EDINBURGH makes a perfect weekend break – or longer – from Manchester.
Not only is it stunningly beautiful and a thriving centre for the arts and culture, it’s also great fun with a vibrant eating and nightlife, and shopping that takes in everything from the quirky to the designer.
It is easy to get to with 16 trains a day from Manchester Piccadilly, taking you into the heart of the city in just over four hours. And Edinburgh is so compact it can be explored in two or three days unless you fancy staying for longer.
This historic city with its architectural wonders is gorgeous at any time of the year, attracting visitors from all over the world, and truly blooms in spring and summer..
Pink and cream cherry blossoms adorn the many green spaces such as The Meadows, The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Princes Street Gardens in April and May, making Edinburgh one of the prettiest cities in the world to visit.
From the distinctive sound of bagpipes in Princes Street and the startling daily canon blast of the one o’clock gun from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle to the world-renowned architecture spanning the historic Old Town to the elegant New Town and breathtaking panoramas visible from various vantage points across the city, the capital’s sensory adventure can be enjoyed by all.
Your imagination can run wild in this historic city with its exhilarating family-friendly visitor experiences, many of which are accessible and inclusive. There’s not only food for thought in this cultural haven with its museums and art galleries – the city also boasts a vast range of culinary delights with a field-to-plate ethos.
Edinburgh’s reputation for romance was recently given a boost with the release of the Netflix series One Day, which follows the unfolding love affair between two people when they graduate from Edinburgh University and showcases the city at its best, taking in landmarks including the Old College quadrangle, the summit of Arthur’s Seat and Grosvenor Crescent.
There’s nowhere else quite like Edinburgh. From the elegant squares and crescents of the Georgian New Town or the nooks and crannies of the medieval Old Town with its narrow, winding alleys or ‘closes’, it’s a feast for the eyes. And what better time to visit this historic city than during its 900th birthday?
As soon as you depart Waverley Station, the city’s piercing skyline will take your breath away, from Calton Hill and craggy Arthur’s Seat to the majestic castle perched on a volcanic rock overlooking Princes Street Gardens.
It’s no wonder this unique city has inspired writers through the ages, from Sherlock Holmes creator Conan Doyle to crime writer Sir Ian Rankin OBE and bestselling J K Rowling, who penned her first Harry Potter book in an Edinburgh café. This year is the 20th anniversary of Edinburgh as the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature. The Writers’ Museum celebrates the lives of Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson, among others.
Free and affordable attractions
The majestic capital, home to the Scottish Parliament, may inspire awe but there’s no need to spend a fortune. There are plenty of free or affordable attractions for all ages, from the child-friendly National Museum of Scotland to the accessible National Galleries of Scotland: National.
Guide and assistance dogs are welcome at all the National Galleries of Scotland, there are lifts to all floors with audio announcements, and some exhibition floors have large print labels. The Museum of Childhood has toys, games and dolls dating from the 1800s to the present day. Dynamic Earth, which costs £12-£14 to enter, is a science attraction with immersive interactive galleries that include a real rainforest and a planetarium.
If you’re looking for luxury, Harvey Nichols is bristling with designer labels, while its new neighbour, the St James Quarter, is a mecca for shoppers. Or purchase some unique finds in one of Edinburgh’s many boutique and vintage shops peppered along the city’s iconic streets. From city centre locations including Rose Street and Thistle Street to quaint little retailers located in popular neighbourhoods such as Morningside, Bruntsfield and Stockbridge.
Keeping children happy doesn’t need to break the bank on a trip to Edinburgh. If you’re travelling with ScotRail, their Kids for a Quid ticket means up to four children can travel for £1 return each with an adult.
It’s available every day, all year round, including school holidays. The ticket also has free child entry to top attractions, including Edinburgh Zoo, Deep Sea World and the Camera Obscura.
Kids for a Quid tickets are available with most adult tickets, including ScotRail Advance single tickets, season tickets and Flexipass. Buy your ticket from the booking office or on the train when a ticket office isn’t available.
Indeed, with two railway stations, a bus station and an airport, Edinburgh is accessible from all major cities, and once you’re there, it’s easy to get around whether on foot, wheels or by bus or tram.
Follow our guide to some of the best ways to experience Edinburgh and uncover some hidden gems as well as the attractions that draw more than four million visitors a year.
Click here to explore free and affordable attractions in Edinburgh.
Where to eat – quirky food and drink experiences
Exploring this vibrant, unique city is to be immersed in history and culture, but it also has great places to experience the beauty of Edinburgh’s culinary delights, with many restaurants overlooking different parts of the city’s stunning skyline.
