Edinburgh IN AND AROUND
City Guide
August 2022
Festival City Edinburgh Tours Virtual experiences History and storytelling Interactive Map Hotspots Meet the Giraffes About Town Your complete guide to Edinburgh
We have declared!
| City Centre | New Town | Old Town | Leith | Maps | Royal Mile | West End | Rose Street | | Edinburgh Zoo | Botanic Gardens | South Queensferry | City Tours | Shopping | Dining |
Meet the Puffins
Discover Mull, Iona and Staffa
The Three Isles Tour Plan your next adventure!
Experience the spectacular scenery on the Isle of Mull, the tranquility of Iona and the wonderful wildlife on Staffa, all on a day tour from Oban. Tours run daily from March until October and include all ferry travel and a boat trip with Staffa Tours.
Visit westcoasttours.co.uk or call us on 01631 566 809.
Click buttons to navigate
Edinburgh Festivals
Explore
Bright Bus Tours
Giraffe AboutTown
West End
Old Town
Botanic Gardens
City Centre
Shopping
Dining
Walking Tours
Edinburgh Zoo
S Queensferry
Maps
Rose Street
Leith
Theatre City
See our other interactive visitor guides here: www.downtowncitymaps.com
www.lovelochlomond.com
Glasgow
Edinburgh
Contents
Explore Edinburgh
EDINBURGH AIRPORT
EDINBURGH TRAMS
EDINBURGH BUS STATION
SCOTRAIL
SCOTTISH CITYLINK 0871 266 3333 www.citylink.co.uk
AIRPORT BUS SERVICES
EH12 9DN 0844 448 8833 www.edinburghairport.com 0845 755 0033 www.scotrail.co.uk
(Airport Link) 0131 475 0110 www.edinburghtrams.com
CITY CABS TAXIS
EH3 8HP 0131 228 1211 www.citycabs.co.uk
Elder St. EH1 3DX 0871 200 2233 https://bit.ly/2HaKi4B www.lothianbuses.com/our-services/airport-buses/
LUMO
www.lumo.co.uk/
Explore Edinburgh ... MERCAT TOURS
28 Blair Street 0131 225 5445 www.mercattours.com Mercat tours will give you a true sense of Scotland’s past that no guidebook can give – whether haunted or historic. To make sure you can explore every nook and cranny of Edinburgh without missing any of the best sites or stories Mercat have a range of day or evening ghost & history tours covering the Old & New towns, above ground or exclusively, underground! Engaging, enthralling, and most of all, entertaining!
TIMBERBUSH TOURS 0131 226 6066 www.timberbushtours.com Timberbush Tours will take you out of the city and into the parts of Scotland that you have read and dreamed about! With small group departures you can enjoy a friendly guided tour that brings you right into the heart of Scottish life, sights and loves such as whisky tours and breath taking scenery.
RABBIE’S TOURS Waterloo Place 0131 226 3133 www.rabbies.com Award winning small group tour company offering guaranteed departures – you book, you go! Touring with a maximum of 16 passengers give you more time to experience the real, authentic Scotland with more time off the bus and with the locals. Book online or walk-in with tours covering one, two or three days.
EDINBURGH BUS TOURS
St. Andrew’s Square 0131 220 0770 www.edinburghtour.com Experience the best of the city’s sightseeing with Edinburgh Bus Tours. Easy hop-on, hop-off open top bus tours covering a variety of themes. All tours are from St Andrew’s Square.
BRIGHT BUS TOURS St. Andrew’s Square.01506 534977 www.firstgroup.com/bright-bus-tours A fresh and vibrant new choice to the Open Top Bus Tour menu in Edinburgh. Enjoy the essentail historic and cultural sights and sounds of Edinburgh in the company of your tour guide. Hop On and Off as often as you wish and enjoy free transport to Edinburgh Zoo when you show your BB ticket on First Bus Services X24, X25 & X38 from Princes Street. First tour departs St Andrew’s Square at 9am with last at 16.00.
LITTLE’S CHAUFFEUR DRIVE
0141 883 2111 email reservations@littles.co.uk www.littles.co.uk Little’s is a UK award-winning family business headquartered in Glasgow and for over 50 years we have been looking after visitors to Edinburgh and Glasgow in style and comfort. Making sure that you arrive safely at your destination, relaxed and on time is our priority and is the reason we are the first company of choice for travelling professionals, family groups and discerning travellers. Our expert team will ensure that everything is taken care of, whether you are looking for an airport transfer, a city tour or an extended sightseeing tour of Scotland. With access to some of the best properties and restaurants in and around Scotland we can advise and inspire you on where the best places to suit your plans will be.
HAGGIS ADVENTURES 0131 557 9393 www.haggisadventures.com Epic budget back packer 1 to 10 day tours of Scotland from Edinburgh. Legendary tales of epic road trips where life long friendships are formed and wild antics form part of the journey! Blazing a trail across Scotland’s raw and rugged landscape, expect to experience much more than the traditional!
Beside Edinburgh Castle! Call 0131 226 3709 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2ND camera-obscura.co.uk
Camera Obscura
With
Nothing is what it seems!
floors and over 100 interactive, hands-on exhibits, we have something fun to entertain all ages. Tour Edinburgh’s streets without moving. Test your brain against mind-bending illusions. Take spectacular city scape photographs from our Rooftop Terrace. It’s all part of the Camera Obscura & World of Illusions experience. Situated just a stone’s throw from Edinburgh Castle, at the top of Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, come and discover the first ever purpose built visitor attraction in Edinburgh and see history and modern marvels together under one roof
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions Edinburgh,, 549 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, EH1 2ND 0131 226 3709
www.camera-obscura.co.uk
five
Giraffe About Town
VER 40 eight-foot-tall giraffe sculptures have hit the streets of Edinburgh as part of Edinburgh Zoo’s much anticipated Giraffe About Town trail.
O
to raise vital funds for RZSS after the Covid-19 pandemic forced the closures of Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park for five months, costing the charity over £1.5 million.
In partnership with Wild in Art, the trail aims to help the city recover after the pandemic and raise vital funds for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) conservation work in Scotland and around the world.
Maps for the trail can be found on the Giraffe About Town website and app, Visit Scotland information kiosks and at Edinburgh Zoo. For more information, please visit giraffeabouttown. org.uk.
Staff at the wildlife conservation charity worked overnight with official logistics partners Purdie Worldwide to place the sculptures in spots around the capital, which will now be on display until 29 August, when they will be brought together for a final farewell weekend at the zoo in September. Each model has been individually designed by artists and communities to help celebrate Edinburgh’s extraordinary heritage and cultural diversity. Ben Supple, director of engagement and business development at RZSS said, “It is so exciting to see our giraffe sculptures out in the wild after over a year of hard work and collaboration to bring this exciting free art trail to the people and streets of Edinburgh.” Ultimately, the sculptures will be auctioned
Take a Tour
Take a Tour
Bright Bus Tours
The Britannia Tour
Edinburgh
St Andrew Square
1
14 Castle,
Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place
2
13 Johnston
Newhaven Harbour
3
12 Bread Street
Royal Yacht Britannia
4
Lawnmarket Terrace
11 Morrison Street Edinburgh
10 International
Water of Leith, Shore
5
Broughton Road
6
9 (Haymarket)
Stockbridge
7
8 National, Gallery of
Conference Centre
Torphichen Street The Scottish Modern Art
1 St Andrew Square 2 Lothian Road 3 Grassmarket 4 Chalmers Street 5 Johnston Terrace Lawnmarket,
6 Edinburgh Castle 7
Chambers Street (National Museum)
Knox House, 8 John Royal Mile Museum of Edinburgh,
9 Canongate
Scottish Parliament,
10 Canongate
11 Dynamic Earth 12 Holyrood Palace 13 Regent Road 14
St Andrew Square
(This is the terminus and where the tour ends)
Bright Bus Tours
The City Tour
www.BrightBusTours.com
Edinburgh Festivals In any normal year the capital of Scotland becomes the world’s cultural melting pot, with citizens of the city and the country joined by artists and audiences from every corner of the globe in celebration of culture and creativity. Some people wonder whether these Festivals could just as easily take place in any city, not realising that the Festivals are authentically rooted in Edinburgh and have become part of the intangible heritage of Scotland. As the great historian Sir Tom Devine says: ‘The Edinburgh Festivals are indeed a jewel in the Scottish crown which bring a matchless world-wide profile to our country.’
Edinburgh Art Festival 28 July to 28 August
Edinburgh Art Festival is the platform for the visual arts at the heart of Edinburgh’s August festivals, bringing together the capital’s leading galleries, museums and artist-run spaces in a city-wide celebration of the very best in visual art. Each year, the festival features leading international and UK artists alongside the best emerging talent, major survey exhibitions of historic figures, and a special programme of newly commissioned artworks that respond to public and historic sites in the city. The vast majority of the festival is free to attend.
food film what’s hidden places getting & discover & festivals on gems to stay drink arts around Facebook - @Edinburgh : Twitter - @edinburgh : Instagram - @thisisedinburgh
www.edinburgh.org
6 August to 28 August The Edinburgh International Festival brings Edinburgh’s theatre venues to life with the very best music, theatre, opera and dance from around the globe. The success of the 2021 International Festival can be measured in the joy of audiences attending live performance once again, artists returning to the stage and giving exceptional performances in unfamiliar settings, the seamless experience of outdoor venues, beloved theatres opening their doors once more and the engagement of communities right across the city from Moredun to South Gyle. We even enjoyed good weather that added to the collective delight and good humour that seemed to pervade every performance. The Festival commissioned new work by companies from Brazil, South Africa and Lebanon, presented world premieres from Enda Walsh, Anna Clyne and Ayanna Witter-Johnson
and worked with Scottish companies including the National Theatre of Scotland, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Curious Seed and the Dundee Rep
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The next Festival - 6th to 28th August 2022 - will be the Festival's 75th anniversary, and promises to be a very special year.
5 August to 28 August The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the single greatest celebration of arts and culture on the planet. For three weeks in August, the city of Edinburgh welcomes an explosion of creative energy from around the globe. Experience Scotland’s capital come alive with vibrant colours, shows and events to suit everyone. See performances from the most famous people in the industry and discover new artists breaking through in their careers. Totally open-access, the Fringe is proud to include in their programme anyone with a story to tell and a venue willing to host them. This festival doesn’t just attract performers and visitors from all around the world, it’s also a hotspot for creative producers and the media scouting for the next big talent.
Edinburgh Festivals
Edinburgh International Festival
Edinburgh Festivals
5 August to 27 August
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Set against the backdrop of Edinburgh’s imposing castle, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is one of the most iconic events in Edinburgh's calendar. Bringing together audiences from across the globe, the Edinburgh Tattoo celebrates the skills and talents of military bands and display teams from throughout the world. There are few such moving festival moments, a fact to which any of the over 220,000 people who experience it live in any noral year can attest – not to mention the further 100 million who watch television broadcasts of the event!
Audiences get into the spirit and stamp and cheer to the sounds of the military pipes and drums, clap to the Highland Dancers and watch in awe at some of the daredevil feats of accomplished motorcyclists or intricate marching formations.
now on sale HERE.
The sounds of the bands will be heard throughout the city, followed by the cheers of the audience, the roar of military jets flying over the city, and finally the glorious fireworks that colour the night sky. Tickets for the 2022 Tattoo - themed around the collective power and connection of voice - are
Edinburgh International Book Festival 13 August to 29 August
Discover new writers and meet your favourite authors at creative writing workshops, book signings and author talks. At the Edinburgh International Book Festival you’ll have the opportunity to take part in provoking debates and intriguing discussions with likeminded book lovers! The Book Festival has been traditionally located in the heart of Edinburgh’s historic New Town at Charlotte Square Gardens - but in 2021 it will be reloacating to the University’s Edinburgh College of Art where it will recreate its amazing village atmosphere while also having the faciltiies to create a world of online events. There are independent bookshops at the Book Festival stocking a wide range of titles for adults and children, including some exclusive to the Festival. Browse at your leisure and find something stimulating to read. International Book Festival will run from Saturday 13 to Monday 29 August from Edinburgh College of Art in Lauriston Place.
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
The festival launched in 1989 and continues to evolve, engaging people in the magic of storytelling from its home in the Scottish Storytelling Centre - the only purpose built home for storytelling in the UK From storytelling performances to panel discussions, and a lively family strand of storytelling activities around Halloween, there’s something here for all Festival-goers to get involved with Storytelling is not a form of theatre – of course its entertainment, but it’s not a passive art form: the audience are part of the performance With the art of storytelling no one performance is the same, with each storyteller using improvisation to help bridge the connection between teller and listener.
October 14 - 30
For over 30 years the Edinburgh International Science Festival has served up fun and facts in a bid to get everyone interested in science. The Edinburgh Science Festival is the UK’s largest Science Festival with almost 270 events for families and adults over the course of two weeks. Families can look forward to a jampacked programme of fun and educational events and activities..
global challenges. With a heartfelt call for a truly radical shift in the attitudes and behaviours of individuals, organisations and nations to combat the climate crisis and protect the delicately interconnected lifecycles and biodiversity of our
1 April to 16 April 2023 planet and a special plea for the embracing of circular economies to help ensure a successful and sustainable future, EdSciFest 2022 aims to show how going round in circles can sometimes be a GOOD thing!
For adults, the programme will feature discussions, debates, workshops, tastings and nights out, all with a scientific twist. Edinburgh Science Festival will return from Saturday 9 – Sunday 24 April 2022 with the theme of Revolutions. Focusing on the power of circles and revolutionary approaches to everything from personal to planetary health – and with an unashamed emphasis on the urgency of tackling the climate crisis – the 2022 Festival will explore lifeforms, lifecycles and revolutionary science, technology, ideas and solutions to
Edinburgh International Children’s Festival 6 May to 14 May 2023 The Edinburgh International Children's Festival is a 9-day festival dedicated to offering family-friendly entertainment in the form of theatre and dance The Festival celebrates the best of children’s theatre and dance from around the world, showcasing high quality, distinctive Scottish and international performances to an audience of children, their teachers, and their families each year. The festival has established itself as one of the best places for programmers from all over the world to see work of the very highest standard. It is also a place where artists meet, see and discuss work, and take part in professional development activities. Numerous pop-up events take place across the city centre, showcasing performances designed for audiences ranging from toddlers to teenagers. Though it's primarily targeted towards children, the festival offers quality entertainment for older members of the family to enjoy as well.
Edinburgh Festivals
Edinburgh Science Festival
Theatre City
Theatre City FESTIVAL THEATRE 13-29 Nicholson Street EH8 9FT 0131 529 6000 www.capitaltheatres.com Standing on Edinburgh’s longest continuous theatre site, today, at just over 2,500 square feet, the Festival Theatre stage is the largest performance area in Scotland and the third largest in the UK. Home to Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera, and a key venue for the National Theatre of Scotland, the National Theatre and the Edinburgh Festivals, it has also gained an international reputation as one of the world’s leading dance houses. With a seating capacity of 1,915, the year round programme includes cutting-edge contemporary dance, large-scale musicals and event theatre, international ballet and opera productions and a variety of stand-up comedy and live music shows.
KING’S THEATRE EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE 18-22 Greenside Place EH1 3AA 0333 009 6690 www.playhousetheatre.com The Edinburgh Playhouse is the largest working theatre in the UK in terms of audience capacity, seating 3,059 people over three levels. Originally used as a cinema, nowadays the venue is used for large scale touring musical productions. The theatre is managed by the Ambassadors Theatre Group (ATG) who use it to house a wide variety of different performances each year. The building itself is a Grade I Listed Building and was originally modelled on the Roxy Cinema in New York.
THE ROYAL LYCEUM 30b Grindlay Street, EH3 9AX 0131 248 4848 www.lyceum.org.uk The Royal Lyceum Theatre Company is Scotland’s leading producing theatre, led by Artistic Director David Greig. With a strong reputation for excellence in both classical and contemporary work The Lyceum is committed to developing Scotland’s considerable indigenous talents while presenting the best of international drama. The Company rehearses in its own rooms opposite the theatre, and costumes and sets are designed and built at The Lyceum’s workshops in Roseburn.
2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ 0131 529 6000 www.capitaltheatres.com The King’s Theatre is a treasured piece of Edinburgh history and still a bustling home to popular stage entertainment, staging quality touring drama, kids’ shows and Scotland’s No.1 panto. The King’s is Edinburgh’s home of West End drama and quality touring theatre, ensuring local audiences have the chance to see some of the UK’s most prolific actors and best touring productions on home turf. In 2013 renowned Scottish artist John Byrne was commissioned to redesign the domed auditorium ceiling.
10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED 0131 228 1404 www.traverse.co.uk The Traverse - champion of stories and storytellers. The stories we share are by anyone and for everyone. As Scotland’s new writing theatre, the Traverse is a dynamic centre for performance, experience and discovery. Enabling people across society to access and engage with theatre is their fundamental mission. Their year-round programme bursts with new stories and live performances that challenge, inform and entertain.
Theatre City
CHURCH HILL THEATRE LEITH THEATRE
BEDLAM THEATRE 11B Bristo Place, EH1 1EZ 0131 629 0430 www.bedlamtheatre.co.uk Bedlam Theatre is a unique, entirely studentrun theatre in the centre of Edinburgh. Clearly visible from Edinburgh’s Royal Mile in the heart of the city, Bedlam is a fully operational 90-seat theatre housed in an imposing neogothic church. Bedlam Theatre is both a listed building and a historical landmark - a unique space and community where students maintain the building themselves throughout the year. The Edinburgh University Theatre Company puts on over 40 shows a year, and workshops and productions alike provide students with a unique opportunity to learn about all aspects of theatre.
