How to Spend 48 Hours in Edinburgh

Living in the UK there are so many places to travel to including Scotland way up north and even though I have travelled a lot in my twenty-six years I have never ventured that far, so travelling to Edinburgh for the weekend was very exciting and a new place to explore. I booked this particular trip for the boyfriends birthday because what do you get a guy who has everything? We decided to travel by train because it was way cheaper (advance ticket £30 each) and it takes about four hours from Birmingham. We also stayed in a super cheap Travelodge on Queen Street which was super central to explore this beautiful Scottish city that has lots to offer.

Tantalise your taste buds

You might think you would only find Scottish food in the capital of Scotland but your very wrong, Edinburgh caters for everyone's tastes and they cater well to people who are gluten-free like my boyfriend. As I have mentioned numerous times before I always research restaurants before I visit anywhere to make the most of our time and in Edinburgh we were spoilt for choice. 

For breakfast in Edinburgh, I can highly recommend Loudons Cafe and Bakery, when we arrived they were queuing to get in, so we knew it had to be worth the wait. All the food is homemade and a lot of the menu is gluten free and of course delicious. For lunch, we discovered Belted Burgers around the corner from our hotel, they not only offer 100% Scottish beef burgers but they can make them with gluten-free buns! It is definitely one of the best burgers I have ever had and the staff were so friendly and welcoming.

For dinner with views of Edinburgh castle try Thai restaurant Chaophraya or if you want something more traditional head to Cannonball Restaurant and Bar where you will find affordable fine dining with the most lovely atmosphere and delicious food including Haggis! We were lucky enough to get a table by the window and the view of the castle was breathtaking at night.

More popular restaurants include The Dome which has a traditional Scottish menu, housed in a grand former bank building on George Street. And if you're a Harry Potter fan eat and drink at The Elephant House where JK Rowling wrote the Harry Potter books.

Wander the pretty streets

You can't visit Edinburgh without wandering around and just stumble upon something enchanting especially if you love photography like me, there are many instagrammable places in Edinburgh to see.

One of the most famous streets in Edinburgh is, of course, the Royal Mile which stretches between the castle and the Scottish parliament. This cobbled street is situated in the Old Town and is lined with plenty of things to do including St Giles Cathedral, Camera Obscura, Scotch Whisky Experience, the Real Mary Kings Close plus lots more.

Another part of the old town that is really lovely is The Grassmarket, a prime spot for restaurants, shops, hotels and bars. The area gets its name from being the city's main marketplace in the 15th century and today you can buy one of the best ice creams in town at Mary’s Milk Bar.

Another vibrant and colourful addition to Edinburgh is Victoria Street, not only does it have pretty independent shops but if you're a Harry Potter fan this is an inspiration for the well known Diagon Alley. If you're looking for your usual high street shopping Princes Street is the place for you, the road stretches across Edinburgh city centre with Edinburgh castle perched above it creating a dramatic presence.

Visit one of Edinburgh's many museums

Edinburgh has a wide variety of museums to entertain and educate yourself, they are also an important part of Scotland's history and culture. Unfortunately we only had time to visit one museum and we chose the most popular National Museum of Scotland in Chamber Street. This museum in Edinburgh boasts no less than 36 galleries and has something for everyone including Interactive exhibits which are so much fun and on the seventh floor you can soak up a beautiful view of Edinburgh from the rooftop! Did I mention it's also free entry!

Explore Edinburgh Castle

Walking around Edinburgh you definitely can't miss this magnificent piece of historic architecture perched at the top of the Royal Mile - Edinburgh Castle in all its glory, has played a leading role in the history of Scotland for many centuries and is one of the most visited tourist attractions. 

Today Edinburgh Castle is home to Scotland's crown jewels, the Stone of Destiny, three military museums, the National War Memorial, the Prisons of War exhibition and at one o'clock listen out for Mons Meg - the world's most famous medieval gun. If only visiting for the weekend I would recommend booking your entrance tickets in advance so you don't have to queue in the cold. 

Have you ever been to Edinburgh?

Liz x