Life & style and Travel

New Year Travel: Escape to Europe

Accommodation offers in Berlin, Rome, Instanbul and Prague

9 Jan 2012

If travelling more is one of your new year’s resolutions check out the HostelBookers.com January Sale. There are offers of accommodation with up to 50% off, making it the perfect time to embark on a European city break to give your 2012 a…

How to survive a Christmas away from home

Top tips for living an independent Christmas

22 Dec 2011

Utilise technology Why not use video calling to talk to your loved ones back at home? This way, you can visually update each other on your Christmas presents and have face-to-face conversations. Send presents Send thoughtful gifts to your…

Take a break this winter - without breaking the bank

Winter fun or winter sun?

23 Nov 2011

Whether you’re into winter sports or winter sunshine, look out for special deals and packages. Avoid school half-term and the Christmas holidays if you can, and be flexible about dates and times – flights are often cheaper mid-week or at unsociable…

Bar Crawls: Edinburgh - No Sleep Till Leith

From central Edinburgh and Leith the best way possible – by the bars

18 Nov 2011

Determining the point at which Leith Walk starts has baffled philosophers, locals and postal workers for decades. Haddington Place and Leith Street have (understandably) become subsumed within this long, iconic thoroughfare that joins Edinburgh with…

Bar Crawls: Glasgow - The Subcrawl

A truncated version of Glasgow’s infamous subway circuit

18 Nov 2011

The Subcrawl – a circular navigation of pubs nearest the 15 stops of Glasgow’s underground – is an institution not strictly for all. Many stations on the route of the city’s beloved Clockwork Orange, particularly south of the Clyde, emerge in locations…

Bar Crawls: Glasgow - The Sauchiehall Street Saunter

Making the most of Glasgow city centre drinking

18 Nov 2011

Both ‘pub crawl’ and ‘Sauchiehall Street’ can evoke images of large groups of revellers staggering from one ropey watering hole to the next, the night hurtling towards a climax of kebab sauce and lost cloakroom tickets. Well this route aims to redress…

Bar crawls: Edinburgh - The Prudent Student

A cheap and cheerful crawl from Marchmont to Grassmarket

18 Nov 2011

I have a confession to make. I’ve never really been much of a bar crawl sort of gal. The idea of systematic drinking (vb. to lash, I suppose) with a bunch of overgrown rugby boys, with their girlfriend’s underwear on as outer wear, has never really…

The best Hogmanay holiday ideas

The best ways to bring in the New Year

28 Oct 2011

Get on the farm Forget Carry on Camping, the crew at Comrie Croft in Perthshire know how to do camping in style, with this eco-friendly farmstead conversion. Located in Crieff, surrounded by gorgeous vistas, bring in the bells around a campfire…

Hogmanay holidays in Perthshire. Scotland

Ideas on how to bring in the New Year in Scotland

28 Oct 2011

You know the drill. It’s a week before Hogmanay and you’re deciding which shindig you don’t really want to go to. The local street party’s not quite doing it for you, and honestly you’d rather be anywhere but here. So where to start? Firstly, don’t…

Travel: top train trips

3 of the best places to ride the rails

22 Jul 2011

Cattle herd queues, hidden fees and draconian baggage restrictions: it seems we’ll put up with anything for a cheap escape, but while the budget airline bubble has yet to burst, you can always opt for a less stressful, more romantic way to go. Train…

Top ten ways to get in shape – and stay there!

27 Jun 2011

1. Go slow Whatever your goal, whether it’s losing weight, toning up or eating better, start slowly, says diet and fitness expert Laura Williams. “Wearing yourself out by overdoing it is unlikely to get results. You need an exercise routine and diet…

An Introduction to Cowes Week 2011

The world’s oldest sailing regatta returns

14 Apr 2011

Held in the small Isle of Wight port town of Cowes, ‘Cowes Week’ is one of the world’s oldest sailing regattas, with the first event held in 1826. Highly regarded in the yachting community, Cowes Week is considered one of the world’s premier regattas…

New direct flights to Iceland from Scotland make it a hot destination

Natural beauty, a thriving arts scene and lively night life

24 Mar 2011

Nestled down a sloping side street, trendy little tippling-hole Kaffibarinn (as featured in the film 101 Reykjavik) feels like downtown Reykjavik in miniature. Part owned by Blur’s Damon Albarn, this stylish bar area and candle-lit loft oozes the…

Win a Winter White getaway for 4 people to the Isle of Harris!

