Sightseeing in Edinburgh
I have absolutely no intention of writing a list of everything worth seeing in Edinburgh and the surrounding area, I suggest that you check out one or more of the excellent bookstores on the net, and they will be only too pleased to sell you a Guidebook.
What I do intend this to be is just a collection of handy tips for anyone visiting Edinburgh. The first of these tips is to take a ride on one of the open-top double-decker tour buses which run from the bus stance on the Waverley Bridge right next to the Scott Monument in Princes Street. There are two companies running these tours, Lothian Regional Transport and Guide Friday, each with qualified guides giving a running commentary. No doubt you probably expected me to recommend taking a taxi, but while I want your money, I would like to give you fair value for that money. The tour buses offer far better value as the ticket prices are for the whole day, meaning that if you go on the tour in the morning, you can do the circle around the city, get of the bus and have a refreshment and something to eat while deciding what you would like to see in more detail, go back on the bus to each place you want to actually study, getting on and of the bus at each stop, all for the one payment.
The next tip is pretty obvious, if you're going to view the Royal Mile on foot, start at the Castle and walk downhill to the Palace. I know it sounds obvious, and the slope doesn't look that bad anyway, but I've seen too many visitors struggling up the Castlehill laden with shopping not to mention it. Incidently, during the summer months there are volunteers who lead conducted walks from the Castle esplanade down the Royal Mile, and it does help if you have someone there pointing out the places of interest and giving few of the stories behind the bare historical facts. While on the Royal Mile please don't miss the Museum of Childhood, opposite John Knox's house, it's free and great fun for everybody no matter their age (in fact, the older the better), especially good if it's raining and you want some shelter.
