Edinburgh Castle is the most visited attraction in Scotland, welcoming over 1.3 million visitors…read moreeach year who come in search of views, royal history, and a glimpse at the 'Honours of Scotland' - Britain's oldest crown jewels. Edinburgh Castle is not only the dominant feature of the city's skyline, visible from miles around, it's also the feature which gives the city its name -- the old Gaelic name translates roughly as 'the fort on the hill'. trust me, you might underestimate this castle, and even i have kept 2 hrs for this, but it needs more time. With several museums, a large war memorial, a royal palace, a Great Hall & several other little stops/activities, if you want to actually see all of Edinburgh Castle's sights and attractions, you'll need much more than two hours... especially considering the line to see the Honours of Scotland (AKA the Crown Jewels) can last 20+ minutes. * Three regimental military museums * The National War Museum * The Scottish National War Memorial * The Honours of Scotland, featuring the Scottish crown jewels and Stone of Destiny * St Margaret's Chapel, the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh * Optional 30-minute introductory tours available throughout the day * Prisons of War exhibition * The Great Hall where banquets were held * The One O'Clock Gun, fired every day (except Sunday) at 1pm * Visit the small antechamber where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her son, James VI of Scotland * Three gift shops and two cafes The oldest surviving structure at the castle (and the oldest in the city) dates back to the 12th century. It is of course St Margaret's Chapel, built by King David I in honour of his mother. This same king is the one credited with turning Edinburgh Castle into a royal residence. As the years rolled on, royals came and went, with new additions being made to the castle, creating the complex we see today. The Renaissance of the 1400s for instance brought us the Royal Palace that now houses various royal paintings and displays (including THE closet where Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to King James VI of Scotland, AKA King James I of England). The 1500s brought us the Great Hall, which was needed of course for fancy banquets. The 1600s brought new defences and barracks as the castle eased into its role of a military outpost more than swanky royal digs Tickets to Edinburgh Castle should be booked online before you arrive. Tip: these spots across the city offers great view of the castle- Calton Hill, The Grassmarket, Salisbury Crags, Castle Esplanade, Ross Fountain, St Cuthbert's Churchyard, The Vennel

Must-visit if you're in Edinburgh…read more We had reserved tickets to get in, and got lucky as it was a beautiful day, sandwiched between dreary rainy ones which are more common in this part of Great Britain. We enjoyed the history, the magnificent views of old and new town sprawled below us and the Firth of Forth beyond, the museum, and the One-O-Clock gun! Pro-tip: Book a late morning entry time so you can be there at 1 pm for the gun, duck indoors into the museum or gift shop if it rains, and dress in layers, as the weather can change in minutes.

Was here for an improv festival and this is such a nice venue! Smart to have a cafe and hangout…read morearea for people to gather before or after shows and have a drink or a bite to eat. Lovely facility and very convenient being right on the Royal Mile.

Excellent story telling venue. We heard a Viking story called "Walk the Oars." If you get a…read morechance, don't miss it. You will participate in a story of an adventure from a fiord to Shetland. Quite an adventure, but my arms are tired from all the rowing!

Tron Kirk is a cute little makers market that's housed within an old church…read more The architecture has obviously been around much longer than the market, but it's also something to appreciate while shopping the maker booths. You can find almost anything here if you're looking for a gift or something cute for yourself to take home. I will say that a few of the stalls did not seem like they had made their own products, and maybe bought a lot of something (like souvenirs) and are re-selling them for a pretty penny more. When we visited, though, I definitely focused on the stalls that had handmade items - jewelry, art, and even small things for my cats! It's a very adorable little market housed in a beautiful church, so definitely plan a stop there if you're interested in shopping around (you don't even have to buy anything, it's all just neat to see!)

Another gem on the Royal Mile. It is a beautiful church inside and outside that has been converted…read moreinto a maker's market with wonderful artisan stores. I ended up buying a hat and some art.

What a fantastic tour! Our guide, Jamie, made it an unforgettable experience. He could tell I was…read morefrom Texas (I think the cowboy boots and hat gave me away) and saddled up to all my antics. Jamie is witty and very energetic which makes it so much fun to visit the Summerhall Distillery. Also, the gin tasting was amazing, helping our group to identify the differences between each batch and identifying what we would all like based on our preferences. I've been to many a distillery tour and I reckon I can't think of anyone better than Jamie and Summerhall!

Obviously I am a fan of summerhall as I've checked in twice recently and that is because the food…read moreis delicious and if you don't mind looking at X-rays of lungs and intestines while you eat, you'll love it too. The only complaints I have is that it can be a little chilly and you don't get enough tea, I would prefer a pot of tea or maybe a bigger mug to last while I wait for my food and preferably have enough left to enjoy with my meal instead of having to gulp it down quickly before it goes cold otherwise a great place to get some delicious food and also great for kids as they have a children's menu and toys.

We arrived in Edinburgh from London via the overnight Caledonian Sleeper and had a few hours to…read morekill before our airBNB cottage was available, so we decided to stop by the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. And what an excellent decision that was! Uncrowded, full of history, and with an excellent cafeteria to boot! Some of our favorites were: -- the main rotunda room: with busts and statues of Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns, and several others. Make sure you look up at the magnificent ceiling. -- extensive rooms devoted to the history of the Scottish Royal Family. -- busts of Invictus poet Henley and the Duke of Wellington. -- portraits of Churchill and Carnegie. Will happily return next time we are in Edinburgh.

