I had the pleasure of spending a year in Scotland back in the early 90's when I was stationed there with the U.S. Navy. I never had so much fun. Festivals, lively pubs, concerts, great food, and the Sottish people were always the most kind and friendly to us uncultured and often rowdy Americans. Looking back, I should've taken more time to learn and explore such a great place. I was in my 20's then and whenever I was off duty, I just wanted to go and enjoy something with my shipmates. I did visit Glasgow and Edinburgh multiple times though. I sure do miss the deep fried fish and chips with salt and vinegar served in folded up newspaper and singing songs while enjoying large pints of lager in the pubs! I remember it all like it was yesterday ! Great people, times and memories !
To clarify about the need for the correct change to take the bus. The buses do not give change, so if the fare is £1.80 (current rate as of Jan. 2023) and you put in £2.00, then you lose 20p. You can also tap 'n' go with a credit card. Or purchase a day-ticket on the bus from the driver for just a little more than the price of two singles and that lets you get on and off all day long. Please note: though non-UK credit cards are accepted at businesses in the UK, non-UK bank debit cards are not. However, they can be used at ATMs to withdraw cash. Because there is such a variety of banks and companies offering ATM services, you might encounter a machine that will not accept your card(s). Because of this uncertainty I recommend that you always (always!) carry £60 to £100 hidden on your person (not in a handbag or backpack or anything you might remove or set down during your travels). Also, the use branded ATMS of the likes of banks and major retailers. These often indicate they do not charge you for the service or there is a nomial fee. Some others might charge, say, £4.00 or more for the service. In addition your own bank will charge a service fee, so you could end up paying $10.00 per withdrawal (notice that is $ for you North Americans). A reduced-frequency service of night buses is more expensive but well worth the money if out for a late night. As noted in the video, Lothian Regional Transport offers a fantastic downloadable app that provides everything you need to know at any give time re: the routes and arrival status of the various buses. Indeed, some bus stops have real-time electronic readouts that indicate when the bus will arrive. I treat the buses as a convenience and use only when needed (I'm in a rush, weather is bad...I'm tired), and would encourage everyone to walk everywhere possible as the city is relatively compact. Walking several miles is nothing there - you can take various routes and discover interesting new streets, places for eats, parks etc. Edinburgh is a truly fabulous city, particularly if you explore the New Town and down the hill to Stockbridge and the Royal Botanical Gardens, or go from the Royal Mile of the Old Town to the Meadows and across that into Bruntsfield (shops, eats), Morningside, Marchmont and the fabulous residential areas. All wonderful stuff.
I visited the beautiful city of Edinburgh and spent the entire summer 2023 with my son who is a student of the University of Edinburgh. My experience was truly amazing and full of happy memories. Edinburgh is a fabulous city with a rich history and a culture and lovely people. Would certainly visit again and again.
Something else you should NOT do in Edinburgh is stereotype them with the comment 'Scots are heavy drinkers'. For the vast majority, that simply isn't true.
Unfortunately, there are a small number of Scottish people who have been infected with the pedantic virus the symptoms are criticising spelling and pronunciation and not following local habits, as this seems to make them feel superior. These people are of low intellect and should be avoided or at least ignored.
To be honest most of these things people won't mind . As a scot myself. If you water down your whisky with anything you might get a funny look from bar staff but to be honest who cares . If you want to honor the GrayFriars Bobby theres a grave in the graveyard named after him .that people lay sticks down for him. Buy a kilt if you like but just be aware if you wear it around you might get some funny looks as it is not the every day attire that tourists seem to think we wear all the time 😅 . Using the buses are a good idea just be aware as you are going to be spending allot of money if you take them often and only pay for a single ticket. Its best to ask for a day ticket. For kids its £2 and for adults its £4 . And if your calling the streets the wrong name . Yes it can be an issue with communication but your not necessarily gonna get shouted at for it although you might if you attempt to use our accent. That might get you into trouble . And drink in whatever bar you want . All in all just have a good time in our fair wee country be respectful and polite and you cant go wrong .and a slight tip take as many photos as possible as Edinburgh can be a beautiful place depending on the time of year .
My daughter just started attending the University of Edinburgh. I spent 6 days with her there and fell in love with the city. The history is incredible, and I just loved the old buildings and cobblestone streets. The people were very nice also. We hiked Arthur's Seat, went to the Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. The weather was perfect while there, and the high 60's low 70's temperatures were perfect.
Edinburgh being turned into a 15 minute tax ghetto tourist friendly but hostile to those who live there Cars are being carbon taxed off the road .A nightmare city.
