Must See Sights and Landmarks in Ratho Station Area

"There’s nowhere quite like the World of Illusions and the range of illusions you’ll find over the five floors here – not to mention the fantastic views of Edinburgh from the rooftop. The 166-year-old Camera Obscura is still the highlight – I remember being wowed when I visited. There’s a 15-minute show with a guide telling tales of Edinburgh history, while showing off the whole city from the rooftop tower using the Victorian contraption, where images of what’s outside are displayed in the room."

"On Castle Hill, Camera Obscura and World of Illusions offers five floors of interactive hands-on optical illusions, tricks and fun things to do including vortex tunnel, mirror maze and shrinking room. Tickets are £12.15 for children and £15.75 for adults."

"Capture five floors full of optical experiences through the mirror maze, giant kaleidoscope, giant vortex tunnel, magic gallery, horrogram and lots more, here in a world that blends reality and illusion. Distance from Hotel:300 m4 mins4 mins2 mins"

"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."

"If you’re in the market for a picture-perfect proposal spot, look no further than Calton Hill It boasts sights of the city and looks absolutely magical at dawn and dusk. As an added plus, it comes with built-in engagement photo backdrops - the Nelson Monument and National Monument."

"The Royal Yacht Britannia is one of Britain's most popular attractions associated with the monarchy. Over the years, the Queen has welcomed heads of state and famous people from around the world to this luxurious vessel. After more than 40 years serving the Royal Family, the 60-year-old yacht was sent to Leith, Edinburgh's port area, as the centerpiece of the Britannia Visitor Centre."

"The Royal Yacht Britannia is berthed at Ocean Terminal in Leith, a short way drive from Edinburgh's city centre. It provides full accessibility to everyone. Car parking at the Ocean terminal car park is free with wheelchair accessible lifts to level E where you will find the ticket office, gift shop and pathway to the Royal Yacht."

"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."

"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."

"Address: Edinburgh, EH99 1SPWebsite: The Scottish Parliament Building. The Scottish parliament building in Edinburgh is the home of the Scottish government and it is a world-class example of modern architecture. Sitting at the bottom of The Royal Mile on 4 acres, the building is an unusual tourist attraction but it’s well worth taking a look around inside, especially as it’s free to get in."

"The best way to learn is practice, so to understand how the decisions for the country are taken, head over to the Scottish parliament for a tour. Not only the history but the architecture of the building will impress you. This modern building, recipient of major architectural awards, with ample natural light through the glass panels, will surely awe you."

"Often referred to as Holyrood Palace, this is the official residence of the Queen of England when she comes to visit Scotland. The ruins of the Holyrood Abbey are connected to the Palace on one corner. Despite its city-center location, the Palace of Holyroodhouse – set in beautiful parkland and overlooking Arthur’s Seat – feels a million miles away from Edinburgh’s hustle and bustle."

"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."

"O’Oliviero’s is a family friendly independently run Italian restaurant on the beautiful Grassmarket, just steps away from Edinburgh castle. Their Italian chefs use a combination of local and Italian produce to serve up authentic flavours from rich ragù to crisp, hand stretched pizzas to decadently creamy tiramisu. Relaxed, friendly servers are always happy to cater to any dining needs and the busy hum at O’Oliviero’s provides a warm ambiance for any dining occasion."

"A post shared by TasteOfItaly (@tasteofitalyedinburgh) on Jul 25, 2018 at 5:40am PDT. Another restaurant that draws on the Italian-Scottish connection, Taste of Italy is a casual dining establishment with a full traditional menu of the finest options Italy has to offer. Unsurprisingly there are some Scottish twists to be had - the Scozzese pizza comes topped with Aberdeen Angus steak strips - while there is an expansive pasta menu including creamy tagliatelle with pepperoni as well as a warming Mac'n'Cheese."

"If you’re looking for a cheap pre-theatre dining spot, or just fancy some delicious Italian food, head to Taste of Italy. With starters from £2, pasta from £5.50 and pizzas from £5.95, diners can indulge in a three course meal and a drink for under £15. Visit: 9 Baxters Place, EH1 3EF - vittoriagroup.co.uk/tasteofitaly"

"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…"

"Not quite as busy as its big sisters, Stockbridge and Grassmarket markets, but well worth a visit nonetheless. The market consists mostly of food traders, bringing you locally produced and sourced products as well as sizzling hot street food that you can enjoy sitting down at one of the tables. On the first Saturday of the month the market also hosts the Vegan Quarter with a variety of vegan treats to choose from."

"One of the smaller markets on the list, Leith Market has around 20 stalls and a friendly, laid back atmosphere. Here there’s an abundance of locally grown, fresh produce, including organic fruit and vegetables, artisan breads, smoked fish and much more. On the first Saturday of every month, the market also hosts a special Vegan Quarter where shoppers can buy a variety of vegan treats, from cupcakes to faux meat."

"Taking place every Saturday from 10am to 4pm on Dock Place, Leith Market is full of foodie delights and unique items from local makers and designers. On the first Saturday of the month Leith Market is home to a Vegan Quarter where, alongside their usual line-up of traders, the Market is filled with delicious variety of Vegan treats from cupcakes to Vegan Meat."

"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."