I can't recommend Sean enough, he is exactly what you need in an instructor! He is always calm and…read moreexplains everything to you. He not only prepares you for the test, but helps you to become a confident and safe driver. I passed first time!

The Royal College of Surgeons was founded in 1505 to promote the highest standards of surgical…read morepractice, and remains one of the world's leading institutions for the establishment of standards, and the teaching and development of surgical medicine. It has had a long and fascinating history as an institution, but what most people will know it for is its wonderful architecture, and the adjacent museum. First the building: built in the first half of the 19th century, it was designed by William Henry Playfair (1790-1857), the foremost Scottish architect of the period. He delivered them the confident, classical Greek temple design we see today, with a bold Doric pediment forming the main street frontage. The two gates have impressive classical stone arches to the street, flanking the main facade. The complex originally contained a meeting hall, Museum, Lecture Room and Library and, although the complex has since expanded, the original buildings are well preserved and even contain some of the furniture, purpose designed for the College by Playfair himself. The interiors are equally splendid, with the feel of a comfortable Stately Home. The Museum, as others have described, is fascinating both to the student of medicine and to the public: and whilst it covers the development of surgery, from surgical instruments to anaesthesia and antiseptic practice, what most visitors remember is the Museum of Pathology, which contains examples of human anatomy and specimens from the 18th century to the present. The largest such museum in the UK, some may find the specimens a little gruesome (but fascinating). But the section on Burke and Hare, and the development of the character of Sherlock Holmes (based on a real surgeon), are equally fascinating and less chilling. Overall, a great alternative to your average museum. Just don't go before lunch.

If you want artfully presented exquisite food in a marvelous venue this is the place for you. The…read moremuseum here is also phenomenal if you enjoy ancient medical history! It was awesome seeing all the surgical specimens through time and what an operating theatre used to look like. I enjoyed an after hours tour that was lovely. But most of all I attended a private dinner here that was in one of the most beautiful ballrooms with a spectacular ceiling. The food was just sensational and the service was outstanding. I highly recommend the museum tour and also hosting an event here as the food was phenomenal, tasty and beautifully presented.

My friend gave me a guided tour and all I can say about this University is I really wished I had…read moregone here (and could afford it). It's so amazing, and pretty, and people are friendly, and they have all these cool events advertised (like a cheese party!!!). Teviot row house is also the oldest student union building in the world (My friend told me) and it looks great! they have a sports bar, library bar, and other various bars for different functions and settings.

Home to some of the ugliest buildings on earth (can I get a round of applause for Appleton Tower's…read moresheer foulness please?) the University of Edinburgh was the place of my 'further education'. Superficially the Uni does well in the league tables (23rd in the world I think) but the real student experience is pretty patchy. The main library is probably the best example of this. Spanning over six floors this building houses millions of books and resources but for some reason there never seemed to be any of the ones I wanted! At the beginning of every year at least one of my courses was complaining that their books hadn't been put on short loan and that keen students had already checked out the course work for the year. There was also a constant issue of people hogging computers, leaving their books and coats on the table and then heading off to Bristo Square for a leisurely lunch. Annoying! Nonetheless I did enjoy my studies at Edinburgh a lot. The uni attracts some brilliant lecturers especially in the History and Politics departments (my degree). Dr Day, Dr Cogliano and Dr Bates were my favourite historians although I would have to say that the international relations and politics of human rights courses were very impressive. In recent years the University has come out quite badly in 'student satisfaction' surveys primarily because of the time it took to get coursework marked and returned. As I left I could see that there were real efforts being made to reverse these patterns but as far as most of us were concerned it was a bit too little too late. Despite this I would still say that Edinburgh is a great University and I miss it a lot!

As well as being a functioning part of the uni, Old College is almost a tourist attraction in its…read moreown right. For one thing, it's so huge and imposing that without even meaning to you'll find yourself using it as a landmark for directing you to places. For me, Old College will always stick in my memory as the place I finished my last university exam, so it's not surprising that I'm giving it so many stars! But if you're even vaguely interested in architecture or law (as well as housing several libraries, Old College is also the uni Law School), it's well worth wandering through the quad and taking it in; it's pretty impressive. I think the uni also hire out certain rooms in here for conferences and other functions.

