MomKJC

Looking for good very reasonable B&B and ideas about what to do for 27&26 year old who will be taking train up form London where they live(that will explain why they don't have loads of money!)They have 3-4days. Both love pubs so guys what are your favorites and good beer what kinds Thanks in advance for any and all help
Perhaps someone out ther might like to suggest an iternary for them. I suggested that the take an overnight train to and form London to maximize the time they have
Thoughts and thanks

caroline_edinburgh

I hope you mean August next year ? If so, tell them to book accommodation well in advance - like now, ideally - as places get booked up far ahead for the festival period.

No personal experience of B&Bs but a reasonably priced and very well located chain hotel is the Ibis on Huner Square - http://www.ibishotel.com/ibis/ficheh...he_hotel.shtml. £75 per night for a double or twin room this August. (They do realise that August is the most expensive time of year here ?)

For a cheaper stay, there are several backpacker type hostels in the city centre. See the Edinburgh tourist board site www.edinburgh.org for these & other options.

You probably know this but the sleeper now has seated accommodation which is cheaper. As always with trains, book as early as possible for the best price - I think seats usually go on sale 3 months in advance. For the sleeper see the Scotrail website.

Festivals :

Edinburgh International Festival - www.eif.co.uk - programme comes out mid March/April. Special offers vary from year to year : this year there are 50 x £5 'Turn Up & Try It' tickets available an hour before every performance except the fireworks concert. The latter can be seen & heard for free from Princes Street which is closed to traffic for the evening, & it's on the final Sunday.

Fringe - www.edfringe.com - programme out mid June. Nearly all shows are 2 for the price of 1 on the first Sunday & Monday. The Traverse theatre has cut price previews just before & after the official start of the Fringe.

Book festival - www.edbookfest.co.uk - programme out mid June.

Film festival - www.edfilmfest.org.uk. Programme out early July I think.

Jazz & Blues Festival - http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/jazzblues/ - programme out in July.

Good pubs :

in the centre - Guildford Arms (biggest selection of varying guest ales), Cafe Royal, Oxford Bar, Bow Bar.

slightly out of centre - Cumberland Bar, Bennett's, Cloisters, Caley Sample Rooms, Golden Rule.

Leith - Port O'Leith.

Practically all pubs in Edinburgh have at least 1 or 2 real ales - the only exceptions are probably small backstreet old men's pubs in areas where they'd be unlikely to go. Most common are the Caledonian Brewery's 80/- and Deuchar's IPA, which I like, and McEwans which I don't.

See also the Good Beer Guide.

The Caledonian (Caley) Brewery sometimes has a beer festival in August.

MomKJC

No unfortunately I mean in the next couple of weeks. Your reply is so good Thanks! I too have had great experiences with Ibis.

janis

I won't expand on the VERY good info Caroline has given you. But going this month is going to difficult if not impossible. Basically every hotel room, and those w/i a reasonable and even unreasonable commute are fully booked well in advance. Your best bet is a last minute cancellation.

If I were them if they want a city stay I'd consider instead Glasgow, York, Aberdeen or maybe even Liverpool. And if they want to see some countryside - then go somewhere at least 56/60 miles from Edinburgh -- St Andrews, Oban, Inverness are all accessible by train. St Andrews requires a train to Leuchars and then a short bus or taxi ride to St Andrews.

caroline_edinburgh

Yes, Glasgow is a good idea - I've stayed at the Travel Inn on George Strett which is fine & close to Queen St station (trains every 15 mins to Edinburgh, takes 50 mins). If they are city types, in some ways Glasgow has more to offer than Edinburgh, in terms of nightlife (especially for young people, i.e. clubbing) and also the contemporary art scene.

But try phoning the Edinburgh tourist office first to see if they know of any accommodation at all..

MomKJC

Thanks Caroline for great info Son was able to get B&B Must be the luck of the Irish! But your reply was so helpful. They will go pubing with your suggestiond Oh to be young again!

beanweb24

On the topic of pubs...there was recently a short thread here that you might find helpful:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34657904

caroline_edinburgh

Mom, so pleased your sons managed to find somewhere - hope they have a great time.

MomKJC

With Caroline and the rest of your help they will. Thanks!
Now will they remember to send pictures!!!(Not holding out for a postcard)