Edinburgh...

Public transport around the city itself is quite good, an all day ticket costs £3 per person.

I am at uni there, the castle tour is pretty good, camera obscura is nearby and worth a shot either before or after too.

If you are looking for lots of cheap booze then the student areas are pretty cheap, they are on the cowgate (below north bridge near the royal mile).
 
Last edited:
Don't touch cowgate, it's not very nice - that's why students go there! However, do take a wander down the grassmarket, it's nice for pubs and the odd restaurant.

Also have a look around George VI bridge (just off High St), there a lot of nice cafes, including the elephant house (where JK Rowling started Harry Potter), pubs and restaurants there - the Olive Branch is nice. Greyfriar's Kirk (of Greyfriar's Bobby fame) is up here.

If the weather is nice, you should "climb" Arthur's Seat, form here you can get great views of the city. If you're not feeling so energetic you could visit the meadows - a massive green space where you can relax, or, you could head over to the Botanic gardens.

If it's shopping you want to do though, I recommend getting a train to Glasgow - it's only £9.30 for a day return, Princes St and Edinburgh in general is rubbish for shopping.

There's plenty to see and do - you'll have a great time!
 
The zoo is pretty good.

The Shore in Leith has some nice seafood.

Hadrian's Brasserie in the Balmoral Hotel has really nice food without being too pretentious (they are accustomed to random tourists popping in).

The other restaurant in the Balmoral has a Michelin star... though I've never been.

St Mary's St off the Royal Mile has a nice little Turkish cafe called Empire Cafe.

As mentioned you could climb Arthur's Seat but if you don't want to be that energetic why not just walk around it and stop off at one of the three (I think) lakes/ponds/lochs (they're a bit small to be lochs) or the massive green spaces of Holyrood Park.
 
You need to try out Bar Khol if your into alcohol too! Pretty expensive but they have lots of different shots / pitchers.

Located just off of chambers st.
 
Grrr making me want to go back again (Go once a year at Christmas normally for a weekend)

Not been into the vaults, The dungeon is way over priced though. Castle is well worth a look if a little cold lol, Zoo I wouldn't bother with it weather is horrid, It's really good in the sun but boring (All the animals are away and tucked up) when it is cold. Princess street is quite good but only really has the same shops as every other main city, Id have a look down at Leith and maybe a drive over the forth as there is some lovely scenery about.

Everyone else has mentioned bars etc so I won't try lol. Been into some of the ones mentioned and they are nice :D

One last point, If you are driving make sure you either stick to the speed limit or have some kind of camera warning system, Place is littered with scameras

Enjoy

*toodles off to look for hotel for the summer*
 
Zoo - Got to be there for the penguin parade! Check times as they do change it every so often. It's great fun when the penguins come out for a walk :) Generally happens once a day.

Castle - Must admit I was underwhelmed, it's unbelievably touristy and I much prefered pretty much every other Scottish Castle I've been at, especially Stirling Castle, Caerlaverock and Drumlanrig. Only Stirling is reasonably close to Edinburgh sadly - worth the visit though.
 
Just fire round to mine with a bottle of voddy and get smashed.

Apart from that I will regurgitate the same ideas, zoo and castle.....

Plenty of nice pubs, clubs and eateries around your area. From past experience recommending pubs / clubs goes horribly wrong, but check around geroge street and the cowgate area, ample to choose from.

If you want a good walk head up Arthur's Seat. If you and the missus like a Whisky head to the Malt Whisky Society in queens street or leith (although I'm not sure about non members), or if you are the arty farty type check out the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.

There's really plenty to do, and ironically as a local I've not really checked out much of it apart from the above. Still, bottle of vodka at mine is by far the cheapest and most unforgettable option.....

Have a good yin!
 
dokko said:
Really want to get her in the vault but since she caught me watching Ghost Adventures where the teddy bear moved by itself shes dead against going in.

I'm going regardless. Where about are they?
Click to expand...

it was up the royal mile on the right, pretty easy to find from memory and i'm sure you'll be able to get a leaflet in about every shop on it, lol
 
semi-pro waster said:
It depends on what you want to do as part of a stag do but around Lothian Road/Tollcross sort of area there are a few stripclubs - the area has the nickname of the pubic triangle for a reason.

More wholesome activities such as go-karting or paintballing are within relatively easy access from the city centre but if you don't have cars there you may need to hire a minibus or similar for transport as I'm not sure what the public transport is like there never having had to use it for those venues.
Click to expand...


We are all leaving cars at home, and travelling via train - don't wanna risk being over the limit and driving home on Sunday. Paintballing sounds good fun.
 
Ace Modder said:
We are all leaving cars at home, and travelling via train - don't wanna risk being over the limit and driving home on Sunday. Paintballing sounds good fun.
Click to expand...

Paintballing is good fun but at this time of the year the paintballs will probably sting more, the cold does that to them y'see. :D

I've tried out the Skirmish site which seemed ok, quite near Dalmahoy (nice hotel/resort type place with a golfclub - quite exclusive I believe). The other close big paintball operator is Bedlam Paintball and I'd guess they are much of a muchness but I don't know for sure. The rest of the paintball sites are a bit further out so not ideal if you need to get a taxi - however if you book one of the bigger minibus taxis in advance it shouldn't be much of a problem. Have fun.
 
Lava and ignite! Or whatever its new name is! No am kidding, do not go there! :p

The comedy club at the omni centre is really good, plus there is bars and clubs there for after. Not too expensive either.

Should check it out, if thats your thing. Went there with the (ex)gf, great night (random hotel booking for the win! :) )
 
Good places to take the gf

Oloroso www.oloroso.co.uk
One Below One Below
Castle Arms http://www.castlearmsedinburgh.co.uk/
Monboddo's http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/edinburgh/restaurant/1y02b8t/monboddo Go here for drinks rather than food. ;)
Dragonfly http://www.dragonflycocktailbar.com/

There's plenty more but these are certainly very good to go and enjoy a civilised drink with the gf. To be honest, the Omni Centre can be a bit LOUD and has a very bad and cheesy club there that seems to attract its fair share of trouble.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom