We perused through a number of 'Sports' stores in Edinburgh and we could not find any football…read morejerseys for my husband. He was set on getting a Heart of Midlothian Football Club jersey as a souvenir from Edinburgh and so we decided to head to the stadium's gift shop which is what this review will be based on. Their team store had possibly some of *the cutest* merchandise I've seen for a football club in terms of merch for the little ones. There were west highland terrier, dinosaur, and bear shaped stuffed animals. They had pop it toys, adorable westie pencil cases, and clothing just to name a few. For the older crowd, they had a wide range of items that included your typical jerseys, keychains, apparel to nicer items like stainless steel water bottles, coffee mugs and tumblers, and a mix of candies. They didn't have my husband's size available in the jersey that he wanted, but he was able to snag some shorts as a souvenir which is a successful trip in my book! Definitely recommend a stop here if you're a football fan and wanting some Heart of Midlothian souvenirs!

They actually built a castle out of used watches and clocks, and called it "Timecastle." Sounds…read morelike a sci-fi TV show or something. First-Hand Experience: More info about my personal experience at this stadium - I believe that other than Celtic Park, Tynecastle is up there with Dundee United as the most intense atmosphere in Scotland. I've now seen 4 games here (including one when I was still a teenager), and it's left a permanent mark on me. It's a thrill to be in here. It's dark and imposing, it's intense and cauldron-like. It's the heart and soul of Edinburgh football. Everyone was very nice to me (even Hibs fans in town), and I can't think of a club other than the Old Firm and DUFC that inspires more intense passion from supporters than HM1874. Yes they have been around that long. I was most recently here at Tynecastle just last year in late 2014, and will be visiting again in 2016. It needs a bit of a facelift but it's still 5 stars all the way from me. So when I was doing my first tour of Scotland in 2011, I also hit up every single stadium in the country. My obsession with footy (soccer to Americans) is the reason. Every stadium review - like all my reviews - are based on first-hand personal experience, usually from multiple visits. As recently as Fall 2014, when I was "stuck" in UK for 3 months, I went to most of them yet again while travelling. I have pictures of me at many of them, which I will post later. Also, when back in Scotland I plan to take more pix, and add more stadia! So watch this space! *** return to regular review *** Anyway, Tynecastle is one of the great stadiums of British football. It's grand and intense and has a wonderful atmosphere, with the third highest average crowd of any club in Scotland. It probably has the best atmosphere of any club in Scotland. It holds 17k and has been around since 1886. It has a beautiful big illuminated Hearts mosaic badge on the outside of it. Bravo. Scotland played many games here as recently as 2003. In 2004, the owners tried to sell the stadium but the "Save Our Hearts" campaign saved it. In other news, it's Gorgie-ous.

If you thought the other three Ghostbusters were sad that they didn't make Ghostbusters 3, how do…read moreyou think Bill Murray feeled? Exactly. First-Hand Experience: I wasn't treated very well here. The Rugby game was thrilling, not because of the action, I don't like Rugby, but because of the intense, packed, passionate crowd watching their home team of Scotland. What. A Thrill. Just need to get to Hampden for a Scotland game now. Also, the employees of the stadium were not particularly friendly at all. So this is really a 5-star stadium, and the only reason it receives a deduction is (1) the stewards were very unfriendly to me, and (2) it doesn't have a footy team playing here. It's too good of a stadium not to. I'm really not into rugby, and when a facility like this doesn't have a team, it's just a shame. Hearts or a new team should play here, I would think. Or Scotland should play some games here. They did watch Hearts play a friendly here against Barcelona to a sell out 58k crowd, but come on, what about on the regular? Anyway, it's one of the crown jewels of Scotland and is truly impressive and modern with 67k people able to get in here, and it looks a lot like the San Siro.

There are very few instances where you will see me fangirl out like a crazy person:…read more 1. For grumpy cat. 2. For any Doctor Who actor with the exception of ... because really, no one liked him very much. And 3. The All Blacks. Yup. I'm a secret rugby junkie. And by secret, I mean not at all, because I will bring it up at every possible occasion. But when I found out the All Blacks were playing Scotland a mere few weeks after I landed in Edina? Well Edinburgh, you're officially stuck with me you beautiful, serendipitous devil. Here's what I learned at Murrayfield Stadium: 1. The Scottish rugby team is much better than I was expecting. Calm down. This doesn't mean I didn't love them from the beginning - i'm from Canada, have you SEEN our team? And I loved THEM. So shush - I like an underdog. What I mean is that Scotland held it's own against the All Blacks when I was expecting them to be crushed. Call me a new Scottish superfan... 2. Scotland is cold. Bring a sweater. 3. The line ups for the ladies toilets are as bad in Scotland as in Canada and you should definitely not wait until the last possible moment or you're going to be stuck uncomfortably dancing in line. 4. The food selection is surprisingly good for a stadium. Tip of the hat to the food trucks. 5. As is the beer. Though it will come in strange plastic sippy cup bottles that will make you feel like a teenager. 6. Bagpipes are always delightful. 7. Scottish fans are perhaps the nicest people in the world and will stick to the bitter end to applaud their team instead of ducking out in the last ten minutes to try and beat rush hour. It's nice. All in all, this was one of the most pleasant stadium visits to date. It's exceptionally busy and the line ups for everything are super long - but it's stadium. What did you expect? However, the decent beverage selection and promise of BBQ'ed meats, take this place up a notch. I look forward to many a fangirl moment here to come.

