Mentioned by 10Best
Best Free Things to Do in Edinburgh: Save Money, Have Fun
"Once you escape the jail, why not take in something every bit as fascinating but a little more relaxed, elegant and stylish, such as the Smith Art Gallery & Museum. The treasury of objects and paintings all reflect the culture of the town and the county. Any visit to Stirling is enriched by time spent here, surrounded by portraits of Bonnie Prince Charlie, William Wallace and other notable figures, and astonishing artefacts such as the oldest football (from 1540) and oldest curling stone (1511) on the planet."
"The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum is a treasure house of Stirling’s history, art and artefacts. Scottish history collections, fine art and archaeology are used in the main display, called ‘The Stirling Story’, which explores the history of the town over the past Millennium (entry is free)."
"The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art — also known as "Modern One" — is another must-visit for art enthusiasts. Here, you'll find displays of paintings by Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso; surrealistic works by Rene Magritte, Joan Miró, and Max Ernst; and contemporary paintings by Bruce McLean, Callum Innes, and Gwen Hardie. The gallery is also well-known for its impressive collection of sculptures."
"Split between two buildings on either side of Belford Road, Modern One and Modern Two, the gallery houses the nation's collection of modern and contemporary art. Modern Two, previously the Dean Gallery, was built as an orphanage. An austere structure, it's home to a large collection of Dada and Surrealist art, and a collection of the works of Sir Eduardo Paolozzi."
"You can explore Leith and visit the Trinity House Maritime Museum, stroll along the Water of Leith Walkway or see the latest exhibits on display at the National Gallery of Modern Art."
"This space is a working studio, gallery, non-profit organisation and shop. It's the first open-access printmaking studio in Britain, and has been going strong since 1967. Visitors can watch artists at work, see an exhibition, attend a lecture or buy original prints, books, jewellery and other splendid stuff in the shop."
"A visit to Perth Museum and Art Gallery is sure to spruce up your socials. The building itself is a grand sight to see and actually dates back to the 1800s making it one of the UK’s oldest museums. Step inside and you’ll find interactive exhibitions, ancient fossils and heaps of knowledge on Perth’s local history."
"Located right near the West Bridge, the Perth Museum and Art Gallery is filled with beautiful photographs and art displays. Learn local history at the Beginnings Gallery or partake in one of the in-gallery activities geared towards families."
"This elegant neoclassical building, based on the Pantheon in Rome, houses one of the oldest purpose-built museums in Britain. There's a varied range of exhibits covering the city's history and natural..."
"The grounds of 17th-century Bonnington House, 10 miles west of Edinburgh, have been lovingly converted by owners and art patrons Robert and Nicky Wilson into a gorgeous, landscaped sculpture park. Meadows and woodland showcase works – many of them specially commissioned – by a clutch of Britain's leading artists, including Antony Gormley, Anish Kapoor, Cornelia Parker and Nathan Coley, anchored by the the vast landscape sculpture Cells of Life by Charles Jencks. A varied events program includes tours every Wednesday at 10.30am."
"The beautiful grounds of a Jacobean manor house have been transformed by an art-loving couple, Robert and Nicky Wilson, into an impressive…"
"Established way back in 1962, this affordable veggie restaurant sits pretty on a sloping New Town terrace, a stroll away from Princes Street. Diners queue to have their plates piled high with salads, quiche, vegetarian haggis, crepes and more, followed by surprisingly indulgent puddings. Hendersons runs a deli upstairs from the basement restaurant, as well as a couple of vegan offshoots elsewhere in town, but – especially when there’s live jazz on a Friday night – the homey cosy vibe makes the Salad Table in particular an Edinburgh stand-out."
"Henderson's is a well-known and very popular vegetarian restaurant on Hanover Street but they also have a presence in the west end under St. John's church on the corner of Lothian Road and Princes Street. This fantastic location caters for up to 80 people in an atmospheric, barrel-vaulted dining room. Whether you want a light snack and a coffee, soup and a sandwich, or a tasty veggie lunch with a glass of wine, you can find it here."
