Guidebook for Edinburgh
Sightseeing
Novelist Sir Walter Scott nicknamed Edinburgh 'Athens of the North' and helped fundraise for the Parthenon up here. Not very successfully because it remains half-finished.
Check Admiral Nelson's monument, a tower in the shape of a telescope, with a ball that falls to indicate midday to sailors on the Forth.
Pop inside our old city Observatory, with the politician's clock with 2 faces and enjoy free art beneath one of its domes.
1098 locals recommend
Calton Hill
Calton HillNovelist Sir Walter Scott nicknamed Edinburgh 'Athens of the North' and helped fundraise for the Parthenon up here. Not very successfully because it remains half-finished.
Check Admiral Nelson's monument, a tower in the shape of a telescope, with a ball that falls to indicate midday to sailors on the Forth.
Pop inside our old city Observatory, with the politician's clock with 2 faces and enjoy free art beneath one of its domes.
White Horse Close
27 CanongateStep back in time to where the city's old stage coaches to London departed.
With it's romantic external pentice stair, this freshly renovated 16th century merchants house drips fabulous.
Riddle's Court
322 LawnmarketWith it's romantic external pentice stair, this freshly renovated 16th century merchants house drips fabulous.
Scottish baronial mansion house sitting in the middle of Mackers, or 'writers' court with inscriptions in the pavement to famous-ish works written in Edina.
37 locals recommend
The Writers' Museum
Lady Stair's CloseScottish baronial mansion house sitting in the middle of Mackers, or 'writers' court with inscriptions in the pavement to famous-ish works written in Edina.
Nestled in Dean valley away from the bustle. Feels Hogwartian. A pleasant walk to Stockbridge. Perhaps even onto the Royal Botanic Gardens.
268 locals recommend
Dean Village
Dean PathNestled in Dean valley away from the bustle. Feels Hogwartian. A pleasant walk to Stockbridge. Perhaps even onto the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Sherlock Holmes Statue
20 Picardy PlAuthor Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh and went to medical school here.
A walk above 'Diagon Alley'. There's stairs up to it about half way up Victoria Street. Walk along till it's end and it has fantastic views of George Heriots, (which arguably inspired Hogwarts), on the far side of the valley.
Victoria Terrace
Victoria TerraceA walk above 'Diagon Alley'. There's stairs up to it about half way up Victoria Street. Walk along till it's end and it has fantastic views of George Heriots, (which arguably inspired Hogwarts), on the far side of the valley.
Parks & Nature
Great hikes to the top of this extinct Volcano giving panoramic views of Edinburgh. Easy to find lunch when you're back down. The castle sits on a vent of this the mother volcano.
1859 locals recommend
Arthur's Seat
Great hikes to the top of this extinct Volcano giving panoramic views of Edinburgh. Easy to find lunch when you're back down. The castle sits on a vent of this the mother volcano.
A really nice inexpensive walk around, to take a break from the history trail.
1227 locals recommend
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Arboretum PlaceA really nice inexpensive walk around, to take a break from the history trail.
Rowling, poor and on benefits, would push baby Jessica around here, stockpiling names for a new world and a new life.
Grave of Tom Riddle
Rowling, poor and on benefits, would push baby Jessica around here, stockpiling names for a new world and a new life.
Edinburgh Zoo
134 Corstorphine RdIt's got Pandas!
This is the ski center, the longest artificial ski slope in Northern Europe.
You can also catch a bus here to do a day's terrific hiking in the Pentland hills. Climbs above the ski center, descend to the lake, and then hike out to pretty Balerno village and get a bus back.
42 locals recommend
Midlothian Snowsports Centre
Biggar RoadThis is the ski center, the longest artificial ski slope in Northern Europe.
You can also catch a bus here to do a day's terrific hiking in the Pentland hills. Climbs above the ski center, descend to the lake, and then hike out to pretty Balerno village and get a bus back.
A mini Botanic garden on the side of a Lock, makes more of an expedition out of a hike around & up Arthur's seat.
57 locals recommend
Dr Neil's Garden
5 Old Church LnA mini Botanic garden on the side of a Lock, makes more of an expedition out of a hike around & up Arthur's seat.
Getting Around
This is Edinburgh's central station, the busiest in Scotland, and the scene of the fight at the beginning of Avengers Infinity War.
202 locals recommend
Waverley Railway Station
This is Edinburgh's central station, the busiest in Scotland, and the scene of the fight at the beginning of Avengers Infinity War.
Lothian's blue 100 airport buses - 'airlink', arrive and depart from here. There are other airport buses that can drop you closer to my flat but these are the fastest. Pay with cash, card or mobile pay.
Waverley Bridge (Stop WA) station
Lothian's blue 100 airport buses - 'airlink', arrive and depart from here. There are other airport buses that can drop you closer to my flat but these are the fastest. Pay with cash, card or mobile pay.