Living near Arthurs Seat as I do, my advice is to take a good pair of hiking boots if you want to walk to the top! Walk up via Holyrood and go down to Dunsapie Loch and round on the right hand road. There are wonderful views all the way around! The short way down is on the left! Take a picnic and go to the toilet before setting off. None up there. :)
Very glad you are telling tourists to STAY AWAY from shopping on the royal mile. As someone born and raised in Ediburgh i can say with confidence that these shops are a rip off and have nothing authentically Scottish to sell, They're also mostly owned by a family who have a reputation for taking advantage of smaller businesses, Do not support these people
Edinburgh resident here. Unfortunately there is nowhere to really get “authentic” Scottish souvenirs. There’s lots of Scottish stuff you can buy that’s like any other tourist destination around the world. This is the cheap stuff and it’s things like a see you Jimmy hat, or cuddly toys of the Loch Ness Monster. All that stuff you can buy in shops down the Royal Mile and around Princes Street. This isn’t authentically Scottish it’s just joke stuff that you can take home. For real Authentic Scottish stuff all I can really think of is getting an actual kilt made. This is pretty expensive and took me over a month to finally get delivered. If you’re looking to buy that then it’ll set you back around £500 ($600) for an authentic kilt. You can probably find fake ones around for a lot less however. If you are going to get a kilt you need to get all the associated stuff which costs even more. Scottish culture for the most part has been massively eroded and there’s not really many “authentic” Scottish souvenirs to actually get I’m sorry to say
Oh I don't know. I bought my favorite Edinburgh souvenir on the Royal Mile: the yard of Walker's Shortbread (it's actually a yard long box of smaller boxes ) that I still have on display in my kitchen (it's empty, of course!).
Please don't buy yourself a kilt and trot around in it looking like a fool. Put pish in your whisky if you like. Water or one ice-cube is perfectly acceptable. And who gives a crap if you are judged by some knob of a barman?
Lothian Buses accept card payment which is capped at £4.50 a day, a single journey is £1.80, not bad when you can go from Balerno in the west to Wallyford just to the east of Musselburgh on a 44 bus or from Clermiston to Seton Sands or Tranent on the 26.
Glad you mentioned this as I was about to. An important note is that the card must be capable of paying with just a tap. The ones that must be inserted into a machine won’t work. A work around is to do what I did when there in September and go to the Waverly Bridge travelhub and purchase day passes or a card which can be used for a week. I got the card and it was a great and inexpensive way to get around. I’m sure you know this, just adding for any travelers who might benefit.
@@Strength-in-Union My wife and I use the Park & Ride with our FREE travel cards (because we are old) and have attended the Edinburgh Festival for more that 60 years; buy me a single malt whisky and I will tell you more.
They sell cheap tartan brollies..buses are really good and one driver actually smiled and said 'hiya'... My son, his wee wifey and myself visited end of 2023 and I was mighty proud of my birthplace!
Very true about the shops on the Royal Mile, I bought an authentic white jobbie from the 1970's for £20.00 but realised the owner had probably done it himself then dried it and spray painted it white, it still has pride of place on my mantlepiece though.
Needing the exact change for the local busses just shows that you've not been to Edinburgh for years...the busses accept plastic and automatically cap your fare to the cheapest available.
Beware of bars offering a large selection of whisky, particularly on the royal mile as they can charge exorbitant prices and the same drinks can be bought nearby at a fraction of the cost.
we are about to visit edinburhg with friends in autumn, and im trying to skip the so called tourist traps in manner of whiskry bars, any idea of a places we shuld visit. Thank you
Also High Street pubs often pour inferior whisky into Single Malt bottles to top them up and make more profit. High Street pubs are a rip off and no longer have the spirit of old times pubs.
i am scottish from edinburgh, and trust me, the local pubs dont have folk music! they are just like anywhere else in the uk/world, just people drinking talking or watching sports.
Jesus. Grew up near Currie. This video is already well out of date. You don't need exact change for the buses anymore, just a debit caird. Buccleuch St?! Never heard it called BooCloo St before. As mentioned below, the whisky hing will nae get you in trouble.
I'm safe. I don't like whiskey or gin. My raincoat is ready to go. The last time I was there in August, I darned near froze! I'll start at the castle and head down hill.
If you hit a proper pub in Edinburgh, you'll find swan necks on the bar that serves soft water. Ice is an American thing, and it goes against proper whisky chemistry. Royal Mile, the lower part near Hollyrood, has Cadenhead's. It's a private bottler that has the best whiskey on the planet. Down the Mile from RMW. Scottish summer is 3 hours long.