"Covid-19 alert: Currently closed and focussing on cookies and cake to order. Opening a new café in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic was always going to be a risky gambit, but the folks behind Grams seemed to have pulled it off with their latest venture: Plant Bae. With Grams now moving to Stockbridge, Plant Bae has settled into its big brother’s old digs opposite Haymarket Station."
"Avalanche Gapinski was born from a friendship between Avalanche Records owner Kevin Buckle and artist Gerry Gapinski, whose punk, dark, reimagined images of Edinburgh fitted perfectly with Kevin’s new vision for Avalanche. The shop also has prints and t-shirts from the Brazilian artist ‘Butcher Billy’ famous for his post-punk superheroes and photos with matching quotes from the award winning "Dark Edinburgh". Add in a fantastic range of vintage clothing from Armstrongs and upcycled clothing from Psychomoda, and their Waverley Mall store is a treasure trove of unique and interesting finds, spanning music, fashion, art and so much more."
"Image SourceWaverley mall is an ideal shopping destination that has direct access from both Princes Street and from Edinburgh Waverley Train Station. It has recently been renovated creating a perfect space for fashion, food, and Scottish souvenirs.Location: 3 Waverley Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1BQ, United Kingdom. Suggested Read:10 Hidden Beaches In Scotland To Spend The Most Magical Vacation Ever!"
"With direct access onto both Princes Street and into Edinburgh Waverley Train Station, Waverley Mall is an ideally located shopping destination. It's the perfect place to stop by for fashion, food and a last minute Scottish souvenir before catching your train."
"Located at the east end of Princes Street, you’ll find the newest edition to Edinburgh’s shopping centres – St James Quarter. From beauty to clothing, electronics to footwear, this 4-storey centre covers 1.7 million square feet and includes restaurants, cafés, bars, shops, public spaces and leisure venues. A Roomzzz aparthotel where guests can stay for one night, one week, or even up to a year, as well as Edinburgh’s first boutique Everyman cinema will open during future phases."
"Ocean Terminal is designed by Sir Terence Conran in the heart of Edinburg occupying 45000 sqm space for shopping and recreation. What makes it one of the best shopping malls in Edinburgh is that not only does it have more than 75 shopping stores such as Debenhams and Charlie Miller, but it as well as has bars, restaurants, and even a gym!. There is also a cineplex inside the mall with 12 theatres!"
"Ocean Terminal is located in the Leith area of Edinburgh on the city's waterfront. The huge modern shopping centre has free parking and is ideal for dining, shopping and cinema goers. Inside, Ocean Terminal has a VUE Cinema and numerous shops, restaurants and cafes."
"We are going to explore Leith today, so we’ll hop on the bus towards Ocean Terminal and get off near Roseleaf Bar and Cafe. The dish to order here is the Yin or full Scottish breakfast with sausage, black pudding, bacon, and haggis."
"Just a short 10-minute drive from Straits Meadow, Novapizza is the first meat-free Italian restaurant and pizzeria in Edinburgh!. Their vegan pizza is made in-house with their signature dough and offers bags of different flavours. There’s nothing better than a few moreish slices of pizza whilst watching a movie in your accommodation and Novapizza offers light, tasty pizzas for a great price!"
"And when Dan and I craved some good old fashioned greasy and unhealthy pizza, Novapizza was the ultimate answer. No doubt, it more than satiated our need!. As simply a restaurant with vegan options in Edinburgh, we expected an “eh” pizza with vegan cheese that doesn’t really taste like cheese and a minuscule amount of vegetable toppings since we’re “veggies”…"
"Novapizza is a legendary vegetarian Italian restaurant on edge of Stockbridge and the New Town, about a 10-15 minute walk from the city centre. While it is technically a vegetarian restaurant, most of the menu is vegan, or can be made suitable for vegans. They also have an option of a gluten-free pizza crust."