A Tasty Suggestion
Another Michelin star has arrived in Edinburgh, this time at the eponymous The Kitchin, run by Edinburgh’s Tom Kitchin. Tom has spent more than a decade working alongside some of the world's most famous chefs, including nearly five years working for Pierre Koffmann in the three-Michelin starred La Tante Claire in London, at the three-star Restaurant Guy Savoy in Paris and two years at Alain Ducasse's Louis XV restaurant in Monte Carlo.
The menu is a fusion of traditional French cuisine with the freshest seasonal ingredients served in a converted whisky warehouse on Commercial Quay in Leith.
Dishes include wild Scottish mallard paired with braised cabbage and crispy parsnips, and a simple tartare of mackerel crowned with a beetroot dressing and a golden quail egg.
The Kitchin, 78 Commercial Quay, Edinburgh. Tel: +44 (0) 131 555 1755
Prices are: starters £7-£14, main courses £19-£24 and puddings £5-£6.50.
www.thekitchin.com
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AUGUST 3 – 25: The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is an eclectic mix of music and theatre that sells around 1.7 million tickets for 2050 shows. This world famous festival attracts millions and is a must for everyone. To find out more visit www.edfringe.com
...and here are more great things to do and see in and around Edinburgh...
NOVEMBER 2008: The annual fireworks display at the Meadowbank stadium is packed out to see the most spectacular fireworks display in the area. Thousands come to watch the event every year, to find out more go to www.edinburgh.gov.uk/
MARCH 2009: The Mini French Film festival is the only one of its kind in Britain and is solely devoted to French cinema. It gives centre stage to new young French talent as well as some old classics. To find out more see www.frenchfilmfestival.org.uk
DAILY: The National Gallery of Scotland has a collection of western art, including Scottish art and impressionism. Tel. +44 (0) 131 624 6200.
DAILY: Edinburgh's Butterfly and Insect World displays a variety of exotic butterflies and creepy crawlies, with exhibitions including a honey-bee display and caterpillar area.
The centre contributes to Rainforest
Conservation from its on-site wishing well.
www.edinburgh-butterfly-world.co.uk
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Edinburgh’s new door-to-door link
The Edinburgh Shuttle offers a new ‘door to door’ service between Edinburgh Airport and the city centre (between 04.25 and 23.00) based on the ‘shared ride’ operations common at most major US airports.
Passengers can pre-book their journey through www.edinburghshuttle.com (24 hours) or by calling +44 (0) 845 500 5000 between 04.00 and 23.00. Tickets can also be purchased (subject to availability) at the airport and at the bus stop outside The Dome, opposite the George Hotel on George Street.
Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, is one of the UK's most popular destinations for visitors. It is a beautiful city, with architecture that is renowned throughout the world. However, Edinburgh is historically important too, having a major role in both Scottish and British history for hundreds of years. This is reflected in the many important buildings and monuments in the city.
Until the late 18th century, Edinburgh consisted mainly of what is now known as the Old Town (where you’ll find the Castle, Royal Mile, and Grassmarket). The university was founded in 1583, jump-starting the city’s educational and professional development. The Bank of Scotland was established in 1695, laying the foundations for Edinburgh’s development into a leading financial capital by the end of the 20th century.
The Act of Union in 1707 joined Scotland and England together politically, and moved power from Edinburgh to London. By the late 18th century, Edinburgh had a population of 35,000. The increasingly overcrowded conditions led to many rich people leaving the city, principally to move to London. In the 1760s there was a competition to design a New Town, to attract the wealthy back to Edinburgh.
James Craig’s winning design produced the current city’s grid-like street system. Building began in 1767 and was completed in 1810. Because of its culture, elegant layout, and its neo-classical architecture, Edinburgh became known as ‘The Athens of the North’.
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The best way to start familiarising yourself with Edinburgh is to take a stroll down Princes Street, which is the dividing line between the Old Town and the New Town. Mile-long Princes Street is Edinburgh's principal shopping precinct and especially famous is Jenners department store. Here and in other shops you can equip yourself with everything you need for your lunchtime picnic. Shortbread is a good idea to sustain you on your trip; haggis and whisky should be reserved for later in the day! Don’t expect too much from the architecture of Princes Street, as it is a notorious example of clashing styles. This is where you can see the enormous Scott Monument, which commemorates Edinburgh-born writer Sir Walter Scott. Despite its architectural shortcomings, a walk down Princes Street offers impressive views of the Castle.
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Walk up to the Castle and take a tour of this ancient building that has acted as a fortress, royal palace and parliament house in its 1000-year history. Then proceed down the Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Holyrood Park, which is a good spot for a picnic. Holyroodhouse is still the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II when she is in Scotland (usually for a few weeks in May and July each year). When the Queen isn't in residence (and there are no state functions being held), parts of the palace are open to visitors, with guided tours available. You can see several rooms in the State Apartments, most of which date from the 17th century. Particularly worth seeing are the Great Gallery and the Morning Drawing Room.