There's the joke that "Edinburgh is England", which I don't think is true. Usually, it's Glaswegians who say this when ironically half them are loyalists. Rubbish like "You can have more fun at a Glasgow funeral than an Edinburgh wedding" despite the fact they've probably never been out of Princes Street and act like idiots. The city has always had a reputation for being snobbish and more affluent compared to the other cities, and I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing either. It adds to the charm of the city imo. Would you rather it be poverty-stricken and rundown like most places in Britain these days? No, so why complain? But I do agree that overtourism is a major problem. Obviously the capital is going to be more cosmopolitan and international than say Dundee or Aberdeen, however when at points tourists outnumber locals 1/10 enough is enough. Same goes with the extortionate cost of living make it close to impossible for ordinary working-class to survive. If they can't sort out the cost of living, people will go elsewhere. It's as simple as that. £1000 for rent in a scheme like Niddrie is madness. It's truly ashame that Glasgow, a place once notorious for being a dump, outshines Edinburgh on every stage nowadays. As a Hibee from Dundee, I can only hope things change.
Glasgow outshines Edinburgh how? I visited recently didn’t get to see much because it was raining badly and we had little time. But to be honest initial thoughts . It made me a bit depressed , like I was in middle England . It’s more industrial looking , some of it reminded me of industrial elements in Birmingham . We popped over to the Muslim area, for food and it got worse . The deprivation in that area is pretty obvious. Although I’m sure there are lots of people living there happily . But that doesn’t mean much I have to give it another try . We want to check out the different areas , theatres and museums. Talking about rents I noticed that recently . Even in terms of buying homes, some homes in deprived areas in Edinburgh are a quarter or a million and more ? But with that much money a flat could be purchased in Newington Marchmont too. It makes no sense . Its got to be government corruption . Who has power over house prices and rents ? How can a home in a deprived area be of similar cost to those in affluent areas? How can the council rent and make a business charging £500 rent for a 3 bed . But that same flat is permitted to be rented by an estate agent for £1500? And they also demand we can show 10x the rent before they will even consider us?
It is 1.81 km long, that is longer than a mile.....bbuuuuttt, it is approximately one Scots mile, which is longer than an English mile (the standard one) so you can forgive the name as it is definitely in Scotland and was named when the Scots mile was the one in use.
No pubs play folk music. Unless it’s a themed night. No one cares what you drink. There has not been an increase in kilt wearers. Only worn for weddings and some events. LRT is a great service, £2 exact or card for one journey, or £5 for an all day pass. Definitely avoid the cheap shops on Royal Mile as stated. But do visit Royal Mile. Nice wee historical places to go. Don’t worry about mispronunciation, we are a tourist city so we are used to it. Still may laugh at Cockburn though. Lots of bars to visit, old and new so just have an adventure. I would half agree with the Greyfrairs Bobby nose rubbing. Some people do get touchy about that. Pun intended. And if you attempt to speak in a Scottish accent, we won’t be offended, we will just laugh at you 😂
Lived in Edinburgh my whole life. 1. No one will care what you order or how you drink it. 2. Drinking whisky all the time will make you legless but you might have a better time. You may also throw up. 3. What he said. 4. What he said. 5. Scotts only usually wear a kilt to a wedding. If you want to wear one tho, feel free too. No one will care. 6. You can prepare and plan for the fringe or you could just wing it. 7. What he said but it won't get on anyones nerves if you pronounce anything wrongly. 8. What he said. 9. Depends on what bar you go to. Different vibes in different places. 10. Lrt don't give change. You can pay by card. 11. There are people in Edinburgh from all around the world. Just be yourself. 12. No one will care if you rub his nose.
I don't care what tourists do in Scotland but just 1 tiny little thing that gets on my goat. If you see me walking from st andrews square to princes street or even queen street to princes street carrying awkward packages for delivery as i can't get parked nearer PLEASE don't walk towards me at 1 mile per second taking up the whole pavement and expecting me to move out the way and even worse don't stand still taking up the whole pavement with your mates hanging around you and all looking at the same camera. OR EVEN WORSE STILL if i'm walking behind you (still carrying awkward packages or pushing a parcel trolley) don't stop dead in your tracks and point up at some strange looking horrible statue that you know nothing about and go awwwwww oooooooo aahhhhhh eeeeeeeeeee.. Just have a quick look over your shoulder before you decide to stop 👍🏻 Enjoy your holiday....
@@bonnetdedouche😂 I’m becoming like this. Almost 20 yrs here but I came as a tourist and moved here . However I don’t remember stopping in busy walkways blocking people . I recently noticed this on that road where the fudge house is. People just stop in the middle of a busy pavement , which is tiny and start taking selfies and group photos ? Also they start crossing the road amongst busy moving traffic, and then proceed to walk really slowly, like they are moving their sheep across the road 😂
@@luluah1198 I was never really aware of it tbh until i started delivering office supplies on Princes street and surrounding areas then it really started getting on my nerves. You'v got the added stress of trying to park as close as possible to delivery point which is pretty much impossible in Edinburgh so you try and be as quick as possible doing your delivery then you get the group of people in front of you who just stop without looking around and stare at a camera? And the ones who are already standing and do see you walking towards them struggling with a delivery and don't even attempt to move out the way a bit. All you see these days with pedestrians is them walking with their face glued to a mobile phone or some kind of camera, i swear i could probably walk for half an hour stark naked throwing £20 notes in the air and nobody would even notice.
