Spec me a trip to Edinburgh

Tr1p

Tr1p

Tr1p

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20 May 2009
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293
Hello.

I'm going to Edinburgh with the girlfriend in November for 3 nights/ 4 days and was wondering if you guys could help provide some helpful details on places to visit, places to eat etc.

I like in Yorkshire, and will be driving to Edinburgh so can venture outside of Edinburgh for other amenities etc.

I was thinking of visiting Edinburgh Zoo, but have heard mixed reviews on it, so am unsure. Obviously 1 day sis going to be taken up just going round for a bit of 'shopping'. I am totally stumped though, there are so many things to do, I really don't know what are the things that we should do.

Thanks for the help :)
 
I'd love to hear more about the Zoo as well. Tripadvisor is less than complimentry but then it was less than complimentry about Seaworld as well, and that was great..
 
[TW]Fox said:
I'd love to hear more about the Zoo as well. Tripadvisor is less than complimentry but then it was less than complimentry about Seaworld as well, and that was great..
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I'm going to try and find out as much as I can, so when I do, I shall report back.
 
[TW]Fox;17677927 said:
I'd love to hear more about the Zoo as well. Tripadvisor is less than complimentry but then it was less than complimentry about Seaworld as well, and that was great..
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I've been a few times, it's fine and if you are lucky enough to be there when the penguin parade takes place it's great fun! Quite expensive but they do have some very nice enclosures.
 
Personally rather than spend hours in the zoo when it's probably raining I'd head over to the forth bridges, up to Stirling castle/wallace monument (only 45 mins outside Edinburgh by car) and then head back into Edinburgh for the pubs and clubs.
 
I really liked the zoo, the weather was awful when I went too! Bus trip is another good suggestion, I was a bit skeptical but it was really interesting. The National Museum is very good, and you'll have to go up Arthur's Seat at some point.
 
The Zoo is good, been there wioth the kids loads of times. it's not partiucularly cheap and it's on the side of a hill so can be hardwork! The hilltop safari does exist and leaves every 30 mins or so from the main entrance!
 
[TW]Fox;17677927 said:
I'd love to hear more about the Zoo as well. Tripadvisor is less than complimentry but then it was less than complimentry about Seaworld as well, and that was great..
Click to expand...

Hmmm.

I wouldn't like to make a judgement on the zoo as I haven't been as a kid, we don't have elephants now. Plastic rhino too I think :p

But everything else I enjoyed as a kid, depends how interested you I suppose. It's built on a hill too but its big enough for Edinburgh anyway. There are safari parks and other stuff away from the city too. Very expensive though.

Seaworld in North Queensferry is good, but bit of a short walkway I felt iirc. I was a rather hard to please kid :p
 
shifty_uk said:
The zoo was good? :confused: Are we talking about the same zoo here? Edinburgh zoo? It was hellish!
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Is there anything about Edinburgh you do like? It seems that in any thread about the place you've hated almost everything so it might be easier (and shorter) to list what you did like than what you don't like about the place? Obviously you're welcome to your opinion and all that but I'm a bit curious now as to what is so terrible about Edinburgh, that's why I'm asking.

I haven't been to the Zoo in probably getting on for about 15-20 years now so can't say what it's presently like but from memory you're better to head straight to the top of the hill and work your way down as it's a bit of a trek. I do remember being enthralled by it as a kid but don't know if I'd still feel the same.

Tr1p: have a check of the numerous other threads about Edinburgh too, there's lots to see and do in and around there.
 
semi-pro waster said:
I haven't been to the Zoo in probably getting on for about 15-20 years now so can't say what it's presently like but from memory you're better to head straight to the top of the hill and work your way down as it's a bit of a trek. I do remember being enthralled by it as a kid but don't know if I'd still feel the same.
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That's pretty much the same here :p

But it was summer not winter, and I had a calippo ice lolly :)

:D
 
We went to Edinburgh Zoo two years back, didn't feel ripped off but still felt there could have been so much more. The amount of animals they've got there is really poor and some of them seemed to be living in pretty poor cramped conditions. As other have said it is built into a hill so the best bet is to take the land train to the top and work your way back down. I'd also advise against using the zoo's facilities for eating (bring a packed lunch) as the prices border on extortion!

I thought Deep Sea World in North Queensferry was quite good (just off the Forth Road Bridge) I thought it was priced well given the amount there is to do there and their underwater tunnel is really good :D

Staying in Edinburgh there's loads to do from the many pubs/clubs to the restaurants, galleries, museums and open topped bus tours you certainly wont be bored.
 
semi-pro waster said:
Is there anything about Edinburgh you do like? It seems that in any thread about the place you've hated almost everything so it might be easier (and shorter) to list what you did like than what you don't like about the place? Obviously you're welcome to your opinion and all that but I'm a bit curious now as to what is so terrible about Edinburgh, that's why I'm asking.
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I certainly don't think the place is terrible, far from it! I just generally air my bad opinions as somewhat of a warning. Not intentional.

The hotels we've stayed at were very good including the Glass House which was beautiful, even managed to blag the executive suite with the biggest bath in the hotel. Fantastic architecture, cafes and of course restaurants if you fancy splashing out a bit.

My main gripe was the compactness, I felt on a night out, despite being in lovely bars, everything was too far apart and the walking distances were off putting which resulted in hefty taxi fees. I'm use to Glasgow and holiday resorts where everything is a stone throw away, though.

As for the zoo, we went last year and were totally ripped off(we both felt), there was construction work which meant a lot of closures but even over the other side of the zoo where no work was being carried out, the cages felt deserted, barely any animals and in pretty poorly conditions as far as I could see. Polar bear was the most depressing!

It was freezing, rainy and the cafe was even closed(this was mid afternoon) so we had to rely on broken vending machines to find drinks.

It wasn't an awfully good experience, perhaps on a warm summers day, although when is it ever a warm summers day in Edinburgh?

If you've been to aquariums on holiday, Deep Sea World would be a massive let down, too. It's TINY with little in the way of sea life or anything exotic.

I'm just being honest, no point saying something is good when it wasn't. We're both genuinely interested in animals and sea life so it's an unbiased opinion.
 
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That's fair enough, like I say I was just curious really as most people I've met have generally only had good things to say about Edinburgh but I can't claim to be unbiased about my hometown so I'm interested to hear other views on it.

The polar bears in zoos always seem a bit depressing to me, at least in Edinburgh it shouldn't be too warm. ;) Conceptually I don't especially like zoos as I'd prefer if the animals were out in the wild but they can serve a useful purpose in educating people about the animals - all we can really look for is that the animals are kept in as good conditions as possible.
 
When in November are you planning on coming up? Winter Wonderland seems to open on the 25th this year - there's an outdoor ice rink and a German market.
 
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