Edinburgh First Timer
Discussion
Never even been to Scotland. So I am planning a long weekend to Edinburgh just me and Mrs Badger.
I think we're either going to stay at TigerLilly's or The George, purely on location and reviews on trip advisor etc. Unless anyone has any recommendations for a reasonable budget stay in a decent location, don't mind a bit of walking.
Food wise is the next challenge, really looking for recommendations as to where to eat.
Also, how long to stay - can do up to 5 nights, is that too long or long enough to do all the usual first visitor touristy type stuff.
Will be going on the train as parking looks too expensive!
Opinions sought and welcomed... Thanks.
I think we're either going to stay at TigerLilly's or The George, purely on location and reviews on trip advisor etc. Unless anyone has any recommendations for a reasonable budget stay in a decent location, don't mind a bit of walking.
Food wise is the next challenge, really looking for recommendations as to where to eat.
Also, how long to stay - can do up to 5 nights, is that too long or long enough to do all the usual first visitor touristy type stuff.
Will be going on the train as parking looks too expensive!
Opinions sought and welcomed... Thanks.
Tiger Lily and The George are both in great locations - either end of George St in what is essentially the centre of town. Tiger Lily is more "hip" as the saying goes and although I've not stayed at either I have had lunch at both and can recommend them for scran. Tiger Lily is also a good, although somewhat busy, place to go for a late night drink (It's also one of my wife's favourite choices for lunch and cocktails when she meets up with friends)
What sort of food do you like? There are lots of great choices nearby.
You could fill five days with touristy stuff in and around town, taking youir time to get around, however as it's a compact city you could probably get away with less.
What sort of things interest you and are there any spoecific touristy things you have in mind?
Also, try posting in the Scotland forum, as you'll get some decent suggetions there.
What sort of food do you like? There are lots of great choices nearby.
You could fill five days with touristy stuff in and around town, taking youir time to get around, however as it's a compact city you could probably get away with less.
What sort of things interest you and are there any spoecific touristy things you have in mind?
Also, try posting in the Scotland forum, as you'll get some decent suggetions there.
The Castle Terrace is very good. I was there 2 weeks ago and had a very good meal. The Whisky bar in the Balmoral Hotel is worth a visit. The open top buses are a good way of getting around the touristy stuff and Author's Seat is worth doing (only a 30 minute walk) to see the views over the city. Hollyrood House is nice and The Guildford Arms is a nice pub for a pint or two.
You could easily fill 5 days but as you've never been to Scotland I'd be tempted to go for a wee drive. Maybe book a night in Oban or that area and do a loop back to Edinburgh or not via Glen Coe.
Re Edinburgh. The George hotel is a bit corporate. I hear tiger lily is good to stay in though if blingy. There are hotels with parking or you could dump it in a quiet suburb and get a bus or taxi in.
Things to do. Castle. Camera obscura. Boat trip round the Forth bridges. Arthur's Seat. Calton Hill. Portrait Gallery.
100's of good restaurants. The Dogs, Chez Jules, Centotre, Ondine, Khushi's, The Honours, anywhere on Leith shore for seafood.
Re Edinburgh. The George hotel is a bit corporate. I hear tiger lily is good to stay in though if blingy. There are hotels with parking or you could dump it in a quiet suburb and get a bus or taxi in.
Things to do. Castle. Camera obscura. Boat trip round the Forth bridges. Arthur's Seat. Calton Hill. Portrait Gallery.
100's of good restaurants. The Dogs, Chez Jules, Centotre, Ondine, Khushi's, The Honours, anywhere on Leith shore for seafood.
I've just booked TigerLilly in the Mini Georgian Suite.
I booked it direct and got them to match the best Expedia/Booking.com/Trivago price I had and then added breakfasts separate - Saved me about £150 on the price that Expedia had for the same room incl. breakfast.
I am tempted to upgrade to The Black Suite for another £157 though......
Will be getting the train up to Edinburgh, so any out of city driving excursions are out. As people have said as a first time visitor I will have more than enough time to really enjoy the city and its sights.
In reality, we wont be there until 14:00 on day one, and will be leaving just after lunch on day six.
Will look at the restaurants suggested. Thanks. Keep the advice coming!
I booked it direct and got them to match the best Expedia/Booking.com/Trivago price I had and then added breakfasts separate - Saved me about £150 on the price that Expedia had for the same room incl. breakfast.
I am tempted to upgrade to The Black Suite for another £157 though......
Will be getting the train up to Edinburgh, so any out of city driving excursions are out. As people have said as a first time visitor I will have more than enough time to really enjoy the city and its sights.
In reality, we wont be there until 14:00 on day one, and will be leaving just after lunch on day six.
Will look at the restaurants suggested. Thanks. Keep the advice coming!
We stayed at the Parliament House Hotel, on a quiet side road but really close to the center, they did a good deal on accommodation plus an evening meal.
Mary Kings Close is well worth a visit as a tourist trip http://www.realmarykingsclose.com/
Mary Kings Close is well worth a visit as a tourist trip http://www.realmarykingsclose.com/
Only thing is i'd check what room you are staying in at Tiger Lily as some of them could be quite loud. a few of the nicer/boutique type hotels on George street also have night clubs and fairly loud bars. no a bother if you are planning on being out and about till things quieten down, but if you are planning a nice relaxing couple of nights (eg dinner, drinks, bed by midnight) but the music keeps you awake till 3am, then it may not be the best!