Old College in Edinburgh, is one of my favourite buildings, the dome structure dominates the…read moresurrounding area. For years, I had been walking past it, but it wasn't until last year that I got a chance to actually see inside it. And what did I find? I found, one of the best public rooms in Scotland apparently - Playfair Library Hall. As you enter the court yard of Old College the entrance to the hall is on the left hand side. I was there for the swearing in ceremony of our new rector, and the hall was very ceremonial. It had roman styled pillars, busts of old academics, bookcases housing old books and a very large ceiling. The hall is very big and forces itself upon you with its brilliance! The hall itself is used for ceremonies and lunches by the universities hierarchy, however, if you get the opportunity to pay this hall a visit then please do so. It is a treasure which is not very well known and needs to be seen!

The receptionist was rude, dismissive, and arrogant. I was forced to vacate the foyer seats and…read morestand in a crowded exhibition hall without seating, despite my back problems and sensory issues. When asked for a reason, I was told the foyer chairs were for "the restaurant patrons" despite the restaurant being essential empty with nobody waiting to sit down in the foyer. The receptionist then cordoned off the seats with red rope, and nobody sat in them for the rest of the evening. There was no apparent reason for her behaviour besides pure spitefulness and that is not the sort of person you want representing your business as the first point of interaction with patrons.

I noticed that the French institute is classed as a 'language school' by Yelp. I must say that's…read morenot even the beginning.... Well, actually, it's a good place to start, but apart from the excellent language classes offered the French Institute in Edinburgh is a fantastic venue for all sorts. And there's no snobbery, I don't have a word of French and frequently I'm laughed at for my botched pronunciations, but they still let me through the door. I've attended art classes (got my tapestry on) and seen art shows here. There's a gorgeous back room which serves as a gallery and has one of the most spectacular views in the city. Recently they held their Fête de la Musique celebrations, with a whole day of music from all over the world. Sea Bass Kid, a local ska/jazz/rock type band were particularly worth seeing! The French Institute is also a Fringe venue. Last year I went to see 'The Onion Johnnies', a not-competely-factual history of the onion Johnnies who would travel from France to Scotland on their bikes and wage war with rabbits (apparently). This year there's a range of shows on. Down in the basement there is The Bistrot restaurant which does great French food and snacks. I've eaten here a few times and to be honest, they run out of the good stuff quickly so get there early! There's also a bar. I would recommend anyone with even the slightest interest in France to pop along or at least check out their website. I think they do a fantastic job here in Edinburgh as both a diverse venue and a Frenchy-type talking place.

Old college is part of the University of Edinburgh so I tend to come here often due to lectured and…read moreadministrative stuff. However, this I place I think is one of Edinburgh iconic buildings and a "must see" by visitors. The square has various decorations during the time of year or the festivities. For example during Christmas they had A huge Christmas tree while on Chinese New Years they had replicas of statues of the terracotta soldiers. If anything, this is a great spot to take that selfie or pic to capture the beauty of the buildings that can be found in Edinburgh. It's also free entrance so why not take advantage of the beautiful backdrop?! What's also nice is after taking 5-10 min to come here (not much to see really), you can head to the national museum. If you're a student at the University of Edinburgh this place is where you can find big lecture halls and the important registrar office.

Some years ago, when I was considering becoming a student at the University of Edinburgh, I…read moreremember being dazzled in the prospectus by glossy photographs of magnificent quadrangles, ancient libraries, and walkways adjoined by rows of impressive granite columns. "It really is the Athens of the north," I thought, and promptly completed my application. Little did I know that I would spend most of my university career on the 12th floor of a concrete tower block on the corner of George Square, holed up in the 1960s architectural travesty that is the main library, or frantically typing essays in an underground computer lab commonly known as 'the bunker.' However, those enticing images in the university brochure were not complete fabrication - such elegant structures do exist in the university's extensive property holdings, and Old College is one of the most impressive. Dating from the 18th century, it is built on a grander scale than its spin-off, New College, with a conspicuous dome, arched facades and balustrades built around a wide open courtyard, all very imposing in Edinburgh's trademark grey stone. Today, only a privileged few law students actually get to come and have classes here. But I often make excuses to walk through Old College, just to briefly admire the sweeping scale of the place and delude myself that being a student at Edinburgh really does involve inhabiting such majestic environs on a daily basis.

