53].
• 'Tijuana Yacht Club,'.
• Relish, 217 High Street,, [54]. for great burgers.
• The Outsider, 15 George IV Bridge.
• Ducks Restaurant, Eyre Place,, [55]. Good for intimate dinners and fantastic food.
• Rincón de España,, near Haymarket station. Does good Spanish food.
• Snax, West Register Street, is a small independent fast food joint. The food is cheap and edible, perfect for tourists on a budget. Also has a decent selection of vegetarian options.
• Among many good Chinese Restaurants is The Panda Inn in Bruntsfield just 100 metres up from The Kings Theatre. For an award winning experience try the excellently reviewed Lune Town Cantonese Restaurant. This fine restaurant is located on the corner of Manor Place and William Street near to St Mary's Cathedral in the city center's West End.
• Round the side of the Kings Theatre is the excellent Back Stage Bistro. Small, so book ahead. BYOB - "Scotmid" Store right across the road
• One of Edinburgh's more famous cafes is The Elephant House [56], where J.K. Rowling wrote much of the first Harry Potter book. 21 George IV Bridge.

[edit] Splurge

• Restaurant Martin Wishart, 54 The Shore, Leith,, [57]. Edinburgh's first Michelin-starred restaurant. Highly recommended, but maybe not for every night of the week!

• The Witchery Restaurant, [58]. Just beside Edinburgh Castle, The Witchery is a small, beautiful candle-lit restaurant with fantastic food, excellent service and a wonderful wine list. Even their bread basket is a standout. Highly recommended, but expensive.

[edit] Drink

There are establishments to suit all tastes scattered throughout every pocket of the city. Be careful, some of the more local pubs can be a little rough around the edges, especially in Leith. For a non-alcoholic beverage give Scotland's second national drink a try - Irn-Bru [59]. It's a great cure for hangover.

As for Scotland's first drink, you will find The Whiskey Museum at the top of The Royal Mile. This is the best place to go if you want to sample whiskey, as they have a very large selection (200+?) at reasonable rates. Older whiskeys tend to cost more. The atmosphere is less pub-like than some might like - it tends to be fairly quiet. The food is reasonably priced and fairly good.

• Lots of traditional pubs all around the city. The Burgh on South St Andrews Street is a prime example. Delightful.
• Many famous traditional pubs on the Grassmarket. These pubs are tourist traps and tend to be very popular with visiting stag and hen parties. Real Edinburghers tend to keep clear most of the time.
• Lots of modern clubs around Cowgate and Lothian road including Subway, Gig and Diva.
• Yellow Card at The Tron (at Hunter Square) will cost you only £1 but gives you discount on almost every drink in the pub. The same card can be use with many other pubs around the country with a Yellow Card sign.
• George Street in the center of town hosts many of Edinburghs trendier bars including The Opal Lounge [60] one of Edinburgh's trendiest nightspots,The Candy Bar, Tonic, Fingers, Bar38 and All Bar One. Why Not, also on George Street is by far the best club in Edinburgh for yahs. These tend to be popular with the besuited after work crowd on a Friday. Not "traditional" Edinburgh bars but probably more typical of modern Edinburgh
• Also on George Street is the cavernous Standing Order a converted bank building. It is part of the J. D. Wetherspoon chain and always has a wide range of drinks at quite cheap prices. They also serve typical pub food and again some of the special offers make the food very reasonable.
• In the old town around George IV bridge you will find another selection of lounges including The Beluga Bar, Frankensteins and Bar Kohl.
• Other night clubs around the city include Ego, Faith and The Liquid Room.
• The Bongo Club (0131 558 7604) is also well worth a mention for travelers. Although a little further outside the city towards the new Scottish Parliament this is a great cafe style bar cum live music venue.
• Doctors and Sandy Bells in Old Town offer good ales and pub food in a relaxed atmosphere. Sandy Bells also has live folk music every night.
• The Pear Tree offers a great beer garden for summer months, and a mix of university students and residents all year round. Or check out The Blind Poet next door.

