Edinburgh, Scotland
 

We are visiting our son this April who is studying for a semester at the University of Edinburgh. We will have about 5 to 7 days to visit. We'd like any recommendations on places to stay near the university. Also, we'd like recommendations for day trips from Edinburgh. Finally, we might hire a guide for a few days and would appreciate any recommendations.

I've already learned a lot from reading different "threads" but thought I'd ask more specific questions for our trip. Many thanks.

We've stayed at the Elmview and Stuarts B&B's and enjoyed them both. Within walking distance of the Royal Mile, large rooms, and gracious hosts.
http://www.elmview.co.uk/
http://www.the-stuarts.com/

Edinburgh University is not a campus university; so are you sure you want to stay near the university itself ? Or do you want to stay near where your son is staying ? If the latter, tell us where he's staying & we can then offer recommendations.

You don't need a guide. Take the open top bus tour the first day to get an overview of the Old Town & the New Town & see where the main sights are, getting on & off where you feel like it; then go back to fill in the gaps on subsequent days, using the normal Lothian buses (getting a day ticket each day for £2.30). To visit the Palace (which is a stop on the open top bus tour) you are obliged to take a guided tour.

Let us know what your interests are & we can offer specific recommendations - historic sights / museums / gardens / pubs / ... ?

Besides what caroline_edinburgh says about it not being a "campus" so one would need to know where he is staying - But also, a lot of student's flats aren't necessarily in the best places for the bit higher level accomodations you probably want.

It is very easy to get anywhere in Edinburgh by bus. So let us know where he is staying and then we can recommend places in the neighborhood or perhaps better areas.

Also what is your budget?

I totally agree w/ caroline about not needing a guide. Edinburgh is one of the very best places for touring on your own.

As for day trips - do you plan on renting a car for these excursions or do them by train? It would make a big difference re which day trip make sense.

As Janis and Caroline have said, Edinburgh University is spread out over pretty much the whole city! So, in my opinion, if you stay anywhere in the center of the city you'll not be too far away from wherever your son is.

Having said that, I think the Radisson SAS and the Carlton hotels are probably teh closest. Of those two, I would pick the Radisson.

Thanks for all of your responses. He is staying on Prices Street nearby the North South Bridge. When we travel we'll combine education (museums) with sight-seeing, eating well and shopping (especially enjoy local art) To the best we are able, we like to meet people who live where we are visiting.

As for budget, we don't have to be top end but we won't mind paying for a place if the location and amenities are right. That's a vague response, I know. I guess we'll pay 4 star rates if we feel it's a good value.

Any recommendations of things we can't miss in Edinburgh would be appreciated and any advice on day-trips would be welcome. We can use Edinburgh as our base or travel and stay elsewhere for a couple of days.

Thanks again for your advice.

ekutler,

There's North Bridge and there's South Bridge. They're the same long street, just different parts of it.

I think we can assume you mean Princes Street - not Prices.

That is in the very middle of the city so you can basically stay where ever you want. But a budget guideline will still help us - do you want to pay £80 a night, or £130, or £200+, or??

Prices Street - no such place & the only way to stay on Princes Street is in an expensive hotel or in a cardboard box in a doorway.

Is your son not telling you something?

There are many places you can visit for a day. Try taking a day trip to Loch Ness. When in Edinburgh, do try to go for the Edinburgh underground tour, it is a unique experience in itself.There are many cheap B&Bs on Newington Road, further down South bridges.

&quot;<i>the only way to stay on Princes Street is in an expensive hotel or in a cardboard box in a doorway.</i>&quot; :) I was thinking the same thing. But then I assumed (um, twice, on the same thread) their son said something like &quot;I'm not far from Princes Street&quot;. But even that is a bit of a stretch for cheap student digs. My guess is that South Bridge is closer to it . . . . .

&quot;<i> There are many cheap B&amp;Bs on Newington Road</i>&quot; Not a very good location - especially for someone talking amenities and 4 star-ish.

There are some flats in Princes Street, just not many and it is unlikely that he'd be staying there. I think Janis has hit it with &quot;near&quot; Princes Street.

&quot;&quot;There are many cheap B&amp;Bs on Newington Road&quot; Not a very good location&quot; : janis, I think Newington Road is quite a good location as it (along with Dalkeith Road) is on a good bus route - and would be handy-ish if the student was staying in Pollock Halls or somewhere on the southside near the main university buildings. But I agree it is more B&amp;B territory than 4* hotels. You are right, we need to know budget.

ekutler, when you say you'll pay 4 star rates, do you mean &pound;100-180 which is what they'd likely be ? Also, are you going to be here over Easter when prices will be higher ? It would help if you can find out exactly which street your son is staying on, so we can advise the nearest accommodation for you. I agree it's unlikely actually to be on Princes Street. (Unless he's staying at the New Club :-) )

caroline: You are right - I meant to say &quot;not a very good <b>idea&lt;/&gt; . . .&quot;. I was mostly talking about the &quot;cheap B&amp;B&quot; suggestion, not the street. From ekutler's description a cheap Newington B&amp;B isn't what they are looking for.</b>

D**N - I'm not having a great morning :)

Forgot to turn off the <b>bold</b>

Should have been -- caroline: You are right - I meant to say &quot;not a very good <b>idea</b> . . .&quot;. I was mostly talking about the &quot;cheap B&amp;B&quot; suggestion, not the street. From ekutler's description a cheap Newington B&amp;B isn't what they are looking for.

sorry . . . .

Hi Janis. No probs.

I was in Edinburgh last summer and did a nice day trip to the town of Stirling and Stirling Castle. If I remember right it was about a 50 minute ride on the train. It's a nice town to explore and the Castle is pretty spectacular. It's a little bit of a hike uphill to get to the castle but easily doable.

There is a good 4* hotel, Ben Doran Hotel in Newington in Edinburgh. It is affordable at about &pound;70 a night.The bus connections are fantastic from the area. I ahve listed the 4* hotels in and around City Centre(princes St), hope this helps.
Apex City Hotel Edinburgh
Apex European Hotel Edinburgh
Apex International Hotel Edinburgh
Belford Hotel Edinburgh
Bonham Hotel Edinburgh
Channings Hotel Edinburgh
Fountain Court Apartments Grove Street Edinburgh
Fountain Court Apartments Morrison Street Edinburgh
Holyrood Aparthotel Edinburgh
Macdonald Holyrood Hotel Edinburgh
Mount Royal Ramada Hotel Edinburgh
Novotel Edinburgh
Royal Terrace Hotel Edinburgh
Thistle Hotel Edinburgh

English_lady: did you get that list from the tourist board website ? I have to say I wouldn't class most of those as 4*, especially the Apex European &amp; all the apartments/'aparthotels'. The other 2 Apexes (Apices ? :-) ) &amp; the Bonham are quite nice.

I think you've missed a few.

ekulter, you'll find a more comprehensive list at www.edinburgh.org