Category Archives: Museum

101 Things to do in Edinburgh

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This started off as a bucket list, a basic list of things to do in Edinburgh, However as it grew I changed it to 101 things to do in Edinburgh.   There will be  some nonsense on this list, aye. perhaps I have repeated somethings, let me know add stuff to the comments.  so here we are:
‘101 Things to do in Edinburgh’ 

            1. Hike up Arthurs seat – there are several routes to the summit
            2. Feed the swans at dunsapie loch
            3. In Fact hike to the top of all seven hills in Edinburgh, Braid Hills; Blackford Hills; Craiglockart Hill; Corstorphine Hill; Calton Hill; Pentland Hills and of Course Arthurs Seat.
            4. Walk Through Hollyrood Park
            5. Edinburgh Festival hardcore – three/four shows a day
            6. Edinburgh Festival late night  show 1am – 5am (with drinks after)
            7. Camera Obscura World of illusions
            8. Edinburgh Festival Tatoo
            9. Edinburgh Festival Fireworks concert
            10. Eat A deep Fried mars bar
            11. Walk Through Princes Street Gardens
            12. have a chippie with the proper Edinburgh chippie sauce
            13. Eat at one of our Michelin star restaurants
            14. Play a game of Skittles at the Sheep’s heid pub (the oldest in Scotland c1360)
            15. Ghost Tours. Mercat Tours
            16. City of the Dead Tour
            17. Underground Blair Street Vaults
            18. Mary King’s Close
            19. Get Up to the crown of St Giles’ Cathedral
            20. See the hand carved passage ways at Gilmerton Cove
            21. Spit on Heart of Midlothian (old toll booth)
            22. Watch an Edinburgh Derby game
            23. Visit Edinburgh Castle
            24. Remember the National War museum is at the castle.
            25. See the One O’clock gun be fired
            26. Palace Of Hollyroodhouse
            27. Visit Lauriston Castle
            28. Visit Craigmillar Castle
            29. Visit the Scottish Parliament
            30. John Knox House
            31. An Ice Cream & Beer on Portobello Beach
            32. Head out to Crammon Island (be careful with the tide Times)
            33. Crammond Beach
            34. Boat trip to Inchcolm Island
            35. Edinburgh Zoo Penguin Parade
            36. Stockbridge Sunday farmers market.
            37. Ride the big Christmas wheel
            38. Ice skate Christmas wonderland
            39. Hogmanay Street Party.
            40. Royal Botanical Gardens
            41. Don’t Rub greyfriars bobby nose
            42. Wander through Greyfriars kirkyard
            43. If you must Rub a statue – David Hume’s Toe
            44. Catch a premier at the International Film Festival
            45. Royal highland show
            46. Yaught Britannia
            47. See Rosslyn Chapel
            48. Edinburgh Zoo – See the Penguin Parade
            49. Pet a pig at Gorgie Farm
            50. Ride a tram
            51. Our Dynamic Earth
            52. Cameo cinema late night double bill
            53. Dominian cinema – film of a sofa!
            54. National Museum of Scotland
            55. International Book Festival
            56. Museum of Childhood
            57. Museum of Edinburgh
            58. Museum of Flight
            59. Writers Museum
            60. Walk through the Meadows
            61. Walk Through Inverleith park
            62. Walk Through Figgatte park
            63. Scale the Scott Monument (287 steps)
            64. Scale Nelsons Monument (143 steps)
            65. Scottish National Galleries
            66. Scottish National Portrait Gallery
            67.  The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
            68. Sample some whisky at the scotch whisky experience
            69. A walk down the water of Leith walkway
            70. Visit Gladstone’s land – oldest 17th century tenement building
            71. The Writers Museum
            72. Look through a telescope at the Observatory
            73. Beltane fire festival
            74. Samhuinn Fire Festival
            75. Hogmanay Torchlight Procession
            76. Walk Down the colorful Victoria Street
            77. Drinks at the Grass market.
            78. Helicopter Scenic Tour
            79. Boat tours under The Forth Bridges
            80. Stadium Tours (Murrayfeild, Tynecastle and Easter Road)
            81. Catch a film at the Brass Monkey – Big Sofas and beer – nuf saif!
            82. See some anatomy at the Surgeons’ Hall Museum
            83. Canongate Kirkyard – Adam smith burred here
            84. Go to the Farmers Market, Castle Street every Saturday
            85. The Museum on the Mound – see £1,000,000 in front of you
            86. visit the City Art Center
            87. Climb a wall at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena – the largest indoor climbing wall in the world
            88. Mibee there is something on at the Royal Scottish Academy
            89. Didn’t know  this existed until today – Georgian House on Charlotte Square
            90. Look at contemporary art at Fruitmarket Gallery
            91. Beltane Fire Festival, once a year – the evening before 1 May
            92. Samhuinn Fire Festival, Once a year – usually the last day of Autumn
            93. Torchlight procession, Once a year 30th December
            94. Winter wonderland, attractions and different markets
            95. Edinburgh Dungeon
            96. Check out the quirky Morningside Wild West
            97. Many closes of the Royal Mile, check the picturesque Whitehorse close
            98. Find the hidden Garden off the Royal Mile – Dunbar Close Garden
            99. Spend some time at Leith Shore
            100. Like Harry Potter? go to Elephant House Cafe
            101. The People’s Story Museum

So there you go 101 Things to do in Edinburgh!  – I’ve probably left out some good stuff, can we expand this list – any suggestions, edits mention in the comments.

