My best friend recently visited me from the USA and I planned a week of Edinburgh tourist activities. If you are a Harry Potter fan, a local, a tourist, or a couple looking to travel, eat and explore in Edinburgh, this article is for you! These are my top things to do in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh City Centre
I like to start with the New Town in Edinburgh, it is busy but not overly touristy and should not be overlooked. I recommend wandering the boutiques and restaurants on George Street. Have a drink at the The Dome – its pricey but gorgeous inside. Harry Potter fans will enjoy The Cauldron Edinburgh offering magical potion making cocktail experience. If you want the best Indian restaurant in Edinburgh, head to St. Andrew’s Square and wait in line for a table at Dishoom, you will not be disappointed. Go for a Pub Crawl on Rose Street. I recommend listening to live folk music at The Black Cat and getting a Full Scottish Breakfast and some traditional cakes like Black Bun, Dundee Cake or Cloutie Dumpling at Patisserie Valerie. If time permits have High Tea at the The Balmoral Hotel – famous for being the spot where the final Harry Potter book was written. Walk up the street from the hotel and find the entrance to Calton Hill, it is worth the trek to see 360 degree views of Edinburgh.
Princes Street Garden
Princes Street Garden is the most famous attraction in Edinburgh City Centre. It is home to the famous Scott Monument and Ross Fountain. The park sits under Edinburgh Castle and has spectacular views of it. Enjoy the view with a coffee and scone at The Fountain Cafe or Sir Walter’s Cafe in the Gardens. Take in the view as you cross over Waverley Bridge to Cockburn Street pronounced “Co Burn”. Cockburn Street is believed to be another point of inspiration for Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley. It has many shops and eateries but the most Instagrammable is The Milkman, take a photo grab a coffee and then cross the street for a unique brunch at Laila. Most of the menu is pink inspired like the pink avocado toast or ruby waffles but my personal favorite was the Shakshouka with grilled halloumi. Follow Cockburn street and you’ll find yourself on Royal Mile and in the most touristy area of Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Castle and The Royal Mile
The main tourist road is named the Royal Mile, its slightly less than a mile and stretches from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Hollyroodhouse – book a tour here if you want to explore Scottish royal history. Edinburgh Castle is the most popular tourist attraction and of course the busiest! Buy your tickets online and pick the early AM to avoid crowds but be warned you might miss the One o’clock Gun. Afterwards take a quick stop at The Witches Well before getting lunch at The Witchery. Next head to The Scotch Whiskey Experience tour where you can try whiskies from every region in Scotland and learn about the history of whisky. Wander Royal Mile to St. Giles Cathedral – it’s free to tour! If you want to enjoy an immersive historical tour take The Real Mary King’s Close underground tour. You’ll get to explore parts of the city that have been blocked off since the 1750’s. If ghost tours are more your thing try The Ghost Bus Tours Edinburgh. Tap the nose of Greyfriars Bobby – a dog statue located outside of Greyfriars Pub. The statue commemorates the loyal dog who stood guard over his owners greave for 14 years!
Harry Potter Inspiration
Harry Potter fans will want to head to Greyfriars Kirkyard to take a look at Tom Riddle’s grave, as well as other gravestones that inspired the names of Harry Potter characters like McGonagall and Moodie. From the the Kirkyard you can see the back of George Heriot School, with its four grand towers that inspired the four towers on top of Hogwarts. The George Heriot School also has four houses and they all comptete for a house cup! For more Harry Potter inspiration take a look at the Lewis Chessmen in The National Museum of Scotland. These pieces inspired the set that Ron taught Harry to play Wizard’s Chess in the Philosopher’s Stone. A must visit for Harry Potter fans is Magic Potions Tavern offering magical cocktail making and escape rooms!
Royal Mile pubs and cuisine
Royal Mile has so many pubs and cuisine options, here are a few of my favorites: Tuk Tuk – a tapas style Indian restaurant, where literally every item on the menu is delicious. However the Marsala Chai is not my favorite – the best Chai in the city belongs to Dishoom! Scottish Tablet is a must try when visiting Edinburgh, head to Fudge Kitchen to enjoy a wedge. Watch live music at The Royal Oak – its is tiny, only about 15 people can squeeze into this pub making the live music experience extremely intimate and the best part is the entire pub sings out loud! The Wiski Bar is the best way to end the night! Yes they have loads of whiskeys from all over Scotland. But the real draw here is the live music and if you are lucky you’ll see The Gorms – a band that plays traditional Scottish tunes on traditional Scottish instruments. Don’t forget to try Haggis here and the Cheese plate, to help sober you up.