23 Feb 2011

Escape to a world of scenic Winter White beauty with a luxury break for 4 people at the stylish Hotel Hebrides. This intimate 4-star boutique hotel nestles on the harbour front of Harris’s capital, and offers sparkling white sea views at the front, and…

Area guide to the Glasgow Film Festival

Kirstin Innes helps you bring the movies to life with our GFF-themed area guide

17 Feb 2011

If you're interested in the Beyond Bollywood, Superheroes in Glasgow, Ceol's Craic or Fashion in Film strands, this is the Glasgow guide for you.

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

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…

A guide to Edinburgh Castle

The capital's most iconic landmark is a must-see for any visitor

16 Feb 2011

Castle Rock, the plug of an extinct volcano, is estimated to be 350 million years old. Archaeologists say that its grassy shoulders were the site of a settlement at least as early as 900bc, and by ad600 there was probably a feasting hall on the…

The best Scottish castles you can stay in near Edinburgh

Many Scottish castles are open to residents looking to live like royalty

16 Feb 2011

Voted favourite UK city by Condé Nast Traveller magazine in 2010, and named Britain’s best city for tourists – for the 11th year in a row – in the Guardian and Observer travel awards, you might wonder why anyone would ever want to leave the city that…

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…

Edinburgh's Royal Mile takes in hundreds of years of history and drama

A haven for tourists and the centrepoint of historic Edinburgh

16 Feb 2011

The Royal Mile begins as you leave the castle. On the right is the Scotch Whisky Experience – the perfect introduction to the history and alchemy of Scotland’s national drink – complete with a dram at the end. On the left, the tower with the…

Where to explore the world of Scotch Whisky in Edinburgh

The best single-malt whisky tastings, tours and shops

16 Feb 2011

The purpose of Scotch whisky is to give pleasure,’ says Charles MacLean in his Whiskypedia: A Gazetteer of Scotch Whisky, and Edinburgh is the place to pursue this principle. You can literally immerse yourself in a whisky barrel at the Scotch Whisky…

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…

A guide to Edinburgh's New Town

The largest example of Georgian town planning in the world

16 Feb 2011

Sitting elegantly to the north of Princes Street Gardens is Edinburgh’s grand and leafy New Town, the largest example of Georgian town planning in the world, which provides a well-ordered contrast to the chaos of the city’s medieval Old Town.

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…

Bus trips to the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh

How to explore the best of the rest of Scotland

16 Feb 2011

Edinburgh has culture, history, shops and sustenance, but there’s a whole country beyond to be explored and it would be a shame to limit a visit to Scotland to the capital alone. If you visit just one other part of the country, make it the Highlands…

Getting around Edinburgh by bus, bike and on foot

The hilly streets of Scotland's compact capital are easy to navigate

16 Feb 2011

Edinburgh’s volcanic terrain means you’re never far from a steep hill, and while getting around the city centre is simple on foot or by bike, taking a bus tour is an easy way to see the sights, especially if your time is limited. The city’s main tour…

The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh

Newly renovated NMS showcases Scottish achievements

16 Feb 2011

A country with as many scientists, inventors and explorers as Scotland needs a place to show off all its achievements – and nowhere does the job better than the newly renovated National Museum

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 Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh

Holyroodhouse is to Scotland what Buckingham Palace is to England

16 Feb 2011

Holyroodhouse is to Scotland what Buckingham Palace is to England – but it is much older, dating from a time when England’s kings still lived in the Tower of London. Holyrood Park was originally a royal hunting preserve beneath the towering crags of…

Why the Water of Leith is one of Edinburgh's best kept secrets

The 12-mile stretch of walkway through the heart of the Scottish capital

16 Feb 2011

Take a stroll along the Water of Leith and you’ll feel as if someone is watching you. That’s because they are. It’s not the occasional posse of feral youths but, rather, naked men standing knee-deep in the water, staring. Before you dial 999, however…

A guide to the best cheese shops in Edinburgh

The finest purveyors of Strathdon Blue, Dunlop Cheddar and many more Scottish cheeses

16 Feb 2011

In the popular parlour game of ‘if you had to give something up for life, what would it be?’ (Strictly Come Dancing or X Factor, partner or friends, stilettos or trainers), many have foundered over the choice between cheese or orgasms. You think it’s an…

