This building used to be the infirmary that Infirmary Street was named after! Now it is a community…read morecentre and hosts adult education classes and the spaces like the hall can be rented out. I've gone here frequently for the university's tango society classes and the hall has worked well for that and I assume it's an affordable space. It has nice photos and signs on the walls celebrating 100 years of adult education. The building is very old and getting a wee bit sad around the edges, especially in the toilets, but it is ok.

Whether or not you warm to the Salisbury Centre, and the workshops and classes it hosts, will…read moreprobably depend upon your level of cynicism about new age ideology and phrases such as "holistic education", "blissful healing" and "deeply transformative modality". I generally consider myself quite open to that sort of thing - it's the inner hippie in me - but some of the classes offered here test even my limits of credulity. However, don't let the more, shall we say, far out offerings put you off the centre as a whole, as it does have an exceptionally peaceful atmosphere and the yoga and meditation workshops I've attended have all been pretty sound - the quality just depends on the individual teacher who's running them. If you do want to "awaken the happy you" (who wouldn't?), "experience the light of Christ as healing energy", or even just find a decent yoga class, then check their website to see what courses are coming up.

I have lived in edinburgh for over 10 years now and live nearby the salisbury Centre, passed it…read moreevery day on my way to and from work, but never thought of going in to see what it was all about. The body therapist I am seeing for an injury, suggested going along and trying the Hatha Yoga sessions which would help my posture and movement. I signed up for the classes with Aishvarya Lila on a Thursday evening and it has been so beneficial. The centre offers so much in the way of alternative/complimentary therapies, as well as other activities such as pottery classes. There is a nice little organic garden for relaxing in and also a library open to the public. If you are open minded and willing to try alternative/complimentary therapies, this is a great place to come and meet a varied and interesting group of people. Highly recommended, loose comfortable clothing is advised if participating in any of the classes such as Yoga or Tai Chi.

I went to get my hair cut here, as I had a friend on the hairdressing course. The training salon…read morehad everything a regular one would have and it was really nice and clean. They did a great job cutting my hair and the tutor checked it over at the end to make sure it had been cut straight and the right length. It only cost me £5 and it was helping someone get their qualification too.

Stevenson College, Edinburgh College and Jewel and Esk College have…read more amalgamated to form New Edinburgh College. The rating I give Stevenson College is for the present day New Edinburgh College and new Principal. I had my HND proposal taken from me by the College Assessor the day before submission who then reworded, rephrased and rewrote it in its entirity, then telling me to go and finish the other sections. He then marked the proposal and gave me half marks for the work he had just rewritten. I had him on tape addmitting to the rewriting of students proposal introductions. College, SQA, SPSO, Minister for Education, not interested, unimportant. This is not teaching students, this is faking it. Regardless of which College you attend, you will be subject to the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) sending in what they call an 'External Verifier' to assess and mark your entire HNC, HND or Degree qualification in the time it takes to have a cup of coffee. A 1500 word proposal, a 1500 word evaluation, a 12 page annotated album of example images, 20 A3 prints and the study and discussion with college assessors about the work, completed in just 20 minutes. The College has no authority to question the verifier, the Scottish Public Service Ombudsman cannot by law question the verifier, and the Scottish government have no authority to question the verifier. Then just who does ? No-one. What is the purpose of this built in lack of authority over the SQA verification? To fix pass rates without debate, without appeal, without explanation and foremost without any academic skill or regard. This is a man hired to ensure the results fit the stats. Qualifications are a production line fraud. You will learn more in a day from reading a book than you will learn in a year in College. A system that once worked, has been thrown to the wolves. See Qype also reviews on cheating for Telford College.

Great group to work with. Awesome hosts for our event!…read moreAn Edu charity.

Half of my graduating class were self-proclaimed photographers, angstfully capturing the "essence…read morethat is life" with ridiculously expensive cameras, so you can't blame me for being a tad sceptical about photography. I finally made it in to the gallery after walking past it quite a few times, and I wasn't disappointed at all. There's a pretty cool exhibition on show at the moment, which should last throughout the whole festival, called the Pursuit of Fidelity (very deep name ofcourse....). I won't say I'm a convert, but it was definitely a good way to pass time! What's even more interesting about Stills is the opportunity to get quite involved if this is your sort of thing; they have impressive darkrooms we were lucky enough to check out, and actually offer professional training for would-be photographers! I fleetingly considered it... as it would probably be a nice break from university for a while.

If you happen to just be wandering up or down Cockburn Street, trying to avoid all the uber…read moreexpensive shops that seem to just stare you down, in a vigorous attempt to get you to give into purchasing pretty unnecessary items, stop by Stills instead. Why? 1) Because you don't have to pay anything to go in and ogle some hit-or-miss photography and 2) Because checking out someone's photographs beats ogling ridiculously expensive clothes any day. And though the people who work there might seem disaffected and indifferent to your presence, it's probably just because they've been sitting in the same place for a few hours with nothing to do. If you have any questions, though, they tend to perk up and become willing to give you a hand. Stills isn't just a gallery, though. There they have digital labs and darkrooms and all sort of delicious photographic facilities that you can use (at a price, of course). They also hold workshops from time to time. Once you've been to Stills once, it becomes a bit of an addiction. The huge windows that give you a peek of whatever exhibition is in there at the moment, beckon to you with open arms. And they're not even trying to take your money. Who woulda figured!

Inch House is apparently a community centre…read more I say apparently as you get some very odd looks from staff if you dare to enter! I find the general atmopshere unwelcoming and distrusting. I am never aware of exactly what programes are running in the centre and there isn't a lot of mums playground chat concerning the place either. Considering we live 5 minutes away I find this dissapointing to say the least. On the plus side, the building itself is very beautiful and surprisingly spacious. It overlooks a wonderful park which has a playpark, rugby field, football field, stream and lots and lots of gorgeous trees.

I have never been inside it since it has always been locked when I would pass by but it definitely…read moreattracts the attention. It is nt a shop, despite its name. It is a learning centre offering tuition in core maths and communication skills. It is a great place for your children or for any adults who would wish to get better job prospective. The tuition is free for residents within the city centre and Leith.