Top 10 Things To Do, Activities and Attractions in Newbridge

"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."

"A fascinating must-visit place for kids and elders which uses science optical principles into play is Camera Obscura and World of Illusions. Located on the Royal Mile next to the Edinburgh Castle, is a perfect stop for fun. Camera Obscura originates from a Latin word meaning ‘dark room’."

"Camera Obscura & World of Illusions is a quirky little museum just down the hill from the Castle. It’s one of the most popular Edinburgh attractions and great fun for the whole family. The museum is set over 5 floors and contains hundreds of illusions, many of which are interactive."

"***If you’re a morning person, grab a blanket, a thermos of hot chocolate, tea, or coffee, and enjoy the sunrise from Calton Hill. One of the most enchanting and TOTALLY free things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland. Obviously, if you hate mornings, you can watch the sunset instead, (just make sure you have clear skies, which are something of a rarity) but you’ll just have a bit more company."

"If you head for the Balmoral Hotel (large clock tower in New Town) head Northeast and you’ll find your way up Calton Hill. There’s plenty to see up there – from Nelson Monument (see below) to just soaking up in the breathtaking views of Edinburgh!"

"Down underneath Edinburgh Castle is the Princes Street Gardens, a large public park which runs parallel to Princes Street, divided into the East and West gardens by The Mound. The gardens are the former site of the “Nor Loch”, a defensive lake that sat here until the mid 18th century, and was usually very badly polluted by everything that dribbled out of the medieval city. Today, the landscaped gardens are a rather nicer environment, particularly popular in the summer as a place to relax and take in the views."

"The gardens serve as a large public park that runs parallel to Princes Street, divided into east and west by the castle’s mound. Before it was the garden grounds, it was the Nor Loch defensive lake. The Nor Loch sat before the castle until the 18th century."

"Sitting in the centre of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site, here you’ll find a diverse and fascinating collection of public monuments dated as far back as the 1840s. Distance from Hotel:550 m7 mins7 mins2 mins"

"Also known as Edinburgh’s Secret Garden and on the other side of Holyrood Park from Edinburgh city centre, Dr Neil’s Garden is a heaven of tranquillity and a font of inspiration for artists, musicians and writers. It was originally created by Drs Nancy and Andrew Neil, who had a keen interest in horticulture and medicine. Child friendly: yes Address: Dr Neil’s Garden, Old Church Lane, Duddingston Village, Edinburgh EH15 3PX Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 10am – 5pm More information on visiting this garden"

"Dr Neil’s Garden is a wonderfully quaint place to wile away an afternoon or as a pit-stop on your way up to Arthur’s Seat. Tip: If you're lucky you may catch deer cooling off in the nearby Loch. *Guide-dog friendly!"

"Edinburgh’s quintessential secret garden, in the shadow of a 12th-century kirk, is one of the most peaceful green spaces in Scotland. Cultivated in the 1960s by doctors Andrew and Nancy Neil from a scrappy piece..."

"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."

"The Kelpies, the stunning equine statues gracing the eastern entrance to the Forth & Clyde Canal, are named after mythical Scottish water-horses. The two 30m-tall horse's heads are fashioned out of stainless steel, and are a tribute to the working horses that once hauled barges along the canal. You can view them for free (indeed, they are clearly visible from the M9 motorway between Edinburgh and Stirling), but the 45-minute guided tour takes you inside the sculptures."

"A few recommendations (although there are many more), are Stirling, Doune Castle, and the Kelpies. The city of Stirling and nearby has a lot of great attractions, including Stirling Castle and the National Wallace Monument. Doune Castle is a medieval castle made famous as the primary filming location for the cult film Monty Python and the Holy Grail and most recently used in Season 1 of the TV series Outlander."

"A day tour of Loch Lomond and Stirling Castle, as well as other highlights including the Trossachs and the Kelpies A full day tour that includes Loch Ness, Glencoe and Whisky tasting. A long day, but a good way to see a lot."

"Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Garden is the second-oldest institution of its kind in Britain (after Oxford), and one of the most respected in the world. Founded near Holyrood in 1670 and moved to its present location in 1823, its 70 beautifully landscaped acres include splendid Victorian glasshouses (admission £6.50), colourful swaths of rhododendrons and azaleas, and a world-famous rock garden. There's a second entrance to the gardens at 20a Inverleith Row."

"Chizuru Tei is popular for its delicious selection of bento boxes to carry out. You can also eat in at their friendly and welcoming Haymarket restaurant. Either way, you'll fine some fresh and tasty sushi here."

"Located on Slateford Road, Taste Good is one of Edinburgh's best Chinese restaurant and takeaways according to readers. Their menu includes pork, duck, sweet & sour, chicken and beef dishes."

"This Alva street venue is a basement restaurant accessed via stone steps, winding foliage and fairy lights. Here, amongst cosy booths, low-lighting and tartan, you’ll feast in a rustic setting, with seasonal fare from a to-the-point menu arriving swiftly to your table. The intimate setting makes for a highly romantic date night destination and the presentation of the food is simply unrivalled, as is the soothing sound track to your dining that distracts from the chatter of other tables."

"The name "Forage and Chatter" proves fairly self-explanatory, if rather inaccurate. There is definitely an emphasis on foraged food in this wonderfully eccentric restaurant, but the chatter is often curtailed by the quality of the dishes. Decorated in a fairly rustic fashion with reclaimed wood furniture, tweed soft furnishings and dim and twinkling lighting, the interior is very comfortable and welcoming."

"Forage & Chatter is without doubt one of the best restaurants in Edinburgh. It’s tucked away in the West End in the basement of a handsome Georgian townhouse. They focus on locally sourced Scottish cuisine, with much of the menu having been sourced by an expert licensed forager."

"If you’re a sucker for low-lighting and gorgeous interiors then The Stockbridge Restaurant is your date night go-to. Here, you’ll find a roaring fireplace for snug winter meals, white table clothes and statement artworks by Scottish Colourists. There’s no wonder this charming little spot was named as one of the top 100 restaurants in 2014, especially with a menu brimming with moreish delights such as spiced pigeon breast and grilled halibut."

": Cocktails flow and romance blossoms at Monteiths, a gorgeous cocktail bar nestled near the historic Royal Mile. Low-lit interiors and a comfy-chic setting makes Monteith the perfect pick for a relaxed date night. Dig into seasonal picks such as oysters, lobsters, and steaks, pairing them with genius aphrodisiacal cocktails."

"This intimate family-run restaurant is an ideal place to settle in for a long romantic lunch. Its basement setting in fashionable St Stephen Street comes with subdued lighting, inky walls and a fireplace brimming with candles. Kick start lunch proceedings with a crisp glass of sparkling wine and mull over the tempting menu."