Clean, happy, family pool which has a great 'Women Only' night which also doesn't involve kids dive…read morebombing you. Life guards are friendly and helpful and you feel safe for yourself and your possessions - I might be the only person that thinks every time - "I'm stripping off and leaving my stuff in a box while I go and get really wet" but I feel secure when I do it. And, I've never caught anyone stealing my shampoo which is always a good thing I guess.

This is a great gym! I come for the fitness classes as Glenogle (my closest) is quite small and…read moredoesn't offer a lot. Ainslie Park on the other hand has a great variety of classes, especially Les Mills, and enough space that it actually feels like a proper gym. The changing rooms are clean, staff are super friendly and willing to help you out. This is slowly becoming my main gym (sorry Glenogle!)

Edinburgh Castle is the most visited attraction in Scotland, welcoming over 1.3 million visitors…read moreeach year who come in search of views, royal history, and a glimpse at the 'Honours of Scotland' - Britain's oldest crown jewels. Edinburgh Castle is not only the dominant feature of the city's skyline, visible from miles around, it's also the feature which gives the city its name -- the old Gaelic name translates roughly as 'the fort on the hill'. trust me, you might underestimate this castle, and even i have kept 2 hrs for this, but it needs more time. With several museums, a large war memorial, a royal palace, a Great Hall & several other little stops/activities, if you want to actually see all of Edinburgh Castle's sights and attractions, you'll need much more than two hours... especially considering the line to see the Honours of Scotland (AKA the Crown Jewels) can last 20+ minutes. * Three regimental military museums * The National War Museum * The Scottish National War Memorial * The Honours of Scotland, featuring the Scottish crown jewels and Stone of Destiny * St Margaret's Chapel, the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh * Optional 30-minute introductory tours available throughout the day * Prisons of War exhibition * The Great Hall where banquets were held * The One O'Clock Gun, fired every day (except Sunday) at 1pm * Visit the small antechamber where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her son, James VI of Scotland * Three gift shops and two cafes The oldest surviving structure at the castle (and the oldest in the city) dates back to the 12th century. It is of course St Margaret's Chapel, built by King David I in honour of his mother. This same king is the one credited with turning Edinburgh Castle into a royal residence. As the years rolled on, royals came and went, with new additions being made to the castle, creating the complex we see today. The Renaissance of the 1400s for instance brought us the Royal Palace that now houses various royal paintings and displays (including THE closet where Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to King James VI of Scotland, AKA King James I of England). The 1500s brought us the Great Hall, which was needed of course for fancy banquets. The 1600s brought new defences and barracks as the castle eased into its role of a military outpost more than swanky royal digs Tickets to Edinburgh Castle should be booked online before you arrive. Tip: these spots across the city offers great view of the castle- Calton Hill, The Grassmarket, Salisbury Crags, Castle Esplanade, Ross Fountain, St Cuthbert's Churchyard, The Vennel

Must-visit if you're in Edinburgh…read more We had reserved tickets to get in, and got lucky as it was a beautiful day, sandwiched between dreary rainy ones which are more common in this part of Great Britain. We enjoyed the history, the magnificent views of old and new town sprawled below us and the Firth of Forth beyond, the museum, and the One-O-Clock gun! Pro-tip: Book a late morning entry time so you can be there at 1 pm for the gun, duck indoors into the museum or gift shop if it rains, and dress in layers, as the weather can change in minutes.

I've been to the Liquid Rooms more times than I could count, for all sorts of gigs over the years…read more And I still love it. Sure, your feet will always stick to the floor, but that's just part of the charm of this place. It's quite an intimate space, great for smaller acoustic gigs, but also works really well for electronica etc. There's also a balcony, with its own bar, if you fancy a higher view. For anyone from Glasgow, it's like a cross between Oran Mor and the Fruitmarket. And gets just as hot and sweaty as they do!

