Must See Sights and Landmarks in Gowkshill Area

"Opened in 1835, Camera Obscura is Edinburgh’s oldest tourist attraction. The gallery focusses on visual illusions, featuring a number of experiences and hands-on activities to explore and enjoy. On site, you will find a mirror maze, an Ames room which will appear to shrink around you, and a vortex tunnel which will provoke a sense of imbalance even though you are completely stable!"

"Originally known as Caltoun or Caldoun Hill, Calton Hill offers one of the best and most iconic views of the city of Edinburgh. Granted to the people of Edinburgh by James II in 1456, the hill is now home to a bewildering number of buildings and monuments including the National Monument (an unfinished folly resembling the front of the Parthenon which is dedicated to those who died in the Napoleonic wars), Nelson's Monument (housing a time-ball mechanism by which ships used to set their chronometers), the Dugald Stewart Monument (a beautiful circular temple of nine columns dedicated to the Scottish philosopher), the Political Martyrs Monument, and the City Observatory (to name only a few). Recommended for Parks because: Calton Hill is home to some of the most famous Edinburgh monuments and offers some of the best views of the city."

"Start at the end Princes Street and climb the staircase up the hill for some of the best views over the city – from here you can see out to the castle and over to Arthur’s Seat. Home to the National Monument, designed to be a replica of the Parthenon in Athens but never finished, it’s also where you’ll find the huge Nelson monument. At 1pm, the time ball here drops – designed to be seen by ships far our at sea, the castle’s One O’Clock gun was added as bad weather meant the ball couldn’t always be seen."

"Calton Hill is one of the most recognisable hills in Edinburgh, located close to Princes Street, and offers one of the best views of the city."

"Address: Ocean Terminal, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6JJWebsite: The Royal Yacht Britannia. The Royal Yacht Britannia is the former yacht of the British Royal Family which now takes pride of place at the Ocean Terminal shopping centre at Leith in Edinburgh. Over the course of her working life Britannia sailed over 1 million miles around the world and she’s now open year-round for visitors to follow in the footsteps of world leaders as they walk through her beautifully ornate rooms."

"Visiting the Royal Yacht Britannia is another great thing to do in Edinburgh!. Located north of the city center, on the coast, the Royal Yacht Britannia is one of the most famous ships in the world. This former British royal yacht was in service from 1953 to 1997 and is now open to visitors."

"Royal Yacht Britannia, Ocean Drive, Leith, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH6 6JJ. Things to do at Royal Yacht Britannia review. The Royal Yacht Britannia is a 5-star visitor attraction located on the water close to the city of Edinburgh."

"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."

"Since September 2004, the official home of the Scottish Parliament has been a new Scottish Parliament Building, in the Holyrood area of Edinburgh. Some of the principal features of the complex include leaf-shaped buildings, a grass-roofed branch merging into adjacent parkland and gabion walls formed from the stones of previous buildings. Throughout the building, there are many repeated motifs, such as shapes based on Raeburn’s Skating Minister."

"The Scottish Parliament Building may be a lot more modern than other entries on this list, but it’s all the more striking for it. Designed by Enric Miralles in a post-modern, metallic style, the building was officially opened just over a decade ago in 2004. Its design aims to mirrors the natural beauty of the landscape around it, and the building itself is comprised of an array of abstract shapes."

"A post shared by Servings of Edinburgh (@servingsofedinburgh) on Nov 23, 2017 at 10:09am PST. The sister restaurant to Ting Thai-Caravan, a Thai restaurant also found on Teviot Street, Saboteur is a South East Asian-themed restaurant specializing in Vietnamese cuisine. A wide and varied menu, with plenty of options for customers on specialist diets, includes such wonders as Cari Rang Voi Nang (a red curry with beef) and Pho Vit (a duck noodle soup with spice)."

"Located in the University quarter, Saboteur specializes in Vietnamese street food. Although it's not a grab-and-go place, it's still quick and casual, with clusters of small tables, tiny wooden stools, and low-lit booths. The small boxes—literally cardboard—of dishes like simple tofu with salt and pepper and grilled chicken skewers with ajard and peanut sauce are all superb."

"Sister restaurant to the ever-popular Ting Thai Caravan, Saboteur offers reasonably priced Vietnamese and South East Asian food. Most main courses come in at around £7, with filling options like beef pho noodles, pork belly bao buns and roasted duck coconut curry on the menu. Visit: 19-20 Teviot Place, EH1 2QZ - saboteurrestaurant.com"

"Perhaps one of the most-adored venues of the Fringe, The Pleasance Courtyard can be considered the heart and soul of Edinburgh’s comedy scene. From internationally and critically acclaimed acts during the Festival, to the year round comedic wizards who cast their spell on unassuming audiences, this chilled university drinking hole is a portal for some smashing comedy acts. The Pleasance, Edinburgh, Scotland"