Edinburgh, Scotland — Things to Do
Sightseeing in Edinburgh
Sightseeing in Edinburgh reveals a score of attractions, highlighting this ancient city's historical, cultural and visual charm. Most Edinburgh attractions are quite centrally located and best enjoyed during the summer, when the days are both longer and warmer. Located on the mound of an extinct volcano, Edinburgh Castle hosts structures from as early as the 12th century, and the National Gallery has displayed fine works of art to the public since 1859. For Scottish opera and ballet performances, visit the Edinburgh Festival Theater, while the Museum of Edinburgh is another great attraction. The Scotch Whisky Experience shows visitors the art of brewing Scotland's celebrated whiskies, locally referred to as 'the water of life'. Speaking of water, the Royal Yacht Brittania is docked in the port of Leith and has hosted the likes of Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela. A well-known Edinburgh attraction is the Royal Botanic Garden, and the Royal Mile in Old Town is another must.
Shopping in Edinburgh
Shopping in Edinburgh is not something for the feint hearted and visitors will be in danger of shopping till they drop! Princess Street is by far the most well-known and popular strip to do a spot of shopping. Here most people fight their way through the bustling crowds to get to some of the major UK chain stores, as well as a few independent shops. The slightly calmer and more exclusive George Street runs parallel to Princes Street but is somewhat pricier. At the east end of the street, Princess Mall contains plenty of specialist shops and high-end boutiques, while the Royal Mile is a slightly more off-beat shopping destination with loads of quirky independent stores. Popular buys in Edinburgh include tartan scarves and kilts, whisky, Edinburgh Crystal and tweeds. Shops in Edinburgh are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5.30pm, with late-night shopping on Thursday until roughly 8pm. Some larger stores open on Sundays. Many shops (especially those frequented by tourists) are part of the Tax-Free scheme and shoppers are advised to keep their receipts and fill out a claim form to have the 17.5% VAT refunded.
Edinburgh Nightlife
Edinburgh's nightlife comes alive during its many festivals but the rest of the year a more subdued, trendy night scene fills in the empty spaces. There is no central nightlife district in Edinburgh and instead a few different neighborhoods offer slightly different night atmospheres. Despite Old Town's name, the district has new and trendy areas such as Cowgate and Grassmarket. Both of these are popular bar-hopping destinations. Great live bands and folk music is best heard in both these areas and surrounding small alleys and walkways. The seafront area of Leith shares a trendy and upmarket feel although, like many areas, it competes with traditional bars and old pubs. After work watering holes dot the Edinburgh streets of most neighborhoods as they have done for centuries. These are still popular local haunts, a great place to begin an evening or end a day. Edinburgh enjoys a relaxed nightlife atmosphere which is shared in lax rules and drinking hours. Most bars stay open until one to three in the morning, and much later for festivals.
Attractions for Kids
The historic city of Edinburgh is brimming with old castles and fascinating sights and children can have a great time exploring this fantastic city too. The kids will love a visit to the Royal Yacht Brittania, or on a sunny day, visit the cute animals at the Edinburgh Zoo, or pack a picnic and the Frisbee and head to the Royal Botanic Garden for day in the fresh air and sunshine - fair weather days are rare so make the most of them! For an educational excursion, visit the Museum of Edinburgh and be mystified by the history of this famous city, while Our Dynamic Earth will astound the little ones and get them thinking about their place in the planet. When skies are grey and outdoors attractions are not an option, take the water soaked kids to discover some other aquatic animals at Deep Sea World Aquarium, or make use of indoor playgrounds such as the one in Edinburgh Park or the Happy Castle Play Center.