This is one of the 4 national galleries. I think it is small but cozy and full of fantastic…read moreportraits. It is free and not too crowded. We enjoy walking around and saw portraits of many people from the past to present. The gallery is free and the cafe is really nice serving delicious food.

You can borrow a wide selection of books,cds,videos and audio books FROM THE LIBARY WHICH IS…read moreSITUATED WITHIN THE CENTRE.The centre aso hosts keep fit classes,photography classes. it has a shop where you can buy postcards maps and a lovely cafe which serves snacks and meals.

This is basically just a library. It has a decent selection of books - although it seems as though…read moreall the ones I want are in other local libraries! You can also borrow quite a large selection of DVDs for a decent price, as well as use the computers to access the internet. The library has a small and very basic cafe that sells sandwiches and coffee. It also has rooms for rent that are often used by local drama, dance and martial arts groups.

Free entry at the National Museum of Scotland. Filled with rich history and interactive booths…read more There is a cafe with grab and go options and a gift shop too. The best photo op is the third floor balcony overlooking the atrium! Such a gorgeous spot and great option to get out of the rainy weather!

It's the museum on Chambers Street. The entrance is in the round tower that is across the street…read morefrom Greyfriars Bobby. You might as well rub his nose for good luck before crossing over. There is a beautiful & bright atrium in the heart of the museum. You can see all 4 floors from this spot as you look up from the first floor. There are galleries and exhibits all around it. We started our journey on the ground floor of the tower in the Kingdom of the Scots, and then worked our way up and over. It truly is the perfect place to go on a rainy morning. The best part is that it's free admission, but donations are always welcomed. There were many highlights for me. The Maiden that was used for public executions in Grassmarket, Mercat Cross, and Castlehill was certainly eerie to look at along with some of the torture devices used back in that period. The display of items belonging to Mary, Queen of Scots was presented beautifully. Especially that lovely jeweled necklace. The exhibits of the Americas was nicely done. I even saw a gut parka on display that was similar to one we saw in Alaska earlier this year. The displays of musical instruments and ceremonial dance costumes was vibrant & interesting. I was drawn to the Bloody Empire display. It was a very artistic expression of anarchism in the form of wallpaper. It's unique. I have to say the same thing about the Slit Gong musical instrument that is said to bring out the voices of a dead ancestor. Very creepy stuff! The subject matter lightened up a bit as we walked through the technology & industry part of the museum. It was cool to see "The Hawk" as well as the display of bicycles and phones (including a Mickey Mouse one). But, I think the best part was the spectacular view of Edinburgh from the open rooftop. It would have been better on a sunny day, but it was still a great sight to see. It's worth taking those outdoor spiral steps up to see it. I love that there's a mini garden with upland grasses and plants along the lookout walls of the roof. A nice little touch. We spent about 2 hours here, but could have easily stayed longer. There's a balcony café on what is technically the 3rd floor of the building (2nd floor when looking up from the main atrium). There is a fee-based exhibit called "Monkeys Our Primate Family" that may be of interest to some. It ends on 30 Nov 2025. Overall, the museum is great fun for all ages. It's a great way to learn more about the Scottish innovators throughout history.

I have no idea how this place hasn't been reviewed yet. I thought its existence was common…read moreknowledge. But, I guess that's just how it is in my crowd. The Roxy Art House is the home of the Roxy Bar. But it's also so very very much more than that. The Roxy Art House regularly holds events of all sorts, from theatre to art to ceilidhs to music to etc. I've been there for pretty much all of the above. Ok, this is how cool the Roxy is: last week (or something like that), Nick Cave did a reading there. I mean, that gets the Roxy major points, right? Tonight, the Banana Sessions will be playing there (they're very cool). Just about any and all of Edinburgh's local bands (and more) have performed at the Roxy. Take, Meursault, for example. A few months ago, they also hosted an arts extravaganza there called Hidden Door, which, being as I was out of the country, I missed, but I hear it was indeed spectacular. If you haven't been to the Roxy yet, check out their events on their website and start getting ready to.

Ok, I'm a bit of a hippy t**t (sorry to swear, but that's my name for them). I play the djembe and…read morethe cajon and I listen to, ahem, 'world music'. So what man, I'm just expanding my horizons (dude). And there's no better place to do that than the Roxy. It's home to the very cool Roxy Bar, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. As Anne says, you never know what you're going to get at the Roxy. They have poetry, dance, world music, alternative music (Mersault!) among other things. My djembe teacher's band, a brilliant, Persian influenced group called Gol, play here quite a lot. That's how I first heard about the place, and I'm so glad I did. It's so refreshing to find a place genuinely interested in putting on different, exciting shows that you won't find elsewhere. Pick a night, and go. Chances are you won't be disappointed.

FABULOUS. was much more than i expected. We arrived and saw several cool birds. love birds and this…read morewas something I'd wanted to do but never dreamed we would do. Tried 2 places in Ireland but all booked up. Elite was worth the wait. It was just amazing. Just my husband and I in the group. BECCA was very helpful and felt the birds were well cared for.

Went for the full day flying experience: it was a gift from 2 wonderful friends. We flew multiple…read morebirds, across different terrains, and had a fabulous time. I learned so much about the birds, and have new respect for falconers everywhere. Roxanne took us out and she clearly adores these animals and knows them well. Go, it's worth every penny!!