Edinburgh

[jamesnan]

My husband and I will be in Edinburgh and have a couple of spare days next week, can anyone recommend things to do apart from the usual tourist visits. We shall not have transport so it will need to be in the city itself

[bhg481]

A fun thing to do might be to take a train across the Forth Rail Bridge and back, just because it's there and it's an icon.

[bednobs]

some of the "usual tourist visits" are lovely - wht have you done before?

[fiction-factory]

There are plenty of streets to walk around near the shops and the castle ; there are some old crescents to walk down; there are some free Art museums; go up Arthur's seat; go round The Scottish Parliament building. You can get a tram to some of the outlying areas

[fiction-factory]

The best place though I think is the beach/promenade (Portobello)

[Neveracrossword]

The modern art galleries, a 10 minute walk from the city centre, are wonderful and are in lovely surroundings. Next to them is part of the Water of Leith, a 14 mile walk/path that crosses some beautiful parts of the city.

[bhg481]

If you do decide to take the train across the bridge, Dunfermline is a nice town to visit with a ruined abbey, if that's your scene.

[fiction-factory]

You can get the train to ST Andrews too- an old university town and if you like golf there is the Open golf course

[Neveracrossword]

St Andrews doesn't have a train station, but you can travel to Leuchars and then get a bus - it's not the greatest of services, by the way!

[mushroom25]

//it's not the greatest of services, by the way! //

depends what you're comparing it with. a train every 30mn to leuchars and an end-to-end journey time edinburgh to st andrews (including the connecting bus) of 1hr25mn isn't too shabby in my book.

[mazie]

The Museum on Chambers Street is excellent
https://www.list.co.uk/place/10057-national-museum-of-scotland/

A nice place to eat if you visit the museum and like Indian food is
Mother India's Cafe, Infirmiry Street (very close to the museum)

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186525-d1545969-Reviews-Mother_India_s_Cafe-Edinburgh_Scotland.html

If you've never been, St Giles Cathedral on The Royal mile is a must
http://www.stgilescathedral.org.uk/

Here's another one you might like
http://www.camera-obscura.co.uk/

[Buenchico]

Learn about the plague!
http://www.nls.uk/exhibitions/plague

Visit the camera obscura:
http://www.camera-obscura.co.uk/#_=_

[mazie]

The Dome on George Street is lovely for afternoon Tea

http://www.thedomeedinburgh.com/

[Buenchico]

^^^ Ooh, snap!

[Neveracrossword]

My personal experience of the bus service is what lead to my remark - the arrival of a train and the departure of the bus don't always match up in practice.

Jamesnan, I've taken many people down to the Britannia Experience and most of them have enjoyed that. Other places worth visiting are the Botanical Gardens, Parliament House and the Museum of Childhood (even if you're not a child).

[Neveracrossword]

There are two St Mary's Cathedrals - one at Manor Place, near Haymarket Station, and the other, a Roman Catholic cathedral, at Picardy Place, right in the city centre. Both are worth visiting.

[mazie]

Scottish National Gallery if you like art.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_National_Gallery

[Butterbun]

The Ocean Terminal shopping centre, I could spend the whole day there. Then there are theatres with always something interesting on. A weekend for me is not enough in Edinburgh.

[CrapAtCryptics]

314 things to choose from - how about the Royal yacht
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g186525-Activities-Edinburgh_Scotland.html

[jamesnan]

Thank you all for the answers, we have visited before and done lots of touristy things but there are always those little gems which slip through the net. I will look forward to trying some of them

[Gavmacp]

Has someone mentioned Mary Kings Close? Haven't yet dared do it!