Some places in Edinburgh, many having to do with movies, music, and books.
a list of places
by Kent Hall
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North Bridge Brasserie (Scotsman Hotel)20 North Bridge, Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 1YT, United Kingdom | 0131 622 2900
Former home of the Scotsman Newspaper (available at fine news agents everywhere), this is a very lovely hotel. Even when it's snowing outside. -
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Balmoral Hotel1 Princes St, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH2 2EQ, United Kingdom | 0131 556 2414
Featured in the Edinburgh-set film Mister Foe, this hotel is certainly lovely from the outside. Our hotel faced it. Which means that the fictional Hallam Foe was very likely staring at us. -
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Edinburgh CastleCastlehill, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH1 2NG, United Kingdom | 0131 225 9846
It's unavoidable, this castle. And it's worth seeing, even when it's cold, and near sleeting. It's the center of the city, and its raison de tre. Plus it houses the Scottish Crown Jewels. They were they smuggled out, hidden from the English, and feared lost. For a long while they sat in a box, lodged in a wall. No one even knew if they were in there, like the Shrodinger's Cat of crowned jewels. -
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The Scotch Whisky Experience354 Castlehill, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH1 2NE, United Kingdom | 0131 220 0441
You will not learn why Scotch whisky is not spelled with an e, but in this Disney-land-ride/scotch tasting you will learn how it's made and see some 3,000 bottles of scotch. You will only taste 5, which is probably wise. -
Deacon Brodies Tavern435 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH1 2NT, United Kingdom | 0131 225 6531
The Haddock Cakes at Deacon Brodie's Tavern are delicious, and well worth the trip. The breakfast at Deacon Brodie's Tourist Trap Cabinet Shop (or whatever it's called) across the way is not as good. However, the mural and timeline showing Brodie's checkered career, culminating in his being hung on a gallows of his own design, is at least worth the price of a cup of tea. -
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Renton's Escape/Calton Bridge101-103 Princes Street, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH2 3AD, United Kingdom | 0845 711 4141
Little of the film Trainspotting was actually shot in Edinburgh, but this is the terminus of Renton's shop lifting run. He runs down this stairway before being nearly hit by a car. I was going to photograph the actual point described, but a mad, baldheaded young Scot was yelling incomprehensible things at passersby. No kidding. -
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The Red Door Gallery42 Victoria St, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH1 2JW, United Kingdom | 0131 477 3255
In my opinion, this is the single best place in Edinburgh to buy postcards, assuming your correspondents enjoy unique, hand printed post cards created by local craftspeople. All of Grassmarket is worth exploring for its boutiques and vintage clothing shops. -
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Greyfriars Kirk86 Candlemaker Row, Edimburgo, Midlothian EH1 2QA, United Kingdom | 0131 226 5429
The Kirk means that it's protestant. But nothing will prepare you for the way the tombstones literally butt up against surrounding residences. -
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Greyfriar's Bobby StatueCandlemaker Row, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom | 0131 225 3626
Legend has it that this dog sat faithfully by his master's grave until the day it died. That duty is now taken up, more or less, by this statue. -
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An odd sort of museum, less because of what it collects (objects of childhood!), but more because of the man who collected it (he didn't like children). Amongst the things on display: A Sweeney-Todd-themed penny arcade machine, paper theatres, and wonderful marionettes. Please note that photos are not allowed. -
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Adam Smith Grave153 Canongate, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH8 8BN, United Kingdom | 0131 556 3515
The Invisible Hand did not rise out of the grave. Nor did it correct last year's financial mess. But the venerable economist is buried here. -
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Robert Furgusson Statue153 Canongate, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH8 8BN, United Kingdom | 0131 556 3515
One of Scotland's most tragic poets gets his statue. -
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Calton Hill15 York Place, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh EH1 3EB, United Kingdom | 0131 558 8500
There are more graveyards up here. Fresh evidence of condom wrappers and ashes suggest it's a popular place for sex and fires. Perhaps not coincidentally this is where Robert Louis Stevenson developed many of his ideas about man's dual nature and wrote The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. This is also the location of the observatory, and provides sweeping views of the city perfect for picture postcards. -
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People have been dying in Edinburgh for a long time. See some of them here. -
- total distance: 3 miles (5 km)
