Royal Museum, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK by subberculture

In Edinburgh, museum-goers are spoilt for choice with a wide selection from aviation to xylophones. To make things a little easier, here are four of the best the city has to offer…

The National Museum

It’s probably a good idea to set aside the whole day for this one. 20,000 exhibits across 36 galleries cover everything from science and technology to world cultures and art. This impressive collection includes the skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, the mummified body of 3,000 year old ancient Egyptian Iufenamun, and specimens collected by evolutionary theorist, Charles Darwin. The National Museum even has its own Scotland gallery, dedicated to centuries of the country’s history and showing how life today is shaped by events of the past. Aptly located in the middle of Edinburgh’s historic Old Town, the museum is close to the city’s main train link. Entry is free and it’s open daily from 10am to 5pm.

Museum of Childhood

Take a trip down memory lane in the Museum of Childhood – the first museum in the world dedicated to the history of our youth. Filled with a nostalgic array of toys, books, games and more, it is more than just a collection of objects to play with; the galleries aim to explore all aspects of growing up, using interactive exhibits to spark creativity and learning. Computer games demonstrate how life has evolved since the late 20^th century, while teddy bears, trains and pedal cars remind us how certain things will always be a part of our childhood. Entry to the exhibition is free, but donations are welcome and well worth it for a theme so close to our hearts. The Museum of Childhood is open Monday – Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday 12pm to 5pm.

Our Dynamic Earth

Ever wondered what it’s like to stand in a tropical rainforest, with the sticky heat on your face and the sound of animals around you? Wonder no more at Dynamic Earth, the museum that transports you around the world in a range of interactive exhibits. Come face-to-face with extinct dinosaurs, dive to the bottom of the sea and feel the earth shaking under your feet as you explore the past, present and predicted future of our planet. Although entry is payable, tickets are very reasonable at only £11.50 for an adult, £7.50 for a child, and children under the age of 3 go free!

The People’s Story Museum

Step into the Scotland of the past at The People’s Story Museum, located on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Dedicated to the lives of the city’s working class from the 18^th century to the present, the galleries are filled with everyday objects, photos and treasures that create an intricate story to be explored by all. Learn about important trades like printing, brewing and biscuit making, compare home wares of yesteryear to the modern objects we use today, and observe waxwork scenes that bring the exhibitions to life in a dramatic and very real way.

If you live in Edinburgh but haven’t taken advantage of these great museums, why not make a plan for the next rainy day? For those visiting from elsewhere, there are plenty of hotels and serviced apartments within range of the city’s fantastic array of attractions.

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Coastal Edinburgh, Scotland, UK by Stuart Caie

While it is excellent for tourists, perhaps the group of people it is more perfect for is students. Here’s why:

Top Universities

For starters, Edinburgh has some of the best universities in the UK. Edinburgh University was founded in 1583 and is regarded as one of the most prestigious in the world and has cultivated some of the finest minds the world has ever known. As well as this institution Edinburgh has Heriot-Watt University, Napier University and Queen Margaret University. Plus Edinburgh College of Art, which is one of the top art schools in the country. If you want to learn, Edinburgh has a school for you.

Fascinating City

While it would be a push to call Edinburgh a bustling metropolis, it is a hugely vibrant city with lots going on all the time. It’s got two feisty football teams, it’s got regular events across the city from marathons through to the Foodie Festival, it has a pulsating music scene, restaurants of all shapes, sizes and price ranges and more student deals than you can ever handle.

Reasonable Living Costs

It may not be cheap but it is cheaper than London and…eh…Dubai. You do get to avoid paying council tax though which is nice and with all the student discounts available at every second shop, café and restaurants, plenty of charity shops and usually lots of temp jobs should you need one.

Night Life

Depending on your taste, Edinburgh is likely to have a corner to suit you on a Saturday night. If you’re a clubber then there are plenty of small and large venues waiting for you from City through to the Bongo club. If you like your posh cocktail bars, George Street is the place for you and if you like rock music, you can head to the Old Town and down to the Cowgate for some local and international rock action. Check out Ripping Records on North Bridge for tickets.

Accommodation

You have a lot of choice when it comes to accommodation in Edinburgh too. You can go and stay in halls attached to most institutions if you want which is great for getting to know people, or you can move straight to a private flat in the many Edinburgh tenements. Plus if your parents come to visit there are plenty of Edinburgh accommodation services that can rent out flats short term or even long term if you need to have your mum do your washing every week.

Harry Toles manages apartments in Edinburgh for students. He thinks cheap apartments in Edinburgh are perfect for students.