[edit] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• There are cheap youth hostels available with prices from £10 and above. The private/independent hostels center around the Cowgate area, the lower Royal Mile and its side streets. The hostels of the HI affiliated Scottish Youth Hostel Association [61] can be booked on-line and are an especially good deal during summer, when the SYHA rents student accommodation as summer hostels: Single rooms in the city center for a very modest price.

• Edinburgh First at University [62] aka Pollock Halls, 18 Holyrood Park Road, tel 0800 028 7118, fax 0131 667 7271, overseas tel. +44 (0)131 651 2189 open June 18th to September 24th. Accommodation on the campus of the University of Edinburgh, near to the Royal Commonwealth Pool and Arthur's Seat. About half-hour walk to city center. Very nice Scottish breakfast in campus cafeteria: stuff up in the morning and skip lunch. Completely nonsmoking. Single room £27-£46, most expensive in August (Edinburgh Festival time).

• Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel [63] 9 Haddington Place, EH7 4AL, 0131 524 2090 Splendid large hostel near the top of Leith Walk, about 10 minutes walk from Waverley Station. The hostel opened in September 2006, and replaces Edinburgh Eglinton and Bruntsfield Youth Hostels, which are now closed. Unusually for the SYHA, serves meals and Cafe is open to the public. There is also a self catering kitchen, and Plasma screens all over the place. In addition to dormitories, some rooms (including singles) are available.

• Budget Backpackers Edinburgh, 37-39 Cowgate, [64] regularly voted top 5 in the world by HostelWorld reviewers,

• ApartmentsInEdinburgh.com [65] Beautiful self-catering apartments in Regent Terrace in Edinburgh city center. Only 7-8 minutes walk from Princes Street and the Royal Mile. A range of prices.

• The Premier Travel Inn [66] chain of budget hotels are especially good for families. Clean, central, comfortable, efficient, and cheap by UK standards. There are a couple in the center of Edinburgh.

• Edlets.com [67]0870 777 5885 Edlets offer a variety of accommodation for short let (from 1 night - 5 months) in Scotland's Capital City of Edinburgh. From self catering apartments, serviced apartments, and bed and breakfasts, to guest houses & hotels, there is accommodation to suit all tastes.

• Scotlandflats.com, [68] 0044 (0) 7985927942 Beautiful self-catering apartments, bed and breakfasts and guest houses in the City Center from Edinburgh. Within two minutes you walk to Princess Street and within 5 minutes to the Royal Mile.

• Travelodge.co.uk, [69] has great saver rates if you book in advance (as low as £15) and has a well rated central hotel

• Merith House, [70] has special offers at times as low as £40 for a double, check other websites

• Bus Station Backpackers Hostel, [71] is a brand new hostel located 90m from St. Andrews Bus Station. Small and friendly, dorms from 11 pounds including breakfast and free internet

[edit] Bed and Breakfast

• <sleep name="Boreland Lodge Hotel" address="31/33 Boreland Road, Inverkeithing, Fife, KY11 1da" url="http://www.borelandlodgehotel.co.uk/" price="Best rates on official website start at GB£27"> A warm and inviting family-run hotel in Inverkeithing, Fife, near Edinburgh, Scotland. Minutes away from the world-famous Knockhill Racing Circuit and Deep Sea World.</sleep>

• 7 Gloucester Place [72], 7 Gloucester Place, Edinburgh New Town, rooms £30-£45 pppn - only 5 mins from Princes Street, includes wifi access

• Arden Country House, [73].

• The Greenhouse, 14 Hartington Gardens [74]. A very good vegetarian/vegan guesthouse close to the centre of town. The best vegetarian breakfast menu you can imagine.

• The Lodge, 35 Glasgow Road [75]. A lovely family-run B&B on the outskirts of the city centre with excellent transport links. Very reasonable rates starting from £25 pppn.

[edit] Mid-Range

• Ceilidh-donia[76] 14-16 Marchall Crescent, 0131 667 2743 £30-50pppn. Friendly, clean hotel with free internet and a really good breakfast. 15 minutes walk from the old town.

