15 things to do for free in edinburgh

15 things to do for free in Edinburgh

Known for its festivals, castles and haunted tales, Edinburgh is one of the most welcoming cities in the world. Wandering around its cobbled streets, dropping into traditional pubs and meeting locals, you'll soon see it isn't hard finding things to do. Thankfully, there are lots of free things to do too. Here are fifteen...

1. Climb Arthur's Seat

Looming over the Scottish capital is Arthur's Seat, the main peak of a group of hills just east of the Old Town. Formed by an extinct volcano, you can get there easily from the Royal Mile (the Old Town's main thoroughfare) - just take a right once you get to the bottom and walk towards the hill that you literally cannnot miss. Depending on your fitness levels, the walk to the top takes approximately one hour. The views from the top are worth it though.

2. Go on a free walking tour

Yes, you read right - a free walking tour. I know what you're thinking...what's the catch? Well, the good news is that there isn't a catch. Sandeman's Free Walking Tour is exactly that - totally free. The tours last around 3 hours and depart from the Starbucks on the Royal Mile at 11am and 1pm. They take in sights such as Edinburgh Castle, St Giles Cathedral, the Grassmarket, the original 'Hogwarts' and more. Once the tour is finished your guide will ask you for a tip. You simply tip what you feel is deserved.

Location: 180 St Kilda Road

Opening hours: Daily 10am - 5pm, closed Tuesdays

3. Go museum-hopping on the Royal Mile

The Royal Mile is dotted with four free museums. One of these is the Edinburgh Writers Museum (Lady Stair's Close, off Royal Mile) which celebrates the lives of three of Scotland's most famous writers - Robert Burns (poet - writer of New Year's Eve poem/song Auld Lang Syne), Sir Walter Scott (author or Rob Roy) and Robert Luis Stevenson (author or Treasure Island). The others are the Museum of Childhood (42 High Street, Royal Mile) which was the first museum in the world to specialise in the history of childhood, the Museum of Edinburgh (142 Canongate, Royal Mile) which is a maze of historic rooms crammed full of iconic objects from the capital's past, and The People's Story (Canongate Tolbooth, Royal Mile) which is dedicated to telling the history of Scotland's capital, and it's people.

4. Stroll along the Royal Mile

By this stage you might be wondering what the 'Royal Mile' is. It's four streets that connect to make one long stretch that lasts for approximately (you guessed it) one mile. It begins Castlehill at Edinburgh Castle which is a small section of the mile. After this is Lawnmarket which is a part of the road riddled with touristy shops selling all things Scotland. Next is the main part of the Royal Mile - High Street. This is the heart and soul of it and where you'll find St Giles Cathedral and the Tron Kirk among other things. Then at the bottom is Canongate which is where you'll find free museums, some good pubs and the city's royal palace, the Palace of Holyrood House.

5. Catch free live music in Whistle Binkies

Located at the junction of High Street (Royal Mile) and The Bridges, Whistlebinkies is arguably the best place to catch live music of up and coming bands in Edinburgh. What's great about it is that it's free entry, seven nights a week. From Sunday to Thursday it's free in for the entire night, while on Fridays and Saturdays it's free in before midnight. To find out more details about who's playing, promotions and more visit the Whistlebinkies website.

6. Catch free entertainment everywhere (in August)

Ok - so this tip is time sensitive, but if you're reading this and you're looking for somewhere to go in August we have one suggestion...Edinburgh. This is the official festival capital of the world and in August no fewer than six festivals take place. These include the Military Tattoo, the Edinburgh Book Festival and the best known of all - the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest arts festival in the world. While most of the shows staged are ticketed events, there's non-stop free events taking place too. For more information visit the official Edinburgh festivals website as well as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival website.

7. Visit St Giles Cathedral

Also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, St Giles' Cathedral dates back to the 1120s. Within the cathedral there are over two hundred memorials honouring different Scots along with a notable collection of stained glass windows. You can't miss this imposing building on the Royal Mile and, as you'd expect from a place of worship, it's free to enter.

8. Explore the Old Town

This might be a cliche when it comes to free things to do in cities, but Edinburgh is easily one of the most intriguing cities when it comes to exploring on foot, particularly in the Old Town. You can easily spend hours walking through lanes and alleys, exploring neighbourhoods like Cowgate and Grassmarket and imagining what this city was like centuries ago. Make sure to put by a few hours for nothing else other than exploring.

9. See the statue of 'Greyfriar's Bobby' and walk through Greyfriars Kirkyard

One of Edinburgh's most famous tales surrounds 'Greyfriar's Bobby', a small Skye Terrier who became famous in the 19th-century Edinburgh for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner, John Gray. Today there's a statue of Greyfriar's Bobby at the corner of Candlemaker's Row and St George's Bridge. Due to the story, you should definitely pay a visit and get your photo taken beside it. Just across the road from it is Greyfriar's Kirkyard, a graveyard where you'll find large tombs and graves of notable Scots like Allan Ramsay (poet) and Henry Mackenzie (author).