Edinburgh's Royal Yacht Britannia gives visitors a flavour of life at sea

After 44 years in service, the royal yacht can be visited in Leith Docks

16 Feb 2011

Britannia is the one place I can truly relax,’ said the Queen of the floating home that took her and the rest of the royal family across the world’s oceans, from the North Atlantic to Antarctica, during 44 years in service. Since retiring from active…

Ratho climbing centre in Edinburgh offers world-class facilities

World’s largest indoor climbing complex is just outside Edinburgh

16 Feb 2011

If you’re in the capital looking for adventure but the windy city’s climate has you running for cover, you’ll find activities to get your adrenalin pumping at the world’s largest indoor climbing complex at Ratho. Built in an old quarry by a stretch…

Sports, activities and exercise in Edinburgh

Wide range of public sports and leisure centres in Scottish capital

16 Feb 2011

The people of Edinburgh are an active bunch, and the city has an enviable range of public sports and leisure centres that don’t cost the earth to use. The good news is that most of the facilities run by Edinburgh Leisure offer one-off classes and…

Duddingston - The village within Edinburgh

12th century village home to Sheep Heid pub and loch from Henry Raeburn painting

16 Feb 2011

Duddingston, next to Holyrood Park on the southeastern slope of Arthur’s Seat, is a pretty village that dates back to the 12th century and is a dedicated conservation area. The village’s oldest surviving building is Duddingston Kirk, which still…

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…

Farmers’ markets in Edinburgh offer the best Scottish foods

Do as the locals do and head to Edinburgh’s weekly farmers’ market

16 Feb 2011

Farmers’ markets have been held in Scotland for over ten years, and have become a mainstay of any serious foodie’s calendar. Edinburgh farmers’ market, in the shadow of the castle, is so popular it takes place every Saturday, allowing locals to make it…

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…

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.

Top five day trips to make from Edinburgh

There are many other towns and cities within easy reach of Scotland's capital

16 Feb 2011

1 North Berwick The launch of regular rail services from London in the 1880s established this seaside town as the ‘Biarritz of the North’. Today it is a great day trip, especially for golfers and families. 2 Glasgow It’s often said that Glasgow…

The five best Edinburgh viewpoints

The best high places from which to see Scotland's capital

16 Feb 2011

1. Scott Monument The largest monument to a writer in the world, the Scott Monument on Princes Street stands over 200ft high. Those fit enough to tackle the 287 steps to the top are rewarded with spectacular views over the Forth to Fife. 2.

The best attractions in Edinburgh for children

Edinburgh is a great city for travelling with children

16 Feb 2011

1 Our Dynamic Earth Just up the road from Holyrood, Our Dynamic Earth is perfect for a rainy day, with lots of interactive exhibits to keep the whole family amused. 2 National Museum of Scotland Museums may not be top of your children’s must-do…

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…

Modern day Leith is now home to Michelin-starred restaurants

Port outside Edinburgh shakes off long-held seedy reputation

16 Feb 2011

Vibrant, colourful Leith has shaken off its long-held seedy reputation in recent years to establish itself as an area of stylish urban regeneration and a must-visit destination for foodies. A world away from the seamy side of Edinburgh life…

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…

The best free and cheap things to do in Glasgow and Edinburgh

Visit a library, go for a walk, bake a cake or see some cheap theatre

21 Jan 2011

Beat the January blues with these guaranteed pick-me-ups, suggested by our writers and some friends of The List. They’re all free, or cost just a few quid, so you’ll come out of winter with your bank balance intact and a smile on your face

Travel Tips

If camping is your bag, be prepared

23 Sep 2010

Scotland has a large number of campsites to choose from, with varying degrees of facilities, so there should be something for everyone. For more information, check out www.lovecamping.co.uk. Before you head off, make sure your rucksack’s big enough…

Explore Scotland with some extra special excursions

16 Sep 2010

Take a break from big city life and go exploring the more unusual things to do around your town. Your liver will thank you.

Location, location, location

Explore the rest of bonny Scotland

16 Sep 2010

If you're itching to get out of Edinburgh or Glasgow, but don’t quite know where to start, thenlook no further for some great deals, by bus andtrain, throughout Scotland. Check out special bus offers from Citylink, whose £5 Super Single tickets can get…