A Weekend in Edinburgh
After this slightly dodgy start with no hot drinks to be found on the train, we arrived at Edinburgh Waverley. As we pulled up, we were shocked by how many hats, scarves, and pairs of gloves we saw…oh no, we thought, we’ve underestimated how cold it will be. But that was fine - nothing a quick trip to Primark for some extra layers couldn’t solve.
We made our way to the hotel (a small Travelodge on Queen Street), and had our long-awaited cup of tea. By this point, it was noon.
We had booked a ‘witch-tour’ of Old Town, so we braved the cold and headed out for that, stopping at the famous Armchair bookshop on the way. It was every bit as lovely as I had hoped (if a little busy).
The witch tour was brilliant. It made such a difference to learn about history that wasn’t just “this old white man died here” - it was genuinely interesting. Our guide was wonderful; she was knowledgeable and passionate.
We were so tired after our tour that we went back to our room, snuggled up in our beds, and had a takeaway.
The following morning we got up at 6am, had a cup of tea and biscuits in bed, then headed out to watch the sunrise at 7am.
It was incredible. We were surprised by how many people were out and about so early - most of them waiting for buses to take them on day trips, and a lot of them photographers.
This photo is from the castle; it doesn’t do justice how beautiful the sunrise was.
We spent the rest of the morning exploring the quiet streets, before heading to Milkman on Cockburn street for a long-awaited cinnamon bun and a coffee.
I have to say, I was slightly shocked - I had seen photos on Instagram of the interior and people sitting, having a leisurely cup of coffee. So when we arrived and saw that there were only three tables and that is was busy, we finished up quickly to get out of the way. In hindsight, we should’ve gone to the other one (at the bottom of Cockburn street) instead because it seemed a little bigger. But nonetheless, the coffee was rich and creamy, and the cinnamon bun was honestly one of the best I’ve ever had.
One thing I will say is that Edinburgh seems in its element in October. With all the magic-themed shops, gloomy weather, and rickety streets, it really comes to life.
If you get the chance, visit Boswell’s Court to see their famous pumpkin display, it is absolutely magical.
We went for a wander down at Dean’s Village, then headed all the way back up to the shopping centre, stopping by The Real Greek (our favourite restaurant) for lunch. We continued wandering, visited the gallery (which is free), and then had a hot chocolate at the stall in Princes Street gardens - this is a lovely spot to sit and people watch!
The following morning, we packed our bags so they were ready to go, and we headed for breakfast at Black Sheep on Princes Street, which is very spacious upstairs, and has lovely views. We then went back to the hotel to check-out, then had a short wander before heading to the train station.
It was a very magical and memorable trip. I will definitely be going back to tick off the things we didn’t have time for. And next time, I’ll remember to bring more layers.