This was a wonderful tour. It was full of interesting stories about Edinburgh's past and the black…read moreplague that struck the city. The actors were very into their characters, which I loved. It was so much fun to hear their stories, see their enthusiasm and hear all about the history. I docked a star since I hate when places limit photo opportunities. It honestly feels like a missed opportunity for promotion to not allow tourists to post photos of themselves on social promoting their business. I do work in promotions so maybe I'm slightly biased but feels short sighted. Overall, a lovely tour and a wonderful guide.

The close is a popular attraction, so I booked a tour. It's located on the Royal Mile in Old Town…read more The close is named after Mary King, a merchant burgess who resided on the close. A close is a narrow alleyway leading from a main street to private shared courtyards, residential areas, or homes. The close was partially demolished and buried due to the building of the Royal Exchange and it was later closed to the public for many years. It used to be open-air alleyway. We were led by a guide dressed as a period character. We watched interactive projections of Mary and others tell us about who they were and life at that time. We also entered small rooms that housed many people. The most interesting part to me was about the plague. There was also a ghost story, which I don't care for. Overall, I enjoyed learning about the history.

I thoroughly enjoyed my tour with The Cadies & Witchery Tours. I was looking for an intimate…read moreexperience where I felt comfortable asking questions and this was it!!! From the moment I walked into their storefront to inquire about the tour options... I met with Robin and felt right at home. She mentioned that this was a newer tour that Robert researched and put together in 2020. It was rich in history, unique stories, and we had the ability to ask questions along the way (while exploring Greyfriars Kirkyard). If you are looking for a tour that gives you a genuine feel for the souls that have been laid to rest in Greyfriars, this is it.

We had fun on this tour and for us that is what matters. The tour guides were fun, they dressed up…read moreas characters, got into it and were fun. One person did the tour as one character and the other came in as a character and surprised us coming in as different characters every so often. This was about the tour guides being fun and the story told around different streets. If you are wanting serious ghostly locations and happenings this maybe is not for you. It may also good for older children. We had good fun and for £10 per person was good value.

This is close to Royal Mile and is another epic street with great shopping and great views of the…read morePalace and has a beautiful park alongside it.

It's been a while since the last time we've been in Edinburgh. This time there were a LOT more…read morevisitors. There was a festival going on and the streets were packed. Luckily Princes Street is pretty wide, so there was still space to enjoy a walk up and down the street. The shops are what you usually find in major cities. Primark and M&S being to most interesting to us. M&S always has good quality loungewear for low prices. H&M, Kiko, Swatch, Apple - they are all here. But besides the shops there are some sights to spot from here. Of course the Edinburgh Castle. But also the very nice Scottish National Gallery or the impressive Scott Monument. The Princes Street Gardens park is just across the street and worth a look. Be careful crossing the streets though, Princes is a very busy street with lots of traffic.

I was lured in by pictures I've seen. The area is peaceful and there weren't too many people when I…read morewas there. The IT spot is under a bridge where the Water of Leith river runs. The stone buildings add to the charm. It was a lovely walk to/ from here.

From all the social media post I've seen, this was on my list for places to check out in Edinburgh…read more First visit, we actually went to the wrong location...lol.... Made up for the next time. It's a good 15 min or so in the car from downtown Edinburgh or you could walk. We ended walking as it gave us a chance to see things that we've missed from all the other time we've visited. It was probably a half hour walk just taking our time. Faster if we didn't stop to look at things and take pictures. Right when you get to the location, there's Dean Bridge that crosses over. If you reached it, the village is right below. There's a little cobble stone street that literally takes you to the Instagram spot where I've seen. It's another little bridge that looks down to the town. A river below which was somewhat frozen. Of course everyone is there for the same reason, to get the perfect shot. The cute painted homes and rustic architecture gives it a gothic vibe. Walking along the cobble stone streets and checking out the little village was pretty calm. There's even a path that runs along the river you can walk along. The village itself isn't that big. Even though it was winter, the place was still beautiful. Imagine the warmer season when everyone is walking around, it'll get crowded but beautiful. If you walk under Dean Bridge, there's a main path that will take you back to the city. It's wider and below the homes but a really nice walk. People out for their jog or casually strolling. This place was very cute. Nothing big but something worth checking out. The power of social media know what it's doing.