10. Visit the National Museum of Scotland

Found on Chalmers Street directly across the road from the aforementioned Greyfriar's Bobby is one of Scotland's most fascinating museums, the National Museum of Scotland. This enormous museum has everything from fossils showing evidence of earliest forms of life to rich artefact collections representing diverse cultures across the globe. Some of the highlights include the first cloned living being 'Dolly the sheep' and exhibitions focusing on the country's first settlers. There's also a great view of the Old Town from it's roof terrace (pictured).

11. Tour the Scottish Parliament for free

Located at the bottom of the city's historic Royal Mile is the award-winning building for the Scottish Royal Parliament. As well as being the centre of Scottish politics, it is also a visitor attraction, where you can learn about Scotland's political history, watch live debates as well as marvel at it's unique architecture. Tours of the building are free, you just need to book in advance. You can do this via the Scottish Parliament website.

12. Go to a comedy improvisation show

Edinburgh's best known comedy show is called The Stand and is found on York Place (No. 5 to be precise). Every Sunday afternoon a free improvisation show called "Whose Lunch Is It Anyway?" is staged. Hosted by Stu and Garry, it's the perfect way to nurse a horrible hangover.

13. Chill out in Princes Street Gardens

There are many parks in the world that make relaxing in the sunshine an extremely memorable experience, but few boast the views that Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens do. Chill out on the greens here and on one side you'll have Edinburgh Castle looming over you, while on the other is the skyline of the city's Old Town. Pure bliss on a sunny afternoon.

14. Climb Calton Hill

If you're not feeling energetic enough to climb Arthur's Seat, there's another hill in the Scottish capital boasting impressive views - Calton Hill. To get there simply walk east on Princes Street Gardens until you see a laneway on your left. Walk up and within 5 minutes you'll be enjoying an aerial view of one of the world's most beautiful cities.

15. Visit the city's art galleries

Just like Edinburgh is filled with free museums, it's got three free art galleries too. The best known is the National Gallery on The Mound, smack bang in the middle of the city. The other two are the National Portrait Gallery on Queen Street in the New Town and the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art on the outskirts of the city on Bedford Road.

source http://www.hostelworld.com/travel-features/156798/15-things-to-do-for-free-in-edinburgh