28-30 Ferry Road, EH6 4AE 0131 629 0810 www.leiththeatre.co.uk The Leith Theatre complex was a gift from the City of Edinburgh following amalgamation of the borough of Leith into Edinburgh in 1920. Damaged by a omb in 1941 the theatre remaineddormant for 20 yearsbefore re-opening in 1961. A threat of residential redevelopment on the building sparked a community group to take action in 2004. This group became the Leith Theatre Trust. The years since have seen the return of EIF, FLY Club Nights, Neu! Reekie!, B2 Theatre Company, The MGA Academy of Performing Arts, EH6 Festival and more.
Morningside Road EH10 4DR 0131 220 4348 www.churchhillthheatre.co.uk This striking Category B listed pink sandstone church was converted into a theatre in the 1960s and over nearly 50 years has gained an established reputation as one of Scotland’s leading non-professional theatres. As well as being home to many of Edinburgh’s amateur theatrical companies, it is a popular venue for the annual Edinburgh Festival.
ASSEMBLY ROXY 2 Roxurgh Place, EH8 9SU 0131 623 3001 www.assemblyfestival.com Assembly Roxy is a unique venue situated in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. The historic former church building houses three main spaces all equipped with modern sound and lighting systems. Roxy Upstairs is a theatre space with raked seating for up to 169 audience members, while Roxy Downstairs is a more intimate studio space seating up to 60 people. The largest is Roxy Central; a truly unique and beautiful space, with original features, a stage and a bar area.
Theatre City
TRAVERSE THEATRE
City Centre
Edinburgh City Centre ...
E
dinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, is situated on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth on the East Coast. Edinburgh attracts more than a million overseas visitors a year and is the second most popuar tourist destination in the UK. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world with its
VISITSCOTLAND ICENTRE
249 High Street, EH1 1YJ 0131 473 3820 Website Edinburgh VisitScotland iCentre welcomes you to Scotland. Find us on the High Street in the heart of Edinburgh, Scotland’s historic capital. This one-stop shop helps you make the most of your time, and enhance your trip. At Edinburgh and Scotland’s iCentre we can help you plan tours, book day-trips, reserve accommodation and purchase transport passes for touring Scotland. Discover the latest information on events and festivals taking place in Edinburgh all year round. Buy tickets for Edinburgh attractions, Historic Scotland Explorer Pass, the Royal Edinburgh Ticket and popular city tours. Our gift shop has a wide variety of quality Scottish gifts, a selection of guide books and maps. Drop by to make sure your trip to Scotland is one to remember.
unique divide of Old Town and New Town. Centuries of history have left their mark on this city, giving you the atmosphetic and medievalOld Town alongside the elegant Georgian New Town. In August, the city hosts the biggest international arts festival in the world.This includes the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, International Festival and Book Festival.
With so much to see and do it can be hard to know where to sgtart. Top attractions include Edinburgh Castle, St Giles Cathedral, The Scottish National Gallery, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, The Scottish Parliament building and the area known as the Grassmarket. Excellent restaurants, elegant cocktail bars and great shopping abound in Edinburgh.
City Centre
BY TRAIN Scotrail (www.scotrail.co.uk) operates frequent services through the day from Glasgow Queen Street. Journey time is less than one hour with trains stopping at Edinburgh Haymarket (West End) and Waverley (city centre) stations.
BY BUS CityLink (www.citylink.co.uk) operate fast and frequent (every 15 minutes) coach services throughout the day between Glasgow Buchanan
Street Bus Station and Edinburgh Bus Station which is located in the city centre close to St Andrew's Square. Tikets can be purchased online to the best fares.
BY CAR Edinburgh has good motorway access by car from most areas of Scotland & the UK. Once in the city there are many secure public car parks. Check out www.ncp.co.uk for best rates and book in advance..
Free
HOT FUDGE SUNDAE DESSERT
SHOW THIS AD AND RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY HOT FUDGE SUNDAE WITH THE PURCHASE OF ONE ADULT MAIN ENTRÉE.
Cannot be used with any other offers. One per person per visit.* Other restrictions may apply.* Valid at Glasgow and Edinburgh Cafe locations only. Offer expires 01/05/2022.
#HardRockCafe | hardrockcafe.com Edinburgh | 20 George Street | +44 131 260 3000 Glasgow | 179 Buchanan Street | +44 141 353 8790 ©2019 Hard Rock International (USA), Inc. All rights reserved.
City Centre
City Centre ...
T
Edinburgh New Town
he New Town is a central area of Edinburgh. It was built in stages between 1767 and around 1850, and retains much of its original neo-classical and Georgian period architecture.
Its best known street is Princes Street, facing Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town across the geological depression of the former Nor Loch, now Princes Street Gardens. Together with the Old Town, the New Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. The area is also famed for the New Town Gardens, a heritage designation since March 2001. The New Town is home to the National Gallery of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Academy Building, both designed by Playfair and next to each other on The Mound. The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is on Queen Street.
Other notable buildings include the Assembly Rooms on George Street, the Balmoral Hote) with its landmark clock tower above Waverley Station, and the Scott Monument. The New Town contains Edinburgh’s main shopping streets. Princes Street is home to many chain shops. George Street, once the financial centre, now has numerous modern bars, many occupying former banking halls, while Multrees Walk on St. Andrew Square is home to Harvey Nichols and other designer shops. The St. James Centre, at the east end of the New Town, was an indoor mall completed in 1970. It closed on in 2016 and has been redeveloped as St James Quarter at a cost of £850,000,000. Also, by the Waverley Station lies the Waverley Market , which contains many high street stores including: Costa, McDonald’s, Sainsbury’s, KFC, Subway, Superdry and Greggs.
CALTON HILL A short walk from Prince’s Street brings you to carlton Hill and some truly outstanding Edinburgh views. Some of the best photographs of your trip will be taken as you walk up to the top and admire both the wider cityscape but also te stunning view towards Leith and the River Forth.
SCOTTISH NATIONAL GALLERY
The Mound 0131 624 6200 www.nationalgalleries.org The gallery has an amazing permanent collect and even more amazing, entry is free. The gallery is located right at the bottom of The Mound in the centre of Prince’s Street and a short walk from Waverly Station and minutes from The Royal Mile.
City Centre
GALLERY CLOSE
4B Howe Street 0131-466 5083 www.gallery-close.com One of Scotland’s only photography galleries, Gallery-Close is proud to represent a growing number of elite photographers. One of the friendliest galleries to visit they are small but appreciate those who like to support small independent businesses. The photographers they represent are usually highly established but they also support new and up and coming artists. The gallery is situated in the heart of the historic Georgian New Town in Edinburgh, midway between Princes Street and Stockbridge. It exhibits a variety of photographic work and individually themed exhibitions throughout the year.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND
LYCEUM THEATRE
Chambers Street 0300 123 6789 www.nms.ac.uk Explore the diversity of the natural world, world cultures, art and design, science and technology and Scottish history, all under one roof at the National Museum of Scotland. The museum of open daily and admission is free.
30b Grindlay Street. (off Lothian Road) 0131 248 4848 www.lyceum.org.uk The Lyceum is one of Scotland’s largest and most successful producing companies. The main output is drama during the September to May period. The theatre is also host to touring companies and entertainment during The Edinburgh International Festival shows.
SCOTT MONUMENT (Temporarily closed)
EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE
Princes Street Gardens 0131 52 4068 www.edinburgh.gov.uk Located on princes Street and dominating the landscape the Scott Monument is the largest monument to a writer in the world commemorating Sir. Walter Scott. The monument is open from April to September and offers amazing views from the top.
18-22 Greenside Lane 0131 524 3333 www.atgtickets.com Located at the top of Leith walk the Edinburgh Playhouse is famous for hosting popular plays and musicals plus other big acts when they come to town. Some of the biggest names in show business have played here.
City Centre
Main Menu
St James Quarter
S
t James Quarter is a new retail led, lifestyle district that fully integrates into and enhances Edinburgh’s City Centre providing an inspiring, attractive, and vibrant destination for locals and visitors to live, shop, eat, sleep and play. St James Quarter houses an enviable line up of restaurants, cafés, bars, shops, public spaces and leisure venues covering 1.7 million square feet. St James Quarter is set to become a welcoming cultural and lifestyle hub for art, culture and fashion that will complement the city’s world-renowned cultural offering and support its vibrant events calendar. Many brands are debuting in Scotland for the first time at St James Quarter: The Alchemist, &
Other Stories, Stradivarius, Bershka, and Pull&Bear to name a few. With these new additions as well as classic favourites and unique destinations like the one-of-a-kind Bonnie & Wild Food Hall, St James Quarter reinforces Edinburgh’s position as Scotland’s cosmopolitan lifestyle capital. The naturally ventilated, canopy-roofed Galleria unites Edinburgh’s shopping districts, creating a walkable circuit and linking the path to Leith for an easier throughway across the city. Easily accessible via public transit (including extended tram routes), by train or by car, St James Quarter is a brand-new, exciting hub created and curated for the people of Scotland.
www.stjamesquarter.com
FOUR and a half years in the making, Johnnie Walker Princes Street is the centrepiece of Diageo’s £185 million pound investment in tourism in Scotland.
systems, one person could visit Johnnie Walker Princes Street every day for more than two years and not have the same experience twice.
To mark the opening, a Johnnie Walker flag was raised above the landmark building by Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive, Diageo, and Barbara Smith, Managing Director of Johnnie Walker Princes Street against the backdrop of Edinburgh’s iconic skyline, including the world-famous Edinburgh Castle.
The cellar has become a true whisky treasury with some of the most unique whisky casks in the world gently maturing and waiting to be sampled by guests.
Set over 71,500 sq ft, it takes the concept of personalisation to a scale never before seen in a global drinks visitor experience.
The building – formerly the famous Binns department store for almost 100 years – will contain a state-of-the-art experiential retail space where shoppers can select from rare and exclusive whiskies, fill their own bottles and have them personalised.
With more than 800 flavour combinations available in the innovative dispensation
www.johnniewalker.com
Johnnie Walker Princes Street is crowned by two world-class rooftop bars and a terrace with breath-taking views, including the Explorer’s Bothy whisky bar stocked with 150 different whiskies, and the 1820 cocktail bar where drinks are paired with a carefully curated menu. Johnnie Walker Princes Street opens its doors with a Green Tourism Gold Award – the highest sustainability accolade for a visitor attraction. The building includes roof terrace planters to provide herbs for garnishes and infusions for drinks, a sedum roof covering and bird boxes to encourage biodiversity.
City Centre
Johnnie Walker Experience
West End
The West End
T
ucked away just behind Shandwick Place, the West End Village is one of Edinburgh’s hidden gems. At the very heart of the village lie both William Street and Stafford Street, where the colourful, stylish boutiques and some much-loved pubs and bars combine to create a bohemian feel to this part of Edinburgh. This is a wonderful area to explore at any time of the year. ST MARY’S EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL
THE GEORGIAN HOUSE
7 Charlotte Square Website In the late 1700s, this grand townhouse, now owned and run by the National Trust for Scotland, was at the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town development. The house was designed by acclaimed architect Robert Adam and was a true statement of luxury in an era of enlightenment, for those who could afford it. It cost the first owner John Lamont (18th Chief of the Clan Lamont) £1,800 in 1796, and he went on to splash out on silver, finery. The house has been magnificently restored to show a typical Edinburgh New Town house of the late 18th and early 19th century. The fine collections of period furniture, porcelain, silver and glass reflect the Lamonts’ lifestyle and the social and economic context of the time. The kitchen and servants’ room give a glimpse of the arduous ‘below stairs’ life of the servants, who made the Lamonts’ elegant lifestyle possible. To pre-book your visit click here.
BUTE HOUSE
6 Charlotte Square Next door to The Georgian House is Bute House, the official office of Scotland’s First Minister, also owned by the NTS. While you can’t go inside, we recommend you stand back and admire the house’s spectacular Georgian facade with its towering pillars and grand doorway.
Palmerston Place 0131 225 6293 www.cathedral.net The three spires of St Mary’s dominate the skyline of the West End of Edinburgh and are clearly visible as you look west along Princes Street. The foundation stone was laid on 21st May 1874 by the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, and the building consecrated on 30th October 1879. There are some impressive artworks within St Mary’s, including The Lorimer Rood Cross, which hangs over the Nave Altar and was designed as part of the National War Memorial by Sir Robert Lorimer and The Paolozzi Window which was designed by local artist Eduardo Paolozzi. It becomes a blaze of light and colour when hit by the Edinburgh sunshine. St Mary’s Cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Edinburgh in the Scottish Episcopal Church. The Cathedral is open for personal prayer and public services.
WEST END FAIR
www,westendfair.co.uk
In August of each year, the churchyard of St John's Church on the corner of Princes St and Lothian Road, plays host to the West End Fair, Scotland’s premier Art & Design Fair.. Featuring the work of over 100 makers, designers and artists, admission is free, so you can visit as often as you like - and there's a cafe on site, with indoor and outdoor seating, for food and refreshments. With so many unique items for sale, it’s a great place to pick up a special gift or treat yourself. This year the Fair will run from August 6 to 24. Tucked away on Rutland Court you’ll find a modern-day statue that is easily overlooked. Horse and Rider by Eoghan Bridge (1993) shows a man seated on a rearing horse's back, holding onto the top of its head.
www.edbookfest.co.uk
West End
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL
Main Menu
Also taking place during August is the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Since starting in 1983, it has now become a key event in the Edinburgh festival season and has grown rapidly in size and popularity. From its base at the University’s Edinburgh College of Art, it produces and stages over 900 author events, covering a huge range of topics, offering thought-provoking entertainment and inspiration for adults, children, schools and communities. This year the festival will run from August 13 to 28.
USHER HALL
Lothian Road 0131 228 1155 www.usherhall.co.uk Scotland’s only five-star concert hall, The Usher Hall is an extraordinary blend of historical and contemporary, traditional and modern, both inside and out. Construction of the hall was funded by Andrew Usher, a whisky distiller and blender, who donated £100,000 to fund a new concert hall for the city. Opened in 1914, with refurbishment in 2010, every year the Hall welcomes a huge range of talent as well as conferences, sponsorship events, ceremonies, lectures and recording sessions.
Photos courtesy of Forever Edinburgh The area is well served by public transport options. If travelling by bus, Lothian Buses routes 3, 25, 31 and 33 will drop you off on the area’s main street, Shandwick Place on a regular basis. Haymarket Train Station, which has services from across Scotland, is close by, and the Airlink 100 bus to Edinburgh Airport has a stop directly outside the station. Running from York Place to Edinburgh Airport, Edinburgh Trams stop at stop between Atholl Crescent and Coates Crescent, conveniently placed to get you into the heart of the action quickly and easily.
Edinburgh Old Town
Edinburgh Old Town ...
T
he Old Town is the name popularly given to the oldest part of Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh. It is a protected World Heritage Site and has preserved its medieval street plan. The street layout is especially picturesque in Edinburgh, where the castle perches on top of a rocky crag, the remnants of an extinct volcano and the main street runs down the crest of a ridge, known as the Royal Mile. This is a superb example of a “crag and tail” landform, which was created during the last Ice Age. The hilltop crag was the earliest part of the city to be developed, which eventually became Edinburgh Castle. The Royal Mile is the main route in the Old Town, which runs downhill from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Notable
buildings in the Old Town include St. Giles’ Cathedral, the Royal Museum of Scotland and the University of Edinburgh. This area has numerous underground streets and vaults. The Old Town became home to some of the earliest “high rise” residential buildings, due to space restrictions caused by the narrowness of the Royal Mile. During the Edinburgh Festival, the High Street and Hunter Square become gathering points where performers of the Fringe advertise their shows. The upper section of the Royal Mile is known as the Lawnmarket. Fascinating side alleys or closes, lead off on either side and are well worth exploring. Look out for Lady Stairs’s Close, where Robert Burns lived and also the site of the Writer’s Museum, which celebrates Burns
together with Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. On approaching the Castle, there is a grand forecourt area. This is used for the Military Tattoo during the Festival. At other times, it offers splendid views across much of the city, as well as being the site of some fine statues.
GREY FRIARS BOBBY No visit is complete without rubbing the nose of Edinburgh’s most famous canine companion! The story is legend and you can find Bobby’s statue just across the street from The National Museum Of Scotland. Once you have found him make sure you visit Greyfriar’s Kirk and graveyard where history abounds as well as amazing views of Edinburgh Castle from different photographic angle.
Edinburgh Old Town
The Royal Mile
The Royal Mile ...
T
he Royal Mile runs through the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, connecting the magnificent Edinburgh Castle, perched high on a base of volcanic rock, with the splendorous Palace of Holyroodhouse, resting in the shadow of Arthur's Seat. The Mile is overlooked by impressive, towering tenements, between which cobbled closes and narrow stairways interlock to create a secret underground world. Scattered with superb attractions such as The Real Mary King’s Close or the Scottish Storytelling Centre, historic sites including St Giles' Cathedral and some of the best eating and drinking spots in the city, the Royal Mile offers much to see and do. For a glimpse of recent history, be sure to visit the ultra-modern Scottish Parliament, a striking building boasting a cutting-edge design.
22
EDINBURGH CASTLE
PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE
Castlehill
Canongate. Royal Mile 0131 556 5100 www.royalcollection.org.uk The Palace of Holyroodhouse or as it is more commonly know, Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of The Queen in Scotland. Flying of the Royal Standard indicates whether The Queen is at home, but the Palace itself remains open throughout the year and is an interesting and enlightening visit.
