Mentioned by Lonely Planet
Must see attractions in Edinburgh, Scotland
"Edinburgh's gallery of modern art is split between two impressive neoclassical buildings surrounded by landscaped grounds some 500m west of Dean Village. As well as showcasing a stunning collection of paintings by the popular, post-Impressionist Scottish Colourists – in Reflections, Balloch, Leslie Hunter pulls off the improbable trick of making Scotland look like the south of France – the gallery is the starting point for a walk along the Water of Leith. Fees apply for some exhibitions."
"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."
"Out of the Blue operates out of a former army drill hall that has been transformed into a full-blown cultural hub, playing host to a range of public events and artists’ studios. Their monthly flea market (last Saturday of the month from 10am to 3pm) is an all-ages event with a cornucopia of handcrafted goodies from local artists: bric-a-brac, vintage vinyl, fashion, musical instruments, antiques, furniture and indescribable one-off gems. The in-house social enterprise café keeps shoppers fuelled with seasonal snacks and organic baking."
"Address: St. Andrew Place, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 7EG, Scotland, UK Tel: +44 (0)131 667 6064 Located on the north-eastern side of the city and close to the Leith Campus of the Queen Margaret University College, the Hindu Mandir and Sanskritik Kendra was previously better known as St. Andrew's Church. This temple is now one of the city's most successful community centres and regularly plays host to a series of lively festivals throughout the year."
"The Physicians' Gallery is a free public exhibition space which is part of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. Our exhibitions are based on the wealth of historical medical material which the College has collected over the last 300 years. ‘Moonstruck: 500 years of mental health’ is our new free exhibition– opening on 14 June 2019 and running until Spring 2020"
"The exceptionally rated24 Royal Terrace Hotel hotel that is home to a carefully curated collection of art, cool bedrooms, and a smart bar, centrally located in the city’s leafy Royal Terrace. Interesting interiors feature a black and white chessboard floor leading to a red carpet staircase, as well as boldly coloured walls almost completely covered with contemporary and classic works of art. Bedrooms at this beautiful Edinburgh boutique hotel are stylish and comfortable with plenty of traditional tweeds, and tiled bathrooms with soaker showers are modern and practical."
"Located on Edinburgh’s most prestigious Georgian terrace, rt’s is the bar for 24 Royal Terrace, a boutique hotel housed in a William Playfair-designed townhouse. The Georgian setting works well with the multi-million pound modern refurbishment and makes rt’s quite exceptional. Hung with an ever changing collection of contemporary Scottish paintings as well as both Modern British and Aboriginal art, rt’s features an extensive whisky collection and its own house Champagne."
"Edinburgh Waverley is the perfect blend of old and new, with areas dating back to the 1800s and other sections being constantly expanded, developed and changed. Travellers are welcomed to Scotland’s capital with stunning arches, and can walk out straight onto Princes Street beneath a glass ceiling which offers a perfect view of the Edinburgh sky. As well as being the primary link between Edinburgh and the rest of the UK, the station is also one of several links between the Old Town and the New Town — bringing people together in many different ways."
"Located under North Bridge, between the Old and New Towns, the zigzagging rooftop of Waverley Station – Edinburgh’s main railway station – is another iconic feature of the city’s architecture. Its vast glass roof makes the interior light and open (provided the weather cooperates) making the first impression of Edinburgh a pleasant one."
"The plans to construct an iconic city hall in Edinburgh were sparked in 1896 by Andrew Usher, renowned whisky distiller, who promised to fund the project. In 1914, Usher Hall was built by architects Stockdale Harrison and Howard H Thomson, a magnificent and classical beaux-arts-style concert hall which stood in defiance against the Victorian Gothic architecture so commonly found within the city of Edinburgh. Situated on Lothian Road in the west of the capital, Usher Hall is instantly recognizable with its curved walls, geometric precision and intriguing exterior design, featuring famous Scots such as Sir Walter Scott and Robert Burns."
"Usher Hall is Edinburgh’s premier concert venue and a must-visit for fans of entertainment and culture. The hall was built in 1914 and features beautiful architecture, including a curved exterior decorated with panels of famous figures such as Sir Walter Scott and Mozart. The hall has historically been used for a variety of events, including concerts, political events, and sporting events."
"This sophisticated restaurant in Edinburgh’s West End is warm and atmospheric. Go at lunchtime for the two-course lunch menu, or order from the à la carte menu at dinner. Start off with a kir royale to sip on as you peruse the menu, which is chock-full of seasonal seafood and fresh ingredients, and then move on to a bottle of Beaujolais."
"There are a number of buffet style Chinese restaurants in Edinburgh, but China Red is arguably the best. With an absolutely massive range of dishes, even the pickiest diner will find something to their taste, and their high tech buffet tables ensure the hot dishes remain hot and the chilled dishes nice and cool. The range includes all of the classics you would expect with numerous seafood and vegetarian offerings as well."
"China Red is a buffet restaurant, so slightly different to the other options featured on this list. And you don't have to spend too much time scrolling through reviews before finding one very satisfied customer who described the place as the "best Chinese buffet I've ever been to". They add: "I usually find buffet food all tastes quite bland and samey, but the chicken curry was so tasty and the noodles were amazing."
"Why: Often, Chinese food is associated with buffets, and although buffets are – in our not so humble opinion – one of life’s little wonders, they sometime get a negative (and unfair) reputation. Not at China Red’s two Edinburgh sites, though. The buffets are loved by the locals and we can understand why with a regularly changing menu and neatly presented desserts."