|
|
I was born in late November which means that my birthday celebrations have always been sprinkled with early Christmas festivities, a noticeable drop in the temperature and sky that is coloured by a watery pastel haze.
This chilly time of year is not for everyone, however, I personally love the Autumn/Winter period between late September and December. So, whenever possible, I like to head off somewhere cold for my birthday…and that is exactly what I did this year.
I spent my 26th birthday in beautiful Edinburgh which was, this year, the epitome of a Winter Wonderland. The weather was cold and crisp with a layer of glittery frost covering the ground and the sun was low, bright and piercing.
The atmosphere in the Scottish capital was bustling with Christmas market revellers and those celebrating St Andrew’s day. Thanks to the perfect mix of the city buzz, seasonal festivities and exceptionally good (albeit cold) weather – Edinburgh, I have now come to decide, is my new favourite city. It really is a magical place!
|
|
How To Spend A Long Weekend In Edinburgh
Seeing as though I had such a warm and welcoming experience in Edinburgh, I thought that a mini city guide talking about the things I did, where I ate and what I learned would be a helpful blog post. I wasn’t planning on writing this at the time, so the pictures are just candidly snapped from my iPhone 10S.
I have actually visited Edinburgh before when I was about 12 or 13, however, I scarcely remember the details of that day trip and it is always lovely to revisit places and experience them properly as an adult. Adam and I stayed in Edinburgh for a long weekend (2 nights and 3 days Fri-Sun) and managed to pack in loads of good stuff which I will share with you below.
 |
| Winter around Edinburgh Castle |
Where to stay in Edinburgh
I booked our trip around 3 months in advance and found our hotel via a good Booking.com deal. We stayed in the centre of the Old Town just off the Edinburgh Castle end of the Royal Mile. Location wise, this was for us absolutely perfect as all of the attractions that we wanted to see centred around this area. It was also a 15-minute walk to and from Edinburgh Waverley station and the new town making it a great spot for getting around.
I would 100% recommend staying in Edinburgh Old Town because you are awoken to the sound of Bagpipes, the architecture is breathtaking and it has a very distinctive, historic vibe that feels very Scottish.
 |
| Feeling Festive! |
Adam and I stayed in the Fraser Suites which were clean and inviting, however, I most likely wouldn’t stay there again as the mattress and pillows were ROCK SOLID, (Honestly, it was like sleeping on the floor). And the windows, due to the hotel being located within an old, period building were single glazed.
It was therefore pretty darn chilly in the room at night and I was glad to have a pair of thick tartan p-jays with me. Luckily there are loads of B+B’s, hotels and hostels to suit all budgets around the old town and so you’ll be sure to find one that works for you.
Things to do in Edinburgh
Thanks to my type-A personality and my natural inclination to project manage everything lol. I like to research and plan my trips in advance so that we have plenty to do and don’t miss out on the good stuff. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely think that there is room in life for going with the flow and I honestly wish I was more laid back like that but sadly, I am just not.
And so I gathered some excellent recommendations from my Mum (A fellow Edinburgh lover) devoured plenty of Edinburgh city guide blogs and watched a ton of Edinburgh related vlogs. I then created an itinerary which suited the kinds of things we wanted to do.
 |
| Bailey’s Hot Chocolate at Edinburgh Christmas markets |
