Well, more like a bank holiday trip which consisted of sightseeing, Fringe festival, and alcohol. In my August monthly musings, I did briefly touch up on my trip to Edinburgh but here’s a full blog post on what I did there exactly. Suffering from long covid at the time, there were activities that I wasn’t fit enough to do. Even just walking around did exhaust me but I paced myself and took frequent breaks without pushing myself too much. It was enough to work on my stamina and endurance.
It’s a hilly city and the best way around Edinburgh is on foot. The train journey was around 2.5 hours and I arrived at Haymarket where I was staying. Haymarket is an area west of the city, buzzing with cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs, and to get to the town center was around 15-20 minutes walk. Public transport is an option too with the trains, trams and buses, it’s well connected. If you’re looking for an area that’s not in the city center yet and don’t want to be too far away, this would be the one for you.
Day 1, we rested since we both arrived late afternoon. Relaxed, freshened up then went for dinner and explored locally. Day 2 was where the adventures began.
Day 2 – Edinburgh Castle & Exploration
Edinburgh Castle was first on the list and is the first tourist site I think of when I hear “Edinburgh”. It’s sat on top of a hill and you cannot miss it whatsoever when on level ground. Must I say, the views from the castle are absolutely impeccable. Not only do you see the city and the contrast between the old and new town, but you can also see the sea and Fife across the sea.
The gun went off at 1pm which I had totally missed as I was still looking around the castle. It was loud enough to hear but watching it would have been an amazing experience to see. Remember this if you’re planning on visiting and want to see this. I would recommend booking the tickets in advance as they do sell out quickly and there are limited amounts of tickets at the door on the day, especially if you are going during peak time.
There is a lot to see in the castle from the national war museum, crown jewels, the great hall etc. You can easily spend 2-3 hours here, soaking it all in. Did I mention the view of Edinburgh was spectacular?
For the rest of the day, we explored the city, encountering different street acts, admiring the gothic architecture and just embracing the atmosphere. FYI, the Royal Mile is rammed during Fringe Festival. Well, the city centre is rammed during this time, lively for sure. The Old Town is stunning with its preserved centuries-old buildings and narrow alleys.
In the evening, we watched two shows, Chloe Petts: Transience and Jamali Maddix: King Crud. These are the first stand-up comedy shows I’ve ever been and loved them both.
Day 3 – Gin Tasting Experience & Calton Hill
I can’t leave without doing some sort of alcohol-tasting experience and as a gin lover myself, Edinburgh Gin at their distillery was the one. Our guide was bloody amazing (sadly, I can’t remember his name, sad face). He was engaging, passionate, informative and hilarious in his storytelling. I’ve learnt about the history of gin, the distillation process and had a tour of the room, and tasted several gins with and without the different tonics and garnishes. Straight gin wasn’t the one, not sure if anyone in the group liked it for that matter. If you’re a gin lover, this is a must-do!
Edinburgh Gin Distillery Tasting Experience
Edinburgh Gin Distillery
1A Rutland Place
Edinburgh
EH1 2AD
Price – £25
Website & Booking
edinburghgin.com
We continued to explore the city, watch more street performances and relax. Since I wasn’t fit enough to hike Arthur’s Seat, Calton Hill was a good alternative for me. It’s a great location to watch the sunset over the city and there are a few monuments that stand out in the city. Plus it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The final act of the bank holiday was watching Cirque Berserk in the evening. I have no words. I could hear the wows, surprises and laughter. It’s one for all ages and a great family show.
Fringe Festival
You may have noticed I’ve mentioned Fringe Festival here and there in this post. If you’re not aware, it is where art and culture from around the world come to show you their creativity on some sort of stage. With a multitude of acts (big names and upcoming artists) over the course of 3 weeks in August, suiting all ages and tastes, you’ll be able to find acts you like, both free and paid. Some big names started off here so it’s interesting to see their starts. It’s my first time visiting and I want to visit again. Gosh, there seem to be a lot of firsts in this post. Let’s round this post off with me saying, you must attend Fringe Festival at least once in your life.
Fringe Festival
Location
All around Edinburgh
Dates
August every year, lasting 3 weeks
Price
Varies
Website & Bookings
edfringe.com
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