A Charming Weekend in Edinburgh - The Land of Literature

Here’s a little recap of my recent city break to Edinburgh, with some notable highlights and recommendations.

Edinburgh is the delightful capital of Scotland and a beautiful city of contrasts; it’s rich in history with lots of old-world charm and ancient buildings and also has modern appeal with its boutique hotels, bars and fine dine restaurants. There is so much to get up to here, from sightseeing and cultural centres to fun family-friendly attractions and beautiful green spaces.

My friend and I opted for a domestic flight to Edinburgh. We flew with British Airways which took just over an hour; the tickets were great value hand baggage only fares, all you need really for a couple of nights away. Upon arrival in Edinburgh we took the Airlink100 bus which was very innovative with free Wi-Fi, live arrival updates on an on-board screen, USB charging points and lots of luggage space. The airport itself was impressive, especially the toilet sinks which also worked as hand dryers!

We got off the bus by Edinburgh Zoo which I would definitely recommend as a first stop on a trip here as it’s on the way to the city centre. I’ve been to many zoos before and have got to say this was one of my favourites with some unique wildlife. A highlight for me was seeing the koalas and giant pandas which I had never seen before, plus the penguin area which I didn’t want to leave - I was in touching distance from the penguins and it was amazing watching them all with their quirks up close. Other animals I got the pleasure of encountering were monkeys, chimpanzees, tigers, bears, wallabies and flamingos.

We decided to base our stay in Edinburgh’s pretty old town which consists of cobbled streets, historic architecture, cosy bistros and cafes, traditional Scottish pubs and museums. After a bit of a break at our hotel (Edinburgh is very hilly so prepare for some slightly strenuous walks) we ventured out in the evening for some food and after headed to the Monkey Barrel Comedy Club to watch a Spontaneous Harry Potter improv show. The venue itself is quite snug and intimate with a great bar menu and the acts were hilarious.

Our first full day in Edinburgh was spent exploring the highlights of Old Town; we started off taking a walk down the Royal Mile from the top at the stunning Edinburgh Castle. Queues were quite long to enter the castle so we decided to just take in the sights, take some great backdrop photos and be on our way. Next to the castle is a fun illusion based museum called camera Obscura, which is great fun for families with lots of interactive exhibits.

Harry Potter fans MUST visit Edinburgh at least once in their lifetime. It’s renowned for being the inspiration for J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter novels. We visited Victoria Street, the vision behind Diagon Alley plus Greyfriars Kirkyard, a creepy graveyard where Rowling gained inspiration for characters including Tom Riddle and even the café where she wrote some of the Harry Potter books. There are also some fantastic Harry Potter stores selling various goodies and a pub that sells butter beer. Being here was like being transported into the books!

We decided to spend the evening in Edinburgh’s New Town which is only a leisurely stroll or short bus ride away from the Old Town. New Town was built as a result of the Old Town being over crowded to a point of critical emergency and to prevent wealthier residents from moving to London. There are lots of elegant neo-classical buildings, Georgian townhouses, national art galleries and dynamic night spots here. We found the cutest boutique bar which was set inside the Tigerlilly hotel with a great selection of cocktails and wines.

On our final day in Edinburgh we took a stroll along Princes Street, the major modern shopping street of New Town plus visited the lush Princes Street Gardens which offer extensive views of the castle. We also happened to pass the site where Fast and Furious was being filmed which was cool then headed up Calton Hill, which offers breath-taking views of the city and is home to the Athenian acropolis (Scottish Monument). You have to take a short hike up the hill but it’s totally worth it as there are lots of scenic picnic spots and facilities. The sun was shining which was a bonus!

Edinburgh has something for everyone, but it’s especially ideal for history buffs, couples, cultural enthusiasts and literature fans.