The nearest Tram stop.
Lothian's airport buses put you closer to the condo than the trams, but the walk from this tram stop, through our world heritage site, to the condo is scenic.
11 locals recommend
St Andrew Square station
The nearest Tram stop.
Lothian's airport buses put you closer to the condo than the trams, but the walk from this tram stop, through our world heritage site, to the condo is scenic.
Food Scene
JK Rowling wrote here, see the plaque beneath, and the food is cheap and inexpensive. Spoon is on the second floor.
41 locals recommend
Spoon
6 A Nicolson StJK Rowling wrote here, see the plaque beneath, and the food is cheap and inexpensive. Spoon is on the second floor.
Best damn ice cream in Scotland. At the bottom of Edinburgh's 'Diagon Alley'. Including Whisky ice cream.
Over Langshaw Farmhouse Ice Cream
GrassmarketBest damn ice cream in Scotland. At the bottom of Edinburgh's 'Diagon Alley'. Including Whisky ice cream.
Superb Scottish food with an amazing rating on Tripadvisor. If you've not had Haggis try a 'Haggis tower' with whisky sauce, here or at a Grassmarket pub.
9 locals recommend
The Royal McGregor
154 High StSuperb Scottish food with an amazing rating on Tripadvisor. If you've not had Haggis try a 'Haggis tower' with whisky sauce, here or at a Grassmarket pub.
'The birthplace of Harry Potter', open till 10pm, a coffee shop with terrific old town views. Gets busy during the day.
163 locals recommend
The Elephant House
21 George IV Bridge'The birthplace of Harry Potter', open till 10pm, a coffee shop with terrific old town views. Gets busy during the day.
Shopping
The full immersive Diagon Alley experience. There's also 'Swish' up the road from it with FANTASTIC Potter T-shirts and bags dreamt and made in Edinburgh.
9 locals recommend
Museum Context
40 Victoria StThe full immersive Diagon Alley experience. There's also 'Swish' up the road from it with FANTASTIC Potter T-shirts and bags dreamt and made in Edinburgh.
Tesco Express
4-6 Leith WalkThe nearest supermarket.
Lidl
56-58 Nicolson StreetAn inexpensive beloved German supermarket. 8 minutes walk from the condo.
An upmarket supermarket that invites you to taste the difference. There is another beside Lidl further along the street, but it seems to have queues more often. It may be larger.
194 locals recommend
Sainsbury's Local
32-36 Shandwick PlAn upmarket supermarket that invites you to taste the difference. There is another beside Lidl further along the street, but it seems to have queues more often. It may be larger.
Drinks & Nightlife
'The birthplace of Harry Potter', open till 10pm, a coffee shop with terrific old town views. Gets busy during the day.
163 locals recommend
The Elephant House
21 George IV Bridge'The birthplace of Harry Potter', open till 10pm, a coffee shop with terrific old town views. Gets busy during the day.
Central music joint with pub inside arches beneath South Bridge. You'll jostle with Nearly Headless Nick for a pint.
62 locals recommend
Whistlebinkies Live Music Bar
4-6 South BridgeCentral music joint with pub inside arches beneath South Bridge. You'll jostle with Nearly Headless Nick for a pint.
The Dome
14 George StWalk in beneath The Dome, it's fabulous.
Cafe Royal
19 W Register StLooks fancy inside.
Arts & Culture
Activities to enrich your mind or amuse.
See the yacht the Queen and her family travelled the world in. Which JK Rowling tried to hire for her 40th.
630 locals recommend
Royal Yacht Britannia
Ocean DriveSee the yacht the Queen and her family travelled the world in. Which JK Rowling tried to hire for her 40th.
Scotland's most visited attraction, ahead of the castle. It's free, it's exciting for kids, it's out off the rain. Tour guides study it.
1378 locals recommend
National Museum of Scotland
Scotland's most visited attraction, ahead of the castle. It's free, it's exciting for kids, it's out off the rain. Tour guides study it.
At the top of the Royal Mile, ancient Edinburgh Castle sits high up on a volcanic vent.
At one o'clock a soldier fires the one'o-clock gun, for sailors on the Forth to set their clocks by. It echoes around Edinburgh.
Properly free 30 minute tours run inside the grounds, ask when you buy tickets.
1961 locals recommend
Edinburgh Castle
CastlehillAt the top of the Royal Mile, ancient Edinburgh Castle sits high up on a volcanic vent.
At one o'clock a soldier fires the one'o-clock gun, for sailors on the Forth to set their clocks by. It echoes around Edinburgh.
Properly free 30 minute tours run inside the grounds, ask when you buy tickets.
Free but book in advance. One of the most popular attractions in the city ~15 minutes walk.
114 locals recommend
National Galleries of Scotland
The MoundFree but book in advance. One of the most popular attractions in the city ~15 minutes walk.