Edinburgh Castle Scotland
Edinburgh Castle

What's on in Edinburgh

6 Upper Coltbridge Terrace is ideally situated for easy access to various activities and attractions.

Locally:

There is a Spar convenience store, a wide variety of shops and a bank a 2-minute walk away. There is a pub, cafe, pharmacy and newsagents, besides other little shops.

Shopping in Edinburgh:

Edinburgh City Centre:

The West End of Princes Street is 10 minutes' walk from the flat. Shops abound on the main street, or in the little lanes between Princes Street and George Street (parallel to Princes Street). Start at Shandwick Place, which gives onto the West End of Princes Street. Shandwick Place has various shops including Banks, a Somerfield and Habitat. More big store names grace Princes Street, such as Frasers, Marks and Spencer, Mill Shop and Top Shop. Move onwards to Jenners, a grand old department store with lots of nooks and crannies (like a rabbit's warren) and then go round the corner to George Street, or cross Princes Street and visit Princes Mall for the Tourist Information Centre and some lovely boutique shops.
Stroll along Rose Street, where there are lovely jewellery shops, including some selling antique jewellery. Other shops include Tiso, which is a large sports store and well patronised by locals.
On George Street, take a look at lovely window displays of Mappin and Webb or Hamilton - both showcasing beautiful jewellery. Or enjoy the designer name shops for clothes and home accessories. One shop that has been there for a long time is a home store - Gray's.

Edinburgh East End:

Go past George Street towards the East End of town to Leith Walk. Near the Bus Depot is Harvey Nichols and John Lewis, which is situated in a mall. Go beyond this and head down Leith Walk, and you will see experience a different Edinburgh, with lots of people going about their daily business. Stroll towards Valvona and Crolla and eat there or buy something from their delicatessen.
Walk a little more, and take in the Chinese and Indian grocery stores.

Edinburgh West End:

Alternatively, head past George Street and cross Queen Street. Head towards the Stockbridge area, but first you will pass Heriot Row, where the millionaires live. In Stockbridge, you will experience lots of local hustle and bustle with little shops - many are charity shops - and some bigger ones, such as Woolworths.
Walk towards Inverleith Park and the Botanic Gardens from here. It is not far.

Edinburgh Old Town & Southside:

Head across Prince Street and go through Princes Street Gardens, where you will see the famous Flower Clock and also enjoy some impromptu concerts perhaps! Go back up to the level of South Bridge and head up towards the Old Town and the south side of town. Here you will start to find very busy streets with littles shops heading off towards the Royal Mile.
The Royal Mile is so named for the one mile between Edinburgh Castle and The Palace of Holyrood. You will find lots of tourist shops, including those selling kilts and all things Scottish! Lovely little jewellery shops, clothes shops and delicatessens, as well as homemade fudge make attractive stops!
Finish exploring The Royal Mile and keep heading south towards the main campus of Edinburgh University. You will start to find little and large local shops here where the locals go.

Attractions in Edinburgh:

There are many attractions for visitors to Edinburgh. Some local attractions are described below.

The City Centre: 1 mile from Upper Coltbridge (15 minute walk or 5 minute bus ride). Within the City Centre, visit the National Art Gallery, Sir Walter Scott Monument, Camera Obscura, Palace of Holyrood and Edinburgh Castle. There is also Edinburgh Dungeon in the West End of the City. Under the City, you can visit the crypts and see what the City used to be like under North and South Bridges.
Edinburgh Zoo: 1 mile north of Upper Coltbridge (15 minute walk or 5 minute bus ride). This is easily accessible and there is plenty of parking. The Penguin Walk is a particular favourite with children.
Dynamic Earth: Built to celebrate the Millenium, this is an excellent place for kids and adults alike. It is a couple of miles from Upper Coltbridge.
Britannia: Edinburgh won the bid to be the final resting place for this famous ship. It is located at Leith Docks, where you can also enjoy delicious seafood.

Green Spaces in Edinburgh:

When you want a space to escape and relax, why not enjoy the green spaces in Edinburgh?

The Water of Leith: Access to this delightful walk along the Water of Leith is just around the corner from the flat. It is literally just about behind the flat. Use it for a walk or cycle to various parts of the city like the locals do.
Royal Botanical Gardens: This is a lovely space with a large greenhouse area. Kids will enjoy feeding the ducks and there are a couple of places to eat here. From the flat, it is only a 10-minute drive. Close by, and in fact, directly opposite, is Inverleith Park, where there are a couple of play parks.
Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags: You can drive up part of the Crags and Arthur's Seat to the little lochan. Walk up this famous landmark and you will get some stunning views. Easily accessible by bus, it is in the southside of Edinburgh.
Braid Hills and The Hermitage: This is a lovely area in the southside of Edinburgh close by beautiful period houses. It has some lovely walks along a gorge-like path.