It's just one of many interesting closes along the Royal Mile. This one is named after the Lord…read moreAdvocate's House. The house of Sir James Stewart used to be at the lower end the stairs near Cockburn St. It's literally steps away from the Supreme Courts building in Parliament Square. Well, about 70 steps up. Today, it's more of a shortcut between Market Street and the Royal Mile. The best feature of Advocate's Close is actually the perfectly framed view of the Scott Monument through the archway. You'll also see how high you are on the hill when walking up or down this steep & worn set of stairs. Hopefully they will add handrails to it one day like others that we've seen throughout the city. I mean, they don't call them "Death Stairs" for nothing. Oh, and theres's a very popular gastropub called the Devil's Advocate near the bottom of the steps. We didn't get to visit it, but it came highly recommended. It's just another reason to visit it.

Edinburgh is riddled with closes and Advocate's Close is a fine example of these narrow lanes that…read moreconnect streets throughout and behind the Royal Mile. The tall buildings that line the path give many closes a canyon-like feel with many of them sloping steeply down from the Royal Mile. It's like walking into the underground! Advocate's Close is particularly popular with tourists and I can see why. At the top, it offers a beautiful peek-a-boo view of the Sir Walter Scott Monument in the distance and some of Edinburgh's central buildings. Walk all the way down and it connects you to Cockburn Street below. Definitely try walking through a close or two as they are great shortcuts to get from one street to another along the Royal Mile.

I love Rose Street as it has many bars, restaurants and cafés to choose from. I've done the pub…read morecrawl here for a hen party many moons ago and have to say The Kenilworth and The Black Rose Tavern are my favourites. Especially the later for some rawk. Oh yeah! It's also great during the days for some great shops. Also who was the evil genius who put a back entrance to Primark?! Oh dear! Hehe!! On this occasion I was here for some lunch. I have been here for breakfast a while back but that was to Greggs but we'll no talk about that one. Pffft! Sometimes Greggs just hits the spot. Anyhoo, I was spoiled for choice for lunch spots but definitely check out the menus as some are expensive. As they say it's good to shop around. Rose Street is a lovely cobbled street which runs parallel with Princes Street and definitely worth a walk along as it's a great wee stretch. Next time your in the Burgh take a wee donner and have a gander.

I love Rose Street, it basks in character and has a great atmosphere here that other streets don't…read morehave. Being squeezed between Princes Street and George Street means that the street very rarely gets much direct sunlight during the day, which means it is always pretty dark along it, which I actually quite like and gives it a certain charm. The Street regularly has performers playing along it and as there is no cars to deafen out the noise as well as the fact that the street is so enclosed, it makes the performer sound clearer and louder, which is good if they are half decent! Rose Street is also home to a good set of pubs and restaurants and trendy shops and boutiques.

Very busy bar. Indoor & outdoor seating. Hostess will seat you inside to the left or first come,…read morefirst serve seating to the right and outside. The staff was friendly. Full bar to include local gin and beer offerings. Good menu. The pie was great as was the beer and gin we had. Traditional decor inside. It's definitely worth coming in for just a pint or staying for a meal.