0131 225 9846 www.edinburghcastle.scot Edinburgh’s most visited attraction, the castle dominates the Edinburgh skyline and its story has shaped the nation’s history. Home to the one o’clock gun and many historic artefacts, the castle attracts thousands of visitors every year. Top tip is to book your tickets online and get Fast Tracked at no extra cost.
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT BUILDING
Canongate. Royal Mile 0131 348 5000 www.scottish.parliament.uk Tours of the parliament building are free of charge and usually include a visit to the Debating Chamber, The Garden Lobby and Committee Room. They include detailed information about the work, history and procedures of the Scottish Parliament. Tours operate at scheduled times on Monday to Saturday subject to Parliament business. Check online for information or to book a tour.
ST. GILES CATHEDRAL High Street 0131 225 9442 www.stgilescathedral.org.uk Admission to this landmark, stunning cathedral is free and volunteer guides are on duty to welcome and assist visitors with guided tours on request. The Cathedral shop stocks a variety of souvenirs, gifts and books, some relating to the cathedral itself. The Cathedral is a tranquil stop during a hectic day of sightseeing.
The Royal Mile
Photo courtesy of Forever Edinburgh
THE SCOTCH WHISKY EXPERIENCE
OUR DYNAMIC EARTH Holyrood Road, EH8 8AS 0131 550 7800 www.dynamicearth.co.uk A visit to Dynamic Earth is like nothing else on Earth. It's a chance to experience the primeval forces of nature as they shaped our planet, to journey through space and time and even go on an Adventure around the world. Voted one of Edinburgh's best attractions on many occasions, it's a must visit for all the family of ages of a fantastic location to stage your next big event!
CAMERA OBSCURA & WORLD OF ILLUSIONS Castle Hill, Royal Mile 0131 226 3709 www.camera-obscura.co.uk Located right next to Edinburgh Castle. Camera Obscura & World of Illusions is the only spot in Edinburgh where you can explore the whole city without even leaving the room! Five floors of fascinating, interactive, hands-on exhibits. Where 21st -century tech meets classic illusions and historic science. It’s a great day out.
354 Castlehill, The Royal mile. EH1 2NE 0131 220 0441 www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk The Scotch Whisky Experience is a five star visitor attraction at the top of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, where they have been inspiring visitors to Edinburgh about the joys of Scotch whisky for over 30 years. With over 3500 bottles of whisky from down the years on display, the stunning Amber Restaurant & Whisky bar to enjoy, whether you take a tour, visit the shop or enjoy an event or tasting, you are guaranteed a sensational experience.
Photo courtesy of Forever Edinburgh
Photo courtesy of Forever Edinburgh
23
The Grassmarket
The Grassmarket District ...
T
he Grassmarket was once the site of public executions! Thankfully the last of these was in 1784 and the area is now a lively, bustling area packed full of great places to eat and drink as well as an interesting collection of boutique shops. Comprising The Grassmarket, West Port, Victoria Street, Cowgate, Candlemaker Row and Merchant Street, and joining onto the Royal Mile & Old Town and the Southside, the Grassmarket can easily be, and is best enjoyed, on foot. Lined with buzzing bars, restaurants with world-wide flavours, delicious coffee shops and electric shops, the area’s winding streets are a delight to explore at your leisure. But the Grassmarket is also home to some attractions and activities that should not be missed. In what is now the location of a Quaker Meeting House, in the 17th century it was the site of the home of Major Weir, ‘the Wizard of the West Bow’. Together with his sister, he was executed for witchcraft in 1670 and although the house was demolished in 1829, images of Weir’s ghostly figure have been reported walking through the building’s walls! The first church to be built in post-Reformation Scotland, Greyfriars Kirk was founded in 1620 and as well as being home to a welcoming and active congregation, is one of Edinburgh’s most visited churches. Greyfriars Kirkyard is also where you’ll find a memorial to Greyfriars Bobby – probably Edinburgh’s most well known dog. After his master’s death, this faithful pup spent 14 years guarding his grave and captured the hearts of Edinburgh’s residents, who brought him food.
RABBIE’S TRAIL BURNERS
Waterloo Place, EH1 3EG 0131 226 3133 www.rabbies.com Award winning small group tour company offering guaranteed departures – you book, you go! Touring with a maximum of 16 passengers give you more time to experience the real, authentic Scotland with more time off the bus and with the locals. Book online or walk-in with tours covering one, two or three days.
84 WEST BOW 0131 225 6745 www.witcherytours.com The caddies & Witchery Tours take a light hearted look at Edinburgh’s darker side including tales of witchcraft, plague and torture. Your ghostly guide will blend history with humour and facts with fables, while “jumper-ooters” provide guaranteed ghostly appearances!
MAMMA'S AMERICAN PIZZA
30 Grassmarket 0131 225 6464 www.mammas.co.uk Serving great pizza since 1986 Mammas specialise in freshly prepared stone baked and gluten free pizzas. With over 40 toppings to choose from including cactus, marshmallow or chocolate, you will find the perfect pizza and relaxed atmosphere to your liking.
FINNEGAN’S WAKE
9b Victoria Street 0131 225 8634 www.finnegans-wake.co.uk Finnegan’s Wake is a long established, quintessential Irish Pub located in a handy spot right on the egde of The Grassmarket and yards from the Royal Mile. There is live music most evenings as well as sports events screened at the venue.
O’OLIVIERO – ITALIAN KITCHEN 0131 226 3706 www.olivieros.co.uk Classically sophisticated but relaxed Italian dining awaits you at o’Oliviero on the Grassmarket. Only steps away from Edinburgh Castle, this place packs flavour into a variety of specialities made from quality ingredients, some brought directly from Italy! Enjoy classic homemade pasta dishes as well as a range of mains including Salmon alla Griglia, Risotto and homemade Tiramisu for dessert. A perfect end to a day of exploring.
MUSSEL & STEAK BAR
110 West Bow 0131 225 5028 www.musselandsteakbar.com This family run restaurant specialises in mussels, oysters, scallops and prime Scottish beef which are all supplied by well known farms from the West Coast area. You can pop in for a kilo of mussels or the signature “surf and turf” speciality.
TORO LOCO 60 Grassmarket 0131 629 1050 www.toroloco.co.uk Authentic and tasty Mexican Street Food. Slow cooked meats freshly prepared on the premises each day together with beans, salsas and guacamole all made daily. Enjoy a full range of great food to sit in and enjoy in a relaxed atmosphere with an awesome chilled margarita to sip or take away something warm to enjoy as you explore the Grassmarket!
MAXIES BISTRO & WINE BAR
5b Johnston Terrace 0131 226 7770 www.maxiesbistro.com Maxies is a unique family-run restaurant with a delightful outlook over The Grassmarket. There is something for everyone from luxurious seafood platters to sizzling steaks. Combine this with a an extensive wine list and you have the perfect place to relax with friends or family.
OINK HOG ROASTS
34 Victoria Street 07771 968233 www.oinkhogroast.co.uk If you are looking for a deliciously different lunch or snack then treat yourself to a freshly carved hog roast roll with succulent meat freshly prepared daily. Try the sublime crackling and enjoy with gravy or apple sauce. A really enjoyable lunch experience.
Main Menu
The Grassmarket
CADIES & WITCHERY TOURS
Edinburgh Botanic Gardens
Edinburgh Botanic Garden ...
T
he Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a highlight of any visit to the Scottish Capital.
A national treasure of Scotland, this spectacular Living Collection is over 350 years old. Visitors can experience an extravaganza of plants from around the world, learn about the Garden's rich and diverse Living Collection and discover a history dating back to the 17th century. Set in over 70 acres of beautiful landscape and just one mile north of the city centre, the Garden offers superb panoramic views of the city skyline featuring Edinburgh Castle.
The Botanics, as the Garden is affectionately known locally, is breathtaking at any time of year.
browse a wonderful array of botanically inspired gifts, books and sustainable products, as well as a fabulous selection of house plants and pots.
Garden highlights include the Rock Garden, the Alpine Houses, Woodland Garden, Pond, the Arboretum or tree collection, the Chinese Hillside, the Rhododendron Collection and the Scottish Native Plants Collection in the Heath Garden.
In the Greenhouse you will find seasonal plants and garden accessories, ideal for the urban gardener.
Visitors cannot help but leave with a deeper appreciation and understanding of the importance of plants in our world, and the need to support the Garden's important work. Visit the newly refurbished Botanics Shop in the John Hope Gateway visitor centre and
An extensive refurbishment of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh cafes was completed at the end of July and includes the transformation of its dining spaces and a new menu, packed with seasonal flavours, to welcome visitors back to the well-loved cultural destination.
www.rbge.org.uk/
Edinburgh Botanic Gardens
EDINBURGH BOTANICS - A garden for all seasons
Main Menu
Edinburgh Zoo
Edinburgh Zoo
H
ave an unforgettable day out at Edinburgh Zoo with over 1,000 incredible animals from around the world, just minutes from the city centre. No two visits to Edinburgh Zoo are ever the same! All your favourite animals are waiting to welcome you back from Edinburgh Zoo's paddling penguins to the famous giant pandas. You won't want to miss out on seeing their newest arrivals either – the zoo have
welcomed giraffes back to Edinburgh for the first time in 15 years. The bachelor herd have moved in to a brand-new giraffe house that has been designed with high level walkways which means visitors can meet these wonderful creatures face-to-face! Safety comes first and with even more of you planning to see the incredible animals and enjoy outdoor spaces while restrictions are still in place, it is really important to be aware of what might be different on the day, including limited parking spaces, the
queues for entry and indoor areas, and more – please read the information on the Edinburgh Zoo website to find out what to expect. Book in advance today to meet Edinburgh Zoo's amazing animals and learn about their wildlife conservation work to protect species in Scotland and around the world.
134 Corstorphine Road 0131 334 9171
www.edinburghzoo.org.uk
Looking for a special souvenir of your visit to Scotland? ADOPT A WILDCAT and as well as supporting the conservation of Britain’s rarest and most threatened mammal, sponsors will receive exclusive updates about their wildcat as they become parents. It is hoped kittens born this year will be released into carefully selected sites in the Cairngorms in 2023.
FIND OUT MORE
Photos courtesy of RZSS Edinburgh Zoo
Main Menu
As well as catering to tourists and locals, the zoo is involved in many scientific pursuits, such as captive breeding of endangered animals, researching into animal behaviour, and active participation in various conservation programs around the world. Edinburgh Zoo was the first zoo in the world to house and to breed penguins. It is also the only zoo in Britain to house Queensland koalas and giant pandas.
Edinburgh Zoo
E
dinburgh Zoo, formerly the Scottish National Zoological Park, is an 82-acre (33 ha) nonprofit zoological park in the Corstorphine area of Edinburgh, Scotland. The land lies on the south facing slopes of Corstorphine Hill, from which it provides extensive views of the city. Built in 1913, and owned by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, it receives over 600,000 visitors a year, which makes it oneof Scotland's most popular paid-for tourist attractions, after Edinburgh Castle.
Edinburgh Shopping
Shopping in Edinburgh ... PRINCES STREET GARDENS
Princes Street Gardens is the venue for seasonal markets including the Traditional German Christmas Market while the Edinburgh Farmers’ Market selling fresh home-grown produce is held every Saturday from 9am - 2pm in nearby Castle Terrace.
BONNIE & WILD
S
hopping in Edinburgh is more than retail therapy it is an adventure in its own right. The city offers everthing from utra-modern shopping centres caterng for all tastesand high end world famous names behind impressive Georgian facades to the fascinating range of streets stalls and pop-up shops which are colourful feature of the Edinburgh Festival. And while Princes Street only has shops on one side it still offers top class shopping and of course breathtaking views across the iconic Princes Street Gardens to the magnificence of Edinburgh Castle perched on its basalt plug and presiding over the dramatic old town skyline. This cosmopolitan city also hosts open air markets and car boot sales throughout the year and Edinburgh’s Winter Market in December is a popular destination .
St James Quarter www.bonnieandwild.com Bonnie & Wild’s Scottish Marketplace is Edinburgh’s first Food Hall. Within their easily accessible venue in the heart of St James Quarter, you’ll find more than a dozen food stalls and speciality retailers, alongside three bars, a private dining area, demonstration kitchen, children’s play area and flexible, multi-purpose events spaces… as well as open-plan seating for almost 400 people!
& OTHER STORIES
St James Quarter www.stories.com & Other Stories offers women a wide range of shoes, bags, accessories, beauty and readyto-wear. Ateliers in Paris, Stockholm and Los Angeles design diversified fashion and beauty collections with great attention to detail and quality. & Other Stories’ St James Quarter location is the brand’s first in Scotland.
HECTOR RUSSELL
137-141 High Street, Royal Mile 0131 558 1254 Facebook Long standing Kilt Maker and Highland dress specialists located in the heart of Edinburgh. Everything from tartan trews and skirts to full Highland Dress as well as a lovely range of accessories and jewellery.
St Andrew Square is a garden square located at the east end of George Street. The gardens, part of the collection of New Town Gardens, are owned by a number of private owners, managed by Essential Edinburgh and opened to the public in 2008. The construction of St Andrew Square began in 1772, as the first part of the New Town, designed by James Craig. Within six years of its completion St Andrew Square became one of the most desirable and most fashionable residential areas in the city. As the 19th century came to a close, St Andrew Square evolved into the commercial centre of the city. Most of the square used to be made up of major offices of banks and insurance companies, making it one of the major financial centres in Scotland. It now also has shops, including the department store Harvey Nichols, the Edinburgh Grand Hotel and apartments, and a series of London chain restaurants and bars on its south side, such as Hawksmoor, Bread Street Kitchen & Bar, Dishoom and The Ivy. Dominating the centre of St Andrew Square is the fluted column of the Melville Monument, commemorating Henry Dundas, the first Viscount Melville, best known for campaigning for the abolition of slavery. The Melville Monument is surrounded by St Andrew Square Gardens, recently redesigned and opened to the public.
Home of Harvey Nichols, Louis Vuitton, Nespresso and many other exclusive fashion brands mean the Multrees Walk shopping experience is second to none. Multrees Walk is also home to directional young fashion brands as well as established luxury labels like Michael Kors and Mulberry catering for even the most demanding fashionistas. Multrees Walk is a pedestrian shopping area off the east side of St. Andrew Square. Created in 2003 as part of a redevelopment, it links St Andrew Square and St James Shopping Centre and its shops sell luxury goods including clothing, stationery and handbags. Harvey Nichols, the department store, is the anchor of the development and has its main entrance on St. Andrew Square, but there is a smaller entrance on Multrees Walk. Multrees Walk, Harvey Nichols and Edinburgh Bus Station (which sits below ‘Multrees Walk’ and is accessed by escalators from St Andrew Square or from Elder Street) was designed by Edinburgh architects CDA. The shopping development features a number of brands from across the globe, many of which have located their only Scottish store within the walk.
http://www.multreeswalk.co.uk/
St Andrew Square & Multrees Walk
Edinburgh Shopping
Multrees Walk is the definition of luxury shopping.
Edinburgh Shopping
Waverley Market
W
averley Market is Edinburgh's central shopping mall, located right on the corner of Princes Street and Waverley Bridge, where you'll find a wide range of shops to peruse.
That's why the rooftop plaza is largely flat. Of course, the mall was also inspired by Waverley Market, the trading centre that was in the same spot decades before the mall opened in 1984.
The major highlight of this mall is its construction. It's built underground to offer convenient shopping right in the centre of Edinburgh without disrupting the view of Edinburgh Castle and Old Town from Princes Street.
You'll find all sorts of shopping opportunities at Waverley Market. In the upper mall, you can enjoy high-street fashion favourites with shops like New Look. More obscure shops, like Damaged Society, are also found here. You can also find ethical
cosmetics and bath shops on this floor, as well as a Starbucks coffee shop. The lower floor of the mall consists primarily of restaurants. You can find a quick bite to eat in the local McDonald's or Subway, or you can order takeaway from the local Chopstix. The rooftop plaza contains a few shops as well, including The Whisky Shop offering a wonderful array of unique drinks.
3/48 Waverley Bridge 0131 557 3759 https://waverleymarketedin.com/
BERSHKA
Photo by Lucy Knott Photography
ONE WORLD SHOP
St John’s Church, Princes Street, EH2 4BJ 0131 229 4541 www.oneworldshop.co.uk One World Shop is Edinburgh’s oldest fair trade shop, selling goods sourced from all around the world. Their suppliers adhere to the WFTO 10 Principles of Fair Trade so not only can you buy beautiful gifts & homewares, they’re exploitation free. They also sell a wide range of organic and vegan products.
ANTHROPOLOGIE
39 - 41 GEORGE STREET EH2 2HN 0131 370 1673 www.anthropologie.com Anthropologie UK is a destination for the creative, worldly woman. Their mission is to surprise and delight with unexpected, distinctive finds for your wardrobe and home. They source and craft all of their products with care, offering a carefully curated collection of clothing, accessories, homeware, and furniture.
St James Quarter www.bershka.com Bershka’s fashion is aimed at adventurous young people, who are aware of the latest trends and are interested in music, social networks and new technologies. Bershka was founded in 1998 as a ground-breaking retail fashion concept, delivering the very latest trends to urban and connected young people. The brand has three main lines, Bershka, BSK and Man, creating a wide spectrum of available styles from evening wear, casual, basics, sports, jeans, accessories and footwear, to the latest street trends .
