I can’t provide much for the other cities but for Edinburgh have a look through the list below. Feel free to let me know what sort of things you’re looking for and I can be a bit more specific!
Things to do:
- National museum of Scotland: the building alone makes this worth a visit, plus its free and the range of exhibits is huge!
- National Portrait Gallery: same as above the building is to die for and the portraits aren’t bad either.
- Climb Carlton Hill: Arthur’s seats little brother Carlton is just off the end of Princes Street cracking views at sunrise/sunset out over New Town, the castle and the Fife.
- Head down to Leith: often missed, rarely regretted Class end of town with loads of fun pubs and places to eat.
- A day out in Stockbridge: worth walking down from Deans village along the water of leith (small river) into Stockbridge, really nice part of town with great bookshops (Golden Hare is a must), pubs/bars (Smith and Gertude if your into your wine, the St Bernard and the St Vincent aka the Vinny for beers.. If your coming soon find a pub for the rugby it’s the 6 nations at the moment (England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy, France) games every weekend for the next few weeks. If not the market on Saturdays is a nice stop.
- Roam the bookshops: cowgate, grassmarket area, full of them just don’t take food in face the wrath of the owners
Places to Eat:
- Albys: big hot sandwiches what’s not to love?
- Outsider: nice views, not too spenny
- Lanan: sells out early but man those pastries.
- Sandy Bells: not known for food but the guy who makes pies for them is elite. Live folk music most days and evenings of the week, bar staff are good chat. Ask them about the steady drip (the in pub newsletter they do and you’ll likely make some good mates) good place to try some whisky if that takes your fancy.
Bars:
- The Vinny (see above)
- St Bernard (see above)
- Brass Monkey: the one on Dundas Street has a load of daybeds in the back and shows films in the afternoons if you’re tired from sightseeing
- Kay’s: tiny tiny tiny pub
- Dreadnought: good pub down in Leith great rotating beers
- Paradise Palms: bonkers interior, great menu and cocktail list, plenty of events on worth a look to see on the dates your in town.
- The Oracle: sister bar to Paradise Palms
- Doghouse: busy, has good open mic nights.
- Starbar: Mad staff, jukebox, good vibes
- Hey Palu: Italian vibes, great vermouths
- Bramble: 17 Hanover Street down the stairs, great vinyl sets on Friday/Saturday nights. Recommend the Mint 500 if it’s on.
Clubs/Gigs
- Sneaky Pete’s: a tiny little 100 person sweat box of a club. My favourite in town, great mix of nights that cater to each and everyone just have a look what’s on when your in town for both gigs and club nights.
- Bongos: heavier music, huge, outstanding smoking area.
- Lost in Leith: out the way but worth it if something good is on.
- Stramash: a folk club.. yeah you read that right.. time to ceilidh baby
Hope above helps as I said feel free to share some ideas of things your interested in and I’ll see what I can do! Hope you have a class time in town.
One last word of advice.. remember Scots are from Scotland, Scotch is a drink! Nah I joke you’ll be grand, just if someone says “Is that right, aye” they think your chatting utter shite!