Greyfriars Bobby is one of Edinburgh's most popular tourist attractions. Located just in front of…read morethe entrance to the Greyfriars Kirk can be found the bronze statue of Bobby. Hundreds of fans flock here every day to pay their respects, all eager to get a closer look at their doggy hero. History and why it is famous- and trust me guys, he is inthe same league as Hachi- Bobby, born in 1856, was a Terrier who spent over 14 years guarding the grave of his beloved owner. John - a dedicated nightwatchman for the Edinburgh City Police Force - carried out his duties with his trusty companion night after night. After John's untimely death in 1858, Bobby refused to leave his master's grave until the day he died himself. The rumours about this little dog began to spread far and wide, and Bobby soon had quite the fan base. In 1867, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh presented him with his very own collar. This gesture signified that Bobby was a licensed dog, meaning that he was protected against the new law that had recently been enforced, which stated that all unlicensed dogs would be destroyed. Bobby passed away in January 1872, and as a final token of his loyalty, was buried close to his master in the Kirkyard. A granite fountain with a statue can be found opposite Greyfriars Kirkyard - a permanent memorial to this faithful pup. Bobby's grave can be found immediately inside the gate of Greyfriars Kirkyard. He was buried close to his much-loved John, ensuring that the pair's astonishing bond would never be broken. It is not uncommon for doting visitors to leave sticks, dog toys, and flowers on his grave.

As a sucker for a pun-laden name, I'm going to have to let my heart rule my head on this one. Deep…read moredown I know that this shop shovels all the same shite (try saying that quickly) as every other ruthless, penny grabbing enterprise along The Royal Mile. But I also know that whoever the owner is, they've got a sharper wit than most, so that extra star is well deserved.

Apart from the, quite frankly, awesome name, Thistle do nicely is rather samey to the other tourist…read moretat shops that line the Royal Mile. It has an abundance of shortbread, Scottish themed jewellery, tartan teddies, See-You-Jimmy hats, fridge magnets, Scottish flags and pretty much items you'd only ever buy if you were a tourist. Which means my dealings with this shop are seldom, apart from when I went to teach English in a high school in Germany and literally had to take a suitcase full of tat. The prices in Thistle Do Nicely are quite reasonable and the hilarious name deserves a star alone.

Like Julia, I tend not to tire of referring to Cock-Burn street by it's phonetic pronunciation,…read morewhich sounds slightly like the kind of ailment you'd find after getting a bit carried away down Lothian Road. It's one of the streets I know best in Edinburgh but a trip here is always tinged with sadness as I remember Fopp and Uber-Disko, which have sadly now made way for a drugs information clinic and whatever is currently a couple of doors down from Avalanche. I forget. Retail has to move with the times however and while I do miss my old favourites, I'm glad to see that quirky and oddball stores such as Cutie House and Supa Kuru have come in to brighten up the place rather than the usual soulless dross. Fantastic ice-cream at Toddle Inn as well, and in Underground Solu'shn, at least one store is keeping the "crisp biscuits" alive.

Ahh, Cockburn Street, my picturesquely twisting friend, what delights you hold!…read more Cockburn Street is pretty much top of my list for present shopping, due to its abundance of cute'n'kooky little shops. It's just the right side of sketchy - some of its establishments look a little seedy but in a colourful and good-natured manner, while others are cute and bubbly. As a street, it's a real picture. Old, cobbled, and winding in a tight curl from High Street to Market Street, walking down it feels like scooting down a shop-lined version of Moonface's Slippery Slip in the Magic Faraway Tree books. Dark closes challenge you with endless steps to left and right, where if you just pick one randomly, you might find a shortcut, or you might add several minutes and a potential cardiac arrest to your journey. It's also one of the streets that gets gritted in snowy conditions so it's among the less perilous of the Old Town's winter attractions.

So many fun illusions. I got confused. Especially on the spinning bridge and the mirror maze.read more

We came to Edinburgh for the Taylor swift concert and wanted to do some exploring. My 13 year old…read moredaughter and her friend made it clear they didn't want to do any sightseeing so we looked for fun activities that appealed to teens...and came across this. We found this to be a fun way to kill 90 minutes in this cool city. There's all sorts of rooms with optical illusions, but you also get to enjoy amazing views of Edinburgh on the rooftops. The girls seemed to enjoy, although the favorite part was probably the last room which included some a mirror maze and something that made me super dizzy. Recommended for kid/teen fun!