Attractions on the Royal Mile

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Tourist Attractions on the Royal Mile Edinburgh, this mile long street has numerous attractions, not just for tourists.   Starting on Castlehill (West End)  I will go down the Royal Mile (High Street) through the lawn market ending up on the on the other end at the Cannongae (East End) pointing out what I think may or may not be worth a visit.  I do realize that this has been done many times, but here is my take…  Not included pricing, that changes all to often, but web links are there.

1) Edinburgh Castle
http://www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk/
Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG, United Kingdom

The Castle, built atop of a volcanic rock this dominates the Edinburgh skyline and probably the first place to visit for many tourists.  A wee bit pricy around £16 for an adult, but certainly worth a visit.  It’s Home to Edinburgh’s oldest building ‘St Margaret’s Chapel’ this was built in the 12th century, Mons Meg a huge 17th Century siege cannon, the National war museum.

2) Camera Obscura & World of Illusions
http://www.camera-obscura.co.uk/
549 Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2ND

This is a brilliant quirky thing to see, about 150 years old, inside the Victorian rooftop you get to see moving images of around the city through a periscope, even flip and move people around.  on your way up you will see many things that will play with your mind.  Oh its also worth mentioning that this is that they claim to be Edinburgh’s oldest attraction

3) The Scotch Whisky Experience
http://www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk/
354 Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NE

You can’t come to Scotland without trying some of our fine Whisky’s, learn how its made, participate in some tasting and smell the aromas.  Remember though in Scotland its Whisky not Whiskey

4) The Hub
http://www.thehub-edinburgh.com/
Castlehill, Royal Mile, Edinburgh

The Hub is a central source of information on all the Edinburgh Festivals. Its Gothic spire one of the highest point in central Edinburgh

5) Gladstone’s Land
http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/Gladstones-Land/
477B Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2NT

Easy to miss, this is a building with historic significance a 17th century high-tenement house.   Edinburgh used to be so crammed together in the old town with this style of building.

6) Heart of Midlothian
367-377 High St, Edinburgh

This heart-shaped mosaic, formed in coloured granite setts is built into the pavement just outside St Giles’ Cathedral marks the spot of the 15th-century Old Tolbooth, this was the main municipal building in the city of Edinburgh for more than 400 years.  This Tolbooth was also the Edinburgh’s main gaol where public execution and torture were conducted.

7) St Giles’ Cathedral
http://www.stgilescathedral.org.uk/
High St, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH1 1RE

St Giles’ Cathedral is the historic City Church of Edinburgh. With its famed crown spire it stands on the Royal Mile between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh.

8) Mercat Cross
Parliament Square next to St Giles Kirk.

Not the original location of the Mercat cross, original a little further down, demolished 1756, rebuilt in this location around 1880.  The Mercat cross was a place for important civic announcements, punishment and sometimes executions.

9) Tron Kirk
9 Hunter Square, Edinburgh EH1 1QW

The Tron Kirk is a former parish church, It is a well-known landmark on the Royal Mile. It was built in the 17th.

10) Museum Of Childhood
http://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/Venues/Museum-of-Childhood
42 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1TG

This is a nice place, take some time and look around some old children’s toys, perhaps experience some nostalgia.  Surprising quite a lot to look at spanning several floors

11) John Knox House
43-45 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SR

This is an historic house reputed to have been owned, lived in by Protestant reformer John Knox during the 16th century

12) Cannongate kirk
http://www.canongatekirk.org.uk/
153 Canongate, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH8 8BN

The Kirk of the Canongate, or Canongate Kirk, serves the Parish of Canongate in Edinburgh’s Old Town,

13) Museum Of Edinburgh
http://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/Venues/Museum-of-Edinburgh.aspx
142-146 Canongate, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH8 8DD

The Museum of Edinburgh, is a museum housing a collection relating to the town’s origins, history and legends

14) Scottish Parliament Building
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/
Edinburgh EH99 1SP, United Kingdom

This is the home of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood,  Construction of the building commenced in June 1999 formal opening took place on 9 October 2004.  it is open to visitors Monday to Saturday and is free of charge to visit

15) Holyrood Palace
http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/palace-of-holyroodhouse
Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DX

Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland.  Disappointingly photographs inside are not permitted

 

The Great Exhibition

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Get yourself down to the The Great Exhibition @ Surgeons’ Hall – History of Surgery Museum
as it closes on 18 May 2014 until Summer 2015.

Surgeons;’ Hall Museum will be closed for redevelopment from 18 May 2014 until Summer 2015.
On the 17th May 2014, we will be celebrating the Museum as it was and giving you the chance to create artworks and express your views about your favourite parts of the Museum.
Try your hand at architectural drawing, pathology modelling, forensic skull drawing and bookmaking. There will be a chance to display your artwork in the Museum for public vote, special guests will be appearing and the evening will end with a very special musical performance.
Entry and activities will be free-of-charge all day. Art classes are suitable for all ages and levels (under 12s should be accompanied to the art classes by an adult).

More info on their site link