Edinburgh

Days Out: Beaches in Edinburgh

1 Jun 2009

Long summer days mean that there is plenty time to escape the city and head for sandy beaches and salty shores. Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside… Here’s our guide to Edinburgh’s best beaches.

The best beaches near Edinburgh

Pease Bay, West Sands, Yellowcraigs and Gullane beach among highlights

16 Feb 2011

Whether you want to surf, have a bracing walk or just enjoy the long summer days, Edinburgh’s coastal location means that a number of stunning beaches are easily accessible for a day trip. For great surfing head to Pease Bay, just down the coast from…

Top five Michelin-starred restaurants in Edinburgh

The Kitchin, Martin Wishart, The Plumed Horse, Number One and 21212

16 Feb 2011

1: The Kitchin The menu here reflects chef/owner Tom Kitchin’s passion for locally-sourced Scottish produce with French interpretations. One of Edinburgh’s A-list restaurants, it won its accolade just six months after opening in the summer of 2006…

Edinburgh gets first IMAX screen

Cineworld Fountain Park to launch IMAX cinema with Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

20 Dec 2011

Cineworld Fountain Park is to introduce Edinburgh's first IMAX screen from 21 December. The new cinema promises, 'ground-breaking, crystal clear digital projection, cutting edge audio technology and one of the largest screens around'. With 3D…

Glasgow Vs Edinburgh: The Verdict

22 Apr 2010

It all boils down to this. How do the two cities line-up over eight key categories? We give our final opinions The Culture Glasgow + A near endless sea of artistic talent, with bleeding-edge creatives elbow-to-elbow with peerless arts…

The best shops in Edinburgh for cashmere, tweed, knits and tartan

Some of the world’s finest textiles come from Scotland

16 Feb 2011

See-You-Jimmy hats and kilt towels are all good fun, but if you want the real deal sartorial souvenir from Scotland, it’s got to be cashmere, tweed, knits and tartan. So give the trashy tourist haunts on the High Street a swerve and head instead for the…

A guide to the best ghost tours of haunted Edinburgh

The best of the spooky and haunted side of the historic Scottish capital

16 Feb 2011

In the words of Robert Louis Stevenson, one of Edinburgh’s most famous literary sons, ‘Only a few inches separate the living from the dead.’ And nowhere is that more true than in the Old Town. From Burke and Hare to Half-Hangit Maggie, the city has more…

Where to find traditional music nights in Edinburgh

The venues full of traditional live Scottish music every night of the week

16 Feb 2011

Every night of the week, the walls of the Royal Oak bar reverberate to the sound of live music, most of it with a Scottish, folk and traditional flavour. Long a focal point for folk music in the city, this cosy little bar also attracts other acoustic…

Beer Gardens in Edinburgh

1 Jun 2009

Gardens and beer, two words we like for themselves - but we like them even more when they are put together. So, in honour of summer, here’s our guide to Edinburgh’s top beer gardens.

Edinburgh's Beltane Fire Festival marks 25th anniversary

Carnival of fire and light with roots in mythology

5 Apr 2012

2012 marks the 25th anniversary of Edinburgh’s Beltane festival. Over 12,000 revellers are expected to attend the event on Calton Hill as the Beltane Fire Society marks the passage from Spring into Summer. This Carnival of Fire and Light takes place on…

The best golf courses in Edinburgh

Edinburgh and East Lothian courses include Musselburgh Links, Turnhouse, Gullane and Muirfield

16 Feb 2011

The game of golf got its first written mention in 1457, when King James II was so worried that his subjects were busy playing golf rather than practicing their archery that he issued an act of parliament, banning the game, with severe penalties for all…

The best independent shops and designer boutiques in Edinburgh

From Harvey Nichols and Iain Mellis to Analogue Books and Demijohn

16 Feb 2011

Multrees Walk is the place to go if you want to splash the cash – Edinburgh’s high-end designer shops all rub their expensive shoulders together in one street. Harvey Nichols is here – it has five floors of designer goodies including womenswear…

