There can be a lot of waiting involved but it is a free service. A really great place to help…read morepeople with welfare rights or to give advice on a number of topics. Lets vulnerable people know that they are not alone with their worries. Staff are very discreet and understanding.

Standing just over 200ft (61m) high, and known as the Gothic Rocket, the Scott Monument is often…read moremistaken for a church - understandably, perhaps - and dominates the view of the eastern section of New Town along Princes Street. Following Scott's death in 1832 the people of Edinburgh decided that a monument should be built in memory of one of Scotland's best-loved literary figures. At the time he was probably the most widely read British author of the era. The Scott Monument is the largest monument to a writer in the world. some data says, its 2nd largest though. This is especially fitting, given that Edinburgh is a UNESCO City of Literature, having been home to many notable writers, such Scott, Burns, Stevenson, Conan Doyle and many more! There are 287 steps to the top of the Scott Monument, from where you can enjoy breathtaking views of Edinburgh and the surrounding countryside.

This gothic monument to the famous Scottish writer (Sir Walter Scott) is so dark and mysterious…read morelooking during the day. It's an even better view at night when it's all lit up. It kind of makes you wonder what it actually looked like before it soaked up "auld reekie's" pollution back in the 19th century. In a way, the black soot actually gives it more character. It's also a nice contrast with the white Carrara marble statue of the writer. Do you see his dog (named Maida) laying to the right of him? So cute! So, if you can actually see the outer architectural details then you're in for a treat. It stands at 200 feet tall and has about 64 statues that represent some of the most notable characters in his novels. To be honest, I was more impressed with the gargoyles. We didn't attempt to go inside to climb up to the top of it, but many pay to do that. I'm sure it's a nice view. The courtyard surrounding it was being decorated for Remembrance Day celebrations. I loved seeing all the crosses and red poppies around it. It's definitely a must see monument, and certainly one that you're going to eventually pass by at some point during your stay in Edinburgh.

Here's hoping I never need to visit for legal reasons... but as a casual visitor for Doors Open…read moreDay, I was well impressed with this building! The main hall is beautiful and much bigger than I would have imagined had I any preconceptions of what the building would look like... The stained glass windows are absolutely amazing throughout. There are many corridors and many courtrooms and I only wish Courts 1 & 2 were open for us to have a nosey but alas the plethora of doors going into them were all locked. Well worth a visit if you get the chance.. They even had a selection of maces out.. heavier than you'd think! Never knew that they are still used daily to open each and every court session!!

Like Caz I don't want to be here apart from visiting or DoD but this was a great venue. WE GOT TO…read moreTOUCH THINGS! Yes, when you do the visiting of stuff that is old then everything is usually behind a rope or glass with the sign 'do not touch' but not here. The architecture is stunning - high ceilings and I can imagine the pomp and ceremony of old as the judges would swan in with the Macer - the Macer is the guy who holds the mace, still used to open court and may have been used in ye olden days to stop people attacking the judge. Naturally I went for the heaviest looking one to hold - I figured it would make a great weapon prior to hearing that it could be used in this manner (George III mace) and Tanya held the mace from our very own Queen Elizabeth - all mace's have been held by the monarch's they represent. Once we'd moved on from mace then we wandered about. We saw the SSC sitting room and one of the courts. Courts one and two which had all the different entrances were sadly locked, but the current court schedules were visible to see, including this week's which included an appeal by a famous Scottish killer. We didn't do the tour of the advocates library (had been told it wasn't worth it anyway) but we did have plenty of time to wander about which was great - and of course, try the mace...

Thankfully, I've only ever been in here twice, and both of those times I was there out of choice…read moreand not anything mischief-related. If the lady who served me the first time I was in here is reading this, I'm sorry. More specifically I'm sorry for being a stupid drunken fresher and wasting half an hour of your time reporting a handbag stolen, only to go home and find it was exactly where I'd left it the night before after one too many cheap vodka and diet cokes. Although I didn't appreciate your lecture on binge drinking at the time, you were right. The second time was just the other day when Alex C and I found a purse that had clearly been stolen and relieved of any cash, before being flung out of the window of the bus that was passing us. Although I'm fairly sure the people designing the foyer of this station went out of their way to find the least obvious place to put the bell you need to ring for attention, when we eventually found it we were seen straight away, and the woman was really nice. Especially when she asked me if I'd "be willing to accept a reward if one were to be offered". Er, yes. Yes I would.

