City Guides, Anna Docherty

Edinburgh: International Storytelling Festival

With the literature celebration coming up, we explore why everyone loves a good story

There are few people who can turn down an intimate offer of: ‘Can I tell you a story?’ They can be fanciful, creepy, true-to-life or utterly ridiculous tales – but, then, it’s not so much the content we thrive on, it’s the physical and emotional act of…

Edinburgh: Riding of the Marches

History on horseback

There are many areas of the city that you can easily walk by without really realising their historical importance. But if a great big shiny-maned horse was to suddenly step into view and offer to teach you something about Edinburgh’s history, you’d…

Edinburgh: The Illuminated Car Parade

Pimping that ride

We all get car envy every now and again: cars that are extra shiny, ones with futuristic looking lights or those extra special ones that are two-tone and seem to shimmer like diamonds. But the ones on show at Edinburgh’s first Illuminated Art Car Parade…

Edinburgh: Food From Home

Where to get your country's culinary treats

If you’re feeling homesick, there’s nothing like one of your favourite foods from home to perk you up. Anna Docherty tells you where to find them in Edinburgh. A&W Root Beer, Mike and Ike, Cola Cao, Biltong

Ceilidh Culture

Ceilidhs are cool. There, I’ve said it; now it’s a fact. Seriously though, ceilidhs do seem to be slowly creeping into popular culture and are no longer regarded as something twee and refined to the Highlands and rickety old village halls, with triangle…

Sweet treats

It nearly caused the untimely end of Augustus Gloop ‘the greedy great big nincompoop’ in Roald Dahl’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and it’s the downfall of many a good-intentioned diet. We are of course talking about chocolate. There’s…

Polish Cultural Festival

We all like to think we’re a bit cultured and sometimes wistfully view life as an exercise in collecting wisdom. But being able to say ‘hello’ in more than three languages and knowing your way around a subtitled film isn’t quite going to win you any…

Shopping Hitlist

Herman Brown The Grassmarket has a fair few vintage shops, but Herman Brown’s is the cream of the crop. There’s no dodgy fancy-dress attire here, only cherry picked gems, meaning there’s less chance of leaving with some ridiculous item that looks like…

Books: Lost in Fiction

Every self respecting traveller needs a book in their backpack and being seen flicking through a battered copy of Jane Ayre will make you way cooler than if you were reading a pristine edition of the latest Harry Potter novel. Don't worry if you…

The Midgie Ghost Walk

Perhaps it’s the winding closes and shadowy alleyways that furrow through the Old Town, or maybe it’s the penetrating coastal mists that can descend at a moment’s notice. Whatever it is, there’s no denying that in certain lights Edinburgh can seem…

Monster Mash

On the doorstep is a perfectly round, speckled potato, wet with autumn rain. This unnoticed spillage is a reminder that Monster Mash make all their mash from scratch; there is no powdered potato allowed anywhere near this kitchen. I gently tap on the…

Edinburgh Bars and Pubs Hitlist

Auld Reekie's best drinking spots

Edinburgh Attraction Hitlist

The Castle Museum Edinburgh Castle stands proud as one of the city’s most iconic landmarks and has more than a few historical tales to tell. Castlehill (E4), 0131 225 9846, www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk, open daily 9.30am-5pm, £12 (£9.50), child £6…

Edinburgh Tours Hitlist

Trainspotting: The Tour This tour steers clear of steam powered transport and instead takes you round the places featured in the iconic film, which naturally includes a fair few drinking establishments. Departs Port o’ Leith, Constitution Street…

See you in the pub

If you’re on a budget, and most likely you are, then there are ways to save or even make money on a night out as Edinburgh pubs will let you gamble, quiz and sing your way to fame and riches - or at least a couple of shandies.

Edinburgh Shopping Hitlist

The Fudge Kitchen Outside this sweetly twee little shop there is usually a big sign inviting you in for free fudge tasting - you probably won’t need asking twice. 30 High Street (F4), 0131 558 1517, www.fudgekitchen.co.uk "> www.fudgekitchen.co.uk…