Ok I’m finally getting around to my Edinburgh write-up.
The last few months have been insanely busy with not only announcing my pregnancy but also managing to visit a mega SEVEN destinations! (Yes, I’m knackered.) But do me a favour and cast your minds back to the beginning of May, when I jumped on a Virgin Train up to Edinburgh for the weekend to see what the historic city had to offer.
Here’s what I got up to with some swell ideas of what to do there on a weekender.
48 Hours In Edinburgh
How To Get There
Ok disclaimer – this obviously depends on where you live. But for me, living in Milton Keynes, I had 3 options.
I could take a flight which would be crazy quick in theory, at just over an hour flight time. But it would involve me having to drive to the airport, pay for parking and wait around, then get a transfer the other end. Bit too much of a faff tbh.
I could drive but it would be a mega 7 hour drive without any breaks or any traffic. My pal did it recently and said it was more like 9 hours. Nah thanks, I’ll pass.
And my final option, the one I decided to go with, was the direct Virgin Train from Milton Keynes Central to Edinburgh Waverley. It took just under 5 hours in total and meant I could go straight from my home town to a 5 minute walk from my hotel with minimal fuss! And oh my, the scenic views were worth it. Plus, the babes at Virgin Trains upgraded me to First Class so I got to enjoy a full English brekkie and lots of drinks and snacks on the way! It felt way fancier than a plane actually!
I really liked travelling this way so would recommend it if you’re going up from MKC, London or anywhere else on this route. It’s super easy and meant I didn’t have to change anywhere.
Where To Stay
After my great experience at ibis Styles Manchester, I decided to stay at the equally cool ibis Styles Edinburgh. Like I said, it was really central in Edinburgh so we could walk everywhere from here. It was also really chic and stylish with wall art of Scottish money, tartan touches and a big neon sign of a stag. So you really knew you were in Scotland!
Our double room was small but had everything we needed, a lush shower and views over St Andrew Square. Definitely a good pick if you’re after somewhere budget and practical that still has all the added touches of somewhere more boutique.
What To Do
The Royal Mile & Edinburgh Castle
Ok let’s start with the most obvious ones – The Royal Mile & Edinburgh Castle are big attractions in this city.
The Royal Mile is a mile-long stretch in the old town connecting Edinburgh Castle with Holyrood Palace, and is full of touristy shops and buskers playing bagpipes. It’s cool to have a walk down it, but be aware that it’s rammed and full of super-slow-walking tourists so can be a bit annoying. It is nice to take in the architecture and cute backstreets along this road though so definitely give it a look-in.
When I visited I walked right up to Edinburgh Castle, but I didn’t actually go in as there was some kind of event going on. But actually I think it’s much more impressive looking up at it from the Princes Street Gardens anyway. A very strong-looking fortress high up on the hill.
Camera Obscura & World Of Illusions
My pal Sam from Yokomeshi recommended Camera Obscura to me before my trip and I didn’t really know what to expect. You see, the Camera Obscura itself is a kind of camera from the 1850s that captures what’s happening outside and projects it in a dark room. Kinda cool considering this contraption is so old and doesn’t use any modern technology.
But the best part is for sure the World Of Illusions. It’s like a huge museum of magic tricks with a whopping 5 floors of tricks of the eye, hidden mirrors and cool things to see. Think everything from those cool balls you get at the science museum when you touch them and your hair stands on end, to a whirling vortex of lights that makes you feel so dizzy as you walk through. It’s cool, just trust me on this. And there are so many hilarious photo opps.
Oh and no big deal, but it also has a rooftop with views across Edinburgh!
Grassmarket
Just down from the Royal Mile, Grassmarket is a particularly cool area, full of bars spilling out onto the street. It was sunny when I visited so these al fresco bars and restaurants were super busy and super dreamy – I mean, who doesn’t want to have a beer in the sunshine? (Or y’know a J20 for me…)
There’s also Mary’s Milk Bar along here, a famous ice cream shop that does various unusual flavours and usually has a queue out the door. It’s worth a try but honestly I didn’t really get what all the fuss was about. Try it for yourself though because it has lots of fans out there.
Harry Potter Goodness
Ok so I couldn’t go to Edinburgh and NOT see the Harry Potter-esque sights, could I?! First up, I made sure to go look at Elephant House, the cafe where J.K. Rowling wrote some of the first book. I mean, it’s nothing special but HARRY POTTER WAS WRITTEN HERE, so it had to be done.
I also LOVE LOVE LOVED Victoria Street, part of Grassmarket. This winding and colourful street was the inspiration for Diagon Alley and you can definite feel those vibes. I mean there’s a joke shop and several Harry Potter souvenir shops to wander round. Museum Context is a particularly good one with a few floors of wizarding odds and sods.
Dean Village
A 20 minute walk out of town, away from the touristy area of the castle and Grassmarket, etc, and it feels like you’re not even in a city anymore. Dean Village feels exactly that, like a village. It’s a nice walk and when you get there, there’s a lovely little stream with gorgeous old houses overlooking it.
I took a walk out there on my second day in Edinburgh and was a really nice way to start my day. I mean, there’s not much else there, but look how pretty…
Stockbridge
Not far from Dean Village is another area that doesn’t feel quite like a city at all. Stockbridge feels very suburban with cute cafes and boutiques to have a wander around. It’s not as cool as I thought it would be, it’s not Shoreditch or anything, but it’s a nice area to wander if you want a change of scenery from the tourist-heavy centre of Edinburgh.
Oh and make sure you check out The Pastry Section. It’s a very stylish and friendly cafe with great coffee and an A+ carrot cake.
Calton Hill
I didn’t end up having time to climb Arthur’s Seat on my weekender in Edinburgh, but I can’t visit a new city and not find a good viewpoint! So I headed to Calton Hill for a fabulous view of both the city and Arthur’s Seat.
It’s a steady slope upwards as you climb the hill, so it’s not too gruelling. It’s also a great spot for a picnic. Oh and there’s also the Athenian Acropolis at the top of the hill, an unfinished monument meant to recreate the Parthenon of Greece. But legend has it that every time they finished a column, they had a big party to celebrate and basically drank away the budget! I don’t know how true that is, but I like that story a lot.
Overall I had such a lovely weekend in Edinburgh. It’s a chilled out city with beautiful architecture and cool places to eat and drink. Oh and be sure to check out my foodie post about the fab restaurants I tried before you go! (read it here).
What do you think of Edinburgh? Have you been? Would you like to?
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Total Blogger Transparency: I enjoyed a complimentary stay at ibis Styles Edinburgh as well as a complimentary journey with Virgin Trains. But all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I wouldn’t play you like that, shorty.
Edinburgh is one of the places I hope to visit and it is indeed beautiful. Thanks for sharing us a glimpse.