Edinburgh Shopping
HARVEY NICHOLS
30-34 St Andrew Square www.harveynichols.com Recognised as the UK’s premier luxury fashion retailer, Harvey Nichols is internationally renowned for its expertly edited fashion and beauty merchandise, premium food and wine offer and awardwinning restaurants. Harvey Nichols offers the ultimate fashion experience. Seen as ‘the place to be’, Harvey Nichols is the club that doesn’t require a membership. Exclusive, niche and established labels sit alongside accessible everyday collections, offering customers the must-have edit for all their wardrobe needs – from everyday to extraordinary.
Main Menu
Ocean Terminal
O
cean Terminal is Edinburgh’s unique waterfront shopping and lifestyle destination.
Regarded by many as Edinburgh’s most relaxing shopping environment it has a great mix of retail, leisure and dining options including Nando’s, Pizza Express and Zizzi as well as food on the go from Subway and Greggs. Anchored by M&S Simply Food, its stylish and calming ambience is supported by a mix of coffee bars, 24 hour gym, 12 screen Vue Cinema, skatepark and top tourist attraction, The Royal Yacht Britannia.
With over 1,600 free car parking spaces it is located just three miles from Edinburgh City Centre sitting on Leith’s waterfront overlooking the magnificent Firth of Forth. There is a weekly market place Saturday & Sunday on the ground floor, near the main entrance. Offering something different to the shopping experience at the centre, visitors can browse an array of exhibiting stalls from bakery and confectionary to handcrafted and locally designed jewellery and gifts. There is also a weekly Car Boot Sale every Sunday, 7.30am – 12.30pm on Level E & F in
the Red Car Park. Cinema lovers can luxuriate in the amazing Vue 12 screen cinema with every seat a recliner. Focused on being the best but not necessarily the biggest in the business they aim to consistently provide the best possible cinema experience, delivered by friendly and knowledgeable staff.
Ocean Drive, Leith, EH6 6JJ 0131 475 9400 www.oceanterminal.com
Edinburgh Dining
Dining in Edinburgh ...
WHISKI
119 High Street 0131 556 3095 www.whiskibar.co.uk Whiski is a stunning multi award winning whisky bar and restaurant on the Royal Mile. Whiski serves fresh, locally sourced seafood, lamb, beef and venison and has a selection of over 300 malt whiskies to keep any connoisseur happy!
TORO LOCO
THE MUSSEL INN
61-65 Rose Street 0131 225 5979 www.mussel-inn.com Visit The Mussel inn seafood restaurant on Rose Street, just one block from Princes Street, and enjoy delicious, fresh seafood and other selections at affordable prices while watching Edinburgh’s city centre hustle and bustle after a full day of sightseeing.
THE TOLBOOTH TAVERN
167 Canongate. EH8 8BN Tel 0131 557 1333 www.tolboothtavern.co.uk The famous Tolbooth Tavern on The Royal Mile brings you over 200 years of Scottish Hospitality. It’s the perfect spot to slake your thirst and satisfy a hunger, whether you’ve taken the tourist trail, just finished a hard days graft or simply looking for a relaxing dinner experience in Dunedin* (*that’s Gaelic for Edinburgh!)
WHISKI ROOMS & WHISKI SHOP
North bank Street (top of The Mound) 0131 225 7224 www.whiskirooms.co.uk Visit Whiski Rooms (around the corner from The Royal Mile & Edinburgh Castle) for a great experience of all day dining. The restaurant serves the very best of Scottish food and drink in stunning surroundings including the Whisky Bar and Ardbeg Embassy Dining Room. Perfect for lunch or dinner after a days sightseeing or why not book a private dining room and enjoy a bespoke, personal dining experience.
60 Grassmarket 0131 629 1050 www.toroloco.co.uk Authentic and tasty Mexican Street Food. Slow cooked meats freshly prepared on the premises each day together with beans, salsas and guacamole all made daily. Enjoy a full range of great food to sit in and enjoy in a relaxed atmosphere with an awesome chilled margarita to sip or take away something warm to enjoy as you explore the Grassmarket!
FRANKENSTEIN’S BAR & RESTAURANT
26 George IV Bridge 0131 622 1818 www.frankensteinedinburgh.co.uk Three floors, three bars & one monster! They have great food, a lively atmosphere and every day you can enjoy a one of a kind experience. Lights, music and sound effects accompany the animatronic Frankenstein monster as he descends from the ceiling and awakens!
Dining in Edinburgh ...
30 Grassmarket 0131 225 6464 www.mammas.co.uk Serving great pizza since 1986 Mammas specialise in freshly prepared stone baked and gluten free pizzas. With over 40 toppings to choose from including cactus, marshmallow or chocolate, you will find the perfect pizza and relaxed atmosphere to your liking. Mamma’s also offers an extensive wine and beer list , alternative mains and some scrumptious dessert options
O’OLIVIERO – ITALIAN KITCHEN 0131 226 3706 www.olivieros.co.uk Classically sophisticated but relaxed Italian dining awaits you at o’Oliviero on the Grassmarket. Only steps away from Edinburgh Castle, this place packs flavour into a variety of specialities made from quality ingredients, some brought directly from Italy! Enjoy classic homemade pasta dishes as well as a range of mains including Salmon alla Griglia, Risotto and homemade Tiramisu for dessert. A perfect end to a day of exploring.
GAUCHO EDINBURGH 4a St Andrew Square EH2 2BD
0131 278 3410 www.gauchorestaurants.com
As soon as you step into this Argentinian steak restaurant in Edinburgh, you will enjoy the unique experience that is Gaucho. As you walk through the door of this contemporary, glass building you’ll be welcomed by sophisticated interiors, with textures and tones inspired by Argentina’s forests. Enjoy a drink in our cocktail bar or descend into our dining room for a relaxed working lunch, an impeccable steak dinner or to entertain in our stunning private wine room. At the weekends enjoy our legendary never-ending Sundays roasts in Edinburgh city centre or go bottomless beef every Thursday with our weekly changing selection of premium steak cuts.
VAPIANO 7 South St. David Street EH2 2BD 0131 285 6123 www.vapiano.com The home of fresh pasta in Edinburgh is back! Vapiano on St Andrew’s Street is open and welcoming guests to its beautifully upgraded restaurant. With its new, stunning menu going live now plus three floors of space you will enjoy cocktails, pizza and of course Vapiano’s legendary hand made, cooked to order fresh pasta with a devine selection of freshly made sauces. A short walk from Edinburgh Waverley station and St Andrew Square. Walk in and order or order online.
Edinburgh Dining
MAMMA'S AMERICAN PIZZA
Edinburgh Dining
Dining in Edinburgh ...
HARD ROCK CAFÉ
20 George Street 0131 260 3000 www.hardrock.com Celebrating over 15 years in the city, The Hard Rock welcomes you with the style and mantra of Love All Serve All. Enjoy great music, fine cocktails and Hard Rock’s world famous burgers and other food selections. Indulge yourself or buy great presents to take home from the retail store.
VAPIANO 7 South St. David Street EH2 2BD 0131 285 6123 www.vapiano.com A fresh, vibrant Italian pizzeria, restaurant and bar right in the heart of the city serving the finest fresh produce and beautifully prepared wood oven pizzas and wonderful pasta dishes with guests enjoying face-to-face interactions with chefs as they cook their dish to order, exactly as they like it.
MAXIES BISTRO & WINE BAR
5b Johnston Terrace 0131 226 7770 www.maxiesbistro.com Maxies is a unique family-run restaurant with a delightful outlook over The Grassmarket. There is something for everyone from luxurious seafood platters to sizzling steaks. Combine this with a an extensive wine list and you have the perfect place to relax with friends or family.
SEEDS FOR THE SOUL
167 Bruntsfield Pl, Edinburgh EH10 4DG 07389 899394 www.seedsforthesoul.co.uk Seeds for the Soul have built up a cult following in Bruntsfield since they opened in early 2018. This cosy café is all about the plant-based dining, with absolutely no animal products in their menu whatsoever.
MUSSEL & STEAK BAR
110 West Bow 0131 225 5028 www.musselandsteakbar.com This family run restaurant specialises in mussels, oysters, scallops and prime Scottish beef which are all supplied by well known farms from the West Coast area. You can pop in for a kilo of mussels or the signature “surf and turf” speciality.
FINNEGAN’S WAKE
9b Victoria Street 0131 225 8634 www.finnegans-wake.co.uk Finnegan’s Wake is a long established, quintessential Irish Pub located in a handy spot right on the egde of The Grassmarket and yards from the Royal Mile. There is live music most evenings as well as sports events screened at the venue.
OINK HOG ROASTS
4 Victoria Street 07771 968233 www.oinkhogroast.co.uk If you are looking for a deliciously different lunch or snack then treat yourself to a freshly carved hog roast roll with succulent meat freshly prepared daily. Try the sublime crackling and enjoy with gravy or apple sauce. A really enjoyable lunch experience.
THE DOME
14 George Street 0131 624 8624 www.thedomeedinburgh.com Located in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town since 1996 The Dome is well known to many as a stunning bar and restaurant. It has become established as a first choice venue to meet friends and colleagues for coffee, cocktails, lunch or dinner.
WAGAMAMA
Castle Terrace (Lothian Road) 0131 229 5506 www.wagamama.com Delicious noodles, rice dishes, salads and freshly squeezed juices all brought together in a vibrant busy restaurant makes Wagamama a great family destination.
TUPINIQUIM
Green Police Box, Lauriston Place EH3 9AU Facebook Walking along Middle Meadow Walk, you may be drawn to the little Police Box on the corner with a lovely aroma of crepes - which also happen to be very delicious and healthy! Tupiniquim use their own special blend of gluten free flour, which is so special that they bag it and sell it from their little kiosk. For a satisfying and savoury treat, why not try the butternut squash, spinach and sundried tomato crepe, with a bit of optional cheese? This is a great street food pit stop in the Old Town, serving sweet and savoury gluten free crepes since 2010.
Main Menu
Edinburgh Dining
Dining in Edinburgh ...
Edinburgh Maps
EDINBURGH MAPS Edinburgh
COAST TO COAST WE SHOW YOU SCOTLAND! Explore, plan and book your next visit. Use our family of guides to find all the best places.
ARGYLL&theISLES IN AND AROUND
GUIDE
Your complete guide to Argyll, the Isles and the Clyde Sea Lochs area
Main Menu
| Helensburgh | Cardross | Rosneath Peninsula | Arrochar | Ardlui | Inveraray | Oban | Argyll’s Secret Coast | West Highland Line | Dunoon I Tiree I
HELENSBURGH IN AND
Royal Yacht Britannia
Newhaven Lighthouse
Ocean Terminal d sa
y R oad Co m
St
g h al
t N Jc
m er
l Rd G re
y Rd
at
St
d S t
Du
ke
Sa
la
St
alk
ch
d
Leith
Craigentinny Golf Club
Your comple
te guide to
Helensburgh
| Helensbu rgh | Card | Ardlui | Inve ross | Dumbarton | Rosn raray | Abe rfoyle | Calla eath Peninsula | Arrochar nder | Loch | Balloch Katrine | Oba n | Argyll’s | Balmaha | Loch Lom Secret Coas t | West Highond Shores | Luss | land Line |
, the Clyde
Sea Lochs
and Loch Lom
ond area
S
Easter Rd
Rd
Lochend Park
d
St
dR
en
n
iel
Sleigh Drive
Lo
ee
af
Rd
Qu
Se
rig
Rd
York Pl
Lothian Road Royal Terrace Gds
St
al st
d
t
S das
Edinburgh Playhouse
er
Re
en
Dun National Portrait Gallery
nd
ace age Pl Hermit
ch
01
BONNINGTON
ma
Leith Links
Lo
t nS to gh ou Br St ue ev ll Be
hW
Row
Leit
ith
n
le
Rd
0
na r
Trinity House Maritime Museum
Leith Victoria Swim Centre
D
August 202
Ber
LEITH
tio nc
er
B9
le
aig
Cr
it
h
Rd on ht oug Br
d nR to ing nn Bo
AROUN
GUIDE
St
Ju
Inv
Ferr
ci al
Leith Citadel
rR d
C r ai
Newhaven
Con st itu tio nS t
L in
st e
Rd
© Downtown CityMaps 2019. Tel. 07743 989 089
Ea
Sta rba nk
www.twitter.com/downtowncitymaps
RESTALRIG
Meadowbank Shopping Park
Calton Hill
© Downtown CityMap Products 2021 - No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. Every care has been taken in the preparation of this publication to ensure the accuracy of the content. However, neither the publisher or its distributors accept any responsibility whatsoever for any errors or omissions, or the consequences thereof. Offers contained within any advertisements printed in this guidebook are made solely and exclusively by the individual advertisers concerned. Any queries relating to individual advertiser’s messages or offers made therein must be directed to the individual advertiser concerned and not the publisher and/or distributors of this guide.
Latest Scottish Government Covid-19 Guidlines.
CLICK HERE
Downtown CityMaps & Guides www.downtowncitymaps.com Producers of the world’s first Augmented Reality powered visitor maps & guide
Rose Street
Rose Street D
esigned as part of James Craig’s New Town plan in 1767, Rose Street was named after the national flower of England, a consciously unionist pairing with Thistle Street. In the 19th century, Rose Street gained a reputation as a seedy area of town but by the 1960s this had started to change, as tenement flats gave way to antique shops and boutiques. In 1973 the transformation was completed as the section between Castle Street and Frederick Street became the first pedestrianised street in the city. Behind No.180 Rose Street there was once a court for playing Rackets, a forerunner of the modern game of squash. In 1830 McVitie’s provision shop opened at No.129 Rose Street, establishing the famous firm of biscuit manufacturers who went on to create the digestive biscuit. In the 1950s and 60s Rose Street became well-known as the haunt of a new wave of Scottish poets. Writers such as Hugh MacDiarmid and Robert Garioch gathered with their friends for lively debate, in places such as Milne’s Bar, the Abbotsford and the Café Royal. Rose Street is now famous for its many pubs and eateries and is well worth a visit.
Main Menu ROBERT GRAHAM’S WHISKY SHOP
194 Rose Street EH2 4AZ 0131 556 2791 www.robertgraham1874.com Located on the Royal Mile, Robert Graham is one of the country’s oldest tobacco and whiskey merchants where expert advice and knowledge about both whiskey and cigars make choosing the right product an enjoyable experience. Enjoy browsing and examining the huge range of branded malts as well as Robert Graham’s own aged bottlings, as well as a fine selection of Cuban cigars.
Leith
Leith ...
T
he district of Leith rests on the shores of the Firth of Forth at the mouth of the Water of Leith. The original harbour dates back to the 14th century and has been the port of Edinburgh for hundreds of years. Today Leith has developed into a picturesque waterfront area, lined with bistros, stylish bars and excellent restaurants. There are independent galleries and cultural festivals, such as the Leith Festival. Main attractions include the Royal Yacht Britannia, berthed at the quay and the Conran designed Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre. Tourists come in huge numbers every year to board the decks of the Royal Yacht, where four Royal couples spent their honeymoon, including Prince Charles and Princess Diana. She has sailed more than a million miles around the globe and was finally decommissioned in 1997, marking the end of a Royal Yacht. Britannia was voted “Best Visitor Attraction in the UK” in 1999. If you feel like a good walk, then this is a great place to spend an afternoon. There are still remains of the past in Leith, with old piers being a reminder of the Victorian Age. The Victoria Dock, Albert Dock and Edinburgh Dock have barely changed from the way they were in the past.
THE ROYAL YACHT BRITANNIA
Ocean Terminal 0131 555 5566 www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk No visit to Leith or indeed Edinburgh is complete without stepping aboard The Royal Yacht Britannia. A floating home to Her Majesty, The Queen and The Royal Family for over 40 years, sailing over 1,000,000 miles, the vessel is now on permanent display in Leith where you can follow in the footsteps of royalty and discover the heart and soul of this most special of Royal residences. The Royal Yacht has won Best Attraction in the UK 2020, as voted for by Which? members. The Queen’s former floating palace, berthed in Leith, Edinburgh, came out on top when nearly 5,000 Which? members were asked to rate the UK’s 50 most visited attractions.
TAPA BARRA Y RESTAURANTE
19 Shore Place 0131 476 6776 Website Tapa: Leith is an authentic Spanish Tapas experience set among white washed walls that make you feel at home in a Spanish style bodegas. Choose from a fantastic selection of freshly made dishes together with a fine wine list and then relax and enjoy the vibrant but casual atmosphere.
FISHERS IN LEITH
1 Shore 0131 554 5666 www.fishersrestaurants.co.uk/fishers-leith/ The original Fishers, nestled on the historic Shore. Fishers in Leith is still winning awards 20 years after it first opened. Two beautiful indoor dining areas or a summer terrace, the choice is yours while you enjoy the fabulous atmosphere along with their fantastic seafood selections.
OCEAN TERMINAL SHOPPING CENTRE
Ocean Drive 0131 555 8888 www.oceanterminal.com Ocean Terminal is a unique shopping experience at Edinburgh’s waterfront in Leith. With over 70 big brand and individual shops as well as Marks & Spencers Simply Food, the centre is regarded as a fabulous mix of relaxed shopping combined with a wide selection of bars, cafes and restaurants.
Tour & Tasting & Bottle Filling & Cocktail Making. What are you doing this week? How about coming to visit our new Lind & Lime Gin Distillery in Leith and trying a few cocktails? We decided to put all of our favourite things into the single best experience that we could create. Tours last 75 minutes and run weekly on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 12, 2, 4 and 6pm. There's always some sort of alchemy going on
Find out more and book your tour here: www.lindandlime.com
Lind & Lime
‘We set out to create the very definition of what a London Dry Gin should be; to do something very simple, but do it to perfection’
Leith FINGAL
Alexandra Dock, Leith 0131 357 5000 www.fingal.co.uk Owned by the Trust that also owns the Royal Yacht, Fingal opened in January 2019 in the historic Port of Leith, a five-minute walk from The Royal Yacht Britannia. A former lighthouse tender, each of Fingal’s 23 luxury cabins are named after Stevenson lighthouses and are inspired by her rich maritime heritage. Hosting up to 60 guests, Fingal’s Ballroom features a raised gallery for music and entertainment with a moveable skylight. The Lighthouse Bar is a stylish yet relaxed setting for enjoying Afternoon Tea, cocktails or supper.
