Edinburgh has this buzz about it, around every corner there’s something going on and being such a vibrant capital city it means there are plenty of things available for those on the tightest of budgets. Plus, the more you save on activities the more you can spend on haggis and a dram of whisky to toast your thriftiness!
I was recently in the less than sunny Scottish city but even the drizzly weather couldn’t dampen the infamous Scot Spirit. Here are my top five things to do for FREE in this cool capital city:
Paws for thought at Greyfriars Bobby. This cute Skye terrier found fame in the nineteenth century for being the most loyal dog in the world, guarding his master’s, John Gray’s, grave for 14 years. There is a statue of this faithful friend and ultimate watchdog, which apparently brings you good luck if you rub his nose, just outside the graveyard where both man and dog are buried. N’awww.
Royal Mile and Princess Street are the two most well-known streets full of amazing shops, quirky boutiques and street entertainment - ranging from the bizarre to the super talented. You can easily spend hours wandering around and soaking up the atmosphere, jigging along to the sounds of a bagpipe player and indulging in some free window shopping!
Edinburgh is perfect for culture vultures as most of the museums in the city are free to enter, which not only gives you an escape from the rain but also allows you to feed your brain - knowledge is power after all! One of my fave museums has to be the Writers’ Museum, where small but interesting exhibitions of the work of Scottish writers Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson are displayed. The latter, in particular, appealed to my two passions of travel and books as he set sail to foreign lands to write well-loved tales such as Treasure Island. This is a man who was obviously bitten by the travel bug as much as I am.
‘For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go’ - Robert Louis Stevenson
Whether you’re an art snob or a complete beginner the National Gallery, Scottish National Portrait Gallery and Scottish Gallery of Modern Art are free art galleries dotted around the city that will suit all levels of creative thinkers. Paint me like one of your French girls.
Grab your invisibility cloak and your Nimbus 2000 to take part in the Potter Trail. Fans of Hogwarts will be all over this free walking tour of the city that allows you to follow in J.K.Rowling’s footsteps and learn about the locations that inspired characters and scenes in the much loved books as well as the real life witches and wizards of medieval Edinburgh. The best bit is that it costs nothing, although tips are welcome/expected for the tour guides if you enjoyed it!
