I’ve been to Edinburgh now quite a few times so have built up quite a lengthy list of things to do around the city. Here’s some of the bits and pieces I’ve been up to so far.
Narrow Alleyways
One of my favourite things to do in Edinburgh is explore the cobbled streets and narrow passageways (“named a close”). Some examples include Anchor Close, Advocate’s Close, Trunk’s Close and The Vennel is worth a mention too, but it’s fun to stumble upon your own favourites.
Victoria Street
Talking of streets, the classic brightly coloured streets of Victoria Street in the Old Town are a must do, for the pretty view. There’s also some pretty cool shops in this area, such as Harry Potter shops. If you want shops, I also recommend Cockburn Street.
Harry Potter Walking Tour
I really loved the pay-as-you-feel Harry Potter walking tour. Some great guides and facts. While not as many facts on Edinburgh as the “Tale of Two Towns Tour” (which I have also done), I did really like it and recommend strongly for any Harry Potter fan. I did The Potter Trail- Extended Magic Tour.
The Elephant House Café
If you didn’t have time to do the Harry Potter Walking Tour but you’re a massive HP fan, I recommend a quick peak in the Elephant House Café. This is where J K Rowling sat to write the books. There are photographs of her on the walls, and the toilets are covered in graffiti from Harry Potter fans.
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions
I thought Camera Obscura was going to be a bit gimmicky and not so fun but actually I really enjoyed it and found it very fun. Bring along your inner child and have some fun with optical illusions and mind games! Nothing to do with Edinburgh, of course, but a decent bit of play time. There’s also a great view of Edinburgh at the top.
An Edinburgh Underground Tour
Explore the underground world below Edinburgh’s surface. There’s a few different tours to choose from in different areas.
Deep Fried Things!
So far, I’ve tried deep fried Mars Bars (the classic thing to have in Scotland!), deep fried Cream Egg and even a deep fried pizza!
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Image: The Guardian |
Panda & Sons
This “barber shop” was a cool speakeasy. Quite expensive but very classy and makes for a nice surprise to the person you’re bringing.
Royal Mile
On approach to the castle, there is the Royal Mile which is the busiest street in Edinburgh and is very touristy. If you want to listen to some bagpipes in the street, I recommend. If you want to get food, I’d say to wait until you’re in a less touristy area.
Edinburgh Castle
The castle is really beautiful and frames so many great views of Edinburgh. Some of my favourite views of the castle are from Princes Street. There’s also great views of the city from the castle itself (it’s free to go up near the doors of it), although of course you also won’t get the castle in this viewpoint.
Greyfriars Bobby
Bobby was a Terrier who became known in 19th-century Edinburgh for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner until he died on 14 January 1872. People come to take a photo with Bobby and rub his nose for luck. It’s also the meeting point for many tours.
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Image: The Victorian Web |
City Views
Calton Hill offers some great views at ~15 minute walk from the city, a great alternative to Arthur’s Seat if you don’t have the time to walk 30 minutes there. I’ve mentioned the views from Camera Obscura above. I’d really like to do The Scott Monument and the National Museum of Scotland Roof Garden.
Edinburgh Dungeon
The dungeons are very similar to the other dungeon experiences around the UK. There is some Edinburgh-specific theme but you will recognise the format if you’ve visited the others before.
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Image: Wikipedia |
Edinburgh Zoo
I enjoyed Edinburgh Zoo for a little day out. But if you have limited time in the city, I would skip it because there’s nothing particularly Scottish about it, it’s just a normal zoo. One thing to note is it is on a big hill! So the hole visit you are either walking up or down the hill- good to note if you have a pushchair or a heavy bag. There’s nice views from the top though.
Edinburgh Whiskey Tasting
I had the full Whiskey experience because it was part of a conference I went to. I didn’t really enjoy the ride inside, it felt too gimmicky. I have been to a few different distilleries now, including on the Isle of Skye, and this really didn’t hold up compared to them unfortunately. I think it would be better to chose a nice bar with a great atmosphere and do a DIY version.
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Image: TripAdvisor |
To Do in Future
- Climb Scott’s Monument
- Arthur's Seat