Edinburgh

Top Attractions

• Edinburgh Castle: The one time residence of the Scottish monarchy is now an iconic landmark, home to the National War Museum of Scotland, and safehold for several national treasures. In the Crown Room of Edinburgh Castle you will find the Honours (Crown Jewels) of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny (an ancient symbol of Scottish monarchy which is still used today in British coronations). The castle also holds the 15th century cannon Mons Meg and the One O’Clock Gun, which has been fired at 1pm, Monday to Saturday, since 1861.
  
  In terms of accessibility, there are ramps and lifts to the Crown Jewels, Stone of Destiny and associated exhibition, with braille guides available for free.


• Arthur’s Seat: About 1 mile east of Edinburgh Castle you’ll see the looming hills of Holyrood Park, and the famous ‘Arthur’s Seat’. Formed around 340 million years ago by a now extinct volcano, this particular peak is a popular spot for hillwalking, with its summit offering incredible panoramic views of the city.


• National Museum of Scotland: Offering free admission and some spectacular exhibits, it’s really no surprise that the National Museum of Scotland is one of the top attractions in Scotland with over 2 million visitors every year. Here you can see the stuffed body of Dolly the Sheep (the first successfully clone of a mammal from an adult cell), the Millenium Clock, the Maiden (an early form of the guillotine), and the 12th century Lewis Chessmen.


• Real Mary King’s Close: Underneath the ground of Edinburgh’s Old Town lie the remains of a 17th century city. These streets were buried here in the 18th century due to the building of the Royal Exchange, which resulted in the demolition of several tenement homes. Today, Mary King’s Close has become a major tourist attraction with a reputation of being one of the most haunted spots in Edinburgh.

Where to eat in Edinburgh

• Low Cost


• Papii, 101 Hanover Street
• Oink, 34 Victoria Street
• Deacon's House Cafe, 304 Lawnmarket


• Moderately Priced


• Forage & Chatter, 1A Alva Street
• Pickles, 56A Broughton Street
• Locanda De Gusti, 102 Dalry Road


• Expensive


• Number One at The Balmoral, 1 Princes Street, The Balmoral Hotel
• Colonnades at The Signet Library, Parliament Square
• The Kitchin, 78 Commercial Quay

Nightlife

• Pubs


• The Bow Bar, 80 W Bow, EH1 2HH
• Malt & Hops, 45 Shore, EH6 6QU
• Cloisters Bar, 26 Brougham St, EH3 9JH


• Clubs


• Sneaky Pete's, 73 Cowgate, EH1 1JW
• The Hive, 5-17 Niddry Street, EH1 1LG
• Liquid Room, 9C Victoria St, EH1 2HE

Best4Travel Tips

• Currency: Pound (£)


• Language: English


• Time Difference to Ireland: None


• Flight Time Approx.: 1 hours 15 minutes


• Public Holidays


• 1st January: New Year’s Day
• 2nd January: Public Holiday
• March/April:
• Good Friday
• Easter Monday
• April/May:
• Spring Bank Holiday
• Early May Bank Holiday
• August: Summer Bank Holiday
• 30th November: St. Andrew’s Day
• 25th December: Christmas Day
• 26th December: Boxing Day