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The Scottish Parliament building is located at the foot of the Royal Mile and is recognised as an example of one of the most innovative designs in Britain today. Bookings in advance are recommended for the ever popular guided tours. Sample the atmosphere by visiting the public galleries, shop and café.
Holyrood Park is dominated by the distinctive 254m volcanic peak of Arthur's Seat. There is a road, the Queen's Drive, which goes all the way around the park. There are various paths that take you to the top of Arthur's Seat, which are well worth it for the views.
If you have any energy left you can explore the ruins of Holyrood Abbey, also in the grounds of the park. There are also several man-made lochs in the park, however the only natural one is Duddingston Loch, now a bird sanctuary. This is the setting for Sir Henry Raeburn's famous Portrait of the Reverend Robert Walker Skating, now held in the National Gallery of Scotland.
Round off the day by following in the footsteps of Scotland’s literary heroes to the famous and infamous pubs of the city on the Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour. Pick up the tour at the Beehive Inn in the Grassmarket.
Book at www.scot-lit-tour.co.uk
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Edinburgh has a huge choice of accommodation from hotels to guesthouses to B&Bs. The large central hotels, often used as landmarks, are the most expensive, but there are plenty of cheaper modern hotels charging room rates of £60-70 per night, and even guesthouses within a mile or so of the city centre.
Try the areas to the north of Haymarket station, to the east and north of New Town, and the seaside suburbs of Joppa and Portobello. There are good bus services that will transport you to the city centre in minutes.
Two quite new four-star hotels are The Radisson SAS Hotel, which displays a stately 16th century façade on the Royal Mile and offers a health club, pool and sauna; and Apex City which offers an Old Town location, cool contemporary, luxury style on a budget.
Another townhouse-style hotel in one of Edinburgh’s listed buildings is the three-star Learmonth Hotel. Reservations (+44 (0) 871 900 8297) or www.flybehotels.com
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By car: Explore the city and the countryside in comfort and style at great prices! Get the best deal by checking Flybe's partner Avis for the best available car hire rates at www.flybe.com/avis
Edinburgh Airport is located 13kms (8 miles) west of the city on the A8 Edinburgh-Glasgow road. Contact Flybe’s partner Avis for the best available car hire rates.
By bus: Airlink Express runs at least every 10 minutes, all day, every day between the airport and Waverley Bridge (by the railway station) in the city centre (25-minute journey). Fare £3 single or £5 open return. Group Deals and Meet and Greet service available. Edinburgh Shuttle offers a shared minivan door-to-door service departing every 10 minutes for most of the day, every day. Fares £8 single.
By taxi: Airport to city centre, £16.
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Edinburgh has a network of local bus services, making bus travel a great way of getting around the city. Local bus companies offer daily bus tickets, which allow you unlimited travel in and around the city. Buy these tickets and single journey tickets from the bus driver – you’ll need the exact fare.
If you’re heading further afield, you can buy your coach tickets for UK and Scottish travel from the bus station in St Andrew Square in advance. You can also see the sights of the city on one of the many tour buses – City Bus Tour tickets can be bought at the Edinburgh and Scotland Information Centre, 3 Princes Street, or on Waverley Bridge, where the tours start.
The following companies can provide more information:
For travel in and around Edinburgh including Edinburgh Airport, city tours and night buses: Lothian Buses (+44 (0) 1315 556 363).
For travel in and around Edinburgh, Central, and The Borders:
First Buses (+44 (0) 870 872 7271).
Edinburgh has two main train stations: Edinburgh Waverley in the city centre and Haymarket in the West End. You must buy your tickets before boarding. At the other stations in the area you can either buy tickets at the station (which may be cheaper) or on board the train.
Travelling to and from Edinburgh to all around Scotland:
First Scotrail (+44 (0) 845 748 4950).
For all your timetables and fares UK wide:
National Rail Enquiries (+44 (0) 845 748 4950). For all your rail travel requirements:
Traveline (+44 (0) 870 608 2608).
Edinburgh is a compact city, so it’s easy to get around on foot. Remember that the city is built on seven hills, so expect a few gradients – don’t worry though as most of them are easily tackled by anyone of average fitness.
 Edinburgh is a great place to explore by bike – but remember some of the hills are pretty steep, so be prepared for a bit of a workout! Some streets also have cobbles, which may take some getting used to. The city is cycle friendly – at peak times, cyclists are allowed to share the buses’ green lanes in and around the city centre. There’s also an extensive network of traffic-free cycle routes, often running along old railway lines. For more info, check Spokes online
While it is possible to bring your car into Edinburgh, it’s worth remembering that throughout the city there are parking restrictions, which you must always follow. Parking attendants regularly check cars so please be careful - and if you get a parking ticket, don't ignore it.
