A few months back, Georgia from
Mapped Out Blog and I decided it was time to book a girly weekend away for September so we had something to look forward to! Edinburgh was our destination of choice, because we'd just heard some excellent things about it, and it wasn't too expensive either! So on the 2nd September, we boarded a plane up to Scotland for a weekend of fun! Brace yourselves, this is a long one...
Where We Stayed
Whilst we only had a mere 48 hours to explore the city, we managed to pack a lot into our stay. We stayed at
Hotel Twenty which was a budget hotel, near the Edinburgh Playhouse - only 10 minutes away from the city centre. It wasn't the best hotel I've ever stayed in, but the beds were comfy, our room was huge (perfect for all the shopping we did!) and it was clean. If you are looking for a bargain, Hotel Twenty has you covered.
What We Saw
After arriving pretty late on Friday night, we decided to take a leisurely stroll up Calton Hill on Saturday morning. It was so nice to be out in the fresh air, enjoying the morning compared to being cooped up inside as we both said we usually would be! If you've never been to Edinburgh, or if you have but skipped out Calton Hill, I would really recommend going up the hill. The views are stunning, it's free and you even get in a little bit of exercise too! What more could you want. If we had been when it was a bit warmer, and had a little bit longer, I think we would have gone back up it again on the Sunday!
We then headed onto the
Real Mary King Close experience situated in the Old Town - which was probably a highlight for both of us. It was amazing to be transported back in time, and to learn a bit more about the history of Edinburgh. The tour was incredibly well thought out, and I was so impressed with our tour guide. He really got into the role of a rich merchant, and was very informative about the old streets which were eventually evacuated. If you are ever going to Edinburgh, this tour is an absolute must! You aren't actually allowed to take photos inside the experience, but Advocate's Close demonstrates how tiny these streets were!

On the Sunday, we headed to the Royal Mile for some breakfast, and then just around the corner to the National Museum of Scotland. On the way there, we also passed The Elephant Cafe which is where J K Rowling allegedly began writing the Harry Potter series! The Museum itself is free, and is inside a truly stunning building. It is the perfect place to go to if it's raining; there is something to do for everyone! I especially enjoyed seeing Dolly the Sheep after learning about her in school, and the space section was really cool too. There was so much to see, and we didn't have enough time so if you have a morning or even a day to spare, head to this museum!
What We Ate and Where We Drank
Georgia linked me to
this blog post by Hayley from Water Painted Dreams whilst I was at work, and we both knew
Bread Meats Bread would be somewhere we had to visit whilst in the city! We were not disappointed in the slightest...although we left incredibly full. If you are ever lucky enough to go to Bread Meats Bread, you might want to order to share; neither of us finished our meals!
Another great find (a recommendation from my friend who is originally from Edinburgh, and my parents) was
The Conan Doyle a pub located near the Edinburgh Playhouse. We were both pretty full from our brunch on the Royal Mile, but managed to fit in some chips and a tomato and quinoa salad before heading to the airport. It was a lovely, friendly pub and well worth a visit if you are in the area!
On the Saturday evening, we headed out for a few drinks.
Bramble Bar was our bar of choice, and the cocktail we had there was divine - both of us opted for the Mint 500 which was
delicious! It was made of Hendricks gin, elderflower, mint, basil, vanilla and more, so good! Whilst the bar was lovely, it was quite cramped and we were very lucky to get a table. We arrived at around 9.30 so if I go again, I'll hopefully get there a bit earlier so I can sample a few more of their drinks!
Edinburgh was the perfect place to head to on a weekend break, but I do wish we'd had a bit more time to explore. The Old Town was stunning, and The New Town offered some incredible shopping (we both had to slam our suitcases shut by the end of it!). There is just so much to do in Edinburgh, and we didn't even spend too much money either. If you are looking for somewhere to go, just for a weekend, Edinburgh is your place!
Have you ever been to Edinburgh?