OKinUK Blog

  All I have heard about Edinburgh are words of praise, this owing to it´s unique architecture, claimed by many to be unlike any other British city. I had been wondering if Edinburgh really was what others have made of it so you can imagine the expectations were high. And rightly so...

Let's start with Scotland's most exclusive treasure - the Scotch Whisky. If you fancy a bit of whisky tasting and learning about its history & production you shouldn't  miss a fun-packed interactive tour at the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre located at Royal Mile by the Edinburgh Castle! You´ll have deserved your free shot right at the start of the tour so that you can meet a friendly whisky ghost bar tender in good spirits. I recommend consuming your shot on the spot as you won't be able to take it with you inside. After you will have become an expert on the age and varieties of the golden vintage, a spooky train will be waiting to take you through all stages of Scottish history. It's an exceptionally enjoyable tour offering a unique insight into Scotland's finest produce.

As Scotch Whisky Centre is located at the top of Royal Mile, a good way to see old Edinburgh is to continue walking down the street towards Scottish Parliament and Queen´s Palace of Holyrood. It may take you a few hours before you arrive at the Palace tough. It' s not easy to resist stopping at one of  the cosy traditional pubs. If you are a student or simply a budget traveller there are free guided tours with a regular meeting point in the old town centre, usually on Royal Mile too. Oh and paid ghost tours also take off nearby in the evenings.

Speaking of ghost tours,  an absolute must is to visit Mary Kings´ Close in the heart of the Royal Mile (tickets have to be purchased at least a day in advance). The tour will give you insight into Edinburgh's life in the 18th century. Not a ghost tour you'd expect ! You will surely hear many ghost stories but it's actually a walk in time through the city´s grim past with evidence of extreme poverty and plague all around. Maybe some of you wonder what actually is a "close". A close is a dark under street level where poor people lived in tiny mud rooms with no windows and their cattle, never having seen daylight, were slaughtered in the next room. Seeing this makes you wonder how difficult life must have been in those times.

Should you fancy a bit of nature, put on some waterproof clothes, good walking shoes and escape to the Scottish Highlands. The close proximity of the highlands to its capital plays to the strenghts of the area. Bus tours are advertised by local agencies on every corner.

 Before you decide to experience Scotland for yourself, maybe you wonder where to stay overnight or which restaurant is the best (http://www.edinburgh.org/). There are plenty of options for any budget as in every other popular destination. A carefully chosen accommodation prior to the trip, ideally within walking distance to the railway station, will definately prove a good choice making your trip even more enjoyable. If you´re lucky, some hotels offer magnificent views of the Edinburgh old town skyline... very romantic ...