Expert: Willie Wallace - 11/24/2007

Question
Hello Willie,  I only have days between the 25th November and 1st December and would like to see Edinburgh.  What are the interesting places to see at this time of the year.  Where would be a reasonable place to stay and in what district.   Thanks Maureen

Answer
Hi Maureen,

That's one of the smallest questions I have had, though it might bring one of the biggest answers.

Edinburgh is the second most popular destinations in Britain, after London, with something like 13 million visitors a year.  You are here at a pretty quiet time, so you should have no problem finidng accommodation.  Let's suggest somewhere then.  It depends a lot on your budget, if you have lots of money stay somewhere like one of the Townhouse Hotels (I would suggest Channings Hotel is probably most accessible and laid back and not far from the absolute centre of town).

http://www.townhousecompany.com/

A little less money, then you should be looking at one of the chains in the centre, like the Apex or Ibis.  Not particularly Scottish, but central.  Try

http://www.ibishotel.com/ibis/fichehotel/gb/ibi/2039/fiche_hotel.shtml

http://www.apexhotels.co.uk/

Then onto the more traditional Bed and Breakfasts and guest houses and believe me, if there are not over 1000 of these, there are close to it.  Probably somewhere like Pilrig Street, which is halfway between the centre of town - Princes Street, the Royal Mile, etc. and also the Port of Leith, with around 60 or more bars and restaurants.  For the length of time you are here, why not consider an apartment???  Daily rentals are usually available in November.  This guest house has an apartment in Leith for about GBP70 per day.

http://www.acorn-edinburgh.com/

Other guest houses in Pilrig Street are

http://www.themapleleaf.com/index.htm

http://www.balmoralguesthouse.co.uk/index.html

http://www.craigmoss.co.uk/

That last one has self catering apartments too.  Apart from Pilrig Street and it's good position almost any guest house in the Newington or Corstorphine areas should be reasonable standard, but more than a walk from the centre and a lot more than a walk from Leith.  The bus service in Edinburgh is cheap and very regular.  

Best restaurant in Leith?  Personally, I would say Domenico's on Sandfort Sreet - no web page - (where we are eating tonight), the Waterfront Bistro on Dock Place

http://www.waterfrontwinebar.co.uk/

or maybe Fishers on The Shore

http://www.fishersbistros.co.uk/uni/main.html

Daniels Bistro is another favourite

http://www.daniels-bistro.co.uk/

For bars, the oldest is the Carriers Quarters, the most traditional is probably the Port of Leith - loud, but interesting and for selection of real ale, the Malt and Hops on The Shore.  I'm not good at trendy, but if you are, you would probably like the Cameo Bar, aimed at 20+.

Now that is the task of your accommodation and evenings sorted, let's see what you can do in the daytime.

First the Macro view.  Edinburgh's centre is pretty much split into two areas, The Old Town and The New Town (new, as in dating from the 18th century, so 200+ years ago).  Both are Unesco World Heritage sites. World Heritage sites (there are only somehwere around 700 in the whole world) are sites of major importance, either historically, scenically, or culturally - Great Wall of China, Great Barrier Reef, Eifel Tower, Stonehenge, the Grand Canyon, you get the idea.  Edinburgh has two of Scotland's five sites and rather than say it is the Royal Palace, or the huge castle dating from the 11th century, or the majestic streets and avenues of the Georgian New Town, they have declared the whole city centre to be two Heritage sites.

On a micro level, there are lots of individual places, the Castle and the Palace of Holyrood as mentioned, plus St. Giles, one of three cathedrals, the Museum of Childhood, the Museum of Scotland and other museums, various excellent art galleries, the New Scottish parliament building. The Walter Scott Memorial (try climbing the hundreds of steps to the top), but with all of that, you can just enjoy walking the streets of our capital city.  Everywhere you look is another beautiful vista.  What a place!!  You will never tire of it.

Within easy reach by train are Stirling and Glasgow.  The amazing Forth Bridge, a Wonder of the Modern World (take the train to nearby North Queensferry, cross the bridge itself, then walk down from the station to the pretty little village and look up in awe on this magnificent structure, complete in 1889) is definitely worth a half day out, with lunch at one of the nice little hotels in the village, down by the water.

Roslyn Chapel is half a mile South of town and the 13th century abbeys of Melrose, Roxburgh, Kelso and Jedburgh are magnificent buildings and all around one hour's drive South of Edinburgh.

There you go, if that doesn't fill your week, you are not trying :o)  I am losing the will to type, so I will leave it at that.  Have a great time and if you need a car, go to

http://www.celticlegend.co.uk/car  We will be glad to rent you a really good value car!

Cheers,

Willie Wallace