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Edinburgh: what to do?

B

Blue Velvet

Moderator emeritus
Original poster
Jul 4, 2004
21,929
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I'm going up to Edinburgh for a few days next month; have never been before.

What interesting things are there to do and see?
What are the 'simply musts'?

I'm open to all suggestions and each and every one is appreciated. :)

Cheers
BV
 
Climb the Scott Monument.
Lie around in the Gardens looking up at the clouds.
Visit Jenners.
Go to Cargo, Beluga and Biblos (nice pubs/bars imho)
Go to the museum which looks and bit like the millennium dome (It's for kids, but I though it was kinda fun! (its also, in my mind at least, got no name!))
Shop on Princes and George Street.
Get thrown out of every club you go into for being underaged...good times!


Uber

EDIT: Go to one of the ridiculously expensive fudge shops and buy fudge - it's sooooo good!

EDIT2: Go and have a kilt fitting...as long as there is no obligation to buy at the end!
 
UberMac said:
Get thrown out of every club you go into for being underaged...good times!
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If only. Being underaged, I remember being that once upon a time. ;)


UberMac said:
EDIT: Go to one of the ridiculously expensive fudge shops and buy fudge - it's sooooo good!
Click to expand...

Excellent idea. My team will be expecting me to return with yummy things; it's a holiday tradition. Better than shortbread, which I like. But fudge... mmm.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll have to do some reading... :)


vincebio said:
get the train to glasgow ;)
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A colleague suggested that. Mentioned some tearooms that I have to visit, apparently. I forget the name.
 
Well, I'd get Lau as pissed as possible then shave off all her hair. heh.
 
UberMac said:
Go to the museum which looks and bit like the millennium dome (It's for kids, but I though it was kinda fun! (its also, in my mind at least, got no name!))
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Dynamic Earth? It's right by the Parliament building as well which is worth a look at.
 
iGav said:
Well, I'd get Lau as pissed as possible then shave off all her hair. heh.
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Heh, it 's funny you say that, as me and my (male) flatmate both cut off all our hair once. I had more to lose. ;) Edinburgh is a bad influence on me. It's slightly unfortunate I now live here again. :p

So, sensible things to do.

Have drinks with Lau. ;)
The camera obscura was cool when I last went, but I was six at the time. If it's good weather there should be some good views, but it's a rather extortionate £6, so I'm not sure it would be that good.
Climbing Arthur's Seat is awesome, but it's not the time of year for it, it's chilly at the top even in summer! Amazing views from the top though, or even from halfway up.
Bar Kohl has millions of different vodkas, and is quite civilised (in a taste and sip the ice cold vodka, as opposed to necking shots).

I shall have a think (and an ask around) of other must sees. :)
 
Blue Velvet said:
What? All her hair? :eek:
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Well, if you could leave the eyelashes 'cos I have a long standing bet with the Lau that mine are longer, and there's an evening of free beerage at stake depending on the outcome.

But apart from that... be creative. ;)
 
Check if they still walk the penguins at the zoo! A tourist trap of course, but it's still great to see these animals walk between people. Taller than kids,
scaring the hell out of the toddlers and making the older ones ecstatic.
I know that happened to my penguin adoring gf....
 
iGav said:
...there's an evening of free beerage at stake depending on the outcome.
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An evening?! <feels less convinced by own boastfulness> ;)

robbieduncan said:
Museum of Scotland, Arthur's Seat, Valvona & Crolla.
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Agree with all these, definitely, and UberMac's Biblos. Oh, and although the Glasgow thing was teh comedah, a day is Glasgow is a great idea. The train service between both is good. You can meet my granny for lunch. :D There's a few places worth a day trip actually (and a fair number a speedy train journey).

oblomow said:
Check if they still walk the penguins at the zoo!
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This is the best thing ever. When I saw them there was a small child following them along, and was subconciously walking like a penguin. It was utterly fantastic. I must go back to the zoo.

Edit: And Monster Mash does a good haggis neeps and tatties, amongst other tasty pie like things. :D
 
vincebio said:
get the train to glasgow ;)
Click to expand...


Edinburgh is a fantastic place ---- to visit. ;)

Being from the UK (ok, New Zealand ), I'm sure the historic sites aren't going to have as much impact as for someone from North America, but I find that even walking around Edinburgh is good fun.

I was actually there during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which was a fantastic time to go.
 
calculus said:
Dynamic Earth? It's right by the Parliament building as well which is worth a look at.
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That's the one! And yeh, the Parliament is interesting for a quick visit too.

Lau said:
Climbing Arthur's Seat is awesome, but it's not the time of year for it, it's chilly at the top even in summer! Amazing views from the top though, or even from halfway up.
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Fireworks from Arthur's Seat (Watching or launching - brilliant times!)

Blue Velvet said:
...really want to try haggis
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Do it! It's ace. :)

Oh and whoever mentioned the fringe. I love the fringe...except when you're trying to do something constructive like get to work, or go shopping. The fringe seems to make those things impossible, the crowds, the distractions, the cheap alcohol...

Uber
 
My suggestions

Since I was there in the early fall I did a lot of out door exploring... but there were a few indoor activities I enjoyed.

1. Have a drink at the "World's End" pub, (heck do a pub crawl, and see how many bartenders/servers are students from other countries)
2. Go on one of those ghost tours... probably won't see any ghosts, but I thought the underground passages were really interesting (and the history is very creepy)
3. Get your voyeur on at the camera obscura... my friend and I had fun tracking people as they walked down ...High St.? with the CC security cameras you can play with.
4. The museum near the corner of Princess St and Lothian road I thought was interesting.
 
Deep fried pizza.

You've got to at least try one crazy scottish deep fried food and it's certainly interesting, to say the least.

Lau said:
Edit: And Monster Mash does a good haggis neeps and tatties, amongst other tasty pie like things. :D
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Seconded.
 
Mord said:
Deep fried pizza.

You've got to at least try one crazy scottish deep fried food and it's certainly interesting, to say the least.
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Mmmm....

Takes me back to being a student. Half Deep Fried Pizza and Chips from Franco's whilst staggering back to halls after a night out.
 
Mord said:
Deep fried pizza.
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I'm up for local delicacies... hell, anything I can't get or do in London is fair game. Mind you, deep fried pizza may just need some walking off and maybe a stiff Scot(ch) afterwards. :eek: :D
 
Blue Velvet said:
I'm up for local delicacies... hell, anything I can't get or do in London is fair game. Mind you, deep fried pizza may just need some walking off and maybe a stiff Scot(ch) afterwards. :eek: :D
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You're doing it in the wrong order. You have the Scotch first. The Scot, well if you're willing to share the Pizza...
 
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