help with Edinburough

[BEC]

my dh has suprised me with a weekend in Edinburough for my birthday, we have never been to scotland and we are really looking foward to it, he has booked tickets to visit the dungeons can anyone tell me if the dungeons are the same as the vaults or are they two different places? hope someone can help. Also any advice on other things to do whilst we are there??? We are staying for two nights. :)

[brindle]

My dh took me there for my 40th we stayed in leith if you get the chance go to ocean terminal lovely shops and some great places to dine.The royal yaucht brittania is also docked there.


hope you have a lovely time.

[loadsapixiedust]

Edinburgh is lovely and lots to do. Across from the Dungeons climb the steps to Mary Kings Close (http://www.realmarykingsclose.com/home.htm) and then explore the Royal Mile and Grassmarket and go and see Greyfriars Bobby.
If you have time you could see a show at the Playhouse or just take in some of the pubs in Rose Street or take one of the ghost tours.

[jobowden]

There is also a really well organised open top/hop on hop off bus tour with great commentary, that will give you a good feel for the city. I'd also recommend visiting the Royal Yacht, the Castle, Holyrood Palace & Princes street for the shops. A meal at The Witchery is alway memorable too. DH and myself have been a few times & love the place - have a great time.:wavey:

[janjan]

witchery tour gets my vote too, really good night,we went for a meal in the witchery resturaunt first then did the tour.

[nic]

Hi :wavey: , whereabouts are you staying, and when are you going?

The Dungeon and the Vaults are different. See here http://www.mercattours.com/the-vaults-tour.asp for information about the Vaults tour.

If you want to do the tour bus then you can catch that on Waverley Bridge - turn right when you come out of the Dungeon, walk towards the mini-roundabout and then turn right at it and that's Waverley Bridge.

I never bother with the pubs in Rose Street personally, they usually look a bit rubbish inside! :d:

Shopping on Princes Street, George Street and St James Centre (only really worth it for the big John Lewis in there - the rest of it is pretty ugly!!). There's also Harvey Nicks on St Andrew Square.

If you fancy a bit of culture then check http://www.nationalgalleries.org/ to see what exhibitions will be on when you visit. There's also the Museum in Chambers Street (just across the road from Greyfriars Bobby) which is well worth a visit - www.nms.ac.uk - they currently have a "Fabric to Fashion" exhibition which sounds interesting.

Any questions, let me know, I've lived here all my life apart from 3 years!

[Scotsmomma]

Hi Becky...you'll love Edinburgh...I reckon it's got to be one of the best cities in the world....the dungeons are great....the patter is hilarious...keep your head down if you don't want to be a volunteer....lol then again I kept mine down and was still picked...I was put in the dock and charged with running naked down Princes Street and pressing my nipples against Mcdonalds windows...It was really funny...only thing is...I think all the American tourists really believed I'd done it...:) Hope you have a great time

[BONZO]

Hi,

Just wanted to say that Edinburgh is a beautiful place.

My only problem is that I've been there a few times on business but not as a visitor, but one day soon.

May I recommend Stac Polly for a slap up meal - you may need to book up though.

http://www.stacpolly.com/

Oh - I've been in that McDonalds too!

[Enright78]

The best Afternoon tea IN THE WORLD is available at the Caledonian Hotel at the end of Princes Street. And you must try a haggis pudding supper from a chippy (can you tell I'm and expat Scot!!)

[SimonB]

I spent 8 years of my childhood in Penicuik which is just South of Edinburgh.

Its a place I'd love to go back and visit.

[BEC]

thankyou so much for all your help, Nic we are staying at the Apex international hope its nice, im off now to look at all the web sites, thanks again xxx

[Scotsmomma]

Becky...we've stayed in the Apex International....they do a fantastic Scottish breakfast with views of the castle from the dining room...enjoy

[nic]

You'll be ideally situated then for everything! Including the numerous pubs in the Grassmarket and Cowgate... beware of stag and hen nights around there though! :drinkbeer

[andi30]

The best Afternoon tea IN THE WORLD is available at the Caledonian Hotel at the end of Princes Street.


:tounge: :tounge: :tounge: my gran would take me once a month to edinburgh and we would meet up with her friends for afternoon tea..heaven:)

[jobowden]

We also stayed at the Apex International - it's in a great location and the roof top breakfast is fantastic. They also offer a really good value set evening meal too, which is great as the castle is floodlit at night and the views are fab.

[BEC]

thanks everyone for all your help cant wait to get there xx

[BnDamo]

Without a shadow of a doubt my favourite city in the world. Great people and lots to see and do.Try to see the new Scottish parliament building, Jenners in Princes Street especially the deli section,the whisky trail tour near the Castle, The Portland pub at the Haymarket end of Princes St. The Brittannia at Leith Docks is well worth a visit and is attached to a shopping mall! Does it get any better?

[BEC]

hi all well we are back from our trip, had a really great time though my legs are killing me ......... sooooo many steps!!!!!!!

[nic]

Glad to hear you had a good time :) , yes there are a lot of steps and hills in Edinburgh, you get pretty used to them living here though. ;)

What things did you do and see, did you have any nice meals etc???

[jobowden]

Glad that you had a good time - did you manage to fit in all of our 'must see things!?"

[Scotsmomma]

lol that's Edinburgh...cardiac hill

[BEC]

we arrived at tea time on friday dumped the bags in a very nice hotel which i highly recommend ' The Apex international' we then went out for a wander round the old town then onto Princess street (new part) which we then kept away from as we loved the grassmarket and royal mile area much better. we checked out some restaurants and decided on an Italian on grassmarket, sorry cant remember the name!!! it was really good though. After the meal we went back to the hotel bar for a few cocktails, my favourite for the weekend was a sea breeze...... mmm!!!!!
the following day we managed to go and visit the castle ...wow what a beautiful place that is, the views were amazing and it was really interesting, we then went to book a ghost tour with Mercat tours we did the ghost and ghouls night tour at 7pm which included the underground vaults then a ghost story telling session in an old pub in the dark!!!!!!! it was really great. we wandered around everywhere that day checkin out all the old closes and climbing lots of steps!!!!! we also went to the dungeons which was fab we really enjoyed that it was very well done with great actors, good laugh but also very shocking as to what went on in Edingburgh all those years ago, the next day we visited the grave of greyfriar bobby and his owner which was good to see i loved the film as a kid!! although very sad. we then did the whisky tour which was good learnt a lot of things about about the old scotch whisky. we then went down Old Mary Kings court which i really enjoyed there were only four of us on this tour so was really good its an amazing place was a little spooked out in Annies room where all the teddies and gifts are i was so cold in there i was shivering then as soon as i got out i was fine!!!!!! spooky eh, all in all an absoloutly fab time, great city, great people loads to do just brilliant cant wait to go back which we will be doing a lot!!!!!! to all those who havent been to Edingburgh please goyou really are missing out on an amazing place.... right i will shut up now!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nic]

Wow, sounds like you packed a lot in! Glad you enjoyed yourself. :)

[SusieK]

Great place Edinburgh - almost as nice as Aberdeen;)

[loadsapixiedust]

Glad you enjoyed your visit, Becky, you certainly did a lot in the time you had.
You haven't mentioned the weather ;)

[Scotty]

Good job you didnt arrive on Friday AM - you would have wanted to go straight home, Sat and Sun were lovely though.
Glad you had a good time.
I love Edinburgh but dont go in very often - looks like DS will be going to school there so we'll see a bit more of it again.

[BEC]

the weather was fine but got a wee bit chilly on sunday!!!!!!!!