SEE EDINBURGH FOR FREE SEE EDINBURGH FOR FREE Edinburgh, the exciting capital of Scotland, perfectly blends the ancient and the modern. Its magnificent architecture ranges from medieval churches to monumental Victorian masterpieces, all dominated by a stunning castle positioned on the top of an extinct volcanic rock. This beautiful city has a well deserved reputation of being tourist friendly but expensive – but this does not need to be the case as Edinburgh can be a ‘great value destination’ too. There are hundreds of free things to see and do around Scotland’s capital city. This Travelodge city guide will help you to see Edinburgh for free. Within this guide you will find Information on: • Free attractions • Free museums & art galleries • Where to go for the best city views • The best parks to visit in Edinburgh. • The various ‘villages’ that surround Edinburgh To get the most out of your break to Edinburgh book a Travelodge £29 Saver room which will leave you plenty of pennies to spend on eating out and shopping. To book a Travelodge Saver room just go to www.travelodge.co.uk . A Travelodge family room will cater for two adults and two children or three adults – so there is no excuse not to get away this year with the family, your partner and your friends. By staying with Travelodge you can afford to take more short breaks this year. Wherever you are in the UK you are bound to find a Travelodge hotel close by. A Travelodge Family Room FREE ATTRACTIONS Old Town: With a fascinating history that’s impossible to ignore, every one of the tightly packed buildings in the Old Town has earned its place in history. The Royal Mile makes up the main spine of the area, running from Edinburgh Castle at the top to the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Scottish Parliament at its foot, surrounded by steeply sloping streets and mysterious winds. By the 18th Century the cramped conditions of the High Street had prompted the need for expansion, and saw plans for a New Town come together. New Town: In 1766 a competition for the best architectural scheme for the proposed New Town was held. Six plans were considered, and James Craig's scheme was chosen. The elegant Georgian architecture this involved now provides the backdrop to a number of equally stylish shops, bars and restaurants. Although nowadays Princes Street is commonly regarded as the main street of this scheme, George Street was the backbone of the plan; it was built, at 100 feet wide, 20 feet wider than either Princes Street or Queen Street. West End: Perfect for boutique shopping and plenty of eating and drinking options, the cobbled streets of the West End are only a few minutes walk from Princes Street. Two of the best for retail indulgence are William Street and Stafford Street with a number of independent stores offering everything from interiors to exclusive designer clothes, quirky jewellery and vintage eveningwear. Grassmarket: Once a medieval market place and site for public executions, the area is now known for eating, drinking and independent shops. Executions ceased in the Grassmarket in 1784 but names of some of the area's pubs reflect its bloody history, such as The Last Drop and Maggie Dickson's. Leith: Edinburgh’s city quarter by the sea is a great place for eating, drinking and shopping. It is also home to The Royal Yacht Britannia. Only ten minutes from Edinburgh's city centre, historical Leith is full of cultural influence and historical architecture yet calm with waterfront serenity. The area bustles with restaurants, bars, bistros and boutiques and includes the stylish Ocean Terminal shopping complex. Edinburgh Castle located on the Royal mile Perched on an extinct volcano, this instantly recognisable fortress is a powerful national symbol and part of Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site. Its story is Scotland's story. There is a charge to go inside the castle but you can walk up to the main part of the castle and get an amazing view of the city and you can see the castle from almost any angle from the Royal Mile. Opening times : Summer 9.30am to 6pm and Winter : 9.30am to 5pm For further information please visit: www. edinburghcastle .gov.uk Scottish Parliament: Visit the seat of government in Scotland and sit in the public gallery and watch the debates going on. The New Scottish Parliament Building is situated at the foot of the Canongate (formerly the site of Scottish & Newcastle brewery) opposite Holyrood Palace. The architect for the building was selected by means of a design competition in 1998. The winning design by Enric Miralle s from Barcelona Spain. Visit the website for opening times For further information please visit: www.scottish.parliament.uk The Scott Monument was built to commemorate Sir Walter Scott, one of Scotland's greatest novelists. The Monument is 200 feet and 6 inches (61.1metres) high, with 