I started my grad scheme during the pandemic, meaning that my now-virtual job could be carried out from anywhere; hence I decided to spend my second week of work in Edinburgh. Here's how I managed to see all of Edinburgh's highlights (and more!) in one week:
Day 1: Glasgow
I'd never actually been to Glasgow, so on the drive up from London I took a slight detour to see the city. Admittedly, I only saw a couple of streets but the city was a lot nicer than I'd expected, with old buildings lining the streets (not unlike Edinburgh). This day was mainly spent driving across the UK and unpacking on arrival but I'd recommend a short trip to Glasgow if you're spending more than a couple of days in Edinburgh.
Day 2: Arthur's Seat
Because I was working during the day, I only had evenings free to explore. Luckily, it was actually very sunny on the week I visited (despite it being September) and so, I managed to hike up Arthur's Seat. The hike is an easy one, only taking an hour to climb and descend, and the view is definitely worth the effort.
Day 3: St Andrew's
I finished work fairly early one day, and so I decided to do the 1.5 hour drive to St. Andrew's, which I also hadn't visited previously. Although we didn't manage to play any golf, this quaint town is definitely worth visiting, especially when it's sunny; the queue for ice cream was immense and students were jumping off the pier into the sea despite the September chill. The town is very idyllic and we had afternoon tea at The Doll's House, which I'd recommend. There's plenty to see, including Market Street, the cathedral, and the beaches.
Day 4: Edinburgh Castle & The Old Town
Most of the other days after work, I visited Edinburgh itself, including Edinburgh Castle, Greyfriar's Bobby, Grassmarket, and my favourite street: Victoria Street. Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities in the UK, and I noticed that people (especially those working in hospitality) are a lot more friendly than in London. From Tollcross, I'd recommend walking up to Edinburgh Castle, then heading along the Royal Mile, stopping at Grassmarket and Victoria Street along the way. If you get a chance, I'd also recommend visiting Princes Street Gardens or the Meadows for a picnic or a stroll!
One of my favourite things about visiting new cities is trying out the different cafés and restaurants, and Edinburgh was no different; for brunch or afternoon tea I'd recommend 'Don't Tell Mama' and 'La Viola', for lunch I'd recommend a pulled pork sandwich from 'Oink' or a Poké bowl from 'Hula', and for drinks I'd recommend 'Cold Town House' (which also offer delicious burgers). Although these suggestions are all pretty well-known, Edinburgh has so much to offer, and you won't have to look far if you want to try haggis or whiskey.
Day 5: Scott's View & Northumberland National Park
Despite the M6 being a much quicker drive to London, we decided to take a more scenic route down to make the most of the day. After nursing our hangovers with a solid brunch, we packed everything into the car and set off along the A68 for Newcastle. It's important to note that until arriving at Newcastle, this road is quite windy and thus, I wouldn't advise it for people who suffer from motion sickness. Nonetheless, it offers spectacular views, and is worth stopping for pictures at Scott's View and in Northumberland National Park.
After visiting friends in Newcastle, we drove the last gruelling hours along the M1, before finally arriving in London at night (this was after a couple of missed exits, including an additional 10 miles in the wrong direction along the M1). All in all, the week in Edinburgh was very worthwhile and as one of my favourite British cities, it never disappoints.
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