In Europe every street has a story to tell, and the only thought on my mind as my flight from Doha landed in Edinburgh, on a windy and a wet May afternoon, was to fathom and unfold as many stories from this mystical capital city of Scotland, as I could during my stay in this fairy tale of a country, steeped in its rich history and culture. Edinburgh is home to varied colours, sights and sounds, which are throbbing and drenched, in its glorious past and proudly flaunt their Scottish legacy, standing tall amidst the symphony of the bagpipes resounding in its winding, cobblestoned streets.
The human habitation in and around Edinburgh dates back to 8500 BC while the origins of its old town can be traced down to the 7th century AD. This city marks a juxtaposition of its vintage, old-world charm and grandeur with the coming in of the contemporary times, now dotting the cityscape, with the high-end brands seeping into the rich tweed and the Scottish chequered fabrics draping the city for eons now. Nestled proud in its architectural value, the medieval-styled old buildings and the Georgian new towns of the city, sprinkled in with pockets of lush gardens and romantic neoclassical buildings, stand passionately kissed by the emerald green moss, symbolizing the passing times and the relentless ticking of the clock since its inception.
In Edinburgh one can just stand back in awe and get transported back to the bygone period still framed picturesquely, in the intricacy and the ancientness of its design and implementation. Both the old and the new towns of Edinburgh have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites due to their unique combination of striking architecture.
A Gothic Muse
The basic architecture of Edinburgh is very gothic and the overall ambience of the city very mysterious, spellbinding and enchanting. Don’t be surprised if you find random witches casually walking down the road with their pretty brooms in hand or one perched pretty on a garden bench conjuring up magical spells, well I bumped into a few while sauntering around the city bang on my first day there. You may even spot a magical brew strewn in with some spells, elixirs and potions on the menus of the city’s hottest cafes and pubs. As my bus drove down into the city on the first day, I got down at the city centre opposite the Scott monument, a Victorian-Gothic styled monument which is an ode to the Scottish author Sir Walter Scott standing proud in the Princess Street gardens. The city centre also houses the National Art gallery at a stone’s throw distance from the monument which displays some of the world’s best art collections. The rainy weather of the day, with the mist rolling down from the adjoining mountains, forming a cloak over the city, tempted me to grab a cup of hot chocolate from-The Black Sheep which is Edinburgh’s most popular coffee haunt and I was ready to explore Edinburgh.
From Scone to Edinburgh
Edinburgh has not always been the capital of Scotland because prior to 1437, a town called Scone was the country’s capital which later changed to Edinburgh. My first day in Edinburgh was spent exploring the Edinburgh castle, built on an extinct volcano which also showcases an interesting Edinburgh crown jewels exhibit. In the vicinity is the National Museum of Scotland and Arthur’s seat which is the main peak of a group of four hills dating from around 2000 years ago which forms most of the Holyrood park and offers a panoramic view of the city. One can also walk down the Royal mile famous for the processional routes of the monarchs between the castle and the Holyrood Palace where the royal family of Scotland presently resides. One can also ascend to the Calton hill and visit the National monument of Edinburgh there.
Now if you are in Scotland, how can you miss out on savoring the world famous Scotch whisky? That too while watching the whole process of the fine blend, single malt, Scotch whisky being made from simple water, yeast and Barley. The Scotch Whisky Experience is nestled bang on the Royal Mile and it is worth every penny you spend there.
Home to the Witches & the Wizards
Interestingly, Edinburgh is also the birth place of Harry Potter; the whole wizarding world was created and penned by author J.K. Rowling while sitting in cozy coffee shops lining the old town of Edinburgh. It is while seeking refuge from the biting cold in the snug cafes of Edinburgh that Rowling wrote the early manuscripts of Harry Potter. The Elephant House on the George IV Bridge is the most notable out of them, besides the quaint ones on the Victoria street. Infact a large part of the Harry Potter and the popular Outlander series on Netflix have also been shot in Edinburgh and one can shop for the memorabilia of the same from the many shops selling souvenirs in the city.
In fact, if you take the hop-on, hop- off bus tour, it takes you meandering along the silhouette of the city, showing around the shoot locales where these series have been shot in their Potter Trail and the Outlander Tour. In fact, close on the lines of the same comes Edinburgh’s famous-The Ghost Bus tour which is a horror comedy theatre experience which narrates stories from Edinburgh’s sinister past as one is whisked through the city streets on a 1960’s black double-decker bus. Edinburgh also boasts of a Jacobite Steam Train popularly known as the Hogwarts Express which takes the Harry Potter aficionados on a thrilling 84 mile round trip from Fort William to Mallaig.
Care for a butter beer?
The magical city has a lot to offer from its culinary cauldron for all, right from classic sea food to creative plant-based dishes. One can find many affordable eateries on the Royal Mile and the bustling Cockburn Street. The city is strewn with a few wizard afternoon tea bars like-The Dog House where sampling the famous butter beer, a favourite brew of the characters from the Harry Potter series is a must. Also when in the city don’t miss out on the Hot Buttered Brew from the famous Monteiths. While if you want to dabble with some potion making drinks then-The Cauldron Bar known for their cocktail class which uses molecular mixology and magic wands to create magical cocktails is your go to place. There are many coveted Michilan-star restaurants and local eateries serving traditional Scottish fare. Not to miss out on is the fruity Cranachan which is the king of Scottish desserts to finish your meal.
Stay Put
Finding accommodation is easy in Edinburgh, but it helps to pre book your options right from the many hotels, apartments, cottages and flats. In fact opting for an Airbnb is also not a bad option. If you are a first timer in the city opting to stay in the old town of the city helps as it is surrounded by history and buildings from as old as the 16th and 17th century and is a busting area brimming with street performances. My pick here is-The Witchery by the Castle, for all those longing for that spooky, opulent and historic feel of the place. While the new town has a throbbing night life, the hotels in this area like the-Balmoral Hotel and the Apex Waterloo Place Hotel costs a bomb for a night.
As I sign out from Edinburgh, all I can say is that I am all heart for this marvelous slice of human history and beauty.