287 steps to the top. The climb through the internal stairways is in four stages, with 360 degree viewing galleries on each level. The galleries provide unrivalled panoramic views of Edinburgh’s historic Old and New Towns. Level one is home to the Museum room where you can sit and discover more about Sir Walter Scott and the architecture of the Monument. Opening times: from April 1st: Mon-Sun 10am-7pm, from Oct Mon-Sat 9am- 3pm and Sun 10am-3pm (Admission charge of £3.00 if you would like to go inside the monument. For further information please visit : www.edinburgh.gov.uk St Giles' Cathedral is the historic City Church of Edinburgh. With its famed crown spire it stands on the Royal Mile between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, it is the Mother Church of Presbyterianism and contains the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle (Scotland's chivalric company of knights headed by the Queen). Opening times : Summer (May-September) Mon - Fri 9am to 7pm Sat 9am to 5pm, Sun 1pm to 5pm and for services. Winter (October-April) Mon – Sat 9am to 5pm, Sun 1pm to 5pm and for services. For further information visit : www.stgilescathedral.org.uk The Signet Library in the centre of Edinburgh’s old town is synonymous with prestige and Georgian elegance. Steeped in history, the building, with its lower and upper libraries, was completed in 1822 in time for the celebrated visit to Edinburgh of King George IV who described the upper library as “the finest drawing room in Europe”. The Signet Library continues to be owned by The Society of Writers to Her Majesty’s Signet (also known as The WS Society) – an association of Scottish lawyers and one of the oldest professional bodies in the world. The Society’s origins lie in the 15th century as the “writers” of documents sealed with “the Signet”, the private seal of the Scottish Kings – hence “Writers to the Signet” or “WS”. Opening times: Mon to Thurs 9am to 5pm & Fri 9am to 4.30pm For further information please visit: www.thesignetlibrary.co.uk MUSEUMS The National Museum of Scotland is an amazing, enormous museum. It has the entire history of Scotland since the beginning of time. It is the home of Dolly, the sheep that was cloned. The portion devoted to Science and Industry is very entertaining and there are little stations for kids to learn about history and to interact with it. Visit the 8th floor for one of the best views of Edinburgh. Opening Times: Open daily between 10.00am to 5.00pm For more information please visit: www.nms.ac.uk The Writers’ Museum and Makar’s Court The Writers' Museum, contains a rich collection of manuscripts, first editions and portraits dedicated to the lives and work of Scotland’s great literary figures, particularly Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. The adjacent Makars’ (Scots for poet) Court with its inscribed flagstones celebrates Scottish writers from the 14th century John Barbour to the present day. Opening times: Mon to Sat 10am–5pm & Sun during Aug 12noon – 5pm For more information please visit:www.edinburgh.gov.uk/museums The Museum of Childhood is a favourite with adults and children alike. It is a treasure house crammed full of objects telling of childhood past and present. Discover how children have been brought up, dressed and educated in decades gone by and enjoy one of the regular temporary exhibitions and events. Opening times: Mon-Sat 10am–5pm & Sun 12-5pm For more information please visit: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/museums The People’s Story museum is housed in the Cannongate Tolbooth, a former tax collecting house, court and prison, The People’s Story is a museum dedicated to the history of the people of Edinburgh. It is filled with the sights, sounds and smells of the past. Feel the despair of the dungeon; the convivial camaraderie of the ‘pub’; the declarations of the town crier and the demands of political and social reformers. Opening times: Mon–Sat 10am–5pm (Sun during Aug 12 noon-5pm) For more information please visit: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/museums. The Museum of Edinburgh is Set in a series of interconnected 16th and 17th century buildings the Museum is packed with artifacts illustrating the development of the city, from the earliest settlement to the present day. Highlights of the collection include the National Covenant, the great petition for religious freedom signed by Scotland’s Presbyterians in 1638, and the collar and feeding bowl of Grayfriars Bobby’s. Opening times: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm (Sun during Aug 12noon-5pm) For further information visit: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/museums The Queensferry Museum is situated in the historic former Royal Burgh of Queensferry, the museum commands magnificent views of the great bridges spanning the Forth.