Visiting Edinburgh is a wonderful way to spend a few days. This ancient, cosmopolitan city, with its ancient castle looming above, has so much to offer. From historic sites and culture to interesting walks, delicious local dishes and high end dining, there really is something for everyone to enjoy. There are so many things to do in Edinburgh!
Things To Do in Edinburgh – Where to Stay
There are a number of exceptional hotels in Edinburgh. We have stayed at The Balmoral Hotel twice and definitely recommend it. Our son and his partner also stayed at The Glasshouse on another occasion and were quite impressed. I have heard excellent reports of The Witchery by The Castle from our friends. We have not stayed there, but read on for more about their beautiful dining room.
Things To Do in Edinburgh – Where to Eat
Breakfast and Lunch
Noon Bar and Kitchen – Located in Waterloo Place, not far from Waverley Station, Noon offers a ‘before noon’ menu for breakfast and an ‘after noon’ menu for lunch. Between the four of us on two occasions we tried the “noonful breakfast”, their porridge, the yogurt bowl, avocado chilli toast and waffles. This is definitely our favourite place to enjoy breakfast in Edinburgh so far.
Loudons – We visited the New Waverley location and can definitely recommend their avocado toast – or if you prefer something sweet, their French toast is lovely too. We also shared one of their scones, which was outstanding.
Afternoon Tea
Mimi’s Bakehouse has several locations across Edinburgh and serves all day brunch and afternoon tea. On Saturday and Sunday you can also enjoy ‘beforenoon tea’. Their scones and cakes are worth every single calorie!
All Day Dining
Down The Hatch – I had the best French Dip sandwich I have ever eaten outside Canada in this casual, friendly Canadian diner. They offer excellent wings, burgers, every kind of Poutine imaginable, and real Canadian beer too.
Berties in Victoria Street (the street said to be the inspiration for J K Rowling’s Diagon Alley) is described as the “plaice” for fish and chips when visiting Edinburgh. The pun may make you sigh but the fish and chips are among the best I have ever had in the UK. There is lots of seating and a really convivial atmosphere too. Ask about their gluten-free options if required. When we visited, Berties were operating separate fryers for gluten-free dishes.
Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Brasserie Prince in the Balmoral Hotel offers a varied menu with a French twist featuring lots of lovely local produce. We have enjoyed several excellent meals here over the years at both lunch and dinner time. The Bar Prince is a fabulous spot for a cocktail (or two) as well.
If you fancy a pizza when visiting Edinburgh, @Pizza’s two locations are the place to go. We visited the Royal Mile location and the sourdough crust pizza was fantastic. You can design your own pizza or choose one of their delicious menu options.
Dinner
There is no shortage of places to enjoy a special meal when visiting Edinburgh. The four I have suggested below are fairly high end, but we definitely enjoyed our meals and the atmosphere so felt it was money well spent.
Tattu – This beautiful restaurant is festooned with cherry blossoms and offers a really special dining experience. Featuring traditional and modern Chinese cuisine, we felt it was definitely worth the splurge. They feature creative cocktails, a great wine list and really delicious food. Our favourite dishes include Lobster and Prawn Toast, Wok Fired Angry Bird (it’s spicy!), the Black Cod and the Monkfish.
The Witchery at The Castle – Stepping into the beautiful, gothic, candle-lit dining room feels like stepping back in time. This atmospheric restaurant features an ever-changing menu with lots of fresh, local produce. I particularly enjoyed the scallops served on the shell and their excellent chateaubriand. The Venison Wellington was also outstanding.
Rhubarb – Located in the Prestonfield House Hotel, Rhubarb is a beautiful restaurant set in gorgeous grounds. Some of the produce they serve is grown on the estate and almost all of it is local. This is an exceptional place to dine, very elegant and perfect for a special meal.
Angels with Bagpipes – Scottish dining featuring lots of fresh local produce in an unpretentious environment. It’s a bit pricey for the size of the servings and I found the menu challenging, but we enjoyed our meal.
More Things To Do in Edinburgh
Whether you enjoy history, sightseeing or shopping, there is plenty to do when visiting Edinburgh. This cosmopolitan city has a thriving entertainment and cultural scene, so there’s something for just about everyone to enjoy. It’s a lot of fun exploring the city on foot, although the hills will definitely give you a workout.
Edinburgh Castle (also home of the National War Museum) is carved into the hills above the city and looms over all. It’s a fascinating place to visit. The audio tour is very comprehensive and gives you a real empathy for Mary, Queen of Scots – although she is only one of the many historic figures to have lived there. It is a very good idea to book in advance as tickets often sell out. However, even if you can’t tour the castle, it is worth the climb for the amazing views.