• ScottishApartment.com, [77], Reception at 6 Queen Street 0131 240 00 80. A large variety of Apartments throughout Edinburgh to suit every budget and every requirement from leisure to business to romance.

• The Dunedin Guest House, [78], Priestfield Road, West of Old Town, tel +44 (0)131 668 1949 - this is relatively expensive (around £50-£90 for a double room), but beautiful and friendly.

• Edinburgh Self Catering Victorian Villa [79], Murrayfield, West of Princes St, tel +44 (0)131 313 1472 - Victorian House with Garden and Conservatory available for short term holiday rentals. From £145 per night.

• Borthwick Castle [80], Borthwick Castle Hotel & Restaurant, North Middleton, tel +44 (0)1875 820 514 - Medieval castle set just 12 miles outside Edinburgh. From £130 per night

• The Bruntsfield Hotel [81], 69 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh, tel +44 (0)131 229 1393 - Traditional boutique hotel with an award winning restaurant. From £65 per night

[edit] Splurge

• Penthouse @ the Harbour Apartments [82] Harbour Penthouses are managed by ScottishApartment.com 0131 240 00 80. Luxurious penthouse apartments in Edinburgh's newest and most exciting development at the Newhaven Harbour, all penthouses include usage of 5 star spa and gym facilities, exceptional views and that feeling of undisturbed private comfort just not possible in a hotel.

• The Caledonian Hilton [83], Princes Street, tel +44 (0)131 222 8888 - the Caledonian Hilton is a five star hotel situated within the building of the Old Caledonian Railway Station. This century old hotel is centrally located and holds fantastic views of the Edinburgh Castle on one side. Three restaurants are situated within the hotel as well as two separate bars. Prices vary from £35 for a basic double to £400 for a luxurious suite (and they are luxurious).

• The Scotsman Hotel [84], North Bridge, tel +44 (0)131 556 5545 - the Scotsman Hotel is in the building that was used for writing and printing the Scotsman Newspaper. The location is great, looking across to Princes Street. The hotel decor has a lot of wood paneling and marble. In the basement the hall that used to house the printing presses is now a health club with a swimming pool which feels like the set of a James Bond movie. I expected a submarine to emerge from the pool. A room costs from £159.

[edit] Contact

[edit] Internet

Multiple internet cafés and hotspot venues exist in Edinburgh, in both the Old and New Towns (check out district articles for details). The city's largest independent internet cafe is Mossco Internet Cafe, located only 5 minutes from Princes Street - [85]

[edit] Stay safe

In general Edinburgh can be considered a safe destination for visitors but like all major cities there are problems and areas best avoided.

• Try not to get too drunk - if you have had too much, get a taxi home.
• Night buses are an affordable and safe alternative to taxis

The city's suburbs are best avoided by tourists who are not familiar with the area. Crime and juvenile delinquency is a fairly common feature of many large cities in the UK and Edinburgh is no exception.

[edit] Cope

[edit] Get out

• Dunfermline, previously the capital of Scotland, makes an excellent day trip. It is easily accessed by car via the Forth Road Bridge. There is a half hourly service by train from Waverley station (also stopping at Haymarket).
• Linlithgow is also a great little town for a day trip from Edinburgh. It is a short drive by car on the M9. There is also a frequent service by train from Waverley station (also stopping at Haymarket).
• North Berwick - another pretty town and harbor about 30 minutes east of Edinburgh, with webcams at the Scottish Seabird Center giving live pictures of thousands of birds on the Bass Rock.
• South Queensferry - pretty town about 20 minutes outside Edinburgh, with great views of the Forth Rail and Road Bridges.
• St Andrews - ancient university town, former ecclesiastical capital of Scotland, and home of the Royal and Ancient - the ruling body of Golf.
• Museum of Flight in East Fortune is about 30 minutes drive along the A1. It also has British Airways Concorde G-BOAA. Remember to book in advance to see inside Concorde as these tickets are generally sold out on the day.