Mentioned by Penguin and Pia
Things to Do in Edinburgh, Scotland: Free & Paid Activities
"Camera Obscura and the World of Illusions Camera Obscura is located one block down the Royal Mile from the Edinburgh Castle. If you are visiting Edinburgh with kids, this is an awesome spot to visit. Six floors are filled with illusions, puzzles, and optical tricks."
"Step in a place of wonders, illusions, and puzzles to interact with. See, play and laugh while you find your way out of the mirror maze. Become tiny like Alice in Wonderland or walk through the Vortex Tunnel."
"Calton Hill is another fantastic place for kids to let off steam and as a bonus you’ll get some of the ultimate best views of the city!. When you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with amazing views to the Firth of Forth, Arthurs Seat, the port of Leith, the Pentland hills and of course right down Princes street towards the castle. Calton Hill is also home to several unusual monuments including the national monument which looks like it was built by the Romans."
"This hill at the east end of Princes Street provides the ideal perch for viewing Edinburgh's loveliest sights, including the Castle, New Town, Holyrood and Arthur's Seat. At 100 feet, you'll be surprised at how extensive the view is from the crest, and it's a great place for a picnic lunch. At the top of the hill, you'll find Nelson's monument, offering added lift for an increased perspective of the city."
"0 km from city center 2 out of 11 places to visit in Edinburgh. Situated on the east end of the Princes Street, the Calton Hill in Edinburgh is included in the city's UNESCO world heritage site. The National Monument of Scotland is situated on the Calton Hill."
"Enjoy a glass of mulled wine at Edinburgh Christmas Market|© Monica Wells / Alamy Stock Photo. No visit to Edinburgh in the wintertime would be complete without a browse round the atmospheric Christmas Market (daily 10am – 10pm, mid November to early January). It’s also pretty much impossible to avoid, regardless of whether you’re a tourist or a beleaguered Edinburgh shopper."
"On your way there, take a slight detour and check out the beautiful Princes Street Gardens. Personally, I love the Mac and Cheese or the grilled Halloumi but they have other great items to choose from too. And don’t worry about missing dinner since the kitchen is open until 10:30 pm daily. Oh, and join their website mailing list if you want a discount!"
"After your visit, consider a stroll through the Princes Street Gardens or climb the Scott Monument for another bird’s eye view of Edinburgh. Royal Yacht Britannia"
"After your visit, consider a stroll through the Princes Street Gardens or climb the Scott Monument for another bird’s eye view of Edinburgh. Royal Yacht Britannia"
"Climb to the top of Scotts Monument. This is a monument to the Scottish author Sir Walter Scott and is the largest monument to a writer in the world."
"Another architecturally inspired monument which sits on Calton Hill is the Nelson Monument. Built in 1807, this commemorative tower is an ode to Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson and is frankly unmissable against Edinburgh's skyline. It is situated at the highest point of Calton Hill and stands at 106 ft. tall, contributing to the towers' epic and majestic quality."
"Up on the hill you will also find Nelson’s Monument and the Royal Observatory, amongst other things, but the highlight for me, really, is the view up here at sunset. From here you can watch the sun set across the city, with the mountains in the background, which is ample reward for the effort required to climb up."
"Take note of the time ball on the monument which serves the same purpose as the Edinburgh Castle One O’Clock Gun."
"Completed in 2002, the Falkirk Wheel is a modern engineering marvel, a rotating boat lift that raises vessels 115ft from the Forth & Clyde Canal to the Union Canal. Boat trips depart from the lower basin (eight daily March to October, three daily in winter) and travel into the wheel, which delivers you to the Union Canal high above. Boats then go through Roughcastle Tunnel before the return descent on the wheel."
"Admire the modern 21st-century rotating boat lift known as the Falkirk Wheel that rises 35m in the air transferring craft between the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals."
"Enjoying a prime location one minute from Princes Street and with unobscured views of Edinburgh Castle, the Waldorf Astoria is, from the neoclassical façade to the luxurious bathrooms, a distinctively extravagant visitor experience. Built over a century ago as part of the city’s central railway station, the hotel oozes opulence, with spacious rooms equipped with the latest accessories and the UK’s only Guerlain Spa offering specialist treatments, a steam room, and Jacuzzi. The swimming pool and gym are perfect for those guests wishing to indulge in some cardio alongside exploring Edinburgh, while the array of dining options, including the award-winning restaurant, Grazing by Mark Greenaway, promises unforgettable culinary delights."
"For that bit of added luxury to your stay- the Waldorf Astoria spa is the place to go. The Exclusive Guerlain spa comprises five tranquil Guerlain Cabins, one VIP Dual Suite, a relaxation lounge, a full service nail bar and two makeover stations, as well as an aquatic area with a 12.5 meter pool, steam room, sauna and whirlpool. Awarded Best Luxury Hotel Spa in the UK at the 2017 World Luxury Spa Awards, the spa at Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian is the first and only Guerlain Spa in the U.K., utilizing the very finest Guerlain products with patented methods and protocols dating back to the inauguration of the spa's esteemed Parisian counterpart, L'Institut Guerlain, in 1939."
"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…"