48 Hours in Edinburgh

This is a city of shifting light, of changing skies, of sudden vistas. A city so beautiful it breaks the heart again and again!

Alexander McCall Smith

Probably no post next week as I’m off to Edinburgh to see my sister who, I’ve not seen in ages. It will be lovely to see her but, her and her husband tend to love their long lie ins of a weekend, they both work hard, long hours so, I don’t blame them however, if you’ve followed my blog for any length of time, you’ll know I don’t do “lie in”! So, I’ll either do a park run next Saturday morning or, I’ll set off into the heart of the city for a little sightseeing! With this in mind, I thought I’d do one of my, “48 hours in…” posts!

I’ll be getting the train up there this time but won’t get in until around 6:30pm next Friday so, it will be drop bags, hugs and kisses, a quick change of clothes and then out for a bite to eat! Last October I posted something of where to eat in Edinburgh so, it will hopefully be in one of these places;

Eating my way around Edinburgh

Saturday morning, I’ll be up early, bright eyed and bushy tailed, I’ll sneak into the bathroom accompanied no doubt by the chorus of snores, wrap up in something warm, (it’s always cold in Edinburgh!!” open and close the door ever so quietly and wander down to the bus stop with a rosy smile!

Day 1

If it’s your first visit, I’d recommend starting the day by visiting the most imposing building in Scotland and also the most visited: Edinburgh Castle.

It’s ticket only and invariably there will be a queue, If you want to avoid said queues to make the most of your time, I’d recommend booking a tour of Edinburgh Castle.

The full visit to the Castle will take three hours; therefore, just before 1 pm be sure to see The One O’Clock Gun, be warned, it’s loud when you’re up close and personal! In the fortress don’t miss St Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh, the Royal Palace, the Honours of Scotland, and the prisons.

After leaving the Castle, walk down the Royal Mile until you get to St Giles’ Cathedral, which although not truly a cathedral, is definitely worth seeing from both the exterior and interior.

So that you can spend more time exploring the city, I’d recommend getting a quick bite to eat at any pub or fast-food spot just of the Royal Mile, there’s loads of them and unlike the ones situated literally, on the royal mile, you won’t get ripped off, I’ll often meet my sis here before a little retail therapy! By this time, it'll probably be nearly 2 pm.

Walk back a little until you get to Bank Street where you’ll come upon the Bank of Scotland. Continuing down Bank Street you’ll get to The Mound, where the Scottish National Gallery stands.

The National Gallery is free and, even if you're not a huge art fan, it's worth exploring, even for a little while.

Leave the Museum and take Princes Street to the right and you’ll come to The Scott Monument, from which you’ll get one of the most stunning views of Edinburgh, if you don't suffer from claustrophobia and don't mind climbing a lot of steps, I’d definitely recommend going to the top of the tower.

Once you've climbed down, take St David Street to reach St Andrew Square. Harvey Nichols, a high-end shopping centre, is located in this square.

From here you can take George Street, probably the most exclusive street in Edinburgh, to see its houses and shops. Rose Street, situated between George Street and Princes Street, is another pretty high street we recommend strolling down.

If you haven't taken too much time window shopping, you might want to relax a little by having some coffee at The Dome, walking around the area until it gets dark, or visiting the Princes Street Gardens.

The evening is the best time to take one of the many ghost tours offered in Edinburgh. All the tours depart from the Royal Mile (between Tron Kirk and St Giles’ Cathedral). Another very worthwhile visit is The Real Mary King’s Close, which closes a lot later than other attractions.

Day 2

Up and out early again, the day begins by visiting Calton Hill, Edinburgh’s most famous ridge, which is included in the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The hilltop houses numerous remarkable monuments, some of which are modelled upon the Parthenon in Athens, hence the nickname “Athens of the North”. You'll also have some breathtaking views of Scotland’s capital.

Walk down the same way you climbed up (from Princes Street) and head towards North Bridge. Before crossing, take a look at the buildings on either side. On the right stands Balmoral Hotel, one of the city’s most exclusive hotels. On the left is the Microsoft building. If you take a closer look inside the building, you’ll see that it's extremely modern inside, despite its classic exterior.

Cross North Bridge until you get to the popular Royal Mile. By this time, it'll be approximately noon.

If you don’t have to rush off for a flight or something, head down the Royal Mile and you’ll come across various museums and attractions: The Museum of Childhood, the Museum of Edinburgh, the People’s Story Museum, and Canongate Kirkyard. If you’re hungry you can stop at any of its pubs or restaurants for a traditional Scottish lunch.

Holyrood House Palace found at the end of the Royal Mile closes at 6 pm (from 26 March – 31 October) and at 4:30 pm (1 November – 25 March). If you decide to explore the King’s residence in Edinburgh it'll take approximately two hours. You can get tickets here.

After visiting the Palace, you can take a peek at the façade of the Scottish Parliament, and if you still have time to spare, why not go for a walk in Holyrood Park or go back to the Royal Mile either by foot or by bus (No 35).

Other Options

If you don't want to go shopping after visiting Edinburgh Castle on your first day, why not go to Gladstone’s Land or The Writers' Museum instead?

Berthed at Ocean Terminal is the Royal Yacht Britannia, which served the Queen and the Royal Family for over 44 years. It's now one of the most famous vessels in the world. This could be a good idea for the second day in Edinburgh followed by Holyrood Palace and Calton Hill. It'll probably take three hours to visit the Royal Yacht since the port is a little far away from the city centre in the now, up and coming Leith.

That should do you for a cultural tour of one of the worlds most iconic cities!

What’s on this week?