Click here to explore Edinburgh’s coolest and quirkiest bars.
Speakeasy scene
Edinburgh has plenty of hidden corners that lend themselves to the trend for ‘speakeasy’ bars, often disguised as fortune tellers or barbers. Award-winning Panda and Sons lurks up a hidden staircase behind a bookcase in what appears to be a vintage barber shop. It uses unusual sub-zero freezing techniques to make its unique cocktails.
Its sister bar, Hoot the Redeemer is tucked away in a cellar and is themed as a vintage funfair in 1950s New Orleans with a tarot reader, claw crane machine and boozy ice-cream parlour. The Raging Bull is eminently Instagrammable with rustic stone walls, murals, and stylish cocktails in wacky glasses.
New on the scene is Encore, a bar that evokes the glamour of 1920s Paris hidden under the West End Brasserie. Don Gatto’s Speakeasy has a hidden entrance behind a bookcase in TheHowlin’ Hound restaurant accessed by a secret code.
Game on!
In Edinburgh, there’s more to a night out than standing around drinking. Game-themed bars mean you can play everything from vintage arcade games to Super Mario. The Cocktail Geeks sells its own merch featuring the likes of Pikachu and Star Wars characters. NQ64 Arcade Bar has 24 arcade machines, two pinballs and five retro consoles. Roxy Lanes has a bowling alley, but you can also play American pool, shuffleboard, beer pong, batting cage, duck pin bowling, and you can play social darts at Flight Club.
Outside the centre
The Canny Man’s in Morningside is stuffed full of eclectic antiques, bric-a-brac and theatrical decor. In neighbouring Bruntsfield, McLarens on the Corner is a family and dog-friendly restaurant with a garden terrace. Dalriada in Portobello has great sea views and a beer garden. The Hanging Bat in Tollcross is a craft beer bar with an onsite brewery that also sells artisanal spirits.
The Ferry Tap in South Queensferry is a quaint pub with more than 50 malt whiskies. Nauticus Bar took its name from Leith’s historical ties with shipping and its menu of cocktails and food reflects the role the port played in the tea and spice routes, the gin craze and the whisky boom.
One-of-a-kind places to eat
You’ll never be stuck for choosing somewhere good to eat. At The Table, the chef cooks for just 10 people who share a table. Seats sell fast so make sure you book your space early. The 14th-century Sheep Heid Inn has a skittles alley for some old-fashioned fun – it’s said Mary Queen of Scots’ son James VI enjoyed a game or two here.
The Witchery is one of the most romantic spots in Scotland with its oak panelling and tapestries. It’s hidden in a collection of 16th-century buildings next to the Castle Esplanade, where witches were put to death during James VI’s witch hunts. Badger & Co is the former home of Wind in the Willows author Kenneth Grahame, and Mole, Ratty and Toad from the classic children’s book appear in the paintings on the walls.
Expect sensational views at The Lookout by Gardener’s Cottage, which sits on top of Calton Hill in the restored City Observatory. The Colonnades at the Signet Library in the exquisite Signet Library in the Old Town has the perfect surroundings for an elegant afternoon tea. The Oxford Bar is one of the more traditional bars in the New Town and is famous as the watering hole of crime writer Sir Iain Rankin OBE and his detective character Rebus.
Food tours
Gourmands can eat their way around the city on foot. Eat Walk Tours, Secret Food Tours, Edinburgh Food Safari, will allow you to sample Scottish food and pre-arranged stops and learn about the city’s history, while those with a sweet tooth can find out more about Edinburgh on the Underground Donut Tour.
Click here to explore Edinburgh from plate to plate.
Outdoor family adventures
This time of year is ideal for getting out and about and enjoying healthy activities. Kids of all ages will enjoy Dalkeith Country Park, which has an adventure playground, a Go Ape course and 1,000 acres of trails and walkways. Jupiter Artland is an amazing sculpture park set in the 80-acre estate of Bonnington House with surprises around every corner by leading artists.
The pandas may have left Edinburgh Zoo, but there’s still plenty to entertain the family. Five Sisters Zoo 25 miles west of Edinburgh has 160 species of animals, including rescued bears. Harry Potter fans will enjoy the free Potter Trail, exploring the magical locations that inspired JK Rowling’s bestselling children’s series.
Click here to plan your family visit to Edinburgh.