Free Wi-Fi access in Edinburgh

8 Jul 2008

Edinburgh is a very easy place to access free Wi-Fi internet access. With many people currently planning their trip to the city for festival season or a holiday, we are aiming to build a comprehensive guide to the free Wi-Fi hotspots. You can see the…

The best parks and green spaces in Edinburgh

Extinct volcanoes, hidden gardens and urban parks in the capital

16 Feb 2011

Edinburgh is a capital blessed with an abundance of green spaces, from extinct volcanoes to hidden gardens – all ideal spots to take time out and recharge your batteries

Boat trips from Edinburgh to the islands in the Firth of Forth

Isle of May, Bass Rock and Inchcolm Island by boat

16 Feb 2011

The Firth of Forth, separating Edinburgh and the Lothians from Fife, is well known for its abundant wildlife and beautiful scenery, and is best experienced by taking a trip out on the water.

The rough guide to Portobello, Edinburgh's seaside

Neighbourhood Watch: The best bits by the beach

24 Mar 2011

What’s it like? An utterly charming, slightly wonky area of Edinburgh, characterised by the city’s only beach and a very distinct, anti-corporate local community ethos. Formerly the holiday destination of most Central Belters, a lack of investment in…

The Scottish clothes designers making a name for themselves

Jonathan Saunders, Christopher Kane, Deryck Walker and Holly Fulton

16 Feb 2011

Scotland has always been at the head of cutting-edge design – and today’s selection is just as good

The historical events that shaped Edinburgh

An overview of Edinburgh's history provides further insight into Scotland's capital

16 Feb 2011

In prehistoric times, our ancient ancestors hunted and farmed on the plain between the Forth and the Pentland Hills, and settled on the heights of Castle Rock and Arthur’s Seat, strengthening these rocky outcrops with primitive ramparts. Later, in the…

A guide to the architecture and design of Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s architecture from medieval tenements to the ultra-modern

16 Feb 2011

Should you happen past Enric Miralles’ Scottish Parliament building at the foot of the Royal Mile and hear raised voices from a group of otherwise peaceful-looking types, don’t be surprised. It’ll just be yet another architectural tour that has…

Why the best way to discover the beautiful city of Edinburgh is on foot

A guide to the best walking tours of Scotland's capital

16 Feb 2011

Wandering around a city without a map can either turn up serendipitous gems or leave you hopelessly lost and frustrated with none of your must-see list ticked off. That’s when it’s a good idea to enlist the help of a walking tour guide who’ll whisk you…

Edinburgh's Pentland hills offers great walking and cycling

Routes for walking, cycling, wildlife, fishing and even skiing

16 Feb 2011

Easily accessible by car or public transport, the Pentland hills are enjoyed by thousands of visitors who come every year for the walking, cycling, wildlife, fishing and even skiing. There are information centres providing maps and visitors’ guides…

The best places to go horse riding near Edinburgh

Plenty of choice for places to explore the area on horseback

16 Feb 2011

Whether you’re an experienced rider or a complete novice, there’s plenty of choice in and around the city for saddling up and exploring the local area on horseback For sightseeing with a difference, try trekking at Tower Farm Riding Stables in…

How the capital sound of Edinburgh's music scene is rising

31 Mar 2010

For a long time it’s felt as though Edinburgh’s music scene has had to play second fiddle to its cooler, bigger West Coast brother, picking up on Glasgow’s trends and regularly borrowing its records, its clothes and a little of its cachet. But while the…

Site Specifics: Edinburgh Castle

14 May 2009

What is it? Do I really have to answer this? It’s that gigantic castle thing on a rock dominating your capital city. Yeah, we know Look, it may seem like rather an obvious choice, but really, when was the last time you actually visited? May is the…

Shops: £20 outfit

1 Dec 2008

Edinburgh is a hot bed of little boutiques selling one-off items. They are also often referred to as charity shops and on the £20 outfit challenge they become my best friend, as we bond over woollen knits and dainty brooches. ‘We’ve just had a delivery…