Discover the Best of Edinburgh for Free

"Historically, Edinburgh has always been a hugely important city within the United Kingdom and the sheer variety of age and design in the buildings reflects this. To help understand this better we asked Sonia to show us her hometown.

“A walk along Princes Street will give you wonderful views of the Castle and the rear of the Royal Mile but it will also allow you to look above the shop fronts and take in the stone carvings and language of each building’s facade. At each end of George Street you can enjoy the Georgian architecture of UNESCO protected Charlotte Square against the contracting modern renovations of St Andrews Square. Walking south of the city centre will take you to the Royal Mile and St Giles Cathedral, the small but delightful Thistle Chapel is not to be missed. Heading up towards the Castle, the Hub is a wonderfully bold interior where many have ceilidh’d long into the night.

Victoria Street is one of my favourites, sweeping you elegantly down to the Grass Market and up towards the National Museum of Scotland where old truly meets new in a wonderful architectural celebration. Take a walk toward McEwan Hall where students graduate in a grand circular hall surrounded by buildings of historical academia. Wander through the Quatermile, a luxury residential complex in Edinburgh’s former hospital and look over at Heriots. End your tour at the Edinburgh College of Art’s Sculpture Court, with its high ceilings and replica carvings from the Acropolis in Greece.” 

"To add a touch of greenery to your visit, you’ll be hard pressed to find something more impressive than the Water of Leith Walkway- a sight for urban wildlife to flourish in areas where it might otherwise not be found, including as many as 80 different species of bird).

The area is home to a number of rare wildlife species including deer, kingfishers and on occasion otters. The waterway is decorated with old buildings, forestry and things to do, whether you are making use of the cycle path or visiting one of the art galleries along the route."

“Edinburgh is a cultural haven, with notable influences from all over the world helping to create one large melting pot of amazing food, music and creativity, so its food festivals are not to be missed as they combine all of these!. Adele is the authority when it comes to finding good food in Edinburgh, so is the perfect person to recommend her personal favourite food festivals.

“Take a 10 minute stroll from Princes Street towards the grand Union Canal in the heart of the city and discover one of Edinburgh’s best weekly food markets - Street Food Fridays at Fountainbridge. Open all year round, every Friday from 11am-7pm, a bunch of passionate independent traders set up their mobile stalls alongside this revitalised waterway to dish up tasty global delights such as Columbian Cornbread Arapas, Malaysian Rendang Curry, Swiss Alpine Dumplings, Irish Pakoras and Greek Souvlaki. The line-up of street traders changes from week to week so you’ll be sure to find something new to eat every time you visit.

A recent addition and now a strong contender on the Edinburgh Foodie scene is the Edinburgh Food Festival held in the height of Summer in the glorious gardens of George Square. This five day festival showcases the best of Scottish produce, producers, makers, street food and; talks & debates featuring some of the industry’s most talented chefs, food champions and cutting edge food entrepreneurs. It’s a fun filled packed week in a very relaxed setting. A local foodie haven and a highlight on the Scottish Food Calendar”