Well here it is, our wee trip report - which might be long LOL"¦
Edinburgh 9th - 13th July
Flight from Belfast to Edinburgh with Easyjet, on time and a full plane. Very smooth flight. Though had to wait ages on the bags :o(
Got the airport bus to Waverley Bridge, £5 each open return. Walked around to St Marys Street to the Travelodge. It was early, around 11am so we did not expect to be able to check in, but luckily there was a room ready! I had booked a family room for a wee bit more room. The room was fine for us, a few niggles but nothing major.
So unpacked and got ready to go out. Went to the Mitre on the Royal Mile for a yummy Sunday Roast Dinner. Then took a walk up the Royal Mile and round to Princes Street.
Went back to hotel and got changed into my ITALIA top to go and find a pub for the match. Worked our way up the mile again and visited the pubs along the way, had a game of pool in Bannermans in Niddry St, then ended up in The Globe. (cheapest drink around) Sat a lovely couple who live on the Royal Mile and then another local group, so hello to John & Liz, Gary, Stuart and Pam. Of course Italy won!!!!! and there was a nice £50 waiting for me on my bet :o) Went to the Chippy on the Royal Mile for some chips...yum!
Had a lie in the next morning, too much drink the night before! Went to Rabbie Burns on the Royal Mile for a fry up, it was around £6. We just spent the day exploring the Royal Mile. Castle looked packed so we didn't go in (been before though) I couldn't believe how many tourists and backpackers there were.
Went into a few graveyards, one on Cannongate and one off Waterloo place. Went to the museum of Childhood (very interesting) and 2 museums on Cannongate, facing the graveyard. Best of all these were FREE! :o)
Walked over to the Omni to check out film times and ended up having dinner in Witherspoons in the Omni. Headed back to hotel around 9pm as we had to be up early the next day.
Tuesday we were off to Newcastle on the train. Virgin trains were great, delayed coming back though. Had a great day in Newcastle with our friends. (Ate lunch in Witherspoons in the Metro Centre!)
Wednesday we went to a morning show of Pirates of the Caribbean and then shopping day in St James and Princes Street. And yes you guessed it we ended up in Witherspoons on George St for Tea! Headed back to hotel to get ready to go out later on that night"¦ . Auld Reekies Terror Tour!!! (£9 each)
It was at 10pm and around 15 of us on the tour. The guide was excellent and I was nervous about going into the vaults. Seen a real witches coven in the vaults. Then we were taken into different vaults and told stories about them. In one of them, the men had to stand on one side and the women on the other. I have to say I clung onto another women from England. Then another staff member scared the wits out of us all jumping out and of course we all screamed LOL! Ended up in Nicol Edwards for a few drinks then of course to the chippy before it closed! Hi to Brian and Christine.
Thursday was home day :o( we packed up and left the cases at reception, went to Rabbie burns for a fry up.
Then walked up to Mary Kings Close. (£8 each and 20 people on each tour) Found the tour guide a tad rude at the beginning, she said no flash photography so myself along with a few other people turned the flash off. Then as we were walking down another staff member (in front of her tour group) said to our tour guide, I can see a weapon of witchcraft (my camera) and our tour guide said they have been told to turn them off. At this point I was embarrassed to say the least and another visitor said that you said 'no flash photography' then our tour guide said I meant no photography as it's a government building. Well to me and a few others she should have been more clear and there should have been a sign or something up saying no photography/video etc. Rant over !
Anyhow, we both found the tour interesting and found it hard to imagine what it was like to live 400 years ago. Glad we went on it but the tour guides need to be less miserable and enjoy what they are doing, at some stages you could tell she didn't want to be there.
Then we walked to Greyfrairs graveyard, creepy! Seen some interesting headstones. Does anyone know why skull and crossbones are on a lot of the headstones? And skeltons on others? Went to Bobby's Bar for a drink.
Took our time walking over to Princes St again to get some last minute bits and Haggis! Love Jenners foodhall! Then it was time to go to the airport. Got all our belongings and dragged them to the airport bus. Check in was quick and flight was ½ hr delayed coming home but again a smooth flight.
So we had a lovely 5 days in Edinburgh, didn't do ½ of what we wanted to do so that's an excuse to go back! Though we would go back in December time, we prefer it then. We did walk a lot though and just took in the atmosphere especially in the Old Town, I really love it there.
I chickened out of doing the City of the Dead Graveyard Tour"¦maybe next time (ekkk), actually does anyone know why there was a thistle through the lock on the gates of the Covenanters Prison gates? It looked it was placed there specifically.
Sorry that we didn't get to eat in some of the recommended places. We just ate where we were near and to my husbands delight it was always near Witherspoons! Cheap n Cheerful! LOL
Well if you have made it to the end! Thanks for reading and thanks for all the advice! Hope to be back soon :o)
Mods, please can you add Edinburgh Central Travelodge to the hotel reviews and I will post a hotel review.