They take any Visa or Mastercard with contactless but your own provider might charge a transaction fee. There are no returns but you can buy a day pass with cash. Exception is the airport shuttle bus which I think still takes cash and gives change. Don't get the tourist city sightseeing buses they are rubbish.
Worth looking into Revolut if you're planning a journey to a country with another currency. I used it recently on a trip to France (from Scotland) and it worked flawlessly. Be careful of transferring at the weekend as there's a small fee. Otherwise, it's pretty much free. Not entirely sure how they make any money, but I'll take it nonetheless.
What have we here , the English guy an expert on Edinburgh ? Insult to injury . Drink yiur whiskey hiw you like and if you dont want a rain coat dont wear one .
Crime rate quite low in Edinburgh, but sadly a few pick pockets do target the tourist. Don’t make it easy for them, use a money belt under your clothes and you will be fine. Enjoy your stay, Edinburgh people are friendly and they are a lot to see and do. Stay away from shops in tourist areas, if you are looking for decent souvenir try George street (parallel to Princess’s Street also excellent independent art & craft & restaurants in Bruntsfield and Morningside, you will be spoilt for choice there.
you no longer require correct change on buses, we now have TAP TAP CAP, with your bank card, capped at £4.80 for the day no matter how many journeys you take.
Certainly a butiiful city very historical . But not visited as much as it was. It is getting run down. It brings tears to my eyes on a daily basis. Definately have umbrella, only drink malt whisky. Blended is just that blended. Become very expensive. Try to visit fettes college in Edinburgh. If you are in the highlands check the midges period. They are itchy wee buggers. Enjoy your visit and do talk to the locals we are very friendly.
Oh and nobody cares what you put in your whisky or vodka or gin. You drink whatever you want, tea, coffee or water just chill and enjoy yourselves . If your no sure about something just ask someone we’re a friendly lot.
I don't trust anyone's opinion on whiskey who tells me to drink it neat. Bottling proof is to prevent spoilage, not because that's how it's supposed to be consumed.
Most of the Scottish items sold on the royal mile are made in places like china with some businesses having been sued for stocking counterfeit goods. There are not many genuine Scottish shops on the royal mile. Most are Indian owned with made in china products. If you want authentic Scottish good buy locally in the highlands
I’m married to a Scot so I know how to drink scotch. When our son was married I had a kilt made for my husband in his family tartan - it cost me $1500 AUS dollars as I had to pay a customs levy. But it was well worth it. Made in Scotland.
When in Edinburgh do not visit Pilton, Muirhouse, Broomhouse, Westerhailes, or Granton unless you want to risk having a bad time with the feral locals 👍
Good grief - if you're going to instruct people on visiting Edinburgh, at least spell whisky correctly! Only Americans and Irish can't spell the word and add the extra "e".
A little confused. I am supposed to try and pronounce the places properly, but I'm not suppose to imitate an accent or I will look like an arse. Planning a trip in May of 2025 with my wife and two of our friends. I guess I'll play it safe and just talk to my family and friends and leave it at that.
DO NOT bring your car into city center period. If you want to park it will cost from £3/hr but you won't find a suitable parking bay, which are policed by ferocious manic traffic wardens who will fine you in a blink. Use public transport, or local taxis cabs, you will enjoy the visit more. 🚃🚞🚕🚂🏚
I still remember seeing a congregation of traffic wardens, a small army waiting to spread out all over the city to dish out hundreds if not thousands of fines each day. I even have a picture of one of those vultures watching patiently its prey, waiting for its parking time to run out.
@@tomctutor One of the meanings of congregation is "a religious organization that meets in a particular location" and that was what they looked like in their black uniforms with their little ticket books. They were missing the long spears to form a phalanx.
Leave Bobby's nose alone! But it's more idiot locals / people from other parts of Scotland rubbing it for luck rather than tourists from abroad, who only do it if a Scottish person tells them to!! ANd hundreds of people do it every day (maybe thousands during peak season). I've even seen Scottish council workers doing it after fixing a faulty traffic light. The dog's nose will be completely gone in another 10-20 years if this keeps up. Ironically, a replica of the statue is kept protected in a glass cabinet at Museum of Edinburgh on Canongate, while the much more valuable 150 y.o. original is out in the street for people to destroy. I guess it's not easy/possible to separate it from the rest of the fountain without wrecking the whole thing.
I really annoys me. That was a story invented by a walking tour guide about 8 years ago, and the internet spread it like a rash, then young folk in the city started doing it. It was a drinking fountain - no-one was reaching across running water to rub the statue. Apart from anything else, Victorian Presbyterians really frowned on superstitions!