Picturesque building in a great location overlooking princes street, the courtyard although small…read moreand quite busy with tourists, holds a statue of John Knox. You need ID to access the library but if you wait around for someone to come in or out you might be lucky and once inside you will be greeted by beautiful stained glass windows. It's unclear though where visitors are allowed to roam so some info on this would be helpful.

As well as being a stunning building to admire from the outside, New College is an excellent venue…read morefor hosting events as well. It stands on top of The Mound and so has an imposing look, visible from Princes Street and beyond. Like Edinburgh itself, which has old and new towns, the university has Old College and New College. Also like the city, both old and new are quite old indeed. The building dates from 1846 and houses the School of Divinity at the University. However, there are also rooms that can be rented out for events, and that's what brought me here. Our ball happened in Rainy Hall, a stunning hall, with crests and coats of arms all around. Walking in through the main gate of the college brings one to the very Hogwarts-like quadrangle, which makes for some great photo ops. Once inside the building, all of the interior architecture also captures one's attention. However, I am far from an expert on this, so that's quite enough comments about architecture! Rainy Hall is an intimate venue for events. It comfortably accommodated our ~60 attendees, but much more than this and ceilidh dancing would become somewhat difficult. Catering and bar service are provided by the University's own Edinburgh First, with friendly, efficient staff, and a good selection of drinks at the bar. The food quality is very good, though portion sizes leave a lot to be desired. My recommendation to visit New College is twofold. As a tourist, the astoundingly beautiful building makes for excellent photographs. On top of this, for reasonably small events of up to 70 people, the Rainy Hall is an excellent venue to consider.

Have you ever wondered what an art gallery/installation/experience in The Capitol of Panem would be…read morelike? It's Jupiter Artland. If you know Hunger Games, you'll know exactly what I mean. If you're not familiar, think indulgent, a spectacle, disturbing, hedonistic, garish, innovative, creative, thought-provoking... you will feel polarizing things here, you will remember your visit here forever. According to their website, "Jupiter Artland is an award-winning contemporary sculpture garden... set over 120 azores of meadow, woodland and indoor gallery spaces, Jupiter Artland is home to over 30 permanent and unique site-specific sculptures... as well as a seasonal programme of carefully curated exhibitions..." Try to come on a beautiful day since this is an outdoor adventure! While it's mostly very accessible, there's a lot of walking, so wear comfortable shoes! We got the map and made it a point to visit and read about every site. I think Jupiter Artland became famous because of influencers showing off the vibrant Gateway pool (which you can actually occasionally swim in). I loved I Lay Here For You (about women in nature), Rivers (a collection of water from one hundred different rivers in the UK), Animitas (two hundred small Japanese bells that are constantly making different melodies; no two ever the same; it's supposed to be like how no two souls are the same); Rose Walk (the gothic and chinoiserie pavilions); I liked the Weeping Girls (statues in the woods) but my partner felt haunted, vice versa for In Memory (the cemetery with people's names erased); we were both left speechless, creeped out, and concerned after Upside Mimi! which we watched in its entirety. Woof. The Cells are also very iconic and apparently you can wild swim occasionally there too. The VERY LONG point? You SHOULD visit here. Art is supposed to make you feel stuff, and you will very much feel stuff here.

Jupiter Artland is out of this world COOL!!!! On our recent trip to Edinburgh, Scotland, this…read moreplace was one of the highlights of our visit. Definitely the BEST sculpture garden that we have ever visited anywhere in the world. There are both indoor and outdoor exhibits. The exhibits are displayed all over the more than 100 acres property. You can get a lot of exercise walking while searching and exploring the place looking & admiring the exhibits. Personally, my favorite area was the Cells Of Life. Very beautiful landscape work of art!! You cannot miss it because once you enter the property.....there it is!! "Cells of Life consists of eight landforms and a connecting causeway which surround four lakes and a flat parterre." Unfortunately, we only had a couple of hours to spare. So we did not have the opportunity to explore everything that Jupiter Artland had to offer. Still, we did enjoy our time. If you are in the Edinburgh, Scotland area, I recommend dropping by.