I'd like to say I haven't been here often, but I'm foreign, from a "black-listed" country. It…read moredoesn't sound as bad as it is, but it just means that I have to keep people pretty much informed of everything I do. I take this warning very seriously, going to St Leonard's Police Station everytime I move flat, change my degree, get a job, etc. Once, however, a woman who probably didn't mean any harm at all, decided that what I was doing was hilarious and was generally very discouraging. Which is always kinda shit when you find yourself in the position to be mocked because you're following rules they applied to your life, with the threat of spending 6 months in jail and paying them 5000 pounds if you don't. Apart from that one situation, I find they've generally been helpful and polite. I've been there to hand in found wallets and to get documents for visa applications and the such. If only I hadn't been mocked that once, I'd probably be much more willing to speak highly and positively of this police station. But, let's face it, it's a police station, and we all fear it a bit.

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!

Circus Lane is probably one of the most picturesque parts of Edinburgh, thanks to Instagram. It's a…read morebeautiful place and a hidden gem to visit. We went here early on a weekday morning, and it was quite quiet. However, be respectful, as this is a normal street where locals live. If you're looking for a quick pick with a beautiful background, this is highly recommended!

We stayed in Stockbridge area during our visit, so it only took 3-4 minutes walk from my place to…read moreCircus Lane. I took advantage of that and went here a few times during our stay since it's such a picturesque cobbled street. It gets quite busy in the afternoon since everyone wants a photo here, but if you're patient you can get some good shots without people in the background.

The new post office relocated from St James Centre…read more Very large, bright and clean inside. Lots of counters though usually only a couple are open. They have the ticket machine so you can sit and wait rather than queue. Unless you're there for ID or biometric services in which case you need to stand in line. There's quite a few self service machines as well which are quick and easy and they usually have staff around if you need help with them. Usual selection of envelopes and other posting things. Also has travel money & insurance services. Functional, staff have always been helpful and friendly on the few times I've been in.

Edinburgh city council is not fit for purpose they allow there staff to work from home and nothing…read moregets done. I've been complaining to Edinburgh city council since the 5/6/2024 since the bin men broke our underground bucket chute I have video evidence that they did this , I've emailed them my personal and work number an not one person has been InTouch with me regarding this ongoing issue. I even offered to meet up with someone from Edinburgh city council so that they could see the video of there employees breaking our underground bucket chute and I've heard nothing from them at all I can assure Edinburgh city council im not going away and the video evidence will not be deleted untill they do the right thing and fix the underground bucket chute. I've also recently contacted the msp and they said that they will look into this so I await there response. My next move will be the ombudsman. Edinburgh city council do not deserve one star . Considering the amount of council tax that we have to pay every year we deserve a better service than we're getting. The lack in fact no communication is appalling way to run council service to the public. Edinburgh city council say they will respond within 5 days I've sent several emails and I've heard absolutely nothing from Edinburgh city council. Diabolical public services.

I have just returned from America where everywhere is immaculate and set to a very high standard…read more It is very pleasant and idylic, a lot could be said about Edinburgh. I am proud of my city and feel Edinburgh has a lot to offer but I also feel a lot more could be done to keep our streets and landmarks better maintained. Unlike Edinburgh, America utilizes every space they have, their parks and green spaces are well maintained, clean and tidy and grass always cut. The historical landmarks are always impressive and well maintained and used to their best advantage, making it a pleasure to visit as well as memorable and there is always a gift shop and restrooms nearby. That's another thing, where are all the public toilets? I love my city but it's a mess and needs a good tidy, everything broken needs mended, everything overgrown needs cut, everything dirty needs cleaned and it would be impossible to expect the council to keep on top of everything, I think it falls on our shoulders as much as anyone else's to make our city looking the best it can be, just like the Americans do. So lets try and get a 1 star rating to a 5 star and beyond!!!