I've been there not so long ago and I'd recommend this place for anyone who wants to get away from…read morethe city rush but not move away from the city itself. Large gardens with lots of footpaths around the castle plus stunning views over the Firth of Forth (especially on a bright and sunny day), quiet with a bit of Victorian atmosphere stil in the air. A trip for a half a day with a picnic basket higly recommended!!

Edinburgh Castle is definitely worth a visit! There's so much history to take in and plenty to…read moreexplore throughout the castle and grounds. I chose to explore on my own without a guide and was completely satisfied doing it that way. I was able to go at my own pace, take my time, and see everything I wanted to see. Such an impressive place and a must-see while visiting Edinburgh!

A must stop to learn all about the Scottish history, their longstanding fights with England, the…read moreJacobite rebellion and how the Scottish royalty merged with the England royalty. Joining the All Stars tour with ticket entrance to the castle is a definite highlight. Our guide Davy was humorous and a well of knowledge. Plus he resembled Jamie Fraser from the Outlander. Or as one of our tour group members said, he looks like Thor and we can imagine him carrying a hammer wearing his kilt! The view of Edinburgh is gorgeous. And there is also poignancy with a cemetery dedicated to fallen dog companions of soldiers as well as a war memorial for fallen soldiers from World War 1.

No matter when I come here, no matter what day of the week or what time of day, I always have to…read morewait for about 15 minutes before I'm even acknowledged. It's quite a small post office, given how many people it caters to. The staff are...well, they're extremely capable at their job and so are quick and efficient....maybe a bit snippy but it's a busy job. If i'm in the area and have no other choice then ok, I'll come here, otherwise, not my preferred post office!

I hopped in here on my way past yesterday to post a couple of letters. Yes, not even parcels. One…read morewas for New York, so not your standard stampage, and I wasn't sure the other still counted as "Letter" as it was quite thick (17 pages. I ramble. You know that.) I wombled in at lunchtime and was surprised by how short the queue was. I'd thought that somewhere this central would be jam-packed, especially at lunchtime, but not so, and the queue was moving along at a fair lick, so kudos to the folks at the windows. I, however, poor soul that I am, fished out my envelopes and was instantly barked at by a lady on patrol. "STAMPS? YOU WANT STAMPS?" - and she hustled me out of line. There's an express queue for postage, it seems, of which I was unaware; my regular post office is the one on St Mary's Street - infinitely more compact and manual - so I wasn't used to the idea. Oh, provincial me. It was helpful of her, but she was also slightly alarming and officious in her manner, which kind of made me want to take these lengthy epistles, toils and spoils of my aching hand and brain, and run for the wind. "I won't let her hurt you," I would whisper as we fled down to the shore... But fortunately, reason prevailed, and I was swiftly served with the correct postage. A point here and there at the card machine and she bustled off to find somebody else. I feel a warm fuzziness about post offices not dissimilar to that which I feel about Christmas, and so I wasn't equipped to deal with this mild intimidation. Trying to claw back some of that festive posty spirit, I pulled my international stamp for the New York missive out of the machine, and bounced excitedly. I'm no avid philatelist but I do love to see a pretty stamp with a picture on it. "Look, it's all colourful and pretty!" I squeaked to the customer at that moment replacing me at the machine, and pointed at my picturesque postage stamp. I was met with a derisive stare. Oh. Not that kind of post office then. Still, it was light, it was quiet, and I got everything done quickly that I needed to do. I wouldn't avoid it if I were nearby, but all else being equal, I would choose the queues and jovially messy jiffy bag walls at teeny weeny St Mary's Street over the efficient brusqueness of Frederick Street.

Very convenient/central location at Waverly Station! I had some GBP from 10+ years ago, and they…read morewere able to exchange them for the current GBP design. You can exchange up to GBP200/day. Incredibly helpful if you don't have a UK bank account :) With the current currency in hand, I was able to engage in Retail Therapy!

The new post office relocated from St James Centre…read more Very large, bright and clean inside. Lots of counters though usually only a couple are open. They have the ticket machine so you can sit and wait rather than queue. Unless you're there for ID or biometric services in which case you need to stand in line. There's quite a few self service machines as well which are quick and easy and they usually have staff around if you need help with them. Usual selection of envelopes and other posting things. Also has travel money & insurance services. Functional, staff have always been helpful and friendly on the few times I've been in.