Edinburgh Festivals and The Fringe:

Known the world over for these festivals and others, such as the Book, Jazz and Film Festivals, Edinburgh festival venues are easily accesible from Upper Coltbridge. Princes Street hosts the Fringe Parade each year, and this is just 10 minutes walk from the flat. Some festival venues are mentioned below.

Festival Theatre, Assembly Rooms, The Filmhouse, Lyceum Theatre, The Playhouse: All these places can be reached on foot or by bus from the flat.

There are lots of Festival venues, such as Charlotte Square, where the Book Festival generally takes place. Churches often become venues as well as large concert theatres, such as the Usher Hall. Smaller venues include The Queen's Hall, Traverse Theatre, George Square Theatre and others.

The Royal Mile itself becomes a venue for impromptu performances as the whole city buzzes with festival highlights.

Rugby in Edinburgh:

Rugby fans will be au fait with Murrayfield Stadium, just a 5-minute walk from the flat. Some big name concerts are also held there.

Edinburgh Weather - Enjoy Edinburgh In All Seasons

Spring

Edinburgh is beautiful in Spring. The Meadows are particularly picturesque with rows of cherry blossom trees flowering. Meander along the footpaths, sunbathe on the expanse of green, or read a good book in the sunshine. You will see people young and old taking a breather on benches or enjoying a picnic on the grass. Kids play football or Frisbee, dogs run with tongues lolling, and birds sing in the sunshine.

The Meadows encapsulates the beauty of Spring – full of life, fun and laughter! You can take a slow walk to The Meadows from Upper Coltbridge – it will take around 30 minutes. Just walk up Lothian Road until you see it on your left hand side.

Summer

The Edinburgh Festival and the Fringe Festival are synonymous with Summer in Edinburgh. The city is agog with action, and there is much to see and do! Too much in fact, so stay a while! We offer long stay discounts, so why not take advantage of them?

Venues for the various festivals (not just the Fringe and Edinburgh Festivals), such as the Jazz Festival, Book Festival, Children’s Festival, Science Festival and Film Festival etc are conveniently located for access from Upper Coltbridge. If you want to drive or take a bus, most places are within a 5-10 minute drive from the flat (and we have FREE parking outside the flat). If you prefer to walk, it will take about 10 minutes to the nearest venues at the West End of Princes Street and Lothian Road.

Enjoy the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh, but come back to the flat to rest your weary self after a long hard day’s enjoyment. You will find peace and quiet, away from the traffic and noise, affording you a restful sleep before another exciting day ahead!

Autumn

This time of year sheds magical light in the air. See the Autumn colours through filtered sun beams. Enjoy the reds and golds, and climb Arthur’s Seat or visit the Braids for short or long invigorating walks. The crowds have thinned out and there is more space to enjoy the countryside within the City.

Autumn is a lovely time in Edinburgh, and is one of the best times to visit the Botanic Gardens. Little kids especially love the leaves on the ground, chasing after the squirrels and pigeons in the park. Take a leisurely stroll to enjoy the beautiful landscapes. The hothouses with their gorgeous blooms are great to warm up in when you feel a little chilled! Or have something to eat or drink in their wonderful restaurant.

Upper Coltbridge is only 10 minutes from the Botanic Gardens and Arthur’s Seat. The Braids is about 15 minutes from the flat. You can get to these places by car or bus, but if you are feeling energetic, you can take a slow stroll to the Botanic Gardens and Arthur’s Seat in about 30-40 minutes.

Winter

As with everywhere else, Christmas is big business in Edinburgh. The shops are all a-glitter and Princes Street will be thronging with people doing some last minute shopping. Leave the car at the flat and walk there, or take a bus – as you don't want the restraint of parking meters.

Or go a little further and shop along the Royal Mile for that special something for someone you love. The Royal Mile is only 20 minutes walk from Upper Coltbridge.

Hogmanay, that quaintly Scottish tradition, is big business at this time of year. Edinburgh City abounds with tourists and there is a huge street party and concert. On New Year’s Eve, you can avoid the crowds on Princes Street and join smaller ones at various view points to watch the fireworks. One favourite spot in Calton Hill, about 25 minutes' walk from the flat.

It will be cold outside, but enjoy your fun, and then return to the flat to warm up! The flat is centrally heated, and you can make yourself a nightcap or hot chocolate before snuggling into comfortable beds.

What's on Outside Edinburgh

Should you wish to escape the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh, there is easy access by car from the flat to the Kingdom of Fife, South Queensferry (historic village) and the Borders. 20 minutes will take you to the bypass. Attractions close by Edinburgh include the Falkirk Wheel (45 minutes), Stirling Castle (45 minutes), Linlithgow Castle (30 minutes), and the Bass Rock (45 minutes).

Please phone us about our apartment in Edinburgh or any other query on: 015394 43440 (ask for Edinburgh Holiday Apartment)
or email: Enquiries@EdinburghHolidayApartment.co.uk