THE KITCHIN
78 Commercial Quay 0131 555 1755 www.thekitchin.com The Kitchin, owned and run by Tom and Michaela Kitchin offers diners modern British seasonal cuisine influenced by French cooking techniques. Awarded a Michelin Star in 2007, the restaurant constantly exceeds expectations with its appreciation of the best quality ingredients available from Scotland’s fantastic natural larder.
MIMI’S BAKE HOUSE
67 Shore 0131 555 5908 Website Mimi’s is a family run bakehouse located in the Shore area, specialising in fabulous cakes, fluffy scones and quality teas and coffee. They also serve breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, seven days a week. This is a perfect stop during your visit with lovely things to tempt you.
Main Menu
THE SHIP ON THE SHORE
24-26 The Shore 0131 555 0409 www.theshipontheshore.co.uk When the sun shines you can enjoy The Ship’s delicious seafood menu outside on the shorefront terrace beside the Water of Leith. When it doesn’t, enjoy the atmospheric, relaxed restaurant and bar that awaits you inside.
TISO OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT
41 Commercial Street 0131 554 9101 www.tiso.com Tiso is Scotland’s number one outdoor clothing and equipment specialist shop. Whatever you plan to do outdoors, visit Tiso and find a huge range of leading brands such as Berghaus, North Face, Icebreaker and many more housed in a spectacular outdoor retail centre.
HEMINGWAYS 1 Commercial Street, Leith 0131 554 5272 www.hemingwaysedinburgh.co.uk Having opened in May 2019 Hemingsways is a relaxed, casual dining experience in the heart of Leith Harbour. With a modern twist on classic dishes, Hemingways offers a warm welcome with freshly prepared food and great cocktails, craft gin & locally brewed craft beer as well as an extensive wine list.
ROSELEAF BAR CAFÉ
23/24 Sandpoint 0131 476 5268 www.roseleaf.co.uk A cosy, family run, fun bar and café in the historic Port ‘o Leith. From the bar there are crisp pints and real ales as well as juices, leaf tea and great coffee. From the kitchen you can enjoy wholesome food from 10am right through until 10pm. A warm welcome awaits.
A
NYONE who spends just a few hour in Edinburgh will easily see how this stunning city of winding alleys turreted buildings inspired resident author JK Rowling’s Harry Potter books. The Elephant House cafe has established itself as one of the best tea and coffee houses in Edinburgh but has become famous as the place where J.K. Rowling sat writing her early novels in the back room overlooking Edinburgh Castle. Sir Ian Rankin, author of the bestselling Rebus novels, and Alexander McCall-Smith, author of The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency and other series of novels, have also been regulars at The Elephant House. NOTE: due to a fire in the building, the Elephant House is closed until further notice. Not far away from there s the famous Greyfriars Kirkyard and many of the names found in the Potter books can be found on the gravestones there including Riddell and McGonagall. Also closeby is the imposing towered and turreted George Heriot's School believed to have provided the inspiration got Hogwarts iteslf. Just a short distance from Greyfriars you find yourself in the Grassmarket and near the connecting Victoria Street which feels very much like walking through Diagon Alley while the Grassmarket hints of Hogsmeade, with its many pubs and quirky shops. Nicolson’s Cafe, owned by Jo’s brother-in-law, was where Jo took refuge when Philosopher’s Stone was being written. Potterow Port is a street where the inpsiration is obvious to Potter fans. The Dog House has no claimed link with the creation of Potter but it has another reason to visit, Butterbeer, a refreshment full of buttery goodness and a must sample taste. With her groing fame JK Rowling could no longer find peace and quiet in city cafés and it was in room 552 in the Balmoral Hotel that she completed Deathly Hallows And if you are a fan of Quiddich take the time to view the construction of the stands at the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle for the annual Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and it will be very easy to see where the idea for the Quiddish arena may have come from.
ss Expre warts e steam g o H is the cobit at there famous Ja arts on wh ay n e h t e w And ... join th y to Hog test railw rld wa rea n the ed as the g ey in the wo o n i a tr rib journ is desc
Harry Potter’s Birthplace
The City that inspired Harry Potter
South Queensferry
South Queensferry ...
DALMENY HOUSE
Dalmeny House · South Queensferry · EH30 9TQ 0131 331 1888 www.roseberryestates.co.uk Dalmeny House was completed in 1817 and sits in rolling parkland to the West of Edinburgh. With spectacular views overlooking the Firth of Forth, the house is home to The 7th Earl and Countess of Rosebery. Although very much a family home, the house is open to the public for viewings and corporate events. The inspired architecture of the house will fascinate some. Others will be enticed by the extraordinary collection of antique furniture, artworks and curious objects.
CRAIGIES FARM
West Craigie Farm, West Craigie Farm, South Queensferry EH30 9AR 0131 319 1048 www.craigies.co.uk Craigies Shop was opened in 1988 with a onetable shop in a converted barn and added the Café in 2007. It has expanded over the years to offer an extensive Pick Your Own and Little Farmers, an adventure farm park for children and families opened in Summer 2021. From humble beginnings, Craigies Farm has grown to become one of the UK’s leading farm shop destinations and represents the very best in modern Scottish farming.
LOONY DOOK
The Loony (lunatic) Dook (Scottish word for swim or dip in the sea) is the New Year tradition of running into the baltic Firth of Forth on New Year’s Day. Hundreds of people sign up every year to take part - raising huge amounts of money in the process - and take part in a fancy dress parade before running en-masse into the sea. Yes it’s as bonkers, hilarious and joyous as it sounds
EDINBURGH BOAT CHARTERS
Port Edgar Marina, EH30 9SQ 0131 554 9401 www.edinburghboatcharters.com Edinburgh Boat Charters’ high specification luxury sailing catamaran is unique to the East Coast of Scotland and their deck saloon yacht is well placed to explore the best that the West Coast has to offer. Edinburgh Boat Charters sail in beautiful, historic and inspiring locations providing a bespoke experience to meet your needs.
South Queensferry
QUEENSFERRY MUSEUM
53 High Street, South Queensferry EH30 9HP 0131 331 5545 www.edinburghmuseums.co.uk Queensferry Museum showcases the past and traditions of historic Queensferry and neighbouring Dalmeny. The museum has stunning views out onto the Firth of Forth and the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Forth Bridge. Whether your interest is social history, folk traditions or civil engineering, there is something here for everyone to enjoy. As well as permanent displays, the museum hosts a room dedicated to temporary exhibitions, curated by community groups. The museum is temporarily closed
OUTLANDER AT HOPETOUN
Hopetoun House has become a prime location for the long running television series Outlander. Here are a few notable examples of scenes filmed in the stately home and its grounds: Hopetoun Red Drawing Room * The House is the setting for the home of the Duke of Sandringham in Series 1. These scenes were filmed in the Red Drawing Room * The Sea Trail and West Lawn to the rear of the House was the location for the dual between the Duke and the head of the McDonald clan. * The rear steps of the house were the scene for a sword fight in Season 1 * The courtyard behind the Stables Tearoom features regularly as a Parisian street location in Series 2. On the wider Hopetoun Estate is Midhope Castle which is the location for fictional Lallybroch, the family home of character Outlander principal character Jamie Fraser. Midhope Castle dates back to the 15th Century and although the exterior is relatively intact the castle is derelict inside. Tours can be arranged but must be booked ahead.
HOPETOUN HOUSE
South Queensferry, EH30 9RW 0131 331 2451 www.hopetoun.co.uk Hopetoun is a place of outstanding natural beauty, which has Scotland’s finest stately home at its heart. Situated on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Hopetoun is a welcoming and thriving 6,500 acre community with a great deal to offer for living, leisure, entertainment and business all the year round. Hopetoun’s farming enterprise also produces Estate reared beef, lamb and poultry plus wild game sold directly through Hopetoun Farm Shop located on the Estate. The fabulous setting of built and rural heritage provides a unique day out and a magnificent location and venue for hospitality, weddings and outdoor activities including clay pigeon shooting.
Main Menu
Spooky Edinburgh
Edinburgh - some ghostly stories! E
dinburgh is a city of many moods and aspects. Its daily modern face is that of a bustling international city famed for its bright and trendy culture and creativity, a city where everything is possible and the future beckons. But Edinburgh is also a city with a past, It is steeped in history and legend, of fables and legends set firmly in Scotland’s often bloody past. And this history provides some of the most engrossing and entertaining tourist opportunites of any city in the world and there is no better time to enjoy them than at Hallowe’en when the veil is thin and ghosties and goulies are around every corner ... Whether you take your chances in the haunted dungeons and underground alleyways of the od town, risk everything in Greyfriars Churchyard, learn about the spooky and terrifiying residents of Mary King’s Close, test your nerve in the subterranean passageways and chambers at Gilmerton Cove or discover the sinister side of Edinburgh’s Old Town, from villains to aristocracy and slums, prisons and execution sites Edinburgh will entrall you in her spooky majesty - but - be prepared to be afraid, very afraid!
THE EDINBURGH DUNGEON
MERCAT TOURS
31 Market Place, Edinburgh EH1 1DF 0131 240 1041 www.thedungeons.com/edinburgh The Edinburgh Dungeon is the ultimate underground journey through Edinburgh’s darkest history, using live actors, theatrical sets and thrilling rides. Full-on immersive 360 sets; Live actor shows from a professional cast; An underground journey through Scottish history; State of the art theming and special effects; Thrilling underground rides. The shows are laced with tongue in cheek, gallows humour typical of the Dungeon brand.
28 Blair Street, 0131 225 5445 www.mercattours.com Mercat tours will give you a true sense of Scotland’s past that no guidebook can give – whether haunted or historic. To make sure you can explore every nook and cranny of Edinburgh without missing any of the best sites or stories Mercat have a range of day or evening ghost & history tours covering the Old & New towns, above ground or exclusively, underground! And whether you choose one of our history or ghost tours, you’ll see a side to Scotland’s capital that most visitors miss.
REAL MARY KING’S CLOSE
THE CADIES & WITCHERY TOURS
High Street. EH1 1PG. www.realmarykingsclose.com Experience over 400 years of history right in the heart of the Royal Mile and discover the stories of your character guide. From myths and legends, to deadly plague epidemic, and famous royal visitor - there’s a myriad of tales just waiting to be told in this one hour guided journey.
84 West Bow, Victoria Street, EH21 2HH www.witcherytours.com The award-winning Cadies & Witchery Tours invite you to join our fearless phantoms for a suspenseful and mirth-filled tour of Edinburgh’s Old Town. Step back a few hundred years as Adam Lyal (deceased) and his spooky chums bring the Capital’s grisly past vividly to life. Established in 1984, the Cadies have been scaring people from all over the world almost every single night since, and our walking tours have become one of Edinburgh’s must-see attractions. If you would like a personalised experience, just contact us and tell us about it.
Spooky Edinburgh
CITY OF THE DEAD TOURS
0131 225 9044 www.cityofthedeadtours.com Black Hart Entertainment runs the world famous City of the Dead walks in Edinburgh featuring: The Haunted Graveyard Tour, Underground City of the Dead and Double Dead Tours. Their walks are written and researched by the historical author and award winning novelist, J A Henderson and their guides are a mixture of historians and professional entertainers. AND they have sole access to two of the worlds most haunted locations. Damnation Alley, a section of Edinburgh's legendary Underground City and The Covenanters Prison - lair of the infamous Mackenzie Poltergeist - the world's best documented supernatural case.
Main Menu
FRIENDLY SMALL
GROUP TOURS
Email: tours@rabbies.com Web: rabbies.com Tel: 0131 226 3133
EDINBURGH TOURS Edinburgh: The Old Town Tour
Connect with a local guide and immerse yourself in the tales and sights of Edinburgh’s Old Town. From its historic roots to modern life in the city today, this leisurely 1.5 hour wander of the cobbled streets and alleyways will give you a great overview and introduction to Scotland’s capital city. The tour will take in the classics, from Edinburgh Castle to the Royal Mile as well as many more hidden secrets only known by our true local experts! Your dedicated guide will taylor the tour to your own interests, so you’ll be sure to learn something new whether you’re visiting for the first time or even live here! Private Tour Only
What better way to explore this iconic city than through the tales and experiences of those who have lived here through the ages. Immerse yourself in Edinburgh’s past, present and future on this 1.5 hour walking tour. Your dedicated local guide will bring to life the stories of famous and lesser known people of Edinburgh’s past and present, their experiences and how key events have shaped the city into the vibrant and lively place you see today. Public & Private Tours Available
Discover our quaint, stunning town on a walking tour with us or with a very special incholm island walking tour (the only tour of its kind!). We run tours every weekend from May-June and every day in Jul & Aug.
Exploring South Queensferry & Incholm
There’s so much to see and discover in South Queensferry, from its participation in the war efforts to local stories and folklore. Discover our stunning town on a 1 hour daily tour during the summer, or book a private tour with us today to explore at your own pace!
www.walkingtoursin.com : 0141 474 0746
Main Menu
Edinburgh Walking Tours
Walking Tours in Scotland was established by Liv & Jenny, two people passionate about showing off Scotland's cities to all who visit. Last year they expanded the tours from Glasgow to other cities across Scotland and since then their team of enthusiatic locals has grown but the essence of the tours has remained the same.
1-5 DAY HIGHLAND TOURS
0131 226 6066
www.timberbushtours.com
COAST TO COAST WE SHOW YOU SCOTLAND! Explore, plan and book your next visit. Use our family of guides to find all the best places.
& the
ARGYLL ISLES IN AND AROUND
GUIDE
Your complete guide to Argyll, the Isles and the Clyde Sea Lochs area
HELENSBURGH IN AND
AROUN
| Helensburgh | Cardross | Rosneath Peninsula | Arrochar | Ardlui | Inveraray | Oban | Argyll’s Secret Coast | West Highland Line | Dunoon I Tiree I
D
GUIDE
August 20 20
Your compl
ete guide to
Helensburg
| Helensbu rgh | Car | Ardlui | Inv dross | Dumbarton eraray | Ab | erfoyle | CalRosneath Peninsula | Arr lander | Loc h Katrine | ochar | Balloch | Bal Oban | Arg ma yll’s Secret ha | Loch Lomon d Coast | We st HighlandShores | Luss | Line |
h, the Clyd
e Sea Lochs
and Loch Lo
mond area
Downtown CityMaps & Guides www.downtowncitymaps.com Producers of the world’s first Augmented Reality powered visitor maps & guide
© Downtown CityMap Products 2021 - No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. Every care has been taken in the preparation of this publication to ensure the accuracy of the content. However, neither the publisher or its distributors accept any responsibility whatsoever for any errors or omissions, or the consequences thereof. Offers contained within any advertisements printed in this guidebook are made solely and exclusively by the individual advertisers concerned. Any queries relating to individual advertiser’s messages or offers made therein must be directed to the individual advertiser concerned and not the publisher and/or distributors of this guide.
Latest Scottish Government Covid-19 Guidlines.
CLICK HERE
Glasgow
Why not visit Glasgow ... A great day out!
G
lasgow is a great day out for all the family. As host city for so many great sporting and artistic events, the city continually showcases it’s new and vibrant identity. It only takes a few hours in Glasgow to realise that you are experiencing one of the best places in Europe. The City Centre, Merchant City and West End are vibrant and filled with superb attractions, shopping and great places to eat and amazing entertainment venues. Regardless of your budget. Glasgow is a must do experience during your stay.
Glasgow IN AND AROUND City Maps inside
November 2021
City Guide #LoveGlasgow
24 DRAUGHT BEERS
£8 LUNCH MENU : MON-FRI TIL 4PM
WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT KIDS EAT FREE SUNDAY : ALL DEALS T&C’S APPLY :
BOOK NOW ON 0141 457 7100 30 BOTHWELL ST, GLASGOW, G2 6NU
Pure Buzzin' About Glasgow Podcast: COP26 in the spotlight Glasgow’s Mural Magic Virtual experiences to look before you go! Explore Glasgow by bus, bike & walking
Your complete guide to Glasgow
We have declared!
CITY SIGHTSEEING BUS TOUR George Square. G1 3BJ T. 0141 204 4400 www.citysightseeingglasgow.co.uk Open top bus tours. The perfect way to see Glasgow. Tickets valid for two days. Hop on Hop off as often as you like with live or translated commentary available.
BUCHANAN ST
1 GEORGE SQ
GALLERY OF MODERN ART Royal Exchange Square. G1 3AH T. 0141 287 3050 www.glasgowlife.org.uk Glasgow is famous for the artists who have worked and studied here. GoMA collects and highlights the interests, influences and working methods artists from around the world share with those from Glasgow
BUCHANAN ST
1 GEORGE SQ
THE TALL SHIP 100 Pointhouse Place. G3 8RS T. 0141 357 3699 www.thetallship.com Glenlee – the only Clydebuilt windjammer still afloat in the UK. Fully restored to her former glory, a visit will take you back in time to experience life in the days of sail on the high seas.
