Festival Season in “Europe’s festival capital” is well and
truly underway.......
Whether its Jazz & blues, Books, Comedy, or the swirl of
the bagpipes at the famous Military Tattoo, the summer festivals in Edinburgh draw
hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
On a recent stay in the Scottish capital, we were able to
enjoy some of the treats in store for the performers, and the visitors, to the
city.
The big question on a city break is where to stay. Whilst many go for the hotel option, this
time, we opted for self-catering and found spectacular apartments on Princes
Street in the centre of the city. The
Princes Street Suites are very well appointed and only 5 minutes walk from the
Royal Mile in one direction and the ‘new town’ in the other. There are a number
of apartments in the complex, of various sizes & configurations, and they
offer a great alternative for families or groups visiting the area. Whilst they
are self-catering, a breakfast basket can be delivered daily for each resident
and there are a number of shops nearby where you can stock up on
necessities. The complex also has a 24hr
reception and access is by keycard, so it is also very secure.
The city has a wealth of top class restaurants to tempt the
tastebuds too. Kyloe is a gourmet steak
restaurant which offers diners a great meal.
The waiting staff bring various cuts of raw meat to the table to discuss
the options and ways they can be cooked so they can be fully appreciated. OneSquare at the Sheraton Hotel is another place that we can highly
recommend. The chef there is quite
experimental and the menu offers an innovative slant on traditional meals. I particularly enjoyed the Rhubarb Crumble
and Custard Twist which recreated the flavours and textures of one of my favourite desserts in a sorbet. We
also enjoyed a “taste of Scotland” experience at the Scotch Whisky Centre which
included a tour of the exhibition as well as a tasting menu of traditional
Scottish dishes complemented by different whiskies to enhance the taste.
For something a little bit different you could learn while
you eat by taking part in a Chocolate Tasting by Coco of Bruntsfield. The
boutique company specialise in fine organic chocolate which is high in
cocoa content. Their tasting sessions are carried out at their 2 stores in the
city and give a solid grounding in what real chocolate tastes like.
After all that eating (which didn’t take place all in one
day!) a bit of relaxation was required, and there’s no better place to do that
than at the One Spa at the Sheraton Hotel.
The spa has an incredible outdoor rooftop hydropool as well as a Thermal
Suite with a number of treatment rooms. The popular “Escape at One” package is
a great way of enjoying the best, in my opinion, spa in the city.
Of course, a visit to Edinburgh isn’t all about restaurants
and spa visits, there’s lots to see in the city.
Understandably, many of the attractions centre on the rich
history (good and bad) the city offers. The Edinburgh Dungeons tell the more
gory history, but in a very entertaining
way, with actors leading you round a labyrinth of tableaux in the city’s
vaults. The visit is full of audience interaction, and while a little scary for
the very young, is certainly a family attraction worth visiting. Nearby, Mary Kings Close brings even more
realism to the Edinburgh story as you are guided round one of the underground
‘closes’ which at one time housed hundreds of families. Just remember to bring
a doll or teddy for the resident ghost, Annie!
Further up the Royal Mile, the optical illusions at the
iconic Camera Obscura have been a
feature of the tourist scene in Edinburgh since 1853. The Obscura has recently benefitted from some
investment and new attractions include a dizzying Vortex tunnel and a confusing
mirror maze.
In this Year of Creative Scotland, Tourism bosses are hoping
that the recent release of the new Disney/Pixar film “Brave” will encourage
visits to Edinburgh and the Highlands as children follow the story, in real
life, to the locations portrayed on screen.
Direct flights are available to Edinburgh from George Best
Belfast City Airport with Flybe. The short
flight time means you can be wandering down Princes Street within a couple of
hours of leaving Belfast.
For further information you can visit www.visitscotland.com
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