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A good place to check out major sporting events in Scotland’s capital city is www.edinburghguide.com
Cycling: You can enjoy some great days out cycling in the countryside around Edinburgh. Find out more about these on the Bike Routes website.
Football: Edinburgh’s two major soccer clubs are Hearts F.C. and Hibernian F.C. but for those who can’t wait for the season to begin, there’s a Hearts v. Barcelona match at Murrayfield on Saturday July 28 at 16.00. On the same date, Hibernian play Middlesbrough at 15.00.
Golf: Edinburgh, or more precisely, St Andrews is of course the worldwide home of golf and it’s no distance from Edinburgh Airport. One major event being staged this year is the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship between October 4-7. The Edinburgh area’s other best-known course is Carnoustie where this year’s Open will be held between July 19-22. www.carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk. There are also dozens of other courses within striking distance of Edinburgh.
Highland Sport: For a real taste of authentic Scotland, the Royal Highland Show is a great place to sample the country’s sporting traditions. It takes place at Ingliston between Thursday June 21 and Sunday June 24 with full-day tickets at £18 (in advance) or £20 at the gate. www.royalhighlandshow.org (+44 (0) 131 335 6200).
Walking: Beyond the city you’ll find some great countryside and country parks. To the west of the city is Almondell Country Park, Beecraigs Country Park, and Polkemmet Country Park. Head south of the city and you can explore Vogrie Country Park, Roslin Glen Country Park, and the Penicuik to Dalkeith Walkway. East and southeast of the city, you’ll find stunning coastal walks and the Lammermuir Hills.
The property market in Scotland’s capital city is alive and well with an average price of £314,135. This ranges from an average of £142,765 for a one-bedroom property through to £618,869 for five bedrooms. There are currently some 28 properties for sale in excess of £1million.
The figures are calculated on a daily basis by www.home.co.uk
Throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians, property prices have risen by around 11 per cent in the first quarter of 2007 compared with the same period in 2006. This is very slightly below the Scottish average increase of 12.3 per cent.
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Edinburgh has some of the best galleries and museums in the UK. Art, history, and special interests - from tartans to toys - are all catered for. It also has great shopping and world-class theatre, as well as all the other attractions of a major city.
Edinburgh Castle - Over 1000 years' old, this is probably the most well-known tourist site. It is perched on an outcrop of volcanic rock, which was first settled in the Bronze Age. The structure of the castle has been modified over many hundreds of years as its role has changed from fortress to palace to parliament, giving an interesting mix of different architectural styles.
The Royal Mile - The road that runs between the Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. One of the oldest streets in the city, it grew up as a vital thoroughfare between the two most important buildings in early Edinburgh, the Castle and Holyrood Abbey. The street is actually just over a mile long and is made up of four distinct sections: Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, and Canongate.
There are plenty of tourist attractions along the way.
Princes Street - Named after the sons of George III, along with George Street and Queen Street, Princes Street was part of the original New Town development built by James Craig in 1766. Princes Street essentially divides the Old Town and the New Town, a fact emphasised by the fact that on the Old Town side there are no buildings, giving an uninterrupted view across Princes Street Gardens to the Castle, whereas on the New Town side it is a bustling commercial centre.
Arthur's Seat - Edinburgh is situated on top of a series of extinct volcanoes, the tallest of which, at 254m, is Arthur's Seat. Located in the heart of the city, in Holyrood Park, it is one of Edinburgh's most distinctive landmarks. Otherwise known as Queen's Park, Holyrood Park is 260 hectares of wilderness surrounding the Palace of Holyroodhouse. With moorland, glens, lochs and even its own mountains, it is a wonderful piece of pure Scottish countryside set in the heart of the city.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse - Dates from 1498 when it was first built by James IV. It is located on the site of Holyrood Abbey, an Augustinian monastery that was founded in 1128 by King David I. The Palace is particularly associated with one of Scotland's most romantic figures, Mary Queen of Scots. Her favourite secretary, David Rizzio, was murdered in the palace in 1566, and her husband was killed nearby. Mary's son, James VI, used the palace in the early years of his reign, but then when he became King James I of England he spent most of his time in London. But his grandson Charles II soon re-established the Palace's links with royalty.
The Royal Yacht Britannia - One of Edinburgh's most recent tourist attractions, which you can visit at the port of Leith. The Royal Yacht Britannia was launched in 1953, the 83rd Royal Yacht since Charles II owned the first one in 1660. Although used as a Royal Yacht during peacetime, the ship was also designed to be used as a hospital in times of war. When the yacht went out of service in 1977 it was decided not to replace her, so she is the last of a long line. As the Queen no longer uses her, she is officially now only known as Britannia. You can look through many of the rooms including the Bridge, the Royal Drawing Room and even the Queen's bedroom. The yacht is open daily from 0930 to1800 with last entry at 1630. Admission costs £9 for adults. You will need to make a reservation.
