Edinburgh is my favourite city in the Uk outside of London and I fall in love with it even more each time I go. I made my first trip around 2016 and have been back four times in total. As a city it’s going to hold a special place in my heart as it’s where me and Luke got engaged. It’s somewhere I think everyone should visit, and if you are planning a trip here are some of the top things to do in Edinburgh.
Visit Edinburgh Castle
It wouldn’t be a trip to the city without going to the castle which sits at one end of the Royal Mile. There’s so much history in the castle which you can explore alongside seeing the famous crown jewels. You can hop onto one of the guided tours which run each day and I’d highly recommend it. The tours give you a good overview of the castle, but check the times out beforehand. Each day other than Sunday the canons are sounded at 1pm and it’s a treat to see if you can make it.
Top things to do in Edinburgh- Walk the Royal Mile
If you visit the castle it only makes sense to then walk down the whole Royal Mile towards Holyrood House. It’s a lovely walk through the cobblestone streets of Edinburgh which some lovely shops as you pass. You can pick up souvenirs as you pass and a Christmas decoration at the store open all year round.
Explore Holyrood House
Once you’ve walked to the other end of the Royal Mile you should head into Holyrood House which is the Queens’ residence in Edinburgh. I’m not massively into royalty but I found it so interesting and the audio guide was just fantastic.
Walk up to Arthur’s seat
Arthur’s Seat is sat at the top of an inactive volcano and well above the main city of Edinburgh. If you fancy a good walk (or a bit of a scramble depending on your route) then this is the one for you. There are loads of ways you can reach the top and even some guides who can take you up. The very first time I headed to Edinburgh I walked up there super early to try and catch sunset. But I didn’t quite leave early enough to be at the top. It was beautiful regardless.
Top things to do in Edinburgh- Head to the Edinburgh Gin Distillery
You would be forgiven for walking right past the Edinburgh Gin Distillery as it’s located on Princes’ street but quite well hidden. But as soon as you descend the stairs you’re right in the heart of the distillery. You can book onto a basic tour which gives you a bit about the history of gin, shows you the stills and how it’s made and then you end with a G&T for only a tenner! The tours book up quickly so you’d need to book in advance. Plus there are other longer versions with more tasters, or cocktail making classes. I have done the tour three times now and I get a slightly different experience each time depending on who the guide is.
Other things to do in Edinburgh
I could be here for a long time if I spoke about every amazing thing in Edinburgh. But here are some more of the top things to do in Edinburgh
- Visit the Edinburgh Zoo home to the only pandas in the UK
- Explore places which inspired Harry Potter (J K Rowling wrote at least a portion of Harry Potter in Edinburgh)
- Grab an ice cream from Mary’s Milk Bar
- Head to the Toyal Britannia Yacht for a guided tour and lunch
- Buy and eat loads of fudge
- Take on the Scotch Whisky Experience (fun even if you’re not a whisky lover)
- Visit the Camera Obsucra and get amazing views from the top of the castle
- Head down into the underground vaults on a ghost tour
- Climb the Scott Mounment