Edinburgh
Castles, cobbled streets, ancient monuments and outstanding art galleries, combined with the best of contemporary culture, urban chic and more restaurants per head than any other city in the UK; Edinburgh is all this, and much more.
The easiest way to make the most of this historic and vibrant city is to jump onto one of the many tour buses, hopping on and off at all the major landmarks; with a guide on board, you will be well informed about them, on route.
Ancient castles may not appeal to all, but Castle Hill in the Old Town is a good place to start your visit. The views from the castle turrets are spectacular and offer a vast panorama over the city. Inside the castle, you can learn about Scottish history, admire the Scottish Crown Jewels and visit the War museum. If all that sounds too stuffy for you, then nearby is the famous ‘camera obscura’. From within a high tower the camera offers a bird’s eye view of the city below, and you will be given a demonstration of how the world’s first cameras evolved. After that, you could drop in to the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre and learn about distillation of Scotland’s national drink, followed by a wee dram of one of the three hundred varieties of whisky available in the bar!
Fortified by a drop of the hard stuff, you might be ready to stroll around the Old Town. Begin on the cobbled streets of Grassmarket, passing many famous old landmark taverns such as ‘The Last Drop’. Meander round the corner into pretty and eclectic Victoria Street where you can find some really interesting and quaint shops, such as Halibut and Herring, which stocks a fabulous range of lovely bath products and unusual gifts. Also recommended, is a visit to Iain Mellis, for the best selection of Scottish cheeses.
On the tour bus route you will pass the new Scottish Parliament building, a modern architectural monstrosity which caused great controversy because of the huge building costs, contrasting dramatically with the Queen’s official Scottish Palace, which is situated nearby. Completing this eclectic landscape is the peculiar dome-shaped exterior of a permanent exhibition called ‘Our Dynamic Earth’, which charts the evolution of the planet; a great attraction for children.
After all that you might be ready for some ‘New Town’ shopping. Head on over to Princes Street which is lined with high street shops and the well known ‘Jenners’ department store, now a House of Fraser, with a reputation for quality shopping. Just up from Princes Street, and running parallel, is the upmarket George Street, where you will find some serious designer shops. This is ‘the’ area to be seen, and lunch at Oloroso, on nearby Castle Street is one of the ‘in’ places. With an award winning chef, minimal designer décor and a rooftop restaurant which overlooks the castle, it is easy to see why.
It is worth spending sometime wandering the side streets where there are some great boutiques and innovative jewellery designers. Down one such street is a delightful funky little café called Urban Angel, where you can indulge in some healthy organic food followed by decadent delicious cakes to die for! After all that sight-seeing you deserve a treat!
The young uber cool crowd are drawn to this newly restored area, and the street is interspersed with trendy cafes and bars, such as ‘Candy Bar’, which boasts a range of sixty cocktails, and Hard Rock Café. The latest and most sophisticated club to arrive on the scene is LuLu, located in the basement of one of the hippest hotels in Edinburgh, the Tigerlily. Celebrities and sophisticates are drawn to this glamorous and stylish venue, which undeniably has the ‘wow’ factor. Located in a listed Georgian townhouse, the interior of the hotel, which was conceived and designed by leading designers Graven images, is the ultimate in luxury boutique accommodation. Sensuous fabrics adorn the beds, and the bathrooms exude cutting edge design. The cocktail bar; ‘the’ place to meet, serves as the entrance to the hotel.
From there you can drift through the chill out lounges to the restaurant areas. Dining in the sidewalk café outside, on warmer days, is the perfect place to people watch.
The regenerated dockland area in Leith is now definitely on the tourist map. Once notorious for its brothels, Leith has undergone a transformation, and is now buzzing with new restaurants, bars, and upmarket property. Also a busy port, with visits from cruise liners and, famously, home to the decommissioned Royal Yacht Britannia. Access to the Yacht is through the superb Ocean Terminal shopping mall, a well designed hub of elegant cafes, high street shops, and some well thought-out children’s entertainment areas. A tour of the yacht gives a fascinating insight into life on board for the Royals and their crew.
As far as city breaks go, Edinburgh combines traditional with contemporary and offers something for everyone. If you want to visit during the festival in August, booking early is essential as it is massively popular.
Details: For information on travel, tours, and tourist attractions go to www.edinburgh.org for Hotel Tigerlily reservation and rates www.tigerlilyedinburgh.co.uk or telephone 0131 225 5005.
