Mentioned by cityexplorerstours.com
20 Essential Edinburgh Sights | Best Attractions in Edinburgh
"Address: Canongate, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH8 8BN, Scotland, UK Tel: +44 (0)131 226 5138 The Canongate Kirk is situated within the Old Town area of Edinburgh and is a particularly attractive building, being located just across from the Museum of Edinburgh and close to the university campus. This church serves as the place of worship for the Royal family when they are staying in the area and is steeped in history. Built in 1688, attractions include stunning architecture, classical music concerts and choir recitals."
"I suggest a late lunch after you explore the charming, cobbled streets of this historic area and experience some street performers, Canongate Kirkyard (Adam Smith is buried here), Dunbar Close, St. Giles Cathedral, and eventually Edinburgh Castle itself, all the way at the top of the Royal Mile (Be sure to book your Edinburgh Castle skip the line tickets in advance). The charm and beauty of Edinburgh, Scotland never cease to amaze me."
"The Canongate Kirk is a relatively simple building at the bottom of the Royal Mile. The church has many royal connections: in 1952, recently crowned Queen Elizabeth II was the first reigning monarch to visit while her granddaughter, Zara Philips, married here in 2011. Take a look at the coats of arms on the front two pews - these are the Royal Pew and the Castle Pew, reserved for visitors from the Royal family or Edinburgh Castle."
"Located at the foot of Edinburgh Castle, St Cuthbert’s Parish Church is the spire you can see poking through the Edinburgh skyline whenever you see panoramic pictures of Edinburgh Castle itself. Expect to hear the Church’s ten bells on Sunday mornings and see beautiful wall paintings, stained glass windows and an organ built in 1899. Child friendly: yes, but no particular activities are available for them on a regular basis Address: St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, 5 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH1 2EP Opening hours for visitors: Tue to Thu 10am – 3pm More information here."
"Address: Lothian Road, Edinburgh, EH1 2EP, Scotland, UK Tel: +44 (0)131 229 1142 St. Cuthbert's stands alongside the West Princes Street Gardens and just up from the Royal Lyceum Theatre, where it was built on the remains of six previous historic churches. Visitors will be able to admire a stunning marble pulpit, colourful stained-glass windows, war memorials and an Italian Renaissance-style interior."
"Many years may have passed since Dan Brown's novel The Da Vinci Code and the subsequent film came out, but floods of visitors still descend on Scotland's most beautiful and enigmatic church – Rosslyn Chapel. Built in the mid-15th century for Sir William St Clair, third prince of Orkney, its ornately carved interior – at odds with the architectural fashion of its time – is a monument to the mason's art, rich in symbolic imagery. Hourly talks by qualified guides are included with admission."
"On Day 2, venture outside of the capital to see some of Scotland’s other historic sites, such as Rosslyn Chapel (a fifteenth-century chapel that is also one of the settings in The Da Vinci Code). Overnight in Edinburgh."
"Address: 28 Manor Place / Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, EH12 5AW, Scotland, UK Tel: +44 (0)131 225 6293 Designed by George Gilbert Scott, the Cathedral Church of St. Mary the Virgin is located on the western side of the city centre. Construction of the cathedral began in 1874 and whilst the nave was opened just five years later, the twin spires on its western side were not actually completed until 1917. Highlights include impressive neo-Gothic architecture, well-preserved stained-glass windows, murals and an outstanding art collection, as well as daily choral services."
"St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral is a short walk from Princes Street towards Haymarket. Its spires are visible from most places in Edinburgh, especially looking west from Princes Street. Not only does this cathedral offer a place of stillness in the bustling Scottish capital, there are also opportunities such as learning to be a stonemason in the Cathedral Workshop or a Cathedral Chorister at St Mary’s Music School."
"The neo-Gothic St. Mary's Cathedral is a striking building set in large grounds. Designed by George Gilbert Scott, it was consecrated in 1879. St. Mary's is the largest ecclesiastical building to be built in Scotland since the Reformation."
"Address: 61 York Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3JD, Scotland, UK Tel: +44 (0)131 556 1798 This popular Roman Catholic church dates back to 1814, being designed by James Gillespie Graham. Each month on the third Tuesday, look out for the organ and choir recitals. The adjacent Cafe Camino provides a rather tempting menu, offering bacon sandwiches, freshly made soup, lunchboxes for children, a choice of beverages (including coffee, tea, wine, beer and cider) and tubs of locally produced ice cream."
"St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, originally called the Chapel of St Mary’s, held its first masses in August 1814. The Cathedral houses the National Shrine of St Andrew, Scotland’s patron saint, and even has an underground passage leading to a priest’s house in York Place. It wasn’t until the 1970s that passers by could see the Cathedral in its full splendor when tenements in front of the building were demolished."
