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Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Photo: Flickr user: www.theedinburghblog.co.uk www.theedinburghblog.co.uk, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The west of Edinburgh is the area you traverse coming from the airport or Glasgow towards city centre. It's a modern low-rise tract of suburbs, retail and light industry that could be on the edge of any British city, but it has accommodation, the zoo, and Murrayfield rugby stadium.
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Creative centre for printmaking & visual arts, Two free galleries & shop. Vegan Cafe.
The pandas have returned to China but there's still plenty here. Penguins include gentoo, rockhopper and king, most famously Major General Sir Nils Olav III, Baron of the Bouvet Islands and mascot of the Norwegian King's Guard. Budongo Trail leads through the troupe of 15 chimpanzees. The only koalas in the UK are here, and there are some beautiful tropical birds. The zoo is on the slopes of Corstorphine Hill and some paths are steep but all attractions are wheelchair accessible. Check the website for cheaper online offers, and temporary closures eg in harsh weather or avian flu outbreaks.
The present building is a collegiate church of 1429, becoming a parish church in 1646, and re-modeled in 1828.
This 1590s tower house was extended in the 1820s and housed a series of prosperous families. It passed into council ownership in 1926 and the interior has been preserved in its last occupants' plush Edwardian style. Visit by pre-booked guided tour. There is free entry to the gardens (daily 8AM-4:30PM), where the centrepiece is the Japanese garden. The castle is also used as an event space.
The main stadium has a capacity of 67,000 and hosts all Scottish rugby internationals. The premier tournament is the Six Nations held each February-March: in odd-numbered years, Scotland hosts Wales, Ireland and Italy, and in even-numbered years the visitors are England and France. These games almost always sell out, and the city is mobbed when they're on; you've more chance of tickets and accommodation for other internationals which take place each November, or, if it's a Rugby World Cup year, warm-up friendly games in the summer. Stadium tours are available on non-match days.
Popular ice rink with leisure skating sessions, and ice-discos on Friday and Saturday nights. It's the home rink of the Edinburgh Capitals ice hockey team, who play Sept-March in the Scottish National League, the UK second tier. (Their rivals Murrayfield Racers folded in 2022.) The curling club also play here on a separate rink.
Mainly mainstream cinema with some art-house & foreign cinema. IMAX screen.
An exhibition ground with several halls and large grounds. The premier event is the Royal Highland Show for 4 days in late June. Other events are held throughout the year, some of these are public, others are trade only.
formerly Ratho Adventure Centre
Huge indoor and outdoor climbing centre in a disused quarry, developed from 1995 but taken over and completed by Edinburgh City Council in 2007.
Hearts aka "the Jambos" and "the Gorgie Boys" play soccer in the Scottish Premiership, the top tier. Their home ground Tynecastle Park (capacity 20,000, all-seater) is a mile west of Haymarket station in the Gorgie area of the city; take any bus up Gorgie Road or a tram to Murrayfield.
The Spartans play soccer in Scottish League Two, the fourth tier. Their ground Ainslie Park (Vanloq Community Stadium) holds 3612, of which 534 are seated. It's in Pilton, northwest of the city centre.
The Filmhouse
A four-screen Edinburgh institution showing largely arthouse and some mainstream films. Additionally houses a 100-seat cafe-bar.
Long-standing bistro serving quality Scots cuisine.
formerly Guru Balti
Classic North Indian Balti menu.
Popular chain steakhouse getting great reviews. The old Cramond Brig is now a footbridge over River Almond, follow the east bank for the village and island, and the west bank to hike to South Queensferry. Modern traffic thunders past on A90.
Vegan cafe in Edinburgh Printmakers building.
Friendly pub close to Murrayfield Stadium with screens for TV sport. Decent all-day pub grub.
Traditional village pub run by Samuel Smiths. Beer garden outside but food service is indoors-only. No dogs.
This is single-room student accommodation for Napier University but available to others during the summer break.
Simple value hotel with restaurant. Those strange noises are from the zoo animals next door.
Acceptable rooms, variable welcome and service.
Small hotel on the Glasgow Rd run by JD Wetherspoon. Frequent buses to city centre.
formerly Jury's Inn
Value-for-money hotel on Corstorphine Hill, calls itself "Murrayfield" which is two miles southeast.
On the canal, and most customers are just here for the excellent dining, but the snug rooms are well worth a stay. Closed for maintenance until March 2024.
The closest to the terminal, a 300 yard walk, this is comfy and efficient.
Comfy hotel a 10-minute walk from the terminal.
Modern hotel with small, comfortable rooms and friendly staff. It's a 10-minute walk from the terminal - head for the trams, then follow the signs pointing to the Doubletree Hotel.
A bit frayed but overall good value. It's by the Showground, a 20-minute walk from the terminal so take their shuttle bus.
Value hotel two miles west of airport with shuttle bus.
Reliable chain hotel three miles west of airport with shuttle bus.
formerly Dunstane House
Mixed reviews - the main building is okay, but some rooms are in a basement across the road and not worth the money.
Unlovely area of light industry and retail, but the hotel is next to M8 / city bypass interchange and Edinburgh Park Station. It has a pool, gym, steam room and restaurant.
Villa built in 1840 as country retreat, and now a hotel and spa in woodland close to the airport. Great welcome and service, smart modern interior. It's 10 mins walk to main bus routes on the road to Glasgow, but you really ought to be arriving by limo or helicopter. It hosts a lot of functions for people who wished they were.
Grand pile built in 1725 and much extended since, it's now an upscale hotel and golf resort.
Small retail park with fast food, Lidl and a large Tesco, overshadowed nowadays by the Gyle Centre.
Indoor shopping centre with Marks and Spencer, Morrisons and some 50 other shops.
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is at the west edge of the city, see Edinburgh#Get in for flights and facilities.
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Ingliston, Edinburgh · International · EDI
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