The home of the one of the oldest universities in the English world, Edinburgh is an excellent place to visit for students. There’s plenty to see and do for little cost. If you live near enough to Scotland, a day trip will suffice but if you are travelling from further a field then a few days may be more worth your while. And to help you on your way to exploring this wonderful city, I’ve come up with a few ideas on how you can spend one day in Edinburgh.
Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day and just because you’re spending a day in Edinburgh, it doesn’t mean you need to miss it. The Edinburgh Larder Café is the place to go, but do get there early as it is fairly popular. This cute little café has a great selection of food, cakes and hot drinks, so there is plenty of choice for everyone. Just make sure you know what time breakfast ends, as my friends and me missed it and our dreams of devouring scrambled eggs and salmon were crushed.
If you’re not a book lover then you may wish to skip this part but if you’re a bookworm, just like me, then a visit to Armchair Books is a must whilst in Edinburgh. From the outside it may not look like much, but on the inside it’s spectacular. The endless shelves of books stacked floor to ceiling are any book lovers dream. Hours can be spent hunting the shelves for that next page-turner, in what feels like minutes. Just remember you have to get those books home with you. So bring a backpack.
Obviously a trip to Edinburgh isn’t complete without stopping by Edinburgh Castle. Tickets cost £16.50 and if you purchase a ticket you’ll get access to explore the rooms with the crown jewels. But if you want to save a little money, the views from just outside the entrance gates are pretty spectacular as well.
During one day in Edinburgh you should also head to Grassmarket. This area is full of great pubs, restaurants and shops, but having spent time there last year, I do have a few suggestions. Auld Jock’s Pie Shoppe isn’t to be missed. It serves a range of traditional Scottish pies, as well as some excellent vegetarian options (think spinach and mozzarella). And if you’re looking for a pub to enjoy a glass of Scotch or Irn Bru, then Biddy Mulligans is the place to be. It may be an Irish pub in name, but the atmosphere and the staff are well and truly Scottish.
If you’ve got some tips on how to spend one day in Edinburgh please do let us know. Any suggestions would be welcome.
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