Edinburgh Day Trip Review

Steeped in history, Edinburgh seamlessly blends old and new, providing locals with the perfect destination to experience the sights, sounds and tastes of a diverse and vibrant city. Whether it’s an overnight stop or a day trip from a nearby town Edinburgh has something for everyone, a destination of intrigue firmly planted on the bucket list. During a recent trip back to Blighty the opportunity presented itself to explore the city with my family and experience the wonder and enchantment firsthand.

Itinerary

As with all day trips prior planning allows you to coordinate your activities into a logical sequence maximizing the time without exerting too much energy. Deciding on what to do and when to do it was the tricky part. Edinburgh castle was the obvious landmark attraction, followed by the Royal Mile, Princes Street gardens and finishing at the summit of Calton hill. Including lunch at classic Scottish Pub everything was doable within 6 hours without feeling rushed, ultimately, we were constrained by the train timetable. Edinburgh is beautiful city to walk around so be sure to explore the old town and picturesque streets that are connected by dissecting staircases.

Getting Their

Edinburgh is well connected from most major towns or cities within the UK requiring very little deviation. Traveling north from Preston there is a direct train that will get you to Edinburgh in 2hrs – 3hrs, arriving at Edinburgh Waverley station right in the heart of the city. Tickets per adult range from $65 CAD or 40 GBP for a same day return depending on whether or not you take peak trains. Tickets should be booked in advance as this train is usually busy due to commuters as well as being the direct link from London. Trainline is a safe and secure way of getting tickets within the UK.

For the latest prices and timetables please visit trainline.

Getting Around

Buses

An excellent bus service transports residents and visitors across the city throughout the day and night including a regular 24 hour service to Edinburgh Airport operated by Airlink100. Visitors can plan their journey within Edinburgh with Lothian Buses or with First Group for those coming from further afield. Alternatively taking a Hop on Hop off bus tour will certainly orientate you around Edenborough’s top attractions.

Trams

WiFi friendly trams run 14 kms from York Place in the city center to Edinburgh Airport in a journey time of approximately 35 minutes. Wheelchair accessible, ramps and lifts are provided at the stops along the route.

For ticket prices and to plan your journey visit www.edinburghtrams.com.

Points of Interest

Edinburgh Castle

Dominating the city skyline Edinburgh Castle was our first point of interest and the primary reason behind of our visit. Due to covid is recommended you book tickets in advance and plan your day around the castle as you are required to select a timeslot prior to your visit. Walking from the train station you can navigate the backstreets overlooking princess gardens heading uphill till you reach castle hill road and effectively the gates of the castle.

Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket

Perched on top of an extinct volcano, the Castle and its Esplanade offers unparalleled views of Edinburgh. Once inside you can explore some of the oldest and most important buildings of the city, including St Margaret’s Chapel, The National War Memorial and the Half Moon Battery. The regal Crown Square is a real highlight, where you will find the magnificent Grand Hall and Scotland’s Crown Jewels – including the famous Stone of Destiny.
As with most castles the walkways around the grounds are constructed from cobblestone which made for a bumpy ride for our two year in his stroller, a sturdy pair of walking boots is also recommended.

Scottish Highlands Day Trip and Edinburgh Military Tattoo

The largest tourist attraction in Edinburgh has two gift shops located in the grounds. Portcullis Shop next to the ticket office selling a variety of Scottish themed souvenirs, apparel, Jewelry and Scottish crafts. Whisky and Fine food shop next to St Margaret’s chapel offers a selection of whisky and gin from all over Scotland and even a 10-year-old whisky exclusive to Edinburgh Castle. Local treats such as fudge, shortbread and chocolate are all available for that distinct and distinguished flavor of Scotland.

Royal Mile

Descending through the gates of the castle we headed down the Royal Mile. Based in the Old Town and within a World Heritage site, the area is culturally and historically important to the city and jam packed with things to see and do. A ‘Scots mile’ long, and connecting two royal residences (the Castle and the palace of Holyrood House), it is also home to parliaments old and new, law courts, a cathedral and churches, and a vast range of visitor attractions, walking tours, shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs.

Royal Mile Guided Walking Tour in Edinburgh

Points of interest such as Scotch Whisky Experience, the museum of childhood and camera obscure & world of illusions are all noteworthy inclusions that unfortunately we weren’t able to cram into a day’s itinerary.

The Royal Mile offers the perfect spot to find that special souvenir of Scotland – you’ll find a range of items in your family tartan (and if you’re not sure which it might be, they can sometimes help trace your family name to find it), including kilts. You also have the chance to pick up a bottle of whisky from Royal Mile Whiskies or The Whisky Shop for that extra special something. Specialist chocolatiers such as The Chocolatarium, fudge shops like Fudge Kitchen, coffee shops The Milkman Coffee and even a Christmas Shop are located on the Royal Mile. You’ll also find a number of shops selling Harry Potter-themed memorabilia including Museum Context and The Great Wizard, and more Scottish knitwear than you can shake a stick at.