PARTICK
12 RIVERSIDE MUSEUM
PEOPLE’S PALACE & WINTER GARDENS Glasgow Green. G40 1AT 0141 276 0788 www.glasgowlife.org.uk The People’s Palace is Glasgow’s social history museum charting the story of the people & city of Glasgow from 1750 to present day. Enjoy historic artefacts telling this fabulous story.
5 GLASGOW GREEN
THE LIGHTHOUSE 11 Mitchell Lane G1 3NU 0141 276 5360 www.the lighthouse.co.uk Scotland’s centre for design and architecture houses permanent exhibitions including Foundation, a unique history of Glasgow, as well as design exhibition and The Lighthouse Shop.
Pacific Quay. G51 1EA. 0141 420 5000 www.glasgowsciencecentre.org Experience hundreds of fun hands on science exhibits, shows and challenges in an amazing building right on the banks of the River Clyde with fantastic views over the city skyline
11 GLASGOW SCIENCE CENTRE
KELVINGROVE ART GALLERY & MUSEUM
Argyle Street. G3 8AG 0141 276 9500 www.glasgowlife.org.uk Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum is one 7 ST VINCENT PL of Scotland’s most popular free attractions. BUCHANAN ST It has 22 themed, state-of-the-art galleries MACKINTOSH AT THE WILLOW displaying an astonishing 8000 objects. The collections are extensive, wide ranging and 217 Sauchiehall Street. G2 3EX T. 0141 332 7696 www.willowtearoomstrust.org internationally significant. 16 KELVINGROVE KELVIN HALL Miss Cranston’s original Willow Tea Rooms were designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh GLASGOW CATHEDRAL in 1903. This iconic building together with Castle Street. G4 the famous tea rooms have been fully 0141 552 8198 restored and are open to the public again. www.glasgowcathedral.org.uk BUCHANAN ST The present Cathedral building was 19 GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART consecrated in 1197. Since that same period the Cathedral has never been unroofed and THE HAMPDEN EXPERIENCE it has been a working church for more than Hanpden Park. G42 9BA 800 years. The cathedral has a regular and 0141 616 6139 active congregation and very visitor to the www.scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk city should make a visit. See more than 2500 exhibits in 14 galleries, BUCHANAN ST walk among footballing legengs in the hall of 2 GLASGOW CATHEDRAL fame, and take the Stadium Tour.
TRAIN TO MOUNT FLORIDA FROM CENTRAL STATION
THE RIVERSIDE MUSEUM OF TRANSPORT
100 Pointhouse Place. G3 8RS T. 0141 287 2720 www.glasgowlife.org.uk A vast collection of Glasgow’s transport heritage assembled under one roof showcases the city’s important contribution to transportation through ship building, locomotive construction and car making.
PARTICK
12 RIVERSIDE MUSEUM
ST. MUNGO MUSEUM 2 Castle Street. G4 0RH 0141 276 1625 www.glasgowmuseums.com The award-winning St Mungo Museum, named after Glasgow’s patron saint, is home to inspiring displays of artefacts and stunning works of art exploring the importance of religion around the world.
BUCHANAN ST 2 GLASGOW CATHEDRAL
Glasgow
The best things to see and do in Glasgow
GLASGOW SCIENCE CENTRE
Glasgow Sightseeing
Take a tour with City Sightseeing
Take a trip round Glasgow's Music Scene with Eddi Reader To celebrate the launching of Visit Scotland’s UNESCO trail City Sightseeing have collaborated with Glasgow Music City Tours and Go Radio to create an all new tour commentary focusing on Glasgow’s vibrant musical history and the best places to experience the music scene today! Narrated by the multi award winning singer song writer Eddi Reader, the Music Tour will reveal Glasgow’s best music venues, from King Tut’s and the Barrowlands to the OVO Hydro Arena and Glasgow’s close relationship with music throughout history with a range of interesting stories, facts and some insider knowledge from Eddi herself on what exactly makes Glasgow such a wonderful, vibrant and musical city! Sit back and enjoy this exploration of Glasgow from a different perspective by tuning in on channel 7 of the multilingual commentary which is available all year round. For operating times visit www.citysightseeingglasgow.co.uk or scan our QR code.
Glasgow Sightseeing
Glasgow 100 Stobcross Road, Glasgow, G3 8QQ T. 0141 212 1401 www.theclydeside.com Glasgow’s stills are flowing once again at The Clydeside Distillery. Discover how our craftsmen handcraft our whisky the timehonoured way. Experience the stunning views down the River Clyde from our picturesque Still House. See the fascinating history come to life on our Tours and learn about the heyday of Glasgow’s Queen’s Dock. Unwind in our sumptuous Clydeside Café with platters and whisky flights. Browse our selection of rare and regional malts in our Whisky Shop.
PARTICK STATION
11A DISTILLERY
Glasgow Canal
THE CLYDESIDE DISTILLERY
GLASGOW WAKEPARK
G4 9XP T. 07415 787260 www.glasgowwakepark.com Come and try your hand at wakeboarding on the canal! Based at Pinkston Watersports, we offer a system 2.0 wakeboard park which allows the wakeboarder to ride continuously, turning at each end of the canal basin. To challenge you we have four obstacles in the water for trying out varying levels of tricks. Whether you are trying wakeboarding for the first time or are perfecting your latest trick we offer the ideal environment in an urban location. We are open from March to October.
Bellahouston Park, Dumbreck Road, G41 5BW T. 0141 483 1600 www.houseforanartlover.co.uk Designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, House for an Art Lover provides an excellent cultural attraction and tourist destination, while also being one of the city’s finest wedding and events venues. The House is home to the popular Art Lovers Café, Gallery and Shop, and within the grounds you will also find the Studio Pavilion and Heritage Centre as well as a beautiful Walled Garden. The Art Lover’s Café is open 10am until 4pm every day with morning bites from 10am, Lunch from noon and Afternoon Tea from 2pm.
House-for-an-Art-Lover @HouseArtLover @houseforanartlover
PINKSTON WATERSPORTS
THE LOADING BAY SKATEPARK
G4 9XE www.theloadingbayglasgow.com The Loading Bay is the latest addition to Glasgow’s new alternative urban sports playground. The impressive facility spans 30,000ft and incorporates a street plaza, 60ft long bowl, movable modular ramps and a training room with gymnastics flooring, trampolines, foam pits and a café.
G4 9XP T. 0141 332 5636 www.pinkston.co.uk Pinkston Watersports is a unique paddlesports centre with Scotland’s only artificial whitewater course. Come and visit us to take part in rafting, kayaking, canoeing or stand up paddleboarding. We welcome groups for corporate events, birthdays, community activities, stag and hen parties. You will find all these incredible pursuits in our urban setting.
Glasgow
HOUSE FOR AN ART LOVER
Glasgow
GLASGOW ICENTRE, VISIT SCOTLAND 156a/158 Buchanan Street, G1 2LL 0141 566 4083 www.visitscotland.com/info/ services/glasgow-icentre At the VisitScotland iHub you can make bookings for accommodation across Scotland, and journeys on Citylink buses or Calmac ferries. Visitors can also purchase tickets for the local sightseeing bus and trips to different destinations in Scotland, as well as various local and national attractions and events.
MAIA
21 Bath Street G2 1HW 0141 333 1356 www.maiagifts.co.uk Maia Gifts are specialists in Unique and Quirky Gift Ideas! They have gifts for just about every occasion and since opening in 2009 have become one of Glasgow’s favourite stores. Maia Gifts was awarded Best Independent Retailer in Glasgow. Trading ethically they do not stock animal products.
GLASGOW SUBWAY The Glasgow Subway is an underground rapid transit line in Glasgow, Scotland. Opened on 14 December 1896, it is the third-oldest underground system in the world after the London Underground and the Budapest Metro. It is also one of the very few railways in the world with a track running gauge of 4ft (1,219 mm). Formerly a cable railway, the Subway was later electrified, but its twin circular lines were never expanded.
CITY CHAMBERS George Square. G2 1DU 0141 287 2000 www.glasgow.gov.uk Glasgow City Chambers is one of the most important and prestigious buildings in the city. It is an impressive symbol of Glasgow’s political strength and historical wealth. The interior boasts stunning architecture as well as beautiful ornate staircases and stairs.
SCOTLAND STREET SCHOOL MUSEUM 225 Scotland Street. G5 8QB 0141 287 0500 www.glasgowmuseums.com Scotland Street School is a must-see for fans of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and tells the story of education in Scotland from the late 19th century to the late 20th century.
Glasgow
Great Places to Eat in Glasgow SUGO PASTA
70 Mitchell Street. G1 3LX 0141 258 1650 www.sugopasta.co.uk Sugo Pasta in the heart of Glasgow’s city centre, is a bustling open space restaurant with over 200 seats where diners can watch chefs produce fresh pasta and cook in the open kitchen.
ST ENOCH
10 RADISSON BLU
LA LANTERNA 35 Hope Street G2 6AE : 0141 221 9160 www.lalanterna-glasgow.co.uk For over 40 years La Lanterna has been delighting customers old and new with its rich authentic Italian cuisine. Glasgow’s oldest family run Italian restaurant.
ST ENOCH
8 CENTRAL STATION
ICHIBAN
WAXY O’CONNORS
50 Queen Street. G1 3DS 0141 204 4200 www.ichiban.co.uk Glasgow’s original noodle restaurant serving Japanese dishes freshly prepared. Menu includes rice, noodle, soup dishes, sushi and bento boxes.
44 West George Street. G2 1DH 0141 354 5154 www.waxyoconnors.co.uk Centrally located, with 3 floors, 6 bars and 9 different areas, Waxy’s is unique. Waxy’s is home to live sport shown on big screens and fabulous food served all day.
1 GEORGE SQ.
BUCHANAN ST
BUCHANAN ST
1 GEORGE SQ.
THE RAVEN
BAVARIA BRAUHAUS
81-85 Renfield St. G2 1LP 0141 332 6151 www.theravenglasgow.com The Raven is a vibrant gastropub serving freshly slow smoked food prepared and smoked on the premises. There is a wide menu choice and a fantastic craft beers.
30 Bothwell Street. G2 6NU. 0141 457 7100 www.bavarianbrauhaus.com An authentic German Bierhalle. The ONLY place serving 24 German beers on tap together with a fantastic food menu. An Oompah band on Sats & dj Fri & Sat.
7 ST VINCENT PL
BUCHANAN ST
LA BONNE AUBERGE 161 West Nile Street G1 2RL 0141 352 8310. www.labonneauberge.co.uk At the heart of Glasgow’s Theatreland the city’s original Mediterranean Brasserie continues to thrive and the menus offer excellent value with tantalising cuisine.
BUCHANAN ST
21 R/Concert Hall
8 CENTRAL STATION
THE SPIRITUALIST
62 Miller Street, G1 1DT T. 0141 248 4165 www.thespiritualistglasgow.com All day contemporary cuisine and Scotland's greatest bar gantry offering an unrivalled selection of spirits, liqueurs, cocktails, wines and craft beers.
BUCHANAN ST
1 GEORGE SQ.
HARD ROCK CAFÉ
MASALA TWIST Hope Street. G2 3PS 0141 332 6002 www.masalatwistscotland.co.uk Authentic classic Indian cuisine with a Scottish twist. You can also enjoy rabbit or venison curry and pheasant tikka along with better known dishes.
BUCHANAN ST
ST ENOCH
23 Theatres
179 Buchanan Street. G1 2JZ 0141 353 8790 www.hardrock.com Hard Rock Glasgow has brought its classic rock themed experience to a welcoming audience. Enjoy classic Hard Rock burgers, cocktails and the amazing rock memorabilia on display.
BUCHANAN ST
1 GEORGE SQ.
Explore Glasgow
Explore Glasgow by Bus ...
See Glasgow by bus the easy way... Glasgow has so much to offer and we know you’ll be keen to see it all. That’s why we make it simple and convenient to get around. We accept contactless payments from UK debit and credit cards on all buses, and you can even buy tickets in advance from the First Bus App. Please note, we are only able to accept exact fares on board our buses, with no change given.
Buy your ticket on the First Bus App Unlimited journeys
Day
£4.60
City FirstDay Are you here for a day? Buy a City FirstDay ticket.
Weekend
5 single journeys
£11
10 single
journeys City Flexi5, City Flexi10 Are you here for a weekend? Buy a City Flexi ticket.
Week City FirstWeek Are you here for a week? Buy a City FirstWeek ticket.
£21
Unlimited journeys
£17
Top visitor attractions You don’t have to just pick one attraction to visit, you can visit them all. Our buses are frequent and direct, meaning you’ll spend less time getting there and more time enjoying them.
Explore Glasgow
Welcome to Glasgow, it’s a wonderful city, and we’re proud to be Glasgow’s biggest bus operator with services connecting you with popular attractions. Travelling with First Bus around Greater Glasgow is easy. We offer a wide range of tickets to suit your needs, whether you’re visiting for a day, a weekend or a week. Many of our customers buy their bus tickets on the First Bus App. We still accept cash but we operate exact fare only and our drivers cannot give change. We hope you have a great time exploring Glasgow’s many attractions by bus.
How to use the bus
1. Before you travel Use the First Bus App to plan your journey, buy your ticket, track the bus to your local stop and even check how many seats are available on board as you wait. Our Space Checker tool will inform you of the quietest times to travel.
2. At the bus stop Use the First Bus App to track where your bus is and the number of free seats available. Get your payment method ready – mTicket on the First Bus App, contactless card, concessionary pass or the exact fare. As the bus approaches put out your hand to signal that you’d like to board. When your bus arrives, please allow space for passengers to leave the bus before you step on board.
3. On board We encourage customers to make cashless payments to avoid cash handling. Follow any social distancing guidelines. We have increased our cleaning regime, customers can assist by not eating or drinking on board and removing any rubbish when they leave. When you’d like to disembark, just ring the bell and remain seated until the bus stops.
Explore Glasgow
HAMPDEN PARK
UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW
Use services 4/4A, 5, 6, 7/7A, 31, 34/34A, 75, 90
Use services 2, 3, 4/4A, 6, 6A, 8, 77, 90 & M4
KELVINGROVE ART GALLERY & MUSEUM
Use services 2, 3, 8, 77, 90 & M4
MACKINTOSH HOUSE & THE HUNTERIAN
Use services *2, *3, 4/4A, *6, *6A, 8, *77, 90, M4 (*short walk)
ST MUNGO MUSEUM
GALLERY OF MODERN ART
Use services 19, 38/A/B/C/E, 57/57A, 41, 90, X3, X11, X85, X90
Use all city services
WEST BREWERY
PEOPLE'S PALACE
GLASGOW GREEN
Use services 2, 18, 46, 60/60A, 61, 64, 65, 240, 255 & 263
Use services 2, 18, 46, 60/60A, 61, 64, 65, 240, 255 & 263
Use services 2, 18, 60/60A, 61, 64, 240, 255 & 263
THE LOVEABLE ROGUE (GastroBar)
Use services *4/*4A, 6, 6A, *8, *90,* M4 (*short walk)
THE GLASGOW DISTILLERY CO.
Use service 9A
THE POT STILL
Use all city services
TENNANTS WELLPARK BREWERY
Use services 41 & 90
POLLOCK HOUSE & COUNTY PARK
Use services 3, 34/34A & 57/57A
THE BURRELL
Use services 3, 34/34A & 57/57A
Travel with confidence with the First Bus App. The App is designed to help you make your journey easier, with the App you can:
Buy the cheapest tickets, 24/7 View live bus times View the seating capacity of the next bus Plan your journey
Top Attractions Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum Services: 2, 3, 8, 77, 90, M4
Glasgow Cathedral, Provand’s Lordship & St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art Services: 19, 38/A/B/C/E, 57/57A, 41, 90, X3, X11, X85, X90
The Burrell Collection, Pollok House & Pollok Country Park Services: 3, 34/34A, 57/57A, 59
Glasgow Botanic Gardens& Kibble Palace
Services: *4/4A, 6, 6A, 8, 90 (*short walk)
People’s Palace
Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery
Services: 2, 3, 4/4A, 6, 6A, 8, 77, 90, M4
The Necropolis
Services: 19, 38/A/B/C/E, 57/57A, 41, 90, X3, X11, X85, X87
Tennents Wellpark Brewery Services: 41, 90
Ibrox Stadium Services: 9, 9A, 10, 90
Celtic Park Services: 2, 43, 60/60A, 61, 64, 240, 255
Looking for some out-of-town shopping destinations?
Services: 2, 18, 46, 60/60A, 61, 64, 65, 240, 255, 263
Silverburn
House for an Art Lover & Bellahouston Park
Glasgow Fort
Services: 9/9A, 10, 34/34A, 59, 90
Holmwood House/ Linn Park
Services: 3, X8, 10, 49, 57
Services: 19, 38/38A, 46, 43, 60/60A
Braehead Shopping Centre & XSite Braehead Services: 9A, 77, 90
Services: 4/4A, 6, *75 (*short walk)
Thank you for travelling with First Bus.
University of Glasgow &
Main Menu
Explore Glasgow
Live bus tracker
Glasgow’s
Music Scene
Glasgow's usic cene
Glasgow: Music Nonstop A
s the UK’s first UNESCO City of Music, it’s hardly a surprise that Glasgow has many amazing music venues across the city. From gigs in bars to incredible shows in city parks, Glasgow is a hotspot for live music and is a must visit destination for music lovers regeradless of whether they are into the current sounds, classical music, rock or rap and folk everything is available in Glasgow. Glasgow: Music Nonstop showcases the energy and vibrancy of the city's unrivalled music offer and legendary music scene. Councillor David McDonald, Chairman of Glasgow Life and Depute Leader of Glasgow
City Council, said: "From Celtic Connections to TRNSMT and every genre in between, our legendary music scene offers something for every fan." Piero Marcuccilli, Lead Singer of Voodoos, said: “From my time playing and attending gigs, I can safely say there’s no better place for a gig than Glasgow. "The crowds are always electric and the atmosphere tops everywhere else in the UK – I’m sure even all the top artists would agree. There’s something different about Glasgow crowds and it’s one of the main things that inspired me to get into music.”