This was a wonderful tour. It was full of interesting stories about Edinburgh's past and the black…read moreplague that struck the city. The actors were very into their characters, which I loved. It was so much fun to hear their stories, see their enthusiasm and hear all about the history. I docked a star since I hate when places limit photo opportunities. It honestly feels like a missed opportunity for promotion to not allow tourists to post photos of themselves on social promoting their business. I do work in promotions so maybe I'm slightly biased but feels short sighted. Overall, a lovely tour and a wonderful guide.

The close is a popular attraction, so I booked a tour. It's located on the Royal Mile in Old Town…read more The close is named after Mary King, a merchant burgess who resided on the close. A close is a narrow alleyway leading from a main street to private shared courtyards, residential areas, or homes. The close was partially demolished and buried due to the building of the Royal Exchange and it was later closed to the public for many years. It used to be open-air alleyway. We were led by a guide dressed as a period character. We watched interactive projections of Mary and others tell us about who they were and life at that time. We also entered small rooms that housed many people. The most interesting part to me was about the plague. There was also a ghost story, which I don't care for. Overall, I enjoyed learning about the history.

We walked out of our hotel and right up the stairs and hill to one of the best scenic viewpoints of…read morethe city. Each way was a different vibe. It was a great time to think about the history of what was before you and all around. Many of the buildings are hundreds of years old so it creates an interesting atmosphere. I would highly recommend coming here. On one side is a cafe but we didn't go in. It was busy. Tons of trails and some dogs. We spotted a few off leash so keep that in mind I didn't see any trash on the grounds which was refreshing although there was a touch of graffiti.

The volcanic hill has a collection of some of Edinburgh's most important monuments- Dugald Stewart…read moreMonument, National Monument, Nelson Monument, and Playfair Monument. The National Monument was designed as a replica of the Parthenon in Athens and it was to commemorate the Scottish servicemen who died in the Napoleonic Wars. It was not completed. The City Observatory is also located here. The hill offers panoramic views of the city and of iconic landmarks- Edinburgh Castle and Arthur's Seat. When we were there, it was really windy and drizzling. We didn't spend much time here due to the unpleasant weather.

This is a very quiet and peaceful park; you get a few cars and coaches on the road behind, but in…read moregeneral it's a great place to sit and enjoy a few peaceful minutes - maybe even bring a book. As you sit on one of the benches you gaze up at Holyrood Park directly in front of you and it is one of the best spots to appreciate the true size of Holyrood. The park itself is nice enough - tidy though not spectacular. There's a bit of colour generated by the surrounding shrubs, but it's all on a minimal scale. As far as I'm concerned, though, this enhances rather than detracts from the feel and atmosphere of the park; I just wish the road behind would go elsewhere.

Home to the Stones of Scotland Monument, Regent Road Park is only a recent discovery of mine, but…read moreI'm so glad I found it! After a walk around the City I decided that a smoothie and a seat were in order, so I grabbed a bench in this park and settled down to marvel at the fabulous views. As well as the Stones, which were set to commemorate the new Scottish Parliament, you can see the actual Parliament building (you can decide if that's a good thing or not!) and the beautiful Calton Hill cemetery. This is just the perfect place to sit and see how beautiful Edinburgh is. Perfect for a wee picnic with great views!

Amazing museum that if you blind as you walk by you'll miss so much history. The museum is the…read morehouse, the house is the museum. It's filled with three floors of objects and artifacts with interact attractions. At only £7.50 an adult and £1.50 a child (under 18), you get to experience history that ushered the reformation into Scotland. What a neat find! Also, it's more than a museum telling about John Knox and his house, it's also a bookshop that is filled with storytelling, history, and folklore. Enjoy!

John Knox, leader of the Scottish Protestant movement, the mother and father of the Presbyterian…read morechurch, and doer of Bad*ssery, lived in this home for time. This home was once owned by the Mossman gold-smithing family, but was sort of "Eminent Domain'd" by Knox. It was so enjoyable to walk in the halls of this place and see the study, the sitting rooms, and steps of history and of one of the most renowned preacher in the history of the christian faith. The staff was absolutely lovely on the grounds of the mansion, and the location was just absolutely perfect for a tourist to visit alongside the many other events to take part in. The only issue I took with the historical site was the presentation of the information via the clunky papers we were given, and i certainly would not recommend the restaurant underneath. Overall this was worth a visit, especially if you've missed a reservation for a tour, have extra time in the city, or are an incredible history nerd like myself. Do visit! P.S. The historic "End Of The World" pub is across the street and is also a must visit