After an absorbing walk along the Royal Mile lunch was firmly on the agenda. Edinburgh offers culinary delights to tickle every tastebud, from local pubs serving hearty Scottish dishes to Michelin star gastronomy and everything in between. I would always recommend trying the local flavors and especially something you normally get back home. Seeking home comforts with a Scottish twist we descended on one of the many pubs that occupied the Royal Mile. Unfortunately, the recommendations I looked at including The Devil’s Advocate, Deacon Brodies Tavern and Albanach were either fully booked or didn’t have a license to accommodate anyone under 18. Happily, however we stumbled upon a gem of a pub just round the corner from the Royal Mile. The Advocate was spacious, accommodating and served a variety of local beverages and classic pub favorites with a Scottish twist. Haggis, neaps and tatties or Steak and Ale Pie and Balmoral Chicken are just some of the dishes on the menu followed by classic deserts such as chocolate fudge cake and sticky toffee pudding. Nothing tastes better than home comfort food.

Points of Interest

Discovering the nooks and crannies hidden in the streets of any city is one of the many joys of travelling. Edinburgh is no exception, take a walk around this historic city and explore places such Princes Street Gardens, Scott Monument and Greyfriars Bobby. Staircases are scattered along the royal mile offering a unique photo perspective, interesting boutiques and eateries align the intersecting streets as you descend down through the city. Hidden away from the city center is the Vennel viewpoint, a landmark sandstone stairway between tenement buildings with a great view of Edinburgh Castle at the top. Another notable location is Victoria Street, a picturesque cobblestone road adorned with colorful shop fronts imbedded into Victorian architecture gracing a gentle curve.

In recent times Edinburgh has been the location for several Hollywood blockbusters such as Avengers Infinity war, Da Vinci Code, F9 and Trainspotting. Walk in the footsteps of the stars and take photos at your favorite locations around Cockburn Street, St Giles Cathedral, The Royal Mile and Waverley station. This is just a taster of the sights and sounds Edinburgh has to offer, be sure explore the city to its fullest over a weekend break.

Calton Hill

Our final stop before heading home was Calton hill. The panoramic views from Calton Hill have astonished and inspired visitors for centuries. Major landmarks can be seen from a bird’s eye view: Arthur’s Seat with the Crags behind Holyrood Palace and the Parliament, Leith and the Firth of Forth, Princes Street in its New Town grid and the Royal Mile climbing up towards the Castle.

Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour: Mysteries, Murder and Legends

Calton Hill is also famous for its collection of historic monuments, which form some of the most important landmarks of the city. One of the most striking is the National Monument, inspired by the Parthenon in Athens. Intended to commemorate the Scottish servicemen who died in the Napoleonic Wars, it was never completed leaving just the twelve columns you see today.

Also look out for the Nelson Monument, shaped like an up-turned telescope. Completed in 1816 the monument commemorates the death of Admiral Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. However, in 1852 a time ball was added to the top to enable ships moored in the Firth of Forth to set their time-pieces accurately. The Nelson Monument is open to the public, and the Time Ball still drops at one o’clock six days a week.

Watching the sunset at the top of Calton hill was the final act of the day and a fitting ending, Edinburgh historic skyline was the lasting memory as we descended down the Calton hill steps and back into the city center. As we arrived at the entrance of Edinburgh Waverly, we had 1hr before our train departed, Brewhemia across the street provided the perfect venue to enjoy one last drink. In their own words “Our talented team are masters of mixology and purveyors of the perfect pour. As such, our drinks menu is a carefully curated selection of our favorite premium beers, bespoke cocktails, spritzes, superfine wines and world-class gins and whiskies.” – Brewhemia. The venue was the perfect place to relax and reflect on what was a wonderful day out in this marvelous city.

Final Thoughts

Edinburgh is a fantastic city to visit with simply too much see and do in one day. Definitely a place to return to for a weekend break set a slower pace to fully appreciate the splendor Edinburgh has to offer. Simply just walking the backstreets between the lower and upper town is an experience itself. An annual event The Edinburgh Tattoo is a spectacle that attracts audiences from far and wide and of course indulging in the local food scene stretches beyond whiskey and sticky toffee pudding. Harry Potter fans can take the Harry Potter and Horrible Histories Walking Tour in Edinburgh or venturing further afield journey across the Glenfinnan Viaduct on the “Hogwarts Express”.

With so much to see and do Edinburgh is firmly planted on this list of places to return with my family, check out the link below for more details.

Highlights of Exploring Edinburgh day trip part 2