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!

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.

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.

Although I have full access to computers at the University of Edinburgh, I actually signed up here…read moreso that I could use the computers in the library as it was actually closer for me to go there rather than George Square. The computers were pretty old and slow, but they did the job! The library itself is however, pretty modern and has a good range of books, with the classics all being stocked here. There isn't however the broad selection that you would get from Central Library on George IV bridge and if you are after a pretty obscure book, then it would probably be best to try there instead. The library is a great community resource and the best feature is probably the books it offers for children and the events that it also holds for them. There are also lots of toys in the children's area which would keep them occupied.

This is a lovely little library. Its open late most nights. It has a great selection of books and…read morethere is computers you can use and lots of papers and local information can be accessed here. I specialy love the childrens section. With there own little play area it is full of toys and many ,many books. You can go here and actualy relax with the kids and read them books or let them play while you sit nearby. They also hold differant events through the year. They have outside organisations come to the library and set up an education hour for all children. The last one i attended was called Zoo Lab and the children got to handle lots of creepy crawleys and learn all about them. Kids just love it. They also have reading time for little ones and the staff are very friendly and helpfull.

I'm kinda into literature, being a recent graduate of English Lit and all. That's one helluva…read morerevealing statement, isn't it? So yeah, I like going to readings. I know more poetry geeks than anyone should ever know in a lifetime too. The most star-struck I've ever been is when I met Yusef Komunyakaa. I mean, seriously, that beat being in the same cafe as Maggie Gyllenhaal, and I have one huge girl-crush on her. The SPL is a great resource for a huge range of books on poetry and of poetry. And it's hella easy to become a member. You don't even have to pay. One of the advantages of this place is that not many students actually know about it, so if you're writing a poetry-related paper, you can bagsy all the books first. And you can keep them for up to a month. They also have publications by independent publishing houses and they host delicious events. The Reader-in-Residence is Ryan Van Winkle who recently won the Crawshaw Poetry Prize and is going to be published by Salt Publishing. And Penny Hughes, who also works there, is the editor of Anon Magazine. On a street right off Canongate (an extension of the Royal Mile), it's kinda hard to just stumble upon, so make it a point to stop by and have a look. I don't know about you, but I've never heard of a poetry library anywhere, so it's definitely worth checking this one out.

This little place is fascinating - the poetry library is tucked away behind the Royal Mile but it…read moreis worth seeking out. There is a great receptionist who will guide you through their sections and give you information on what you are looking for. The sections are clearly set out and the staff go to a lot of trouble to make this place contemporary and relevant - decor is lovely and the actual building is funky with a large glass front.

This library provide a friendly local library service. There's computer facilities and children's…read moreevents plus the atmosphere is nice and relaxed. It is quite small though so you may not always be able to find a specific book, but if you ask they'll do an inter-library loan for you and you can go back and pick it up.

In terms of resources and books available, the University Library gets 5 stars. The resources are…read moreworld class, with books about absolutely everything. There is also excellent access to scientific journals online, and a facility to borrow laptops if that's necessary. So in terms of available facilities, excellent! However, actually staying in the library to study is a different story. It's always packed, especially at busy exam periods, and there is insufficient alternative study space nearby. If indeed a computer is free, I've often found it to be out of order. Very annoying. If you need a book for your course, this is the place to go. However, in terms of actual study space, I would recommend looking elsewhere.

Recently refurbished the library is now even more useful for students. On the ground floor you'll…read morefind the cafe should you want to grab a coffee or a bite to eat and a help desk that will be able to help you with any specific needs and point you in the right direction. From walking in, head to the far right corner and you reach the group study pods with a large computer screen. For group work or group studying these are idea, though if working alone it is best to refrain from these pods; when you come to do group work you'll realised how annoying it can be to see people in there working alone. Upstairs the floors all hold a similar pattern - computer areas and desks to work at. Bar at exam time when the Hugh Robson Building across the square is quieter there are usually more than enough computers. The best places for working, however, are the desks. The walls of books on either side close in and form a study cocoon. By this I don't mean that it's claustrophobic, instead it greats an atmosphere of studying that helps keep you concentrated. Generally the library is a good place to study, but in exam time I'd recommend your subjects library instead. At peak times the library has the opposite effect of making you want to study and can be distracting. For the rest of the year it will help you concentrate on your work and limit your distractions.

A good law resource... Not the best place to study…read more.. Is students only...

This is my least favourite library to be honest, although it has a good selection of books, they…read moreare not categorised very well or in alphabetical order so it's quite difficult to find a certain book by a certain author which is annoying and time consuming. The computers aren't any help either as I can't log in and I wont ask staff because by this time I've had enough and don't even want a book that much anyway! Annoying!!!!

There are many libraries in Edinburgh. Most of them don't have much to differentiate them from all…read morethe other libraries. However, I have noticed a few things about the McDonald Road Library, that perhaps set it apart. Firstly, it is a 49 hour library which means, you guessed it, that it's open 49 hours a week, including on a Sunday which is pretty handy if you tend to get a burning desire for fresh books over the weekend. Also, it has wi-fi access, unlike a lot of the libraries in Edinburgh. Also, I get the impression that it's one of the most multi-cultural libraries in the city, with sections of books in Urdu, Chinese, Polish, and a range of other European languages. Finally, perhaps because of its central location, it's also invariably full of tired-looking old men smelling strongly of alcohol and who knows what else - which, in my opinion, gives the place a bit of local flavour!