Edinburgh’s coast and waters
You’re never far from a body of water in Edinburgh. The Pentland Hills Regional Park has 10,000 hectares of countryside and 100km of paths. The short circular walk through the woods surrounding the Harlaw Reservoir is a popular Pentlands stroll. You can take boat trips or walk along the Union Canal, which runs between Edinburgh to the Falkirk Wheel. Take in the sea air at Cramond Beach and cross the causeway to the tidal Cramond Island. Pretty South Queensferry lies under the 125-year-old Forth Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Water of Leith is one of the most attractive strolls and cycle routes in the city and is partly accessible by wheelchair. It passes many areas of interest including Colinton Village, the National Galleries of Scotland: Modern, Dean Village, Stockbridge, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and Leith. A hike up Arthur’s Seat is a favourite Edinburgh ritual. This ancient volcano 250 metres above Edinburgh has a series of 150-foot cliffs, Salisbury Crags, as well as Duddingston Loch with its abundant birdlife.
Festival experiences
Edinburgh is undoubtedly one of the world’s cultural capital. With a myriad of festivals, kids and adults can enjoy the Edinburgh Science Festival, 30 March-14 April and the Children’s Festival, 25 May-02 June, offering theatre and dance for young audiences.
The most famous is the Edinburgh International Festival, 02-25 August, with its highbrow cultural programme, as well as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe where the likes of Steve Coogan, Kevin Bridges, Miranda Hart and Rowan Atkinson got their start. Bookworms of all ages will love the Edinburgh International Book Festival, 10-25 August. Cymera, Scotland’s festival of science fiction, fantasy and horror writing takes place from 31 May to 02 June.
Eat Out Edinburgh is a month-long celebration of food for the whole of March. Foodies will also enjoy The Great British Food Festival at Dalkeith Country Park, 15-16 June, and the Royal Highland Show 20-23 June, which showcases the best of Scottish food, farming, and rural life.
Those interested in traditional Scottish music can visit the Edinburgh International Harp Festival from 05-09 April and Edinburgh Tradfest from 03-13 May. The Beltane Fire Festival on April 30 is the Celtic celebration of the return of summer, while the Hidden Door Festival, a pop-up arts festival, takes you to the city’s little-known places. Its 10th birthday celebrations will be held at a secret venue 10-11 May. The Edinburgh Marathon Festival on 26 May was voted the fastest marathon by Runners World.
Click here to experience Edinburgh’s year-round festivals.
Eco-friendly experiences
If you want to ensure your carbon footprint is as small as possible, Edinburgh has plenty of sustainable places to eat and stay, so hop on an environmentally friendly tram and explore.
Makars Gourmet Mash Bar serves classic Scottish dishes using locally produced food. They grow their own mushrooms downstairs in their ‘mushroom emporium’.
Café Portrait in the National Galleries of Scotland: Portrait makes all its own food from sustainable sources. The Scottish Café & Restaurant uses more than 70 artisan Scottish suppliers and food that reflects the seasons. The Gardener’s Cottage has its own kitchen garden, and Café St Honoré uses local, seasonal produce and is part of the Slow Food movement.
Ten Hill Place Hotel has a Green Tourism gold award, and all profits go into training surgeons around the world. Frasers Suites Edinburgh are luxury serviced apartments certified as a Silver Green Tourism property and are powered by 100% renewable energy.
Holyrood Aparthotel is a member of the Energy & Environment Alliance and has a Green Tourism award. Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel overlooks one of the city’s prettiest private gardens, but is also mindful of the environment, using non-toxic cleaning products, recycling water and using low-flow water systems.
Click here to discover more eco-friendly experiences in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh’s most Tik-Tokable spots
Victoria Street, which curves down towards the Grassmarket in the Old Town, is thought by many Harry Potter fans to have inspired the magical shopping thoroughfare, Diagon Alley. Circus Lane, a quaint cobbled lane in Stockbridge, is the city’s most photographed street, lined with charming ivy-covered mews houses overlooked by a church steeple.
Dean Village is a picturesque and peaceful former milling community on the banks of the Water of Leith. When you reach the top of the Vennel Steps, look down to see a spectacular view of Edinburgh Castle. Calton Hill is one of the city’s best viewing spots – spectacular at sunrise and sunset. The Greyfriars Bobby statue is an adorable tribute to the faithful dog who kept vigil by his master’s grave in nearby Greyfriars Kirkyard for 14 years. Advocate’s Close is a steep, narrow set of steps hidden away in the Old Town. White Horse Close is a courtyard at the foot of the Royal Mile overlooked by picturesque houses.
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