Six Good Reasons to Visit Edinburgh This Year*

*Collaborative piece. The spending money was gifted by Hotels.com, but all views are my own.

Every year I say I’m going to make more of an effort to explore the UK, but then never get around to doing it. This year that’s going to change and I really a going to see more. Most people cannot wait to jet off abroad where they’re almost guaranteed beautiful sunshine and white sandy beaches, I’m among them. However, it means I’ve reached the ripe old age of 31 without hardly seeing anywhere. This has got to change. So I’m taking a stand, I’m going to see more places closer to home and I hope it’ll make some of you want to do the same. I’m going to put together these handy wee guides giving you reasons to visit each place, and today I’m starting with Edinburgh.

I’m lucky enough to live close enough to Edinburgh that I can pop there for the day, but if you don’t, you can always make it a staycation. There are loads of hotels in Edinburgh to choose from, whether you like a nice modern chain or something a bit more eclectic, there is definitely something out there for you.

And in the same vein, I truly believe there is something for everyone in the city itself;

If you have kids… Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
As much as my daughter loves travelling, she’s really not of the age where she enjoys city breaks (although I am desperate to take her to New York). I’ve tried taking her to museums and she lasts about an hour, she will pose in front of landmarks, but lets face it, she’d still rather go to Disney. However, I finally visited Camera Obscura and World of Illusions which is conveniently situated up by the castle (if you fancy doing both in one day). At the top you get an amazing view of the castle and a show telling you all about the Camera Obscura itself (the guides make it fun for kids) and then the next three floors are fun interaction exhibits that kids will spend ages playing with. Even I had fun! It’s a great place to go especially if you end up in Edinburgh on one of the many rainy days they have, welcome to Scotland!

If you like good food… Cockburn Street
Cockburn Street is one of my favourite streets in the whole of Edinburgh and it’s just a stones throw away from Waverly Station. It’s a long hill lined with unusual shops and small restaurants and cafes to suit all tastes. A personal favourite, and new find, is Viva Mexico that has really authentic food and a great atmosphere. I personally find it so hard to find good Mexican food in the UK and this was some of the best. It’s really well priced and I ate tortilla soup and a coke for less than £6. You can’t get a better lunchtime price in the city centre than that. If Mexican isn’t your thing there are coffee shops, an Italian, a Mediterranean and even a baked potato shop!

If you’re a little quirky.. Grassmarket
Ever since I was in my late teens and I used to start coming to Edinburgh on my own, Grassmarket has been my favourite area. There are some great pubs, restaurants, cafes and shops that are all a little different and much more unique than what you’d find in the New Town area. I always pop into Armstrongs which is an AMAZING vintage shop and I have definitely found some wonderful key pieces for my wardrobe in there over the years. And I recently discovered Mary’s Milk Bar which is the sweetest little parlour that does coffees, hot chocolate and amazing ice cream. I 100% recommend a hot chocolate float, I had it with violet ice cream!

If you like history… Old Town
The Old Town area of Edinburgh is amazing and steeped in history! Not only do they have a fully intact castle but they have loads of signs telling you what happened on that spot. There are loads of walking tours available if history is your thing, or you can go on a tour yourself. I absolutely love wandering around Old Town and looking things up on my phone. Edinburgh truly has a fascinating history. You can visit Greyfriars Churchyard and learn about this famous dog who sat beside his owners gave for years. You can have a drink at Deacon Brodie’s Tavern and learn all about his infamous life and death.

If you’re a shopaholic… Princes Street
So history and quirkiness isn’t you thing, FEAR NOT, Edinburgh has a lot to offer in the New Town area including theatres, cinemas, restaurants and a huge long street of shops. You can start at one end and work your way along hitting up all the big names from H&M to Primark. And if you are looking for something a bit more high end, two streets behind Princes Street runs George Street where you can find designer names and boutiques. You don’t even need to walk back to your car or the train station, just hop on the new tram line!

If you’re a Harry Potter Fan
Aside from London, there is no better city to visit than Edinburgh if you’re a Harry Potter fan. Of course, I’m not sure how much of it true but there are so many places that claim to have inspired JK Rowling when she was writing the series, and even places that she supposedly wrote some of the book like the penthouse in the Balmoral Hotel (you can also stay in the same suite for a lovely some of £3000 a night) and The Elephant House. If like me you don’t have the coin for a night in the Balmoral, The Elephant House on George IV Bridge is a great place to grab a coffee, even if it’s just to see the toilets which have been decorated by Potter fans over the years. You can visit the graves of a Tom Riddle, Moody and McGonagall in Grayfriars Churchyard and see the stunning George Heriot’s School which supposedly inspired Hogwarts (originally built as a school for orphans, like Harry himself). These days you can’t turn a corner without running into a Harry Potter themed shop that sells authentic merchandise! There is even a Harry Potter walking tour that I’ll definitely be doing this summer with LM!

If you haven’t booked a trip to Edinburgh after reading this, what are you waiting for? I personally recommend visiting in the summer when the city is a buzz with The Fringe festival, it’s truly a fantastic atmosphere!