London/Edinburg where to stay in May party of 5
 

I am planning a trip to London/Scotland in later part of May for family of 5. Never been before and am apprenhensive. I have read every post and now am overwhelmed. I was thinking of 2 nights London....train to Edinburg 4 nights...train back 1 more night in London and fly home. At this point, I need lodging help. We value safety, cleanliness, private bath and convience...we will not have a car.

You might consider the Knights Residence for Edinburgh. We stayed there this past June with my parents in a two bedroom apartment. It worked out to be cheaper than staying in two hotel rooms. And it gets outsanding reviews on TripAdvisor (my review is there as well). The service was exceptional and it was nice to be able to make breakfast in the apartment. The location was also excellent.


http://www.theknightresidence.co.uk/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._Scotland.html

My inlaws stayed at the Knights Residence when they visited us in Edinburgh and it was lovely - much nicer than our flat so we actually hung out there at times. It's just a couple blocks from all the buses as well so it's easy to get around. I remember we got a really good deal on it as well.

Okay, Joebear, now I see you're planning to stay in both Edinburgh and London, will not have a car, and want to do some golfing at good but lesser-known courses. How will you get to the course? What will the rest of the family want to do?

If you're going to stay in Edinburgh, and without knowing anything about your budget or family make-up/ages,let me suggest something you might not have considered: a Marriott hotel. The Dalmahoy is not your run-of-the-mill chain, it's a manor house built in the early 1700s, just on the outskirts of Edinburgh, with two great courses. They provide free shuttle from the airport.

If you want to venture out, you could stay on/near a course in the countryside for a few days, and with a family, you might want to consider renting an apartment. There are several options, including this one near St Andrews that I found with a quick search: http://www.scotland-holiday-cottage....e/eliefife.htm. But this would be tougher without a car.

Give us a little more info and maybe we can help more... we just golfed all 'round Scotland and played several wonderful courses that most Americans don't know (yet).

There are several golf courses in Edinburgh itself

Depending on your family makeup, you might want to consider a "family room" at the Edinburgh Radisson. We stayed in one of these rooms last June. It featured one king-sized bed and two standard double beds. If you've got two fairly small children that could share a double bed, it would be fine (the room was quite large--even by American standards). The only drawback would be a single bathroom. The location of the hotel, smack dab in the middle of the Royal Mile, can't be beat. And, at £140 per night, for 5 folks, would be a pretty darn good deal.

I am rethinking travel plans. Please send suggestions for a good place to spend the day and one night on the way from London to Edinburgh. I am planing to buy the BritRail Central Scotland Pass. We have four nights after leaving London.

Probably the best place to stop over between London and Edinburgh would be York. But York is not covered by your Scotland rail pass. W/ so few days in Scotland - do you think a rail pass is cost effective? Point to point tix are not very expensive and you will likely spend most time IN Edinburgh or nearby. Your son may take the train to Leuchars if he plays St Andrews. But w/ 4 days - 1 day/night used just getting up top Edinburgh, I don't think most passes would pencil out.

OH, thank you all for saving money. Where can I check on those train fares? I was looking on Britrail....got that off another thread. How long with allowing time for early arrival at station should I plan for the trip from London to Edinburgh? Never ridden a train so please advise best times to travel and any other tips.

Hi JoeBear,

If you go to http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/

you can find train tickets from London to Edinburgh. Try searching for one-way fares as well as round trip. Just doing a fake search for the beginning of May I found one-way tickets from £15 each way.

My husband and I took the train to London (we live in Edinburgh) and it was incredibly easy - much easier than flying. You end up in the city centre each way. The earlier you buy tickets, the cheaper it is so you could start looking now.

It's between 4 and 5 hours on the train. We're always early for everything so we tend to get to the station a half hour beforehand. By the way, there are two train stations in Edinburgh - Edinburgh Waverley is the main station on Princes Street. They do have a cart on the train where they sell snacks, drinks, etc.

Amelie, was the building work opposite the Knight's Residence not going on while you were there ? It would put me off.

Joe, in order that we can offer the best suggestions, can you tell us what is your accommodation budget, the make-up of your family (2 adults & 3 small children or what ?) and would you prefer a hotel/B&B or an apartment ?

Train fares usually go on sale 3 months beforehand so you may find the cheap fares have gone. Personally I find it cheaper, easier & more reliable to fly between Edinburgh & London. Are you flying into Heathrow ? If so, why not consider flying directly from LHR to EDI or back EDI-LHR-wherever ? If it is Heathrow, look at www.ba.com & www.flybmi.com to check the prices of flights.

Not having a car is very wise when you are visiting cities. The Marritt Dalmahoy would however be inconvenient to stay at without a car and if your primary purpose is to see Edinburgh, as it is several miles outside the city.

Kids not kids really...21, 19, and 16. Space is needed for relaxation. Fly into Heathcrow and out of EDI....so have four nights each place. I need suggestions for Edinburgh...Five is the problem. I am looking into flats possiblities. Suggestions? I have used VRBO many times so that is where I have started after checking into hotel possibilites. I can go $500 a night...prefer a bit less but comfort, space and location are important. We will not have a car.

I forgot to say since my family has never ridden on a train so I thought even though it might be longer it would be an adventure in itself. So can I wait until I get there to buy the tickets or should I go ahead now and purchase?

