Simply by walking around the centre of Edinburgh you can experience all the grandeur, whether it’s the Scott Monument, the Castle, the Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Scottish Parliament building, the Georgian town, the Old Town or the Royal Botanic Garden. There are also several museums and galleries – the chief ones being the National Gallery and the National Museum.
I particularly enjoyed the Surgeons’ Hall Museums. Not for the squeamish, but as a former theatre nurse, I was in my element! The collections were initially established as a medical teaching resource but now everyone is welcome to visit. Photography is not permitted inside the building without special permission. As well as anatomical specimens, there are instruments, X-rays, histopathology and the history of surgery itself – right up to the present-day minimal invasive procedures. Fascinating!
After a day’s sightseeing it was time to eat and drink where, of course, there are endless possibilities from fine dining, trendy, multicultural or traditional. For us the “not to be missed” was the Oxford Bar, which is famous as the setting for the Inspector Rebus novels. We were told that none other than the author Ian Rankin himself was being filmed in the pub the following morning. To my disappointment the pub was not going to be open to the public on that occasion.
One great find was the Jolly Judge located two minutes’walk from Edinbugh Castle, it is tucked away in St James Court in the old town. This 17th century pub with its low beamed ceilings and log fires serves Scottish real ales from smaller breweries, varying ciders and a good selection of malt whiskies. In 2024 the pub was named the city’s pub of the year by CAMRA.
We also enjoyed a pint in Ryrie’s & Co beside Haymarket station with seven real ales to choose from. The Edwardian listed building has been beautifully restored with stained glass windows, panelled interior, brass & oak bar and teak exterior.
We stayed in a Premier Inn hotel a short walk from Waverley Station, which was less expensive and was convenient for transport links. If you have been travelling all day it is handy as well for the meal deal available of breakfast and dinner.
There is so much to do and see in Edinburgh with its 4,500 listed buildings in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city really is a must for the tourist.
