posted by Travel Cat on Mar 30
Welcome back, and we go straight back to the chase with the remaining 5 alternative things to see in Edinburgh – without the crowds…….
6) The Closes or Wynds.
Any guide book will tell you about the tiny little streets that run down off the raised High Street – but make sure you go and have a look up and down a few to really get a feel for their character. Yes, this is where those steps and slopes come into the picture, so don’t leave these bits to the end of the day, otherwise you will be too tired to bother – and you will miss out on this secret part of the city!
7) Mary Kings Close.
If you are only going to go down 1 of the closes, make sure that it is Mary Kings – because it is actually buried underground! When they city wanted to build an important building on the High Street, they just built right on over the top of all the houses that were already there – trapping those houses underneath in a permanent time capsule! You get to wander through these ancient dwellings and along the main street – all of which has been buried beneath the modern city! It’s not a scary place – but it really gives you an idea of what the city used to be like in the 1500′s!
8) Victoria Street & Terrace.
This delightful little winding street, leads off down from the main George IV Bridge street at a rate of 1 story every 3 shop fronts! It’s great to see the tiny cramped first shop curve away into the distance getting lower and lower, while the buildings get higher and higher. I’m sure the final house has around 12 storeys! And, above this row of ever-expanding shops is a little terrace that maintains level ground – the only such terrace left in town!
9) Place To Avoid.
If you don’t want to waste your time getting lost and spending £30 a head on your lunch, then don’t go to the National Museum of Scotland! Although the artifacts and dioramas are nice enough, it was a terrible layout and we kept coming across dead ends!
We finally made it up to the restaurant which was on the 5th floor that was marked as ’3′ in the lift, very much hungry – only to find (after 3 more dead ends) that they were serving food from the 13th century! Quail and roast duck were a common ingredient and the prices started from around £15 for a starter! I mean, that’s not what you expect in a museum – so we had to leave the whole museum for food – and didn’t bother going back!
10) North Bridge At Night.
Make sure you head out of your hotel room at least one night to see the town lit up at night. From this spot above the station, you can see some beautiful sites here at night, and of course a walk in any direction will expose even more. And while you are out at night – why not let yourself be taken on one of the free ghost tours of the city!
A City not to be missed!
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