Glasgow has been home to many world famous names including Lonnie Donegan, Andy Stewart, Amy Macdonald, Lulu, Bert Jansch, Jim Diamond, Jim Kerr, Eddie Reader, Billy Connolly, Jon Fratelli, Maggie Reilly, Maggie Bell, Lewis Capaldi, John Paul Young, Midge Ure, KT Tunstall, Donovan, Horse and many more. The bands who have called Glasgow home include Aereogramme, Altered Images, Belle & Sebastian, Camera Obscura, Deacon Blue, Del Amitri, Franz Ferdinand, The Fratellis, Frightened Rabbit, Glasvegas, Gun, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Dire Straits, Loki, The Marmalade, Frankie Miller, Slik, Ultravox, Simple Minds, Travis, Primal Scream, Simple Minds and Mogwai.
IBIS GLASGOW CITY CENTRE 220 West Regent Street G2 4DQ 0141 225 6010 Website Be surrounded by music memorabilia in the Ibis Styles Glasgow Central, which has music murals and vinyl displays. For business trips or leisurely pleasure, ibis Glasgow City Centre puts everything within easy reach, including the SSE Hydro Complex, SEC Armadillo, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Sauchiehall Street ... and one of the best night's out you've ever had. Our hotel is kitted out with modern décor and staffed by some of Glasgow's finest people, so you can explore this buzzing cultural hub with all the creature comforts you need, at prices that suit your budget.
VOCCO GRAND CENTRAL HOTEL Glasgow Central Station 0141 221 3388 www.grandcentral.vocohotels.com Voco Grand Central is Located at the very heart of the city, directly adjoining Glasgow Central station, voco® Glasgow Grand Central occupies one of the city’s most historic and impressive buildings. With an abundance of historical grandeur and a guest list to match, over the years they've played host to everyone: from politicians such as Winston Churchill to Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra. Awarded the Best Hotel Bar in Glasgow at the 2019 Best Bar None awards, Champagne Central bar is the go-to place for glamorous cocktails for guests and locals alike. Take afternoon tea in the Champagne Lounge or enjoy a cocktail (or two) while you people-watch across the station concourse and enjoy great Glaswegian hospitality.
RADISSON BLU 301 Argyle Street G2 8DL 0141 204 3333 www.radissonhotels.com For cool and central, try Radisson Blu, with its music-themed illustrations and photography. Opened in 2002 and designed by pioneering Glasgow-based architects Gordon Murray and Alan Dunlop, the Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow is a striking building, known for its sculptural copper wall that runs down Argyle Street. Choose from any of its carefully created rooms and suites and enjoy first-class amenities such as free Wi-Fi plus bathrobes and slippers. Guests also have easy access to many scenic running trails and direct access to Glasgow’s instant bike rental service directly outside the hotel. Radisson Blu is well situated for business, too. The hotel's exceptional meeting facilities are some of the best in the city.
Music Scene
Planning to enjoy the fun in the UNESCO City of Music? Check-in to a music themed hotel
Glasgow
GLASGOW MAPS City Centre West End East End
Southside
?
www.l ovel ochl omond. com
How will you
?
We invite you to rediscover Loch Lomond. To reflect, reconnect and rewaken your senses within our iconic landscapes, welcoming accommodation, cosy bars and restaurants – all easily accessable but a world away from your day-to-day life. Enjoy time away by yourself, with family or with friends – whatever is good for your soul.
reunite your heart
recapture your spirit
restore your soul
reawaken your senses
reconnect your inner self
ICONIC LOCH LOMOND is known for its breathtaking beauty and incredible nature and is perfectly situated for easy access from all over Scotland.
the sun rise on top of a hill after a strenuous hike, shopping designer brands and local crafts or lounging in a hot tub with friends and a bottle of wine, we’re all you want us to be.
Add The Trossachs and Clyde Sea Lochs and we offer a diverse, unique and hugely accessible area of Scotland just waiting to be discovered or, rediscovered!
Accommodation ranges from economic self-catering to stunning suites at newly refurbished Cameron House. Sample delicious local cuisine or enjoy a tasting menu at award winning restaurants – you decide.
With much of the area covered by The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, it’s the ideal place to relax, restore and revive your soul after the difficulties that we’ve all experienced in recent times. Whether your happy place is relaxing in luxury, watching
For families, there’s lots to entertain the kids – from outdoor activities to Loch Lomond SEA LIFE for rainy days – all of which will make sure you have family fun and make memories.
recapture your spirit Make memories and enjoy adventures
IN YOUR ELEMENT 0333 600 6008 www.iye.scot/ In Your Element has been offering amazing outdoor activity experiences across Scotland since 2004. They offer a huge range of outdoor activities near Inverness & Loch Ness, Aviemore, Loch Lomond and Loch Tay, as well as many other places in Scotland. They have amazing outdoor experiences suitable for families, stag & hen groups, corporate groups, fundraisers, international visitors touring Scotland and event organisers. In addition to their fun activities they offer a comprehensive canoe hire service for locations across Scotland.
TREE ZONE AERIAL ADVENTURE COURSE
www.iye.scot/treezone-loch-lomond High in the trees at Loch Lomond Shores, TreeZone is the ultimate Aerial Adventure Course ... Zip wires, balance beams, hanging platforms, tight-ropes, scramble nets, white knuckle bridges and gap jumps are set among ancient Caledonian Pines. This is an unforgettable high ropes activity for adults, kids, groups, families or for a corporate event.
LOCH LOMOND LEISURE
0333 577 0715 www.lochlomond-scotland.com Have been operating on Loch Lomond, at Luss, Rowardennan and Loch Lomond Shores, since 2001 and they offer activities for all ages and every occasion including: Luxury Speedboat Tours, Boat Hire and Boat Charter, Watersports, Outdoor Activities, Stag Parties, Hen Parties, Corporate Entertainment, Special Occasion Packages, Wedding Boats and Kids Parties as well as Speedboat Tours, Pedal Boat & Rowing Boat hire, Waterski, Wakeboard, Wake Surf, Kneeboard, Ringo & Banana Boat, Kayak, Stand Up Paddleboarding, SUP, Canoe & Katakanu. Their bike hire service offers Adult, Children, Toddler, Child Seat, TowAttachment, and Trailer. Due to Covid all activites have to be pre-booked. at
LOCH LOMOND WATER SKI CLUB
www.lochlomondwaterskiclub.co.uk Loch Lomond Water Ski Club, which was established in 1976, offers water ski lessons from beginner to competition standard from May to September from their base beside the "Maid of the Loch" paddle steamer at Balloch Pier.
recapture your spirit 4x4 ADVENTURES
01436 648595 www.4x4adventures-scotland.com Discover the world-famous Loch Lomond landscape as you experience driving iconic Land Rover Defenders, or sit back and enjoy a wonderful tour of the area as your Adventure Guide does the driving. The default start and finish point for our Loch Lomond 4x4 Adventures is Luss,. Their charismatic kilted adventure guides are all very entertaining characters, who will ensure that you have a fantastic off road experience and learn all about the history of the area and get a real feel for what it’s like to live and work in this part of Scotland.
CRUISE LOCH LOMOND 01301 702356 www.cruiselochlomond.co.uk Cruise Loch Lomond offers a range of cruises and ferry crossings from its departure points in Tarbet and Luss and provides visitors with the chance to explore Loch Lomond and its amazing scenery. Commentary and onboard snacks make the experience all the more enjoyable. Visit their website to find out more about their cruises and sailing dates and times and book online.
SWEENEY’S CRUISES
01389 752376 www.sweeneyscruiseco.com Sweeney’s Cruises operate a range of cruises from Balloch which will take you on a loch adventure, discovering the lochs islands, its history, wildlife and much more. Cruise timetables vary during the year so visit their website for details of cruises, availability and to book online.
reunite your heart
CAMERON CLUB
013899 310777 www.cameronhouse.co.uk The Cameron Club at Cameron House Resort includes its stunning Spa, the Carrick Golf Course and clubhouse. The Spa is located at the Cameron Club, approximately three miles north of Cameron House. Residents of Cameron House can make use of a shuttle service, which is bookable via Guest Services. Amongst the delights on offer are hydro & thermal experiences, spa treatments and spa days. Pure relaxation and regeneration. Cameron House’s leisure facilities, including pool, fitness studios, steam room, sauna and state of the art gym as well as the newly opened sports bar, The Tavern, an all-day dining restaurant and bar. Cameron House is also home to its own marina and a range of watersports as well as outdoor activities.
Make your heart sing doing the things you love with those you love – from shopping to enjoying the great outdoors
BUCHANAN CASTLE GOLF CLUB 01369 660330 www.buchanancastlegolfclub.co.uk Visitors are welcome at Buchanan Castle Golf club, a special tranquil place providing an almost tangible tonic to the system. It is one of Scotland’s hidden golfing spendours nestling in the foothills of the Scottish Highlands, close to Loch Lomond and the picturesque village of Drymen – only half an hour from Glasgow or Stirling.
PORTNELLAN FARM SPEEDBOAT TOURS
Gartocharn G83 8NL 01389 830487 www.portnellanfarm.co.uk Often described as the highlight of a trip to Loch Lomond, a luxury speedboat tour is the perfect way to discover the loch. Combine travelling at speed over open water with cruising slowly through the many islands with and enjoy breath-taking Scottish scenery in every direction.
INCHBAGGERS ISLAND SWIMS 07917 432900 www.inchbaggers.com Wild swimming has become increasingly popular and Inchbaggers helps visitors and locals alike to enjoy swimming safely in beautiful Loch Lomond, whether it’s a beginners introduction or for those at an advanced level. A truly magical experience which is available all year round, experience the tranquillity and beauty of Loch Lomond at its best.
For those whose happy place is shopping, there are lots of great shops throughout the towns and villages where you can enjoy browsing through great Scottish products and local artisan crafts you can take home as a memory of your visit.
LOCH LOMOND SHORES www.lochlomondshores.com One place that has everything under one roof is Loch Lomond Shores located on the banks of Loch Lomond in Balloch. It not only features a whole host of stores but also is home to woodland walks, beaches, watersports, SEA LIFE and amazing views over the loch towards Ben Lomond – making it the perfect place to combine shopping and a great day out. Whether you love designer brands, Scottish tweeds and knitwear, shoes,
fine Scottish whisky, sportswear, beauty products, homeware, jewellery, health foods, gifts, or even need a holiday hair trim and colour and beauty treatment - look no further than Loch Lomond Shores. You can also take a shopping break with cafes that offer everything from afternoon teas to delicious hot meals. Loch Lomond Shores also plays host to food and drink festivals in spring and autumn and also welcomes a colourful outdoor market on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month.
reunite your heart
restore your soul
With peaceful forests, picturesque viewpoints, lochs, castles, pretty villages and bustling towns, there’s lots to see and do depending on your mood and what makes a great short-break for you. There is an amazing network of cycle paths, walking trails and forest walks all offering you the opportunity to explore and enjoy nature at your own pace with fantastic views at each turn.
RSPB - LOCH LOMOND
High Wards Farm, Gartocharn, G83 8SB 01389 830670 www.rspb.org.uk This reserve is set in a stunning mix of woodlands and wetlands on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond. Breathtaking views and a diverse mix of habitats provide an excellent opportunity to view a variety of wildlife including ospreys in the summer and skeins of geese in the winter
WALK WILD SCOTLAND
01360 870476 www.walkwildscotland.com Walk Wild Scotland is a Scottish walking tour company specialising in walking holidays and cultural tours throughout the Scottish Highlands & Islands. Engaged in sustainable tourism, their small group tours offer a personal experience of Scotland’s wild nature and landscapes where you can feel safe in the hands of our qualified tour guides. The company started in 2003 as ‘Walk Wild Loch Lomond’ providing walking day trips in the new National Park. Quickly demand took the business to the rest of Scotland. They also offer tours in German.
SCOTTISH MARITIME MUSEUM / DENNY TANK SEA LIFE LOCH LOMOND
01389 721500 www.visitsealife.com There is so much to see at SEA LIFE Loch Lomond! Dive in and you’ll discover: Interactive Rockpool Experience - Have you ever wanted to stroke a starfish or feel the shell of a crab? Now’s your chance because at our rocking Rockpools you can appreciate all of this! Over 1500 creatures - Take a fascinating journey from the shores of Loch Lomond to the depths of the world’s oceans in 7 themed zones Tropical Ocean Tunnel - Journey through the Tropical Ocean Tunnel, where you can come face-to-fin with Blacktip sharks, rays and other critters of the seas. Otterly amazing - Meet our troublesome Otter trio, Lily Pickle and Cub, up close - watch out, they are cheeky! Asian Short Clawed Otters are the smallest of all species of Otter. And so much more.
01389 763444 www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org Part of The Scottish Maritime Museum, the Denny Tank is a four star visitor attraction showcasing Sir William Denny’s world famous ship design and builder’s facility. It was the world’s first commercial test tank. Open daily.
restore your soul DOUNE CASTLE
ARDOCH LOCH LOMOND
Gartocharn,G83 8ND 01389 710401 www.ardochlochlomond.com Ardoch Loch Lomond is one of the must unique, exclusive use venues in Loch Lomond. Whatever event you are planning, Ardoch can cater for up to 18 for single occupancy, or 33 if you don’t mind sharing rooms! Set in 133 acres with spectacular views in a ‘get away from it all’ setting, Ardoch has a natural, easy tone to it.
www.historicenvironment.scot Doune Castle is a medieval stronghold near the village of Doune, in the Stirling district of central Scotland. Recent research has shown that Doune Castle was originally built in the thirteenth century, then probably damaged in the Scottish Wars of Independence,before being rebuilt in its present form in the late 14th century by Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany (c. 1340–1420), the son of King Robert II of Scots, and Regent of Scotland from 1388 until his death. The castle stars in scenes from Outlander, Game of Thrones and Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
THE LODGE FOREST VISITOR CENTRE
0300 067 6615 www.forestryandland.gov.scot The Lodge Forest Visitor Centre and Café is open seven days a week, 10am to 4pm. With trails suitable for all, tree top adventures, a great café, toilets and plenty of information, this should be your first stop when it comes to exploring Queen Elizabeth Forest Park.
DUMBARTON CASTLE
01389 732167 www.historicenvironment.scot Visit a stronghold that stood at the heart of an ancient kingdom covering the area known as Strathclyde. Set high upon a volcanic rock in the Firth of Clyde, the castle was a royal refuge. With a recorded history going back 1500 years, the castle has a fascinating and long history to tell visitors who can enjoy stunning views from the White Tower Crag, take in the artillery fortifications and visit the Governor’s House. The castle is open all year round.
EXPERIENCE SCOTLAND’S WILD
0044 1389 513 467 www.scotlandswild.com Are an independent 5* tour operator whose passion is to share all things Scotland has to offer, making their guests smile and create unique memories. With a maximum of eight in any group, its perfect for sight-doing rather than sight-seeing!
Use this map & guide to get the best out of your visit to Loch Lomond & Clyde Sea Lochs. Continue the journey and find more ideas and information at www.lovelochlomond.com
Loch Lomond & The Clyde Sea Lochs ... 10 things to see and do Food & Drink Campsite Caravans Information Point Fuel Train Station Cycle Hire Golf
Cruise Routes West Highland Way Route Three Lochs Way Route Cowal Way Route John Muir Way Route
Ten things to see and do Climb the Cobbler
Band enjoy the beautiful village of Arrochar.
Take a cruise on the
Cloch from Tarbet with
Cycle Path
Cruise Loch Lomond.
Major Roads
Walk or climb Ben Lomond for amazing views of Loch Lomond.
Minor Roads
D
Enjoy a few days on the
Evariety of superb golf
courses throughout the area ... courses as beautiful as they are challenging. Visit Luss village, enjoy
Flocal food & drink, walk on the beach. Take a cruise from Luss Pier.
Take a coastal tour of
GHelensburgh and the
Clyde Sea Lochs, Cove and Kilcreggan. Visit the aquarium at
HLoch Lomond Shores,
sail with Sweeney’s Cruises or enjoy some shopping. Explore Balmaha or take
Ia boat trip
Enjoy a village walk in
JDrymen.
Enjoy a tour and taste at
Kthe Glengoyne Distillery.
reawaken your senses
Savour the unique and stunning flavours of Scotland and indulge your tastebuds with award-winning delights
THE BOAT HOUSE AT CAMERON HOUSE
01389 755568 www.cameronhouse.co.uk The Boat House is a New England style restaurant situated next to Cameron House Marina. The Boat House features an extensive menu with particular emphasis on locally sourced meat and seafood. Nonresidents are welcome.
GLENGOYNE DISTILLERY
Dumgoyne G63 9LB 01360 550254 www.glengoyne.com Glengoyne is a Highland Distillery on Glasgow’s doorstep. It’s whisky is distilled more slowly than any other malt whisky to create a complex, fruity, award-winning spirit of which they are rightly proud. They never rush anything at Glengoyne and neither should their visitors! Visit them to meet their team, have a dram, shop, create your very own unique Glengoyne single malt but above all else, take your time and relax.