IMAD SCOTLAND GROUP - 15 things to do for free in Edinburgh

15 things to do for free in Edinburgh Known for its festivals, castles and haunted tales, Edinburgh is one of the most welcoming cities in the world. Wandering around its cobbled streets, dropping into traditional pubs and meeting locals, you'll soon see it isn't hard finding things to do. Thankfully, there are lots of free things to do too. Here are fifteen... 1. Climb Arthur's Seat Looming over the Scottish capital is Arthur's Seat, the main peak of a group of hills just east of the Old Town. Formed by an extinct volcano, you can get there easily from the Royal Mile (the Old Town's main thoroughfare) - just take a right once you get to the bottom and walk towards the hill that you literally cannnot miss. Depending on your fitness levels, the walk to the top takes approximately one hour. The views from the top are worth it though. 2. Go on a free walking tour Yes, you read right - a free walking tour. I know what you're thinking...what's the catch? Well, the good news is that there isn't a catch. Sandeman's Free Walking Tour is exactly that - totally free. The tours last around 3 hours and depart from the Starbucks on the Royal Mile at 11am and 1pm. They take in sights such as Edinburgh Castle, St Giles Cathedral, the Grassmarket, the original 'Hogwarts' and more. Once the tour is finished your guide will ask you for a tip. You simply tip what you feel is deserved. Location: 180 St Kilda Road Opening hours: Daily 10am - 5pm, closed Tuesdays 3. Go museum-hopping on the Royal Mile The Royal Mile is dotted with four free museums. One of these is the Edinburgh Writers Museum (Lady Stair's Close, off Royal Mile) which celebrates the lives of three of Scotland's most famous writers - Robert Burns (poet - writer of New Year's Eve poem/song Auld Lang Syne), Sir Walter Scott (author or Rob Roy) and Robert Luis Stevenson (author or Treasure Island). The others are the Museum of Childhood (42 High Street, Royal Mile) which was the first museum in the world to specialise in the history of childhood, the Museum of Edinburgh (142 Canongate, Royal Mile) which is a maze of historic rooms crammed full of iconic objects from the capital's past, and The People's Story (Canongate Tolbooth, Royal Mile) which is dedicated to telling the history of Scotland's capital, and it's people. 4. Stroll along the Royal Mile By this stage you might be wondering what the 'Royal Mile' is. It's four streets that connect to make one long stretch that lasts for approximately (you guessed it) one mile. It begins Castlehill at Edinburgh Castle which is a small section of the mile. After this is Lawnmarket which is a part of the road riddled with touristy shops selling all things Scotland. Next is the main part of the Royal Mile - High Street. This is the heart and soul of it and where you'll find St Giles Cathedral and the Tron Kirk among other things. Then at the bottom is Canongate which is where you'll find free museums, some good pubs and the city's royal palace, the Palace of Holyrood House. 5. Catch free live music in Whistle Binkies Located at the junction of High Street (Royal Mile) and The Bridges, Whistlebinkies is arguably the best place to catch live music of up and coming bands in Edinburgh. What's great about it is that it's free entry, seven nights a week. From Sunday to Thursday it's free in for the entire night, while on Fridays and Saturdays it's free in before midnight. To find out more details about who's playing, promotions and more visit the Whistlebinkies website. 6. Catch free entertainment everywhere (in August) Ok - so this tip is time sensitive, but if you're reading this and you're looking for somewhere to go in August we have one suggestion...Edinburgh. This is the official festival capital of the world and in August no fewer than six festivals take place. These include the Military Tattoo, the Edinburgh Book Festival and the best known of all - the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest arts festival in the world. While most of the shows staged are ticketed events, there's non-stop free events taking place too. For more information visit the official Edinburgh festivals website as well as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival website. 7. Visit St Giles Cathedral Also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, St Giles' Cathedral dates back to the 1120s. Within the cathedral there are over two hundred memorials honouring different Scots along with a notable collection of stained glass windows. You can't miss this imposing building on the Royal Mile and, as you'd expect from a place of worship, it's free to enter. 8. Explore the Old Town This might be a cliche when it comes to free things to do in cities, but Edinburgh is easily one of the most intriguing cities when it comes to exploring on foot, particularly in the Old Town. You can easily spend hours walking through lanes and alleys, exploring neighbourhoods like Cowgate and Grassmarket and imagining what this city was like centuries ago. Make sure to put by a few hours for nothing else other than exploring. 9. See the statue of 'Greyfriar's Bobby' and walk through Greyfriars Kirkyard One of Edinburgh's most famous tales surrounds 'Greyfriar's Bobby', a small Skye Terrier who became famous in the 19th-century Edinburgh for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner, John Gray. Today there's a statue of Greyfriar's Bobby at the corner of Candlemaker's Row and St George's Bridge. Due to the story, you should definitely pay a visit and get your photo taken beside it. Just across the road from it is Greyfriar's Kirkyard, a graveyard where you'll find large tombs and graves of notable Scots like Allan Ramsay (poet) and Henry Mackenzie (author). 10. Visit the National Museum of Scotland Found on Chalmers Street directly across the road from the aforementioned Greyfriar's Bobby is one of Scotland's most fascinating museums, the National Museum of Scotland. This enormous museum has everything from fossils showing evidence of earliest forms of life to rich artefact collections representing diverse cultures across the globe. Some of the highlights include the first cloned living being 'Dolly the sheep' and exhibitions focusing on the country's first settlers. There's also a great view of the Old Town from it's roof terrace (pictured). 11. Tour the Scottish Parliament for free Located at the bottom of the city's historic Royal Mile is the award-winning building for the Scottish Royal Parliament. As well as being the centre of Scottish politics, it is also a visitor attraction, where you can learn about Scotland's political history, watch live debates as well as marvel at it's unique architecture. Tours of the building are free, you just need to book in advance. You can do this via the Scottish Parliament website. 12. Go to a comedy improvisation show Edinburgh's best known comedy show is called The Stand and is found on York Place (No. 5 to be precise). Every Sunday afternoon a free improvisation show called "Whose Lunch Is It Anyway?" is staged. Hosted by Stu and Garry, it's the perfect way to nurse a horrible hangover. 13. Chill out in Princes Street Gardens There are many parks in the world that make relaxing in the sunshine an extremely memorable experience, but few boast the views that Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens do. Chill out on the greens here and on one side you'll have Edinburgh Castle looming over you, while on the other is the skyline of the city's Old Town. Pure bliss on a sunny afternoon. 14. Climb Calton Hill If you're not feeling energetic enough to climb Arthur's Seat, there's another hill in the Scottish capital boasting impressive views - Calton Hill. To get there simply walk east on Princes Street Gardens until you see a laneway on your left. Walk up and within 5 minutes you'll be enjoying an aerial view of one of the world's most beautiful cities. 15. Visit the city's art galleries Just like Edinburgh is filled with free museums, it's got three free art galleries too. The best known is the National Gallery on The Mound, smack bang in the middle of the city. The other two are the National Portrait Gallery on Queen Street in the New Town and the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art on the outskirts of the city on Bedford Road. source http://www.hostelworld.com/travel-features/156798/15-things-to-do-for-free-in-edinburgh



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