Will do.
Thanks Sarah!
Really enjoyed reading your report, sounds like you had a great time. I only stay about 40 miles from Edinburgh but haven't done half the things you did. When I think about it I've probably only been in half the pubs too I do like Edinburgh though, always try and get through when the Festival is on, well the Fringe really. If you get good weather it's great to walk about the Mile and see the street artists, a great day out. Before I go I'm only 8 miles from Glasgow, have you been there ?
Wilson
Thanks for the reply. Been to Glasgow too many times to remember Lots of football.
We did go once for a 3 day break a few years back, it was nice though. Lots of shopping!
Jaime C
Hi Jaime
You've put me to shame as I've lived in Edinburgh most of my life and not done a lot of the tours. Problems are baby sitting ones now lol.
My husband said to me last night 'im really disappointed we never seen a ghost in the vaults'
Thank goodness we didn't I would have
Well got back in one piece dispite a terrible flight coming home <ekk> Had a lovely relaxing few days away, so here is what we got up to...
Flew easyjet from BFS - EDI, full flight with students going back for new term but a smooth flight.
Arrived at hotel http://www.travelodge.co.uk travelodge on St Mary's St about 12 noon and able to check in immediately. I had called ahead and requested a quiet room at the back of the hotel and this was fine. We did get a fantastic £15 per night rate so a bit of a bargain! Typical travelodge room, but all you need.
Walked up the Royal Mile and went into the Mitre for Sunday lunch then walked over to the gardens to see the market and the funfair, popped into a few shops along Prince's St. Dandered over to Grassmarket and went into Black Bull to watch the football then walked up to Finnegans to watch more football. Got chippy on Royal Mile and headed back to hotel later.
Didn't rush up any mornings so got breakfast in Glenha's Cafe on Canongate then walked down to the People's Museum and onto the Parliament. http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/visitingHolyrood/guidedTours.htm £5 for the tour and it was very interesting, learned a lot about the design of the building as well. After that we just walked up the Royal Mile to the castle, stopping in a few pubs on the way and looking in the closes as well. Went to Gordon's Italian that evening for dinner which was lovely.
Tuesday and it was lashing down (we're used to that, its typical Northern Irish weather!) went to Glenha's Cafe for brekkie again (reasonable and nice). Went to the museum http://www.nms.ac.uk/nationalmuseumhomepage.aspx enjoyied here and loved the Millenium clock, waiting to see it in action and it drew quite a crowd. Called into Grayfrairs Bobby for a drink. Walked over to the omni centre and had food in Lloyds then headed later on to the Globe for the match and what a good one it was!
The sun was out on Wed morning and yes went to Glenhas for brekkie again, this was shopping day so went along Prince's st and stocked up on Millie's cookies and back for some Jim Garrahys fudge (yum!). Got our cases and got the airbus back to the airport. Flight was fine until we got half way home then the winds hit, bumpy bumpy!
Thanks for all the advice again and of course we will be back, Edinburgh is like home from home for us now.
:o)
Thanks for a great report Jamiec very much appreciated. If you get chance would you add a
jaimec,
http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/reviews/scotland/city-of-edinburgh/edinburgh/edinburgh-central-travel-lodge/
thanks Wilson, that was our 3rd trip and we will definately be back over again. We just took it easy this time as we worked a lot over the Christmas and NY holidays so it was well deserved! lol
Jaime C
I dont know about you, but i really liked Edinburgh airport???
I am trying to find a hotel in Edinburgh on or near Princes Street, for 2 nightsa in Nov.
Not mega expensive, can anyone recommend one please?
Thanks
Take a look at Travelodge, they have Edinburgh Central which not far from Princes Street and they also have a just newly opened premises at Shandwick Place which is located at the end of Princes Street.
Midweek rates are lower than those at the weekend if you can travel then.
http://www.travelodge.co.uk/index.php
Graham
what date Kazzzza? Lastminute.com had 3 nights at the end of Oct at the King James thistle coming in on offer at £135 (total price) this morning. It's just on the corner of Princes street & its 4 *
She'll be staying mid week. I have sent her the info, Travel Lodge looks nice and near. Wish I could spend a couple of nights there too.
Thank you Helen T, I have passed on the info, that is a good deal
Kaz
Also Travelodge West End is very nice and normally a bit cheaper than the central option. All newly refurbished (was formerly Menzies Belford Hotel) and many rooms have a lovely river view. A quiet residential area but it's only 10 minutes walk from the top end of Princes and George Street.
There is a travel lodge just opened at the top of Princess street opposite the St james centre, very central!
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