STIRLING DISTILLERY
The Old Smiddy, 9 Lower Castlehill 01786 596 496 www.stirlingdistillery.com Distilled, bottled and labelled in the shadow of the Castle, Stirling Gin is produced by Stirling’s first legal distillery on the castle rock. Known for their unique London Dry gin made with foraged Stirlingshire nettles, their gins range from the classic to the eclectic, celebrating local history and folklore. A small family-run distillery creating hand crafted spirits in the historic ‘Old Smiddy’ building, they offer daily gin and whisky tastings, distillery tours and a weekly gin school.
reawaken your senses LODGE ON LOCH LOMOND
01436 860201 www.loch-lomond.co.uk The Lodge On Loch Lomond is a unique destination located on the beachfront enjoying THE CLUBHOUSE AT magnificent views over the loch. The hotel’s facilties CAMERON make it an excellent choice for HOUSE escaping theCarrick buzz ofGolf the city and Loch soaking up The Course. Lomond the relaxing atmosphere 01389 722596 that being beside the loch provides. Guests can enjoy a wide range www.cameronhouse.co.uk of activities provided by expert localre-opened partners Relax in the stunning newly and youClubhouse will find Colquhoun’s restaurant theCarrick at Cameron, next to The perfect way round Luxurious off your day. Golf to Course. yet relaxed, The Clubhouse is open to non members and is a haven for good food, welcoming surroundings and friendly service.
THE OAK TREE INN
01360 – 870357 www.theoaktreeinn.co.uk Standing in the shade of a 500 year-old oak tree, this unique country inn in Balmaha offers a perfect location for those wishing to simply escape. Family owned, The Oak Tree is a great base from which to explore the stunning countryside or take a boat trip on the loch. Cosy rooms and great food and drink, including their own ales and ciders, smoked produce & ice cream complete a perfect visit.
THE TAVERN
Cameron House Leisure Club 01389 310777 www.cameronhouse.co.uk The new Tavern bar is located in the Cameron Leisure Club, home to hearty cuisine and a well-stocked bar. The perfect place to relax with friends and family alike. Take a seat for breakfast, lunch or dinner and watch as the action of the best sporting events unfold on our big screens, with the great loch as your backdrop. Open daily from 11am – 11pm. Food served from 12pm – 8pm
INN ON LOCH LOMOND
01436 860678 www.innonlochlomond.co.uk Located on the A82 just three miles north of Luss village, The Inn first opened in 1814 and has retained its tradional charm ever since. The new Inn is a stylish, contemporary hotel that offers modern accommodation, stylish public spaces, a fantastic restaurant and bar with natural furnishings and a roaring real fire! Dining is relaxed with Mr C’s Fish & Whisky Bar and Restaurant offering a wide selection of seafood, burgers and steaks and amazing fish & chips!
THE STATION COFFEE SHOP
The Station, Main Street, Aberfoyle. 01877 389105 www.lochlomondcoffee.co.uk The Station is a vibrant cafe serving an excellent choice of freshly prepared food ranging from wholesome soups and sandwiches to hot snacks, including a wide range of vegan and gluten free options, straight from the kitchen ovens. Also tempting your taste buds is a delightful selection of sweet treats together with wonderful locally roasted Loch Lomond Coffee from the owners own roastery based in Balmaha.
TAMBURRINI & WISHART
Cameron House Resort 01389 310777 www.cameronhouse.co.uk Tamburrini & Wishart offers a contemporary and innovative dining experience with seasonal produce at its heart. Guests can look forward to a five-course tasting menu that will change every two weeks, and a three-course lunch menu embracing modern techniques while celebrating classical flavours. Each menu will be exquisitely paired with wine chosen by the Resort Sommelier.
ST MOCHA COFFEE SHOP AND ICE CREAM PARLOUR www.lochlomondcoffee.co.uk A lovely warm, welcoming speciality coffee shop in Balmaha where you will find their own home roasted small batch coffee as well as a range of loose leaf tea and baking including a range of gluten free products. A full selection of homemade Loch Lomond luxury ice cream is also always available to tempt you! St Mocha coffee shop and ice cream parlour is certainly something special to enjoy during your visit.
THE CAMERON GRILL
Cameron House Leisure Club 01389 310777 www.cameronhouse.co.uk The Cameron Grill restaurant is at the heart of the hotel with wonderful views across Loch Lomond. The setting is intimate, elegant and welcoming, keeping in style with the décor throughout Cameron House. In the evening, a soft relaxing atmosphere is created to enhance the pleasure of your culinary experience. From wholesome natural dishes to the very best of modern cooking, our chef aims to create a divine gastronomic experience for all foodies.
relax in comfort From luxury resorts to cosy caravans and cottages, find the perfect place to relax and unwind for you INN ON LOCH LOMOND
01436 860678 www.innonlochlomond.co.uk Located on the A82 just three miles north of Luss village, The Inn first opened in 1814 and has retained its traditional charm ever since. The Inn is a stylish, contemporary hotel that offers modern accommodation, stylish public spaces, a fantastic restaurant and bar with natural furnishings and a roaring real fire! Dining is relaxed with Mr C’s Fish & Whisky Bar and Restaurant offering a wide selection of seafood, burgers, steaks and amazing fish & chips!
CAMERON HOUSE RESORT
01389 310777 www.cameronhouse.co.uk The Cameron House Resort offers epic Scottish landscapes, a 24-mile long freshwater loch and undeniably 5-star facilities. Be a guest at Cameron House Hotel and discover the beautifully restored bedrooms and suites. Explore the enticing choice of restaurants and bars; discover wonderful adventures and curated experiences; captivate your clients and colleagues with this mesmerising setting or welcome your wedding guests to Scotland’s most exclusive ceremony and reception setting, immerse yourself in the extraordinary destination spa or make the most of the championship golf course with most beautiful water hazard in the world. Or you can relax in the luxury Cameron Lodges.
LOMOND WOODS HOLIDAY PARK
01250 878123 www.woodleisure.co.uk Ideally located within walking distance of Loch Lomond, Lomond Woods Holiday Park is a special place for you to spend your holiday. Their stunning Signature Lodges with hot tubs provide luxurious accommodation for those seeking something indulgent while their range of luxury lodges, caravan holiday homes, and glamping pods provide options to suit all budgets and styles.
relax in comfort
LODGE ON LOCH LOMOND
01436 860201 www.loch-lomond.co.uk The Lodge On Loch Lomond is a unique destination located on the beachfront enjoying magnificent views over the loch. The hotel’s facilties make it an excellent choice for escaping the buzz of the city and soaking up the relaxing atmosphere that being beside the loch provides. Guests can enjoy a wide range of activities provided by expert local partners and you will find Colquhoun’s restaurant the perfect way to round off your day.
LOCH LOMOND WATERFRONT
Main Road, Balmaha 01360 870144 www.loch-lomondwaterfront.co.uk Loch Lomond Waterfront, offers luxury self-catering accommodation on the banks of Loch Lomond. Their 5-star holiday lodges each have their own private hot tub, steam cabin, en suite bedrooms, fully-equipped kitchen and breath-taking views! And their luxury lodges are surrounded by exclusive grounds and bounded by nature reserves. On the shores, you will find some of the best fishing on Loch Lomond. They also have a private beach, which is ideal for sailing, boating, swimming, and all kinds of water sports.
EAST CAMBUSMOON HOLIDAY COTTAGES
Gartocharn 07905 093997 www.lochlomondholidaycottage.com East Cambusmoon Farm is located in the heart of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. We are superbly well placed to explore this wonderfully scenic area. Our two self-catering cottages, the two-bedroom Old Dairy and four-bedroom Curlew Cottage, have brought new life to old buildings. Available to rent separately or together, sustainable design and use of natural materials ensure year-round comfort with a light carbon footprint whilst retaining the exterior character of these former farm buildings.
relax in comfort
PORTNELLAN FARM
Gartocharn G83 8NL 01389 830487 www.portnellanfarm.co.uk Hidden away on the secluded south shore of Loch Lomond, Portnellan is first and foremost a family farm producing quality organic beef. The unique location and stunning views of Loch Lomond have enabled the farm to diversify over the past decade and the family are delighted to be able to share their beautiful lochside setting with guests staying in The Old Farmhouse and Glamping tent. They also provide boat moorings for rent in Portnellan Bay and offer a range of exciting outdoor activities including Speedboat Tours, Farm Tours, Kayak Hire, and Stand-Up Paddleboard Hire.
KNOCKDERRY COUNTRY HOUSE APPLETREE COTTAGE Shandon Farm, Croftamie 07375 321868 www.lomondappletree.co.uk Appletree Cottage is a cosy, bright, newly built cottage on a quiet back road in Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. The cottage has four en-suite bedrooms and biomass heating throughout. The spacious open-plan living area has underfloor heating and large picture windows offer stunning views south, across open countryside. Situated on a small apple farm, Appletree is perfectly located for walking, golf, hiking, cycling, fishing, boating, riding, wildlife spotting and the local village pub.
AUCHENHEGLISH COTTAGES
01389 850688 www.lochlomondlodge.co.uk Auchenheglish Lodges comprises of eight luxury waterfront cottages situated directly on the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond seven beautiful apartments in the B Listed building “Lomond Castle” five with beautiful loch views, also five properties located within 12 acres of grounds on the exclusive Arden estate. Further up the loch side at Arrochar we have 2 properties as you enter into the lovely village of Arrochar “Wee Callanish and Callanish House”. A short distance from Shore House at Tarbet one of our properties with stunning loch views.
01436 842283 www.knockderryhouse.co.uk Situated on the banks of Loch Long, we invite you to stay at Knockderry House Hotel where a warm Scottish country house welcome, comfortable rooms, extraordinary service, charming decor, and delicious culinary experiences await. With multiple awards for hospitality and food, we offer a relaxing environment from which to explore the stunning area near Loch Lomond.
CALLANDER WOODS HOLIDAY PARK 01250 878123 www.woodleisure.co.uk Located in Perthshire, in the popular tourist town of Callander, the holiday park is right at the Eastern Approach to the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. The park is also on the Rob Roy Way and the Birds of Prey Trail, as well as being close to the famous Bracklinn Falls and the stunning Loch Katrine. With a variety of outdoor pursuits on your doorstep and within walking distance of shops, restaurants, and bars in Callander, you’ll never be short of things to do! Accommodation Our self-catering accommodation range includes our Deluxe Junior Lodges with private hot tubs, or enjoy a relaxing vacation in our 2 & 3 bedroom, fullyfurnished caravan holiday homes, providing modern, spacious accommodation for families and couples. For those seeking a luxurious camping experience, our family camping pods ensure the ultimate ‘Glamping’ experience in any weather, or why not treat yourself to a stay in our new luxury ensuite glamping pod.
STUCKGOWAN ESTATE 0131 556 4020 www.stuckgowanestates.com Whether you are celebrating a birthday or anniversary, looking for a perfect holiday location for families and friends, or simply looking for the perfect place to explore Scotland we have a range of properties to suit your needs. We look forward to welcoming you and making your stay better than you can ever imagine. We offer two stunning properties on Loch Lomond for you to choose from: Stuckgowan with 9 luxury bedrooms and 6 bathrooms Stuckdarach with 6 luxury bedrooms and 5 bathrooms
relax in comfort
LOCH LOMOND HOLIDAY PARK 01301 704224 www.argyllholidays.com With exclusive lodges positioned right on the water, Loch Lomond Holiday Park makes the perfect escape from everyday life. Relax in a premium waterside hot tub lodge, unwind in a fabulous glamping pod or get cosy in a traditional log cabin with sauna. For a luxurious Scottish staycation, Loch Lomond is the perfect destination, whether you prefer a relaxing retreat or an active holiday making the most of the watersports right on your doorstep.
THE OAK TREE INN
01360 – 870357 www.theoaktreeinn.co.uk Standing in the shade of a 500 year-old oak tree, this unique country inn in Balmaha offers a perfect location for those wishing to simply escape. Family owned, The Oak Tree is a great base from which to explore the stunning countryside or take a boat trip on the loch. Cosy rooms and great food and drink, including their own ales and ciders, smoked produce & ice cream complete a perfect visit.
We invite you to take time to reflect, reconnect and reawaken your senses within our iconic landscapes, welcoming accommodation and cosy bars and restaurants – all easily accessible but a world away from everyday life
Loch Lomond
H
ELENSBURGH is approximately 20 miles north west of Glasgow. Sir James Colquhoun designed the town in 1780 and named it after his wife Helen.
commanding fine views over the estuary.
An elegant town, with streets laid out in a grid pattern many of which are tree-lined, the most notable ones with Japanese Cherry.
The original fly-wheel memorial can be seen on the east seafront esplanade. John Logie Baird, the inventor of television was born here, and a memorial to him can be found on the seafront.
Helensburgh has an outstanding collection of houses designed by famous architects including Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Leiper and Honeyman. Mackintosh’s Hill House is the most well known and sits high above the Clyde
Other famous local connections include Henry Bell who pioneered the steamship “Comet”, whose maiden voyage was from Helensburgh to Greenock.
As well as being steeped in history and culture, Helensburgh is now rated as one of Scotlands best “Foodie” destinations where dining delights of all genres can be found in plentiful supply
Want to know more?
What’s On Loch Lomond Shores
Shop, Eat, Play ...
8
Loch Lomond Shores LOCH LOMOND BIRD OF PREY CENTRE 01389 729239 www.llbopc.co.uk For a unique experience visit the Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre. Learn about the individual birds and stand six feet from a Golden Eagle! Watch the birds training or flying and learn about conservation.
SWEENEY’S CRUISES
MARKET DAYS Market Day is on the first and third Sunday of each month, and alongside the superb products there are a range of great entertainment. Come along for a free family day out.
SEALIFE AQUARIUM 01389 721500 www.visitsealife.com Dive in and be wowed by the strange, beautiful and fascinating creatures of the deep as you journey through the amazing underwater world.
TREE ZONE AERIAL ADVENTURE COURSE www.treezone.co.uk High in the trees at Loch Lomond Shores, TreeZone is the ultimate Aerial Adventure Course ... Zip wires, balance beams, hanging platforms, tight-ropes, scramble nets, white knuckle bridges and gap jumps are set among ancient Caledonian Pines. This is an unforgettable high ropes activity for adults, kids, groups, families or for a corporate event.
LOCH LOMOND LEISURE Have been qoperating on Loch Lomond, at Luss Rowardennan and Loch lomond Shores, since 2001 and they offer activities for all ages and every occasion including: Luxury Speedboat Tours, Boat Hire and Boat Charter, Watersports, Outdoor Activities, Stag Parties, Hen Parties, Corporate Entertainment, Special Occasion Packages, Wedding Boats and Kids Parties as well as Speedboat Tours, Pedal Boat & Rowing Boat hire, Waterski, Wakeboard, Wake Surf, Kneeboard, Ringo & Banana Boat, Kayak, Stand Up Paddleboarding, SUP, Canoe & Katakanu. Their bike hire service offers Adult, Children, Toddler, Child Seat, Tow-Attachment, and Trailer. Due to Covid all activites have to be pre-booked at www.lochlomond-scotland.com
01389 752376 : www.sweeneyscruiseco.co.uk Enjoy a short scenic cruise departing from the dock in front of the main mall. Cruises operate daily throughout the Summer period. Find out more by checking the Sweeney’s website for full details of these all all their other Loch Lomond departures.
SHOPPING MALL STORES No trip to Loch Lomond shores is complete without a walk through The Mall to browse the offers and limited edition products available from boutique shops and big brand designer names. From independent stores selling designer jewellery and watches, handmade gifs, candles to shoes, outdoor clothing, equipment and sportswear, there’s something for everybody regardless of your budget! Stores now open include: Frasers, Sports Direct, Catherine Kinloch by Pavers, Hawkshead, Loch Lomond News, Keep Sakes, Lachlan on the Shores, Leading Labels and Loch Lomond Jewellers. Full details on all stores at www. lochlomondshores.com
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond & Clyde ... B
ALLOCH is the gateway to Loch Lomond and the truly stunning beauty that is the area around Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. Getting here is easy. Balloch is less than forty minutes from Glasgow Airport and has good bus links as well as a regular, half hourly direct train service from Glasgow Queen Street Station.
Balloch is a thriving, bustling village where you can enjoy a great range of activities. Visit Balloch Country Park, enjoy a loch cruise with frequent departures throughout the day or simply wander into the lovely shops and restaurants along the main street. Take a short walk along to Loch Lomond Shores where you will find shopping, dining and family fun.
C
ardross is one of Helensburgh and Lomond’s hidden gems. Not immediatly obvious as a fruitful stopping place Cardross actually offers great value for time spent with a wealth of wonderful history and options for sport and great dining thrown in. Included in the package are the wonderful old parish church ruined by a stray bomb during the Clydebank Blitz,
O
VERLOOKING the River Clyde, the towns of Dumbarton and Clydebank were both noted for their shipbuilding – a story told at the Denny Ship Model Experiment Tank in Dumbarton. Dumbarton’s shipbuilding heritage includes the building of the famous clipper ‘Cutty Sark’. Dumbarton Castle on its fortified rock has long guarded the Clyde approaches. A ruined chapel in the grounds of Levengrove Park boasts the final resting place of part of the remains of Robert the Bruce whose home was once
nearby and the town also lays claim to the bard Robert Burns who was made Freeman of the Burgh.
the once magnificent brutalist St Peter’s Seminary and the wonderful medieval St Mahew’s Chapel which is still in use. On a less ecclesiastical note there is the beautifully situated Carman Trout Fishery, Cardross Golf Club, the National Trust for Scotland’s Geilston Gardens and the quaint Geilston Hall which is now thought to be an early C R Mackintosh design.
Beside Edinburgh Castle! Call 0131 226 3709 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2ND camera-obscura.co.uk