Only two and a half hours away on the train and a mere £14 for a single (booked well in advance), Edinburgh is a fashionable, culturally rich, and affordable break away for any student here at York. Whether it’s as an erudite excursion to enrich your course; a few days of serious retail therapy; or a romantic getaway with that special someone (‘tis the season, after all), Edinburgh has it all!
For Culture Vultures
Palace of Holyroodhouse: the lesser-known castle in Edinburgh, unlike Edinburgh Castle it is not a military base but the Queen’s official residence in Scotland (most recently hosting the royal wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tyndale in 2011). Doable in about an hour and with a history of famous inhabitants (Mary, Queen of Scots, for one), Holyrood fulfils all expectations as an ornate stately home and defining landmark. It places you at the beginning of the Royal Mile and makes a good start to a day of activity that works its way into the city centre. It is also within view of ‘Arthur’s Seat’ which makes for magnificent photography and, given a longer visit, a chance to walk through the Holyrood Park to take in the stunning volcanic scenery of lowland Scotland.
National Museum of Scotland: free, family orientated and well curated, the National Museum is a must. Something unusual to try and see is the ‘Millennium Clock’ on the ground floor of the Grand Hall. It strikes on the hour, every hour, playing its haunting melodies and animating its macabre figures. The Gallery Cafe is also good value and provides some tasty lunchtime treats for the famished tourist, as well as a great place to rest your feet midway through the day before excursions into the New Town or further up the Royal Mile to the Castle. Handy tip: avoid the Tower Restaurant and stick to the cafe, tastier food at much more reasonable prices!
Scotch Whiskey Experience: a popular attraction, this is both interesting and informative, even for those new to whiskey tasting. Entry is not too expensive (about £12), and the shop has a broad range of whiskies and paraphernalia available. We went on the Silver tour which includes an opportunity for a whiskey tasting and discount in the shop at the end. The staff were knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions about production, tasting, and purchasing. A highlight was viewing the World’s largest private collection of unopened whiskey – totalling 3384 bottles with the oldest bottle dating from the end of the 19th century!
Edinburgh Castle : more military based than Holyrood, this is the city’s main attraction. There are several exhibitions to view, however the most spectacular aspect of the castle is the vista from the top, looking east to the coast and over the whole of Edinburgh and all it’s landmarks.
Curb that Retail Addiction
The Royal Mile: Edinburgh’s main tourist spot, the Royal Mile stretches from the Palace of Holyrood House up to Edinburgh Castle. Visitors can find dozens of tartan, whiskey, and shortbread shops to choose from, interspersed with a few hearty pubs and whisky joints. This is definitely worth a visit if only to stock up on a few well chosen presents for mum, dad, and your housemates.
Prince Street: Mainstream and close to the National Portrait Gallery, the Royal Mile, and the Castle, Prince Street has all the main retailers and is definitely Edinburgh’s main shopping street: of particular note is the 5 floor Primark! When you’ve had enough of shopping/browsing, Prince Street also has incredible photo ops of the Scott Monument and the Castle.
Jenners: Scotland’s answer to Harrod’s, this is a must for those with serious cash/ student loans to burn! And at the moment, the Grand Hall would certainly rival the Egyptian Staircase for festive decorations.
Hidden Gems
Real Mary King’s Close: buried beneath the Royal Mile this is a warren of secrets streets that have remained unchanged since the 17th century. The site is 100% genuine, no movie sets or tinned sound effects here. Featured on Living TV’s Most Haunted the Close is well known for being Edinburgh’s most notoriously haunted location and is worth a visit for those who like a bit of a scare.
Mercat Walking Tours: led by local historians this walking tours operator offers a range of tours to fit different tastes, interests and attention spans. For those interested in Historic Edinburgh there is: the classic ‘Secret of the Royal Mile’ which only takes about an hour and a half; Gallows to Graveyard, a tale of Edinburgh’s villains; and Sin and the City, an adult themed tour focusing humorously on Edinburgh’s more bawdy past. For the brave of heart they also offer a wide range of ghost tours, including Hidden and Haunted (a strictly NO CHILDREN tour).