The Palace of Holyrood House is the King’s official residence while he is in Scotland, but you can tour this working royal palace much of the time. It’s a beautiful property and although it’s history is very colourful and was often violent, it has a lovely feel to it. Again, it’s a good idea to book in advance, and don’t forget to get your ticket stamped for a free return visit!
Royal Yacht Britannia – If you are interested in twentieth-century history or our late Queen, visiting the Royal Yacht Britannia is a must. The Queen loved the Britannia and the day it was decommissioned was one of the few times she wept in public. The rooms are still as they were when the Royal Family used the yacht regularly. It is fascinating to take a glimpse ‘behind the scenes’ of this iconic ship. I was able to take photographs on my visit, so if you would like a peak, please click here.
National Museum of Scotland – Open every day from 10.00am until 5.00pm, there’s so much to explore in the museum’s galleries when visiting Edinburgh, including a gallery devoted to the history of Scotland itself.
The Royal Mile connecting Edinburgh Castle with The Palace of Hollyrood House is quite hilly, but it’s well worth the walk if the weather permits. There are lots of things to see and do along the way. There’s the infamous Grassmarket, the Scottish Storytelling Centre, St Giles Cathedral where the Queen Lay in State and the ultra-modern Scottish Parliament.
National Galleries – Edinburgh boasts not one, but three, National Galleries including the Scottish National Gallery just of Princes Street and Modern One, located in a neo-classical building in Belfast Road.
Try a Hop on Hop off Bus Tour or a Private Walking Tour – There are lots of options available at every price point.
Underground Walking Tours – This is a great way to see the old city when visiting Edinburgh. It was a bit too scary and enclosed for me, but I have heard good things about the tours if you are braver than I!
Enjoy a Whiskey Tasting at The Balmoral Hotel – The Whiskey Tasting at Scotch in the Balmoral Hotel is excellent. We did the “Journey Round Scotland” Tasting. The whiskeys were well chosen, our guide was really knowledgable and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Shopping
Princes Street is a bustling high street, with lots of shops at all price points as well as cafés. Waverley Mall is worth a visit as well.
George Street has a slightly more glamorous feel, and is my favourite place to shop in Edinburgh. You will find lots of high end brands, flagship stores and luxury beauty emporiums, as well as pretty cafés.
St James Quarter is a fairly high end outdoor shopping mall with lots of stores, restaurants and even a bowling alley. We spent a fair amount of time here!
Victoria Street – the inspiration for J K Rowling’s Diagon Alley is only a few minutes walk from The Elephant House where she wrote some of the Harry Potter books. It is a quirky street with colourful shops and a vibrant atmosphere.
If you are a book lover, a visit to Toppings & Company Bookstores in Blenheim Place will be a delight. Open every day including Sundays, there are acres of books to explore in a friendly atmosphere.
Books About Edinburgh
Pockets of Pretty – An Instagrammer’s Edinburgh by Shawna Law
Edinburgh Like a Local: By the People Who Call It Home
Edinburgh City Walks by Margot McMurdo
More About Visiting Edinburgh
Visiting The Royal Yacht Britannia
This post contains my honest opinions and the advice I give to friends. None of our experiences were gifted and we paid all our own expenses. Information is correct to the best of my knowledge at the time of writing. Most of the restaurants mentioned will need to be booked in advance. Visit restaurant and venue websites for opening times, their full terms and conditions, and to check prices, availability and payment terms.
Comments & Reviews
Wendy Holmes-Link says
April thank you for sharing Edinburgh is so beautiful sadly it was my last trip with my mother and her partner summer 2009 and we couldnt do as much walking as her feet were so swollen as it was so hot July . I would love to go to the places you went on a trip to England thank you for sharing .
April Harris says
I’m so glad you liked the post, Wendy. I’m really sorry for your loss of your mother. Edinburgh is definitely a city that benefits from being explored on foot, but it’s very difficult if you aren’t comfortable walking very far. 2009 was definitely quite a warm July in the UK too. Thank you so much for your kind words.
Nancy Andres says
Charming, historic city and sure enjoyed my armchair trip to explore it. Seems like there’s much to see and do so I’d want to stay in the area at least for 3 or 4 days. Thanks for sharing it April, especially the great photos.
April Harris says
I am so pleased you enjoyed it, Nancy! Edinburgh really is a wonderful place to visit 🙂
Joanne says
So many yummy places to eat and interesting places to explore!
April Harris says
There really are, Joanne! I’m so pleased you enjoyed the post. Have a lovely March!