Camera Obscura - Located on the Castlehill section of the Royal Mile, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Edinburgh. It was in 1853 that this building, also known as the Outlook Tower, was first converted into a huge ‘camera’ that projects images of the city onto a viewing table below. Today there is also a commentary to go with the images and an accompanying exhibition on the history of photography and holography. The viewing platform gives some of the best views of the city. The Camera Obscura is open daily, but times vary according to the time of year so check in advance for opening hours. Entry costs £5.95 for adults.
Edinburgh Zoo - One of Edinburgh's most popular tourist attractions, not least for families, is its zoo. Located in 32 hectares to the northeast of the city centre, Edinburgh Zoo is the second largest in Britain. Dating from 1913, the zoo has over 1,000 species of animals, and along with the usual chimpanzees and giraffes, there are also some rarer species including pandas and rhinos, and the biggest colony of penguins of any zoo in the world. Edinburgh Zoo is open daily but times vary according to the time of year so do check in advance. Admission costs £8.50 for adults, with family tickets available.
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Edinburgh is a big city and has all the nightlife you need. It has a very large selection of nightclubs to suit all tastes – from contemporary sounds to the more traditional. For those with entertainment try some of the following:
Assembly Room Ceilidhs, 54 George Street, Edinburgh (+44 (0) 131 220 4348). An evening of Scottish music and dancing.
Jamie’s Scottish Evening, Thistle Hotel, 107 Leith Street, Edinburgh (+44 (0) 131 556 0111). The longest-running show of its kind. A Scottish banquet with unlimited wine, plus songs, dancing, and comedy.
The Stand Comedy Club, 5 York Place, Edinburgh (+44 (0) 131 558 7272). Has some of the top-name acts from the mainstream comedy circuit and new Fringe performers. Open all year round.
For a night at the theatre:
Edinburgh Playhouse, 18-22 Greenside Place, Edinburgh (+44 (0) 131 524 3333).
Pleasance Theatre Festival, 60 Pleasance, Edinburgh (+44 (0)131 556 6550).
Royal Lyceum Theatre, 30b Grindlay Street, Edinburgh (+44 (0) 131 248 4800).
Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, Edinburgh EH1 2ED (+44 (0) 131 228 1404).
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The longstanding myth of the Scots’ ‘prudence’ in all matters monetary has a strong basis in fact. The Bank of Scotland was founded in 1695, and was the first of many solid financial institutions to make Edinburgh their home. Building societies with ‘Scottish’ in the title have a strong draw for English investors, in the same way that the English really prefer to have a Scottish Chancellor of the Exchequer in the British Cabinet, though they don’t like to admit it! Edinburgh institutions, like their distinctive granite buildings, have something of the solidity of the volcanic mass of Arthur’s Seat to them, inspiring similar confidence in their durability.
The Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce (+44 (0) 131 477 7000).
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Edinburgh may nowadays dispute the cultural crown with its upstart neighbour Glasgow, but for years it held sway as the cerebral centre of Scotland. Many writers and artists lived and worked here, and their legacy is clear to see for anyone with a little inside knowledge.
After a leisurely breakfast, preferably of that Scottish favourite, smoked fish (haddock or kippers, the choice is yours), start the day with a visit to the Writers’ Museum located on Lady Stair’s Close just off the Royal Mile. This celebrates Scotland’s three great writers - Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson. Spend an hour or so here before taking a short walk up the Lawnmarket to the Ensign Ewart, part of the Milnes Court building, where there has always been a pub since it was built in 1690. If it’s too early for a dram, take a coffee here, then turn left down The Mound and down the Playfair steps to the National Gallery Of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Academy, recently re-developed and now featuring a subterranean link between the two galleries. These should keep you going till lunch, which, if taken in the Galleries Restaurant, offers views out across East Princes Street Gardens.
After lunch, skirt east along Princes Street past the 60m spire of the Scott Monument, turn left down Leith Street and see the statue of Sherlock Holmes, the fictional detective whose creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, studied medicine at Edinburgh University. Turn left along York Place to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery where you can view portraits of famous Scots dating from the 16th century. Not far from here, on 17 Heriot Row, is the birthplace of Robert Louis Stevenson, marked by a wall plaque.
You can’t leave Edinburgh without seeing some of its fantastic collections of modern art. Head west along Queen Street, Queensferry Street, and Belford Road, to take in the Scottish National Gallery Of Modern Art and its sister, the Dean Gallery. The latter has a permanent collection of work by the Scottish sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi, born in Leith, of Italian descent.
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Photos courtesy of Edinburgh Tourism and Rocco Forte Hotels
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