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The Shore, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK by Zaian

Located, as its name suggests, near the shore, this area of Edinburgh offers a great variety of interesting things to see and do. There are a many great gastro pubs, and very fine restaurants along the shore, all of which offer fresh locally caught fish. The Loch Finn restaurant is particularly good, serving some of the best fish in the area, as cooked by expert chefs. Also good is the Shore bar, a high class Scottish pub, with a modern feel and a very family friendly atmosphere.

The Royal Yacht Britannia is one of the key tourist attractions in Edinburgh, and it is located in the Shore area. A fascinating ship, and a great feat of engineering and naval architecture, the royal yacht has a bold and interesting history, and has housed many very famous celebrities, not the least of which Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The tour offers a great insight into this famous Royal residence, and is well worth the time if you are interested in history.

Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK by Robert Breuer

If you are looking to do some shopping while you are visiting Edinburgh, there is no better place to do it than the Ocean Terminal shopping centre, which offers various different shops and boutiques, arranged across a series of floors. From Topman, to Dorothy Perkins, to Pizza Express, the shopping centre has every modern convenience, and is a fantastic place to get some quality retail therapy in. There is also a cinema and a gym, so if you aren’t much of a shopper, but your partner is, then you have other options to keep yourself entertained, while your other half satisfies some consumer urges.

There are many interesting attractions which spring up during the summer months in Scotland’s Capital city, be sure to make the most of them by finding yourself a good hotel. Edinburgh festival hotel deals are available at most hotels, some offering a few days, some a week, and some the full four week duration of the festival at discount rates. Accommodation tends to fill up fast during the summer months, and it is not unusual for unwary tourists to find themselves with nowhere to stay if they don’t act fast and make sure to book well in advance, so make sure you don’t make this mistake, and that you plan your holiday well ahead.. The City of the Edinburgh offers a fantastic array of different attractions, and The Shore area is no exception. So whether you are looking for a short break or a longer stay, make sure to include The Shore in your travel itinerary.

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Coastal Edinburgh, Scotland, UK / Stuart Caie

Edinburgh offers great opportunities for romance. Great restaurants, beautiful scenery, rickshaw rides, oodles of fabulous hotels… Here are some ideas to help you plan for your weekend away:

Lodgings

There are some great websites that will help you learn a lot about the available hotels. You’ll find travellers’ sites and review websites where people share their experience at hotels they’ve stayed at. You’ll also find deals online where you can book hotels for significant discounts. This could mean staying at a 4 or 5 star hotel for the price of a 3 star hotel.

Many Edinburgh hotels offer very romantic packages including meals and often including extra sightseeing activities as part of the fee. A bit of shopping around could help you save a lot of money.

Restaurants

Check out some restaurant reviews, too, to see what’s near your hotel and what’s on offer during the time you’re expecting to visit.  Your hotel may offer free meals as part of the package or vouchers for local restaurants, too. You can also find out on online review sites a bit about the average price of a meal for restaurants within walking distance of your hotel. If you want a special treat and are willing to splurge on a romantic meal, there are a few restaurants with Michelin stars, too.

Edinburgh Castle / Saffron Blaze

Finding Things to Do

Beyond spending plenty of alone time together in your cosy love nest, here are some of the common things lovers love to do in Edinburgh. (Many of them are low cost or even free):

• Dean Village – is a pretty and picturesque village. Perfect for a romantic stroll.
• Royal Mile – This road leads toward Edinburgh Castle and is great for shopping, sightseeing, eating, and soaking in the history of this city.
• Royal Botanical Gardens – The gardens offer a lush and aromatic place to stroll and this is a very popular place to visit for tourists.
• Museums and art galleries – The Museum of Scotland is great if you’re interested in finding out more about Scotland’s history. There are probably at least several museums and art galleries within reasonable walking distance of your hotel, too.
• There are often organised walking tours at night, too, that share some of the darker secrets of the city. Those tours will probably make the hairs on the back of your head stand up and make you want to get closer to your significant other!

The above list doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface. There are family activities, couples’ activities, and plenty of sights to see. You’ll find many top fifty and even top one hundred lists online with things to see and do in Edinburgh. If it’s romance and privacy you’re after, you won’t be disappointed, either! Again, a bit of shopping around will help you save money and you’ll also find plenty of info to help you make the most of your weekend getaway.

Mohammed Haroon writes for Today’s Great Deals. He invites you to check out Edinburgh’s Great Deal for a great deal on your next trip to Edinburgh.

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