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Summertime in Edinburgh  

The City of Edinburgh proves yearly to be a wonderful place to be and spend time in during the summertime. With various parks and green spaces, retail outlets, events, activities, attractions and independent cafes and restaurants – our locals, visitors and tourists are spoiled for choice. This also makes Edinburgh an ideal place to be a student – if you plan to spend some of or all of the summer months in Edinburgh, there are a wide range of activities and events you can attend and local amenities you can visit over the summer. So, if you are looking for some summer itinerary ideas, or simply a few ideas for a day out in the city centre, do read on and see some of our recommendations below…

 

Park and Green Space Recommendation: The Meadows

 

The Meadows in Edinburgh is a big, open grassland and park. It is open to the public with trees lining it’s many pathways crossing through this particular green space.  Located just south of the city centre of Edinburgh and approximately a 20-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley train station. It is one of Edinburgh’s most popular public parks as well. And hosts a range of amenities such as a children’s playground, tennis courts, large sports pitches and even a croquet club.

It also has a lovely little cafe named the Pavillion Cafe, which has a range of vegetarian options and deli foods as well as outdoor seating for you to soak up the sunshine whilst you eat. On a sunny day, the Meadows is also a great place to have a picnic or set up a barbecue if you wish to bring your own food instead. The Meadows is also a popular place for runners and those who are simply looking to go on a leisurely stroll. As well as team sports, the park is also used as a space for both sporting and other types of events, such as the Royal Company of Archers competition and Meadows Marathon in March.

 

Other Parks and Green Spaces to check out…

  • Holyrood Park.
  • Princes Street Gardens.
  • Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh.

 

Retail Outlet Recommendation: The St James Quarter

 

The St James Quarter and shopping centre consists of five levels above ground altogether.  And three basement levels for parking. It hosts a vast variety of retail and shopping outlets on its first, second and third floors. As well as a wide selection of cafes, food stalls, bars and restaurants serving a range of different cuisines. There are some chain restaurants and cafes in the St James Quarter such as Black Sheep Coffee, Five Guys, Stack and Still, Pho and Starbucks. There are also some independent food outlets such as Bonnie and Wild and Haute Dolci.

 

The St James Quarter covers about 1.7 million square feet and is located in the east end of Edinburgh New Town. This is less than a five-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley train station. There are also a few entertainment venues within the centre.  There is Flight Club, Lane 7 and the lavish, blockbuster Everyman Cinema, where you can catch some of the latest films released. Flight Club is a social darts and bar venue. Lane 7 features a variety of activities such as bowling, crazy golf and arcade games. Overall, the St James Quarter is a great place to spend the day during the summertime months in Edinburgh,h whether you are looking for somewhere to go with friends, on a day out with family or even for a date night.

 

Other Retail Outlets in Edinburgh to check out…

  • The Princes Street Mall.
  • Livingston Designer Outlet.
  • Ocean Terminal.

 

Edinburgh City Attraction Recommendation: Edinburgh Castle

 

Edinburgh Castle is one of the most famous historic sites in Scotland, and even throughout Western Europe. This iconic castle and landmark is situated on the top of Castle Rock and in the heart of the city centre, with breathtaking scenery and views of the city from the castle itself. As well as being a national treasure and stunning landmark, Edinburgh Castle is also recognised as the ‘defender of the nation,’ as it continues to be an active military quarters and army base.

Nevertheless, the castle is open to the public via ticketed entry. Tickets can be booked online. But you can also purchase an Explorer Pass to save a bit of money should you intend to visit more than once in a span of two weeks. There is much to see and do there if you are looking to do a self-directed tour and itinerary. For example, you can explore the St Margaret’s Chapel which was built in the early 1000s by James IV, and this is therefore Edinburgh’s oldest building. You can also check out the One o’Clock Gun which is fired every day throughout the week albeit Sundays. The panoramic views of the capital from Edinburgh Castle are also one to be admired.

 

Guided tours are also available and are ran by the castle stewards. There is also the option of signing up for an audio tour which takes you through the castle.  These will go into detail about the fascinating history and architecture of Edinburgh Castle as well. This audio guide can be listened to in many different languages such as English, French, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, Portuguese (Brazillian), Japanese, German Polish, Korean and Ukranian.

 

Other Attractions in Edinburgh to check out…

  • The Scott Monument.
  • Camera Obscura.
  • The Museum of Childhood.
  • Edinburgh Zoo.

 

By Rachel Downie

 

Have another look of Edinburgh posts

 Photo by Jim Divine