The longer you leave it, the more expensive it will be. A walk-on second class single from Heathrow to Edinburgh is £144.50.

caroline-
That building on the corner fell down the day before we got there (it wasn't supposed to go down that day), so then we had a view of the castle from the kitchen window!

I don't think they worked on it the rest of the time we were there. I never heard anything and I've not seen anyone mention it in reviews recently.

What's there now?

Amelie, wow, how exciting ! It's still a building site - I think it's just going to be flats.

I have fond memories of going to the Cas Rock Cafe (pub with bands) there when I first lived here & didn't know anyone.

I am still looking for 4 nights of lodging for family of five in Edinburgh. Have several emails out requesting rate information...are there any more reccomedations other than the ones already mentioned?

Have you looked at Tripadvisor ? If you are still talking about an apartments, in addition to the Knight's Residence which Amelie recommended there are 4 apartment options among Tripadvisor's top 5 'hotel' choices for Edinburgh.

Yes, I did that and just clicked off that site looking to see if I missed anything. The trouble seems to be 4 nights in a row with 5 I suppose.

What is the problem, exactly, Joe ? Are they all full now ?

Joebear,

Have just seen that Canon Court can take five persons www.canoncourt.co.uk
They have two bedroom apartments with a fold down bed settee for the fifth person.
They claim that they are city centre but you can take that with a pinch of salt - about a 15 - 20 minute uphill walk to Princes Street and more to the Royal Mile. There is a wide choice of buses which run between Canonmills and various parts of the city centre. That is only a five minute journey and the fares are either £1 per person per journey or £2.50 per person per day for unlimited use of the buses.

Yes, it appears that they have been full for a while and no response to my email. The weekend is the banking holiday so that is part of the problem I suppose.

I found lodging 21Hanover Street....Will post back how it was. The website looks great and the location is central. Now I would like ideas for sight seeing and great eats. We are not very schedule driven...prefer to be more on a relaxed gear. I know we will see the castle, check out old town...

Glad you got your accommodation sorted out. It was quite late to be booking for a bank holiday. I have not heard of 21 Hanover Street before but it's a great location. I hope you will post a trip report & tell us what it was like.

As regards sightseeing, I recommend starting off with the open top, hop on / hop off bus tour of the Old (mediaeval) and New (Georgian) Towns, to get your bearings. Walk to Waverley Bridge where they all start - there are several companies but Guide Friday is the best as they have a live guide. I'd suggest doing a complete circuit without getting off, to get an overview, then go round again, get off at the stop neaerest the Castle & tour that, walk down the Royal Mile to the Palce & tour that, then get the bus back to Waverley Bridge. If you want to visit the Royal Yacht Britannia, don't pay for the tourist bus which goes there but just get a normal Lothian number 22 bus. As meks said, bus fares with Lothian (the main bus company) are £1 single or £2.50 for a day ticket (valid on all buses except the airport bus & night buses prefixed N (which run after midnight)).

As regards eating...

What sort of food do you like ?

Here are some of my favourites places to eat in Edinburgh, roughly in descending order of price.

If you want gourmet, there are three restaurants with one Michelin star each.

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) – now also available in a veggie version. The tasting menus are £60pp for food, £50pp for a wine to match each course - £10 less for each at lunchtime. Three courses £50, bargain set lunch at £22.50 available Tue-Fri. It's very high class but friendly and unstuffy. Book 2-3 months in advance for weekend dinner, less for weekday dinner and lunch. IMO should be 2 stars.

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

The Kitchin, also in Leith, opened in July 2006 & got a star in January 2007 – some going ! It's really good but not quite as good as MW. Also does a bargain lunch at £19.50 for 3 courses, Tue-Sat.

If you want 'modern Scottish', Stac Polly on Grindlay Street used to be good, but I've read mixed reviews in the last year or two. Also branches on Dublin Street (nearer where you are staying) and St Mary's Street.

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.

For Italian, La Partenope on Dalry Road was wonderful - the best Italian food (especially seafood) I've had outside southern Italy - but it has changed hands and I haven't been since. The former chef-proprietor has a new place called Bella Mbriana - I haven't been yet but it's bound to be excellent.

Centotre on George Street is a busy, buzzy Italian caffe-bar offering everything from a coffee & cannolo to cocktails to a full slap-up 4 course meal. Can be expensive for the full works but v. reasonable for just a pizza or a bowl of pasta, both of which are very good (best pizza in town IMO). This is very close to where you are staying.

When we have visitors we've always taken them for Sunday lunch in Leith (the old docks area - which I have now moved to !). There are lots of nice waterfront places, notably the Shore, where you can eat in the restaurant or in the pub. The Waterfront (more upmarket) and Skipper's were good but have recently changed hands so I'm not sure now - the bar section of the Waterfront is now 'Teuchters Landing' (ugh) & restaurant is 'A Room in Leith'. I used to think Fisher's in Leith was the best for fish but had a very disappointing experience there last time we went. I haven't tried Fisher's in the City for some time so won't judge it, but other posters here have praised it recently.

Cheapish to midprice and actually on Hanover Street are Urban Angel and the Sizzling Scot - naff name but actually vg for steaks, burgers and sausages made with real ingredients.

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.

Incredibly cheap - a) the Mosque, Chapel Street/West Nicholson St (1-7pm I think, except Fridays), for more curry & rice/naan etc than you can eat for £3 (meat & veggie) - outdