It’s spring – time to discover 10 things to do in Edinburgh. At Edinburgh Self Storage, the perfect personal storage solution awaits should you be in that ‘new broom sweeps clean’ mood and looking to make some wider-reaching changes to your life this spring. Daylight can hang around until about 8:30 pm come April, and while springlike weather in Scotland inevitably includes showers, there are plenty of indoor activities in our list.
The calm before the storm
Spring in Edinburgh is the calm before the August Edinburgh Festivals storm makes landfall and this gives you a chance to take the city in when there’s not quite so much of a buzz. Lift the lid on all those nooks, crannies, hidden gems, or not-so-hidden any longer (we’re talking about you, Dean Village) as well as get more of that front-row access to more of the touristy stuff before the competition really hots up later in the year.
Watch sports in a traditional pub
How does the sound of a few drinks watching the Six Nations sound? Edinburgh pubs are great for sport and people watching. There’s something for everyone – traditional boozers, high-end stylish bars, hotel bars, the lot!
The Port of Leith Distillery
The Port of Leith Distillery opened late last year and this Leith waterfront distillery is a city-first. Say hello to Scotland’s very first vertical distillery with a double height top floor whisky bar, and from up here, you get some pretty magnificent views of our beautiful city, including Edinburgh Castle.
Edinburgh Walking Tours
Many Edinburgh Walking Tours awaken in spring after a winter hibernation and there are loads around the Old Town including ghost and poltergeist walks for lovers of the spooky.
The National Galleries of Scotland
The National Gallery underwent a major £38m refurbishment that was unveiled in autumn last year. Ten new, light-filled rooms at its garden level are home to over 130 works of art. There are likewise two additional Scottish displays, boasting over 460 artworks. This includes three areas designed to display drawings and other fragile artworks that will regularly change throughout the year. You’ll see works by Scottish artists such as William McTaggart, Anne Redpath, Phoebe Anna Traquair, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Glasgow Boys.
Enjoy a drink outdoors with a magnificent view
With the wintry weather behind us, you can comfortably enjoy a drink outside with great views all around, people watching, or in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. The beer garden at Cold Town House on the Grassmarket has wonderful views of the latter.
On yer bikes!
You can rent a bike and cycle along the Water of Leith or the Union Canal – and this is a great way of seeing Edinburgh from all sorts of new and interesting angles. Keep us in mind for storing your bike come the autumn/winter.
Who needs Bondi when we’ve got Portobello
Breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly and crawl, dog paddle, belly flop, you can do them all! Pack your cozzie and get down to Portobello Beach for a bracing springtime dip. Wild swimmers should come properly prepared. Or for those that don’t like getting wet, how about a lovely stroll or walk with the dog. Cramond Beach is another one to explore, with a forest walk to Cramond Falls or to Cramond Island when the sea’s out.
International Science Festival
If you’re looking for something more family-friendly, this year’s Edinburgh Science Festival is it. Running from Saturday 30 March–Sunday 14 April, this year’s theme is Shaping the Future, and the potential that human creativity, collaboration, innovation and play have to change our world for the better. Loads of fun, educational too.
Cherry Blossom
We must give a final and honourable mention to spring cherry blossom on the trees in all our beautiful parks and gardens – and we’re talking about including Lauriston Castle Gardens, Princes Street Gardens and Canongate Kirk, and The Meadows. And these are made all the more wonderful by the carpets of tulips and daffodils.
Sources:
edinburgh.org
grumpycamel.com