Here to see the mighty Brendon Burns during the Fringe, so review based on that, may not be the set…read moreup all year round, buyer beware, etc. etc. Head down Victoria Street, before you get to The Bow Bar (I navigate by pubs, btw) and turn left down an alley, into a courtyard. There's the Liquid Rooms Annexe experience for you! The courtyard part is quite nice, all covered and open air so you can feel continental and drink outside, even with Edinburgh weather attempting to drop every bit of water in the country on you in one go. The bar? I've had way better to be honest. Just cans, bottles and spirits - again, I'm not sure if that's just part of the Fringe set up or not, so it may just be a temporary thing. In any case, at least it's not a shockingly high price to be handed a can, but it is a bit more than you would maybe expect. Venue wise, I liked the Annexe for atmosphere. For a smaller show, this would be ideal - close to the stage (perhaps a little too close to Brendon in some case for the poor folk in the front and second row!) and great sound. It is warm down there though, really warm, so be careful with your hydration in case you take a turn, but other than that, it's fine. It doesn't blow me away, but it does have a little bit of something that not every place does - and that's soul.

I've been a proud Filmhouse member since 2011. Initially attracted by the fantastic selection of…read morenon-mainstream movies and also the cheap prices (especially as a student member), I've seen so many pictures at this cinema. They have a great bar and cafe area, which also holds a film quiz each month (extremely difficult). The prices have been going up quite fast in the last few years, so I've gone somewhat less often recently, but the cinema is great. I love the friendly atmosphere, the unique programme, and the delicious cafe options. Well worth a visit!

I love the Filmhouse, I love the films they show from old classics to documentaries to foreign…read morefilms and kids films, there is a good mix and something to suit all. The theatre is comfortable and warm and has a vintage feel to it as the curtains open to reveal the screen. However there are no cup holders or much leg room but who cares when you can watch classic films like wizard of oz on big screen. The bar and cafe are great too although the portions are huge and a lot goes to waste the food is very tasty! The reception area sells DVD's which is great but it would be quicker and easier to find a DVD if they were displayed sideways instead of frontwards to save time flicking through every single DVD which is so frustrating and I give up in the end. Also the filmhouse has a sale of Vinyl records every month but there is no information in the filmhouse about it, no leaflet telling you when it's on, what time or how much the vinyls might cost, which I think would be useful in letting people know about events and things happening at the Filmhouse. All in all I give the Filmhouse a 5*.

Connie is amazing. So helpful, we love her. The music is so nice, first time in. I could rave about…read moreConnie all day. queen.

Very authentic and had live music too! The service was good and a fun time overall. They don't…read moreserve food unfortunately

Good places to change... Not the best ground for all…read moresports... Grass, turf and 3G.

We decided to stay and have a cocktail at the VooDoo Rooms after exploring the Midnight Lunar…read moreMarket. What a vibe this place has going on! We were lucky enough to just show up and grab a semi-circle shaped booth by the bar without any wait. We LOVED that a) the cocktail menu clearly stated "All drinks vegan, please inform staff of any allergens before ordering" and b) that they had the shape of the glassware next to the drink name. The bartender even took some time to make recommendations based on both what was most popular with customers and what the house/staff favorites were. We ended up going with the Porty Licks (gin, pineapple liquor, passionfruit, toasted almond topped with edible flowers) and Green Room (bourbon, peach liquor, lemon, peach, basil yuzu). Both were really well balanced drinks! Next time I'd get the King Khan (spiced rum and a mango oat lassi) or the Hare Krishna (mango, oat milk, chilli, coconut cream, and cardamom - sounds like a lovely non-alcoholic beverage and dessert)!

This place is a gem! I greatly appreciate a vegan option, an actual tasty one at that! The mushroom…read morestroganoff was perfect! It was so flavorful! My non vegan friend even picked into my plate. Great drinks! The staff were friendly and attentive! The decor of this place was amazing; looked like something out of a movie. I'll definitely slide by on my next trip!

This is our second year coming, and I forsee this being a regular event each and every year. The…read moreChristmas Market in Edinburgh out shines anything Glasgow puts on, which is a shame, but totally amazing at the same time. You can barely step out of the train station without seeing all the lights and people hustling about eating and drinking and buying loads of Christmasy stuff! I absolutely love it! This year, they have a really cool Rekorderlig hut set up at the top of the Market area before you even head in to the stalls. The great thing is that they have a spiced plum cider on offer that isn't even listed on their website! Try it, it's great! This is great as it makes grabbing a warm boozy bevvy that much easier. They also have drinks stands down in the kids play area which I think it a bit odd, but hey ho! This place is massive and it's very easy to lose people in here if it's quite crowded. I basically hold on to my guys hands and we manage to make it through without too much of a fuss. This is a must see- spend the day in Edinburgh and check out the Christmas markets- you won't be sorry that you did!

Big wheel, ice rink, plethora of stalls selling all things Christmas & liquid Christmas cheer…read more What's not to love about the Winter Wonderland. Yes, it's mobbed but surely that's the point. There is a fair bit of repetition amongst the stalls but it's laid out better this year compared to last. I like the fact that the ice-rink is st the top & I much prefer the new style big wheel (pods to shelter in rather than being open to the elements). A great way to while away a few hours with friends on a wintry afternoon.