Recommendations from a local guide

Edinburgh Travel Tips

If you’re visiting Edinburgh, here are some Edinburgh travel tips to help make your visit a great one.

The Edinburgh Marathon Route

The Edinburgh Marathon Route

The Edinburgh Marathon is set among beautiful scenery and the ancient Old Town and is a great run for setting your PB. The 2024 route starts at Edinburgh University, and weaves its way through the New and Old Towns to the beautiful Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat...

Edinburgh Ghost Tours

Edinburgh Ghost Tours

When visiting Edinburgh, don’t miss taking a ghost tour. They are authentic, historically-based and scary. You’ll be taken on a walk past ancient buildings and down dark alleyways, through scary underground bridge vaults and into spooky graveyards, while being told...

Edinburgh Zoo

Edinburgh Zoo

Edinburgh Zoo is one of Scotland’s top visitor attractions with over 800,000 visitors a year. Set on a beautiful hillside just three miles (4.6km) from the city centre, it is over 100 years old and is world famous for its penguins and its pandas. Edinburgh Zoo Animals...

Edinburgh Botanic Gardens

Edinburgh Botanic Gardens

Founded in 1670, the Botanic Gardens is a breathtaking experience of the world of plants.  The gardens are an amazing 70 acres plant complex situated in the middle of Edinburgh with outstanding views across the city to Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat. ...

Edinburgh Harry Potter Tour

Edinburgh Harry Potter Tour

The boy wizard was born in Edinburgh from the pen of JK Rowling. So when you visit Edinburgh with your children go on a Harry Potter tour and combine a historical journey with an exciting detective investigation to find the inspirations for the Harry Potter books....

Edinburgh Must See And Hidden Gems

Edinburgh Must See And Hidden Gems

Edinburgh’s an old place so it’s no surprise that there plenty of places to see that are a little off the beaten track. Here’s my list of nine Edinburgh must see sights and hidden gems: Underground Edinburgh  The Fairy Coffins William Burke’s Skeleton and...

Edinburgh & District Seaside And Beaches

Edinburgh & District Seaside And Beaches

There are two main and very popular beaches in Edinburgh: Portobello and Silverknowes / Cramond. Both are fine sandy beaches. Portobello beach is busier, with shops and cafes on the promenade. Silverknowes / Cramond beach, is on the edge of the city and is much...

Bus Tours Edinburgh

Bus Tours Edinburgh

There are four sightseeing bus tour companies that operate in Edinburgh. Edinburgh Bus Tours and Bright Bus Tours take you around the city in open top, hop on, hop off buses. The Red Bus Bistro serves meals in an old red bus as it takes you around the city. Ghost Bus...

Edinburgh Queen’s Park

Edinburgh Queen’s Park

I’ve been there many times. It’s a wonderful place in the middle of our city. The Queen’s Park, now called Holyrood Park, is the great park in central Edinburgh. It comprises 650 acres (260Ha), or just over 1 square mile of parkland for everyone to enjoy. It’s smaller...

What Is Dean Village?

What Is Dean Village?

When I was a boy, I would often go with my family on a Sunday to walk around the Dean Village. It’s an extraordinary place, a quiet haven by a river in the middle of a busy city. Dean Village is a collection of houses from different centuries clustered around a river...

Edinburgh Victoria Street

Welcome to Edinburgh

I’ve created this website as a guide for visitors coming to my city. And also for people around the world who have never been to Edinburgh, perhaps never been to Scotland. If you are in either of these categories, then this website is for you. More >