Hi Noraeileen. Congrats on getting accommo ! Jury's will be very convenient, and Dalhousie Castle is very nice - I got married there ! Which suite have you booked ? I'm afraid I don't know of any way of getting there other than taxi, although I expect there is a bus which goes past the end of the road it's off. But then it would be about a 15-20 minute walk, I think (it's a while since I've been there). I'd suggest waiting until you are here & going into the Lothian buses shop on Hanover Street to ask. I think a taxi would be about £25 - you should get the taxi company to set a fixed rate in advance for a longish journey like that, if you do come to book one. Two of the biggest taxi forms are City Cabs (0131-228-1211) & Central Taxis (0131-229-2468).

Here are some of my favourite places to eat :-

If you want gourmet, there are two restaurants with one Michelin star. Martin Wishart's in Leith is fantastic, especially if you have the six course tasting menu (which will all be cooked by the man himself). It's very high class but friendly and unstuffy. I've always booked 2-3 months in advance for dinner but it may be worth trying for a cancellation & lunch may be easier.

The other starred restaurant is Number One in the Balmoral : food nothing special IMO, ambience is more formal & traditional.

For Italian, La Partenope on Dalry Road is wonderful. The chef-proprietor & his food are Neapolitan & it's the best Italian food (especially seafood) I've had outside southern Italy. Unusually for an Italian restaurant, in the UK at any rate, even the desserts are home made & very good. They also have a very interesting list of southern Italian wines largely based on little known grape varieties. The ambience is very relaxed.

La Garrigue on Jeffrey Street is a small French restaurant specialising in cooking of the Languedoc where the chef-proprietor is from, as are all the wines. The food & the chef are both lovely and the ambience is correct but relaxed. If you sit near the window there is a view of Calton Hill & its monuments.

Both Black Bo's and David Bann's do very interesting & innovative vegetarian cusine. BB's is very casual, studenty even, & DB's is smart casual & v. modern . Both v. reasonably priced.

Centotre on George Street is a busy, buzzy Italian caffe-bar offering everything from a coffee to the full works. Particularly good pizza & pasta.

If you want 'modern Scottish', Stac Polly on Grindlay Street used to be good, but I recently read a poor review of it by a writer I respect.

When we have vistors we usually take them for Sunday lunch in Leith (the old docks area). There are lots of nice waterfront places, notably the Shore, where you can eat in the restaurant or in the pub; the Waterfront and Skipper's. All of these are particularly good for fish but do other things too. I used to think Fisher's in Leith was the best for fish but had a very disappointing experience there recently : I haven't tried Fisher's in the City for some time so won't judge it, but at least one poster here has recently recommended it. I went to the Waterfront 9 days ago & had an excellent meal - if you go, ask to be in the conservatory.

I've never had good fish & chips in Edinburgh.

If you want recommendations for any other specific types of cuisine, please ask.

During the festivals it would be advisable to book at all these places, except the pub side at The Shore.

Best Fringe shows I've seen so far - 'Black Watch' (selling out fast) & 'Improbable Frequency'.

Any other info I can help with, just ask.

For the London portion of your trip...and by the way Tony some folk like to help others...some even love the opportunity to save others the long arduous hours of shopping the internet and rely on personal experiences to make a trip happen...mind your manners!

digression complete...for London, I would try and include some of the following...

1. Night out at the theatre
2. British Museum
3. Buckingham Palace (open only in Aug/Sep for tours...pre-book at website or read more)
4. National Gallery
5. Tower of London
6. Sir John Soane museum (haven't been there but it was recommended here and we're doing it in Sep...looks great!)
7. IF you're a war buff, hubby may like Cabinet War Rooms, Imperial War Museum
8. Museum of London
9. London Eye
10. St. Paul's Cathedral or Westminster's Abbey Evensong performance...most nights around 5ish.

Enjoy!!!
Tara

Thanks for the great info Caroline & Tara!

Caroline - I will definitely be printing that list of restaurants. We love to eat out and explore different foods. Do you think that there is something that is traditionally Scottish that we should definitely try while we're there? (I'm a little afraid of Haggis though!) I'm sad to hear about the fish and chips (love that malt vinegar!) - but it is probably better for my diet that I avoid them anyway ;)

Tara - We will definitely be hitting a bunch of the spots that you listed. I think we are going to start our time in London on the Big Bus Hop On Hop Off bus, have you done this? We actually have a gift certificate for 2 tickets to the theatre that I believe we can use in London and was thinking about seeing Mary Poppins, though DH I think would like to try to see Monty Python's Spamalot. (We'll see who wins on that choice!) What is suitable to wear to the theatre in London? We're fairly casual here in NY when we go to a show - no jackets necessary for the men, and women in nice pants/skirt, or a casual dress.

I truly do appreciate all your helpful advice and look forward to putting it to good use on our trip so that I can come back and hopefully help someone else with their trip!

Haggis is lovely ! You could try trad haggis, neeps & tatties in many pubs - the Abbotsford on Rose St is probably a good bet. Or if you'd feel safer with veggie haggis, Henderson's veggie cafe on Hanover Street sometimes does it.

Other Scottish foods - beef, especicially if you get the chance of a Buccleuch beef steak. Not sure where apart from the Waterfront, though. Venison, though not really the season. There are various places doing good Scottish fish & shellfish but not doing particularly Scottish dishes, if you see what I mean. Er - Sheila, anyone, any other suggestions ?

If you like fish, and see Cullen Skink (a kind of fish) on the menu, go for it.

Do try haggis, if you get the chance.

And crannachan or Atholl Brose for pudding are de rigeur.