City Guide to Edinburgh

I've only been to Edinburgh once, and ever since our trip a few years ago I have been itching to go back.

I've also been itching to write this blog post, and it's taken me a long time to finally put pen to paper and share some of our favourite discoveries in the city!

How would I describe Edinburgh to those who have never been before? Cold. Windy. Hilly. And absolutely beautiful. I've said to Mr MM several times, 'Can you imagine if we lived in Edinburgh? Wouldn't it be wonderful?' Unfortunately the practicalities and geography outweigh the benefits, so I've made do with the idea that we'll just have to arrange more weekends there {or longer!} It's somewhere we've discussed as a good option for Baby Maggie May's first holiday, so watch this space...

This is the latest instalment in my city guides series, following on from Copenhagen, Bristol and Edinburgh's neighbour, Glasgow. This type of post seems to be popular with readers, especially those who are planning sightseeing adventures and want tips on where to go! {And there's a ready made Pin at the end for you to save to your Pinterest board for ease.} So whether you're an Edinburgh expert or it's a spot featuring on your travel bucket list, I hope you enjoy reading about the delights - in my opinion - of the Scottish capital.

A R T H U R ' S  S E A T

An extinct volcano? In Scotland? Yup, you heard it right - the world famous Arthur's Seat isn't some sort of bench which the locals are proud of; it's a geological gem, the highest peak in Holyrood Park and the site of an old fort. Its reputation stems from the wonderful views of Edinburgh granted to those who climb to the top. Although I might be stating the obvious, this is indeed a hill so expect an ascent - there are easy and moderate routes, for those who want a bit more of a challenge. I think most people you ask would agree that no trip to Edinburgh is complete without a visit here.

Arthur's Seat, Queens Drive, Edinburgh, EH8 8HG 

L O V E C R U M B S

You need somewhere to rest your legs after all those hills, and finding a good coffee shop is top of my list during any city break. Lovecrumbs definitely fits the bill - delicious slabs of decadent cake are served alongside proper flat whites, and it all tastes wonderful. This place was recommended to me by quite a few people before our trip, and features on many 'where to go in Edinburgh' lists - once you visit, you'll see why.

Lovecrumbs, 155 West Port, Edinburgh, EH3 9DP

P A L A C E  O F  H O L Y R O O D H O U S E

Readers who have followed me for a while will know that I'm a super fan of the royals, so it was no surprise to anyone that the Queen's official residence would be a priority on my to-see list. Obviously I had a brilliant time, ogling at the State Apartments, the Throne Room and the Great Gallery, jumping up and down with excitement occasionally. Despite being mortified by my gleeful outbursts, Mr MM actually really enjoyed it too {to my horror he is not at all bothered about the royal family normally} and agreed that it was a great attraction to visit during our stay. The Palace Gardens are lovely to wander around too {see pic at the start of the post} - put this high on your list.

Palace of Holyroodhouse, Canongate, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH8 8DX

F I E L D

Image from timeout.com

My top Edinburgh restaurant recommendation whenever asked, and I did actually get round to writing a detailed review of our visit which you can read here. It's intimate, romantic, and they serve exquisite food. What more could you want?

Field, 41 West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DB

T H E  R E A L  M A R Y  K I N G ' S  C L O S E 

Image from touristsecrets.com

We stayed with Mr MM's cousin and her husband during our visit, and this was the first thing they recommended we do. I'm so glad we followed their advice! You literally go underground beneath the Royal Mile, and explore the old streets and tales from the 17th century. Beware though - they say it's haunted...

The Real Mary King’s Close, Warriston’s Close, 2 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1PG

5 6  N O R T H

We spent a lot of money time here with our hosts during our visit, trying out the seemingly endless supply of gins {they have 400+}. If you want to stick to the local stuff, there's a special selection of Scottish gins which we really enjoyed tasting. They do whisky too, of course, and the bar has a great atmosphere in the evenings. Worth allowing time for a tipple or two in here.

56 North, 2 West Crosscauseway, Edinburgh, EH8 9JP

E D I N B U R G H  C A S T L E

I have a confession to make: we didn't actually visit the castle during our stay as we simply couldn't squeeze everything in! But we did make sure that we walked to Castle Rock so we could admire it from the outside. It's a stunning sight to see, and again one of the classic images of Edinburgh, so whether you decide to venture inside or not, you should definitely amble up the hill for the view.

Edinburgh Castle, Castlehill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NG

M I M I ' S  B A K E H O U S E

Image from Mimi's Bakehouse Facebook page

It's been a while since I mentioned cake, so here is another excellent recommendation. You may well have heard of Mimi's even if you've never stepped foot in Scotland before - their reputation for producing amazing sweet treats extends far and wide! They have a few locations dotted around the city - we went to the one in Leith, and had a lovely walk along the water afterwards with bellies full of peanut butter slices and cupcakes. Yum.

Mimi's Bakehouse, 63 Shore, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6RA

N A T I O N A L  M U S E U M  O F  S C O T L A N D 

Mr MM and I made the big error of only leaving an hour and a half or so to explore this museum - and once we'd been inside for 20 minutes, we realised that it was perhaps the best museum we'd ever been to and could easily spend a day in there! Leave plenty of time to explore the huge range of galleries and exhibits, including these famous fellas ^ {the Lewis chess pieces} and Dolly the sheep. Oh, and it's free entry!

National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF

O T H E R  S T U F F

Greyfriars Bobby | See the statue of the world-famous terrier and give his nose a little rub for luck. Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh, EH1 2QE 

Greyfriars Kirkyard | While you're there, pop into the graveyard to see Bobby's owner John Gray's final resting place. The gravestones and tombs are very majestic {see pic below} and you may spot a few familiar names such as Potter, McGonagall and Riddle... The Old Town's coffee shops were home to J.K. Rowling whilst she wrote the first few Harry Potter books. Greyfriars Place, Edinburgh, EH1 2QQ.

Scottish Parliament Building | The subject of much controversy, the site of Scottish Parliament is interesting and unusual, and worth strolling past on your way to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Edinburgh, EH99 1SP. 

Scott Monument | A familiar sight when you're walking around Edinburgh, this imposing monument is dramatic, dark and very impressive {see below}. I'm planning on visiting the viewing platform during our next trip. East Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, EH2 2EJ.

  
Writing this post has encouraged me to look into planning our next visit as soon as possible - not that I needed much convincing - so let me know your favourite Edinburgh haunts for me to add to my list!