"Also dating back to the 1800s, Old St Paul’s has since been renovated multiple times – the nave extended and the chancel floor raised with marble. Nearly all of the many panes of stained glass, ornaments and vestments were made possible by fundraising or donations. Unusually, the gargoyles at Old St Paul’s are located inside, not on the exterior of the church as is common on buildings of this period."
"Address: East London Street, Edinburgh, EH7 4BL, Scotland, UK Mansfield Place Church is to be found within the New Town area, standing close to the bus depot and the King George V Park. Built in 1872 by Robert Rowand Anderson, this old church has had many uses over the years and once even functioned as a nightclub. Today, it is owned by the Mansfield Traquair Trust, a conservation group who have actively restored the building over a number of years."
"Loudons may seem like your average eatery from the outside but they have a speciality - and it’s homemade pancakes!. We’re talking everything from American style with layered bacon and baked banana topped with maple syrup, to the healthier, savoury superfood pancakes that are packed with lentils, veg and delicious garlic pea chutney. Located in Fountainbridge, it is the perfect location for a leisurely walk down the canal to digest your food, with a takeaway coffee in hand."
"Offering simple healthy food that is full of flavour, Loudons Cafe & Bakery offers delicious home made treats made in their on-site bakery. Using high quality ingredients, and organic produce, breakfasts at Loudon’s are utterly delicious. Diners can tuck in to a variety of “Benny’s” – slang for eggs Benedict – complete with smoked salmon, cajun spices or haggis, or choose from french toast, smoothie bowls or super food pancakes and much much more."
"A post shared by Loudons Cafe (@loudonscafe) on Nov 30, 2018 at 11:00am PST. Loudons bakery and cafe is located in Fountainbridge. They bake all of their bread and cakes on site and offer an all-day weekend brunch menu that caters for most dietary needs and includes options like American style pancakes, a full breakfast and scrambled eggs and smoked salmon."
"Twelve Picardy Place Hotel features individually designed bedrooms and suites. Each has a feature wall art of iconic Scottish landscapes , castles or coastal scenes, as well state of the art entertainment systems and luxury bathrooms with either a rainforest shower or over-sized tub. Mood lighting gives you the flexibility to create your own ambience, views from the bedrooms offer a variety of vistas towards the city, historical buildings or the Fife coast."
"Not strictly a restaurant, but, we felt we just had to include the John Lewis Cafe as it has stunning views of the north of Edinburgh, Firth of Forth, and over to Fife. Having recently undergone a refurbishment, “The Place to Eat’ has moved to the fifth floor after previously being located on the fourth floor. Now you can enjoy incredible views across the capital city through a window that spans 40 metres!"
"Once better known as the Caledonian, the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh underwent an extensive renovation to bring it into the Waldorf a few years ago. These upgrades resulted in the hotel winning awards like the Luxury Hotel of the Year and the Spa of the Year, among others, for 2014. Whether you opt for a classic room or a luxury suite with a view of Edinburgh Castle, expect sumptuous linens and muted colours that signify class and elegance."
"One Spa is part of the luxurious Sheraton Grand Hotel located just off Lothian Road in the center of Edinburgh. As well as a delightful rooftop hydro pool, nineteen meter infinity swimming pool, rainforest showers, and rock and bio saunas, the Spa includes a unique thermal suite which features treatments inspired by the ancient Celts and Romans – such as the Laconium (dry heat treatment room) and Tepidarium (warm room) and the deliciously scented Aroma Grotto. They have a well-equipped gym with a selection of classes including Yoga, Zumba, Boxing, LiveStrong Cycling and high intensity circuit training."
"One Spa is part of the luxurious Sheraton Grand Hotel located just off Lothian Road on Festival Square. Escape the busy city life, throw your worries and cares aside for the day to contrate purely on yourself, and enjoy Scotland’s most renowned urban thermal spa experience. Their facilities are second to none and have everything you need to re-energise your body and soul."
"Unwind in a stylish and modern setting with the Sheraton Hotel’s One Spa. There are 5 different steam rooms, a 19m swimming pool as well as the Ultimate hydro rooftop pool offering the most luxurious hotel spa experience in the heart of Edinburgh. There's also an amazing selection of sauna and thermal rooms, all stimulating the senses with scent, sight, heat and steam."
"This restaurant is perfect for sharing a large range of tapas!. Even if this BFF date is short, the pudding selection here is a must to try, so you know there will be no sharing here. With their reasonable prices and great choice of cocktails to choose from, there will be loads to talk about and relish."
"Offering a great range of vegan options, from nibbles and tapas to a smoked chipotle jackfruit burrito, Las Iguanas offers an all-inclusive menu for all diets. So whether you're dropping for lunch or stepping out with your more carnivorous pals, you won't be going hungry."
"Trying to get the full Hogmanay package without stretching the purse strings?. Head over to Las Iguanas where their vibrant and affordable plates will go down a storm with most palates, while their cheap and cheerful cocktails will keep the celebratory spirit high."