*Badger* said:
I've just booked TigerLilly in the Mini Georgian Suite.
I booked it direct and got them to match the best Expedia/Booking.com/Trivago price I had and then added breakfasts separate - Saved me about £150 on the price that Expedia had for the same room incl. breakfast.
I am tempted to upgrade to The Black Suite for another £157 though......
Will be getting the train up to Edinburgh, so any out of city driving excursions are out. As people have said as a first time visitor I will have more than enough time to really enjoy the city and its sights.
In reality, we wont be there until 14:00 on day one, and will be leaving just after lunch on day six.
Will look at the restaurants suggested. Thanks. Keep the advice coming!
You will be fine with the mini suite - my wife managed Tigerlily from when it opened until recently and I have been lucky enough to stay in all 33 rooms over the years (and replaced lots of the large format tiles in the bathrooms..)The black room is nice (even down to the black toilet paper) but then so are the suits. The only real complaints you get are from people who don't realise that it is in a city centre location (parking nearby can be difficult although there is a multi-storey nearby) and can be noisy as reception is next to the bar and restaurant. There is also a nightclub underneath and noise travels up the lift shaft so a room on a higher floor is better. I am sure you will like it as the hotel staff are very nice/attentive and Edinburgh is great!I booked it direct and got them to match the best Expedia/Booking.com/Trivago price I had and then added breakfasts separate - Saved me about £150 on the price that Expedia had for the same room incl. breakfast.
I am tempted to upgrade to The Black Suite for another £157 though......
Will be getting the train up to Edinburgh, so any out of city driving excursions are out. As people have said as a first time visitor I will have more than enough time to really enjoy the city and its sights.
In reality, we wont be there until 14:00 on day one, and will be leaving just after lunch on day six.
Will look at the restaurants suggested. Thanks. Keep the advice coming!
Regarding parking - you can park for the weekend for free at several of the park and ride locations, contact them by email and tell them, you don't need to give any other details.Lot cheaper than the train.
The Royal yacht Britannia is well worth a visit.
We also went to the Jim Clark museum at Duns on the way up.
The Royal yacht Britannia is well worth a visit.
We also went to the Jim Clark museum at Duns on the way up.
I'm also a first timer looking at going between Christmas and New Year. Tigerlily looks great but is either full or they're not offering discounts. I'm currently looking at Dunstane House in the luxury suite jobby which looks nice. Any suggested alternatives? We've generally always done bigger hotels so I'm looking for a little more boutique this time. Dunstane is £150 a night for the top room.
Edit: The Edinburgh Residence is now looking favourite.
Edit: The Edinburgh Residence is now looking favourite.
Edited by CRB14 on Thursday 18th September 10:52
You haven't mentioned nightlife requirements, but whenever anyone asks me I always point them (geddit!) in the direction of Fingers bar ... stop sniggering at the back there! 
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-d...
Gets very lively on a Saturday night, but well worth a visit IMHO.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-d...
Gets very lively on a Saturday night, but well worth a visit IMHO.
Some friends stayed at Hotel du Vin over Easter and seemed to quite like it so might be worth a look.
For nightlife call me an old man but I can quite happily spend entire evenings in the Bow Bar!
For nightlife call me an old man but I can quite happily spend entire evenings in the Bow Bar!
Edited by //j17 on Thursday 18th September 16:04
I went last week with the missus, both first timers there.
I'd recommend The Dome for a posh pint. Food looked good too. We ate at Browns which was good, tasty and not as pompous as some others. We also ate at The Doric which is near the station, it was tasty but looked a bit tired inside.
The city sightseeing tour bus was ok. Not as good as the Dublin and Palma ones but worth it if you have touristy things planned near the route it takes.
The zoo was great. We were lucky with the weather so had a wonderful walk round and saw lots of animals.
If you have a 'big' camera it's worth taking it because the views from the zoo, camera obscura and national museum are all very very good. I imagine if you go to the castle and Arthur's Seat you will also see a lot but we ran out of time.
We were there for 3 days and still had lots to do on our list.
I'd recommend The Dome for a posh pint. Food looked good too. We ate at Browns which was good, tasty and not as pompous as some others. We also ate at The Doric which is near the station, it was tasty but looked a bit tired inside.
The city sightseeing tour bus was ok. Not as good as the Dublin and Palma ones but worth it if you have touristy things planned near the route it takes.
The zoo was great. We were lucky with the weather so had a wonderful walk round and saw lots of animals.
If you have a 'big' camera it's worth taking it because the views from the zoo, camera obscura and national museum are all very very good. I imagine if you go to the castle and Arthur's Seat you will also see a lot but we ran out of time.
We were there for 3 days and still had lots to do on our list.
PurpleTurtle said:
You haven't mentioned nightlife requirements, but whenever anyone asks me I always point them (geddit!) in the direction of Fingers bar ... stop sniggering at the back there!
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-d...
Gets very lively on a Saturday night, but well worth a visit IMHO.
Met my wife therehttp://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-d...
Gets very lively on a Saturday night, but well worth a visit IMHO.
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