Victoria Street & Grassmarket
From Royal Mile take George IV Bridge Street and you’ll find Victoria Street. It’s the famous winding C shaped street of colorful shops that inspired Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley and make sure to wander inside of the Museum Context – the famous Harry Potter gift shop. The famous Elephant House is now on this street. Unfortunately the original Elephant House suffered a catastrophic fire and has not been able to reopen. You can find the famous storefront further down on George IV Bridge Street.
Victoria Street ends at the Grassmarket with a row of Inns and taverns, spend the afternoon bar on a bar crawl. Try a traditional Scottish Cranachan at The Last Drop, named because condemned prisoners would drink their last drink at this pub before being taken to the gallows outside. Enjoy Edinburgh’s best Sticky Toffee Pudding at The White Hart – Edinburgh’s oldest pub dating back to 1516. Skip Cold Town House, its known for its amazing rooftop view of Edinburgh Castle, however the view is now obscured by two large ferris wheel pods. Do wait in line for Edinburgh’s most popular ice cream shop Mary’s Milk Bar and walk up The Vennel Steps afterwards to enjoy a beautiful view of Edinburgh Castle.
Stockbridge & Dean Village
If you have a few days in Edinburgh, I encourage you to explore outside of the city centre and the Royal Mile. Stockbridge has a quaint village atmosphere and is only a ten minute walk from Edinburgh city centre. Circus Lane is the biggest tourist attraction in Stockbridge and can get pretty busy with Instagrammers. There are so many cafes and eateries in Stockbridge it can be hard to choose. You must try a Cardamum Bun at Söderberg and a Clotted Cream Scone from Mimi’s Cafe. Sip a drink at The Raeburn, The Last Word or St Vincent’s Bar. Try lunch at Hamiltons or dinner at Scran and Scallie – the menu here is from Michelin chef Tom Kitchin.
Don’t miss my favorite spot in Stockbridge – I.J. Mellis, pickup some cheese from the experts there, grab a bottle of Prosecco from Vino and head down to the Water of Leith walk for a quick picnic. Follow the walkway to Edinburgh’s most popular photo spot among locals and tourists: Dean Village. It is iconic and has serious fairytale vibes. Plus you can enjoy a coffee and scone from the famous Edinburgh Coffee Bike.
Arthur’s Seat & Sheep Head Pub
For another uniquely Edinburgh experience spend the morning hill walking on Arthur’s Seat. It is an easy walk but make sure to bring a windbreaker because the wind in Scotland is a beast. The walk begins by St Margaret’s Loch and you’ll see St Anthony’s chapel ruins above it in the background. Following the path up the hill you’ll pass by another small Loch and you can follow the paved path around Arthur’s Seat and back to the parking lot or take the small wooden path down to grab a pint at Sheep Head Inn – its a must see because it is the oldest drinking establishment in Edinburgh, dating back to 1360. Be sure to grab a scone at Dr. Neil’s Garden and explore Duddingston Kirk.
Nearby Castles
In addition to Edinburgh Castle, there are so many Castles and adventures nearby to visit. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Lauriston Castle
- Blackness Castle & Highland Cows (Ginger Highland Coos are my absolute favorite!)
- Rosslyn Castle
- Craigmillar Castle
- Stirling Castle & The Kelpies (A 1 hour drive north)
- Tantallon Castle & Puffin Tour (A 45 minute drive east)
- Alnwick Castle (A 2 hour drive south and is actually in Northern England but a must see for Harry Potter fans!)
LOVE WHAT YOU SEE? – Let’s connect!
Hope you enjoyed the article and learned about a few new places. Edinburgh was one of my favorite travel locations and is now my home. I am so thankful for the wonderful people that hire me and support my passion! If you’re thinking about taking Edinburgh engagement or family photos (or if you’re looking for a romantic place to propose), I’d love to be your photographer. Fill out the contact form on my website, and let’s make memories!
…
EASY NAVIGATION Wedding Info | Blog | Contact
…
RELATED BLOGS:
How to prepare for an Engagement Session
How to prepare for a Family Session
How to prepare for a Maternity Session
0 COMMENTS