Wester Hailes Library is typical of the type that Edinburgh seems to specialise in - looks dreadful…read moreon the outside, is welcoming, attractive and friendly on the inside. A wide range of books, magazines, newspapers. Big children's area with lots of board and picture books, and a good teenage area too. CDs can also be borrowed. Lots of computers available to book for internet etc. This is free. Storytimes and Bookstart Rhymetimes run regularly here too and are very popular.

The space is absolutely iconic so beautiful. The columns and the library. It feels so formal but…read morecan be more relaxed. We saw others in parkas, joggers and leggings. The flavors are complex and definitely geared towards foodies. I went all in what was described as a Portuguese cheese roll which tasted like Gorgonzola very heavy which is one of my least favorite cheeses so it was a matter of personal preference. The desserts loved the banana rice pudding. It was divine and my favorite item. The chocolate mousse w/a cherry filling was to die for. The desserts were my favorites. Service is prompt and it's leisurely go at your own pace. We did not feel rushed even being 1 of the last tables remaining.

Edinburgh has no shortage of places for afternoon tea. After some internet research, we landed on…read morethe Signet Library. If you want a very quiet and peaceful experience, this is for you! If the quality of the bites matter, this is for you! Stepping into the tea room is literally like stepping into a library. Voices are hushed and tables are spaced out widely to allow for a very intimate experience. The savory tray was filled with delectable treats that were all so well made. The sweets tray that followed was equally gorgeous and delicious! You can really tell that they take pride in creating delicate bites that are very well thought out! So tasty! At 69 pounds, the tasting is more expensive than you'll find in some of the restaurants, but the ambiance and experience is very elevated!

Picturesque building in a great location overlooking princes street, the courtyard although small…read moreand quite busy with tourists, holds a statue of John Knox. You need ID to access the library but if you wait around for someone to come in or out you might be lucky and once inside you will be greeted by beautiful stained glass windows. It's unclear though where visitors are allowed to roam so some info on this would be helpful.

As well as being a stunning building to admire from the outside, New College is an excellent venue…read morefor hosting events as well. It stands on top of The Mound and so has an imposing look, visible from Princes Street and beyond. Like Edinburgh itself, which has old and new towns, the university has Old College and New College. Also like the city, both old and new are quite old indeed. The building dates from 1846 and houses the School of Divinity at the University. However, there are also rooms that can be rented out for events, and that's what brought me here. Our ball happened in Rainy Hall, a stunning hall, with crests and coats of arms all around. Walking in through the main gate of the college brings one to the very Hogwarts-like quadrangle, which makes for some great photo ops. Once inside the building, all of the interior architecture also captures one's attention. However, I am far from an expert on this, so that's quite enough comments about architecture! Rainy Hall is an intimate venue for events. It comfortably accommodated our ~60 attendees, but much more than this and ceilidh dancing would become somewhat difficult. Catering and bar service are provided by the University's own Edinburgh First, with friendly, efficient staff, and a good selection of drinks at the bar. The food quality is very good, though portion sizes leave a lot to be desired. My recommendation to visit New College is twofold. As a tourist, the astoundingly beautiful building makes for excellent photographs. On top of this, for reasonably small events of up to 70 people, the Rainy Hall is an excellent venue to consider.

I have loved this library since forever, its collection of books old and new spans 2 or 3 floors…read morefloors. Its interior and exterior is both impressive. The library has many book groups as well as bookbug for children. There's a study space, music library and here you can also get hearing aid batteries and apply for a bus pass.

Excellent ease of access. Just walk in and ask your questions. Located the title and headed down…read moretwo levels to the Scottish collection. Online access to British newspapers online. Register and you can save your search results and review at home later on. Helpful, friendly staff.

Situated in a historically interesting building in an old industrial centre of Edinburgh,…read moreFountainbridge, this library serves the local area well. I pretty much love all public libraries so I'm slightly bias to begin with, but Fountainbridge library really doesn't disappoint. I mean its a local library that offers book. All kinds of books for all ages. For free! What's there not to like? Of course its not huge, for a genuinely large collection you would need to venture (not far) to the central library, but it does its best. Fountainbridge Library also offers events such as storytelling sessions for children, book groups and free computing classes. It's also well serviced by bus routes and I believe the numbers 34 and 35 stop here.

Nice old fashioned library tucked away in Dundee Street in Edinburgh. Usual range of reading…read morematerial, papers and magazines. CDs too, and lots of audio books. Computers can be booked for word processing, internet and the like. Nice little children's area too. Regular storytimes and Bookstart Rhymetimes which are fun for parents with very young children.

As far as libraries go there's not a lot wrong with Morningside library. It has books, and lots of…read morethem. It also has telephone directories, audiobooks, internet access and newspapers. Everything really. It even has a massive separate room for children's books, which is great, because let's be fair, children are irritating at the best of times, never mind in a library. Add this to its opulent setting (the ceiling above the main desk is magnificent), with its original pillars and cornicing and you've got the makings of something great. Why only 3 stars then, you cry? I just felt the whole place felt drab, tired if you will. The carpet looks like an enormous piece of baize, and the tables and chairs are old. A little makeover (and it wouldn't take much) and this would be a truly resplendent place to get your literature fix.

Morningside is an area with an above average age. Add to this the fact that older generations tend…read moreto frequent libraries more than younger ones and you start to get a picture of what this library is like - the World War II section is one of the most comprehensive for starters. That said, if you do belong to the two extremes of the age groups or have a young child this is a good set up for you. There is a large print section, massive audio book section (generally tapes) and a good range of children's books including some for sale at 10p each. If you aren't of these age ranges this isn't particularly set up for you, although there are books of interest. It's rarely quiet here and if you want to come out for a quick visit you will be welcomed in, but beware of the predominant age groups if you are one of those people who feels easily out of place.

Having only just rediscovered the joys of having a library card, I found myself here. I have to…read moresay, I do like my local library. I like the extensive cooking selection; perfect for recipe testing and sussing out whether it's just the sort of book that'll sit proudly on your kitchen shelf. And I like that you can just use the self service machine if you're in a hurry. (But staff are always so friendly and helpful that it's difficult for me to pass the service desk by.) You can also extend your loan time online if you need a little bit longer with your book(s). I also like that it feels like a community hub, and that it's a peaceful place to do a little work or get some headspace. I do like this library.

lf it's educational books that you are looking for then really this is not the place to come as…read moreyou're unlikely to have a lot of success due to the fact that this place focuses more on books for the enjoyment they offer rather than for the educational value they offer. The library is almost entirely devoted to fiction and subdivisions of fiction - even its arts section is mostly comprised of musical autobiographies. If you do get a reasonable amount of enjoyment out of reading a good book then this certainly isn't a bad place to spend the afternoon especially with its fairly comfortable reading areas. It is most certainly a library there to entertain.

I love Edinburgh. Where else do you have a library which has museum like exhibitis and across the…read morestreet from another library! We sought refuge here since it was raining but ended up having a wonderful time taking in everything.

Easy registration even if you haven't already started the process. Just up the entrance steps and…read morearound the corner. Then straight to drop off your outwear and pens. Then it's on to one of the reading rooms. BTW the cafe is quite reasonable after passing through the Royal Mile. And WiFi if you purchase something. At an aside, your academic network connection (eduroam) may work as well. Otherwise it is available upstairs upon application.

As well as being a functioning part of the uni, Old College is almost a tourist attraction in its…read moreown right. For one thing, it's so huge and imposing that without even meaning to you'll find yourself using it as a landmark for directing you to places. For me, Old College will always stick in my memory as the place I finished my last university exam, so it's not surprising that I'm giving it so many stars! But if you're even vaguely interested in architecture or law (as well as housing several libraries, Old College is also the uni Law School), it's well worth wandering through the quad and taking it in; it's pretty impressive. I think the uni also hire out certain rooms in here for conferences and other functions.

Old College in Edinburgh, is one of my favourite buildings, the dome structure dominates the…read moresurrounding area. For years, I had been walking past it, but it wasn't until last year that I got a chance to actually see inside it. And what did I find? I found, one of the best public rooms in Scotland apparently - Playfair Library Hall. As you enter the court yard of Old College the entrance to the hall is on the left hand side. I was there for the swearing in ceremony of our new rector, and the hall was very ceremonial. It had roman styled pillars, busts of old academics, bookcases housing old books and a very large ceiling. The hall is very big and forces itself upon you with its brilliance! The hall itself is used for ceremonies and lunches by the universities hierarchy, however, if you get the opportunity to pay this hall a visit then please do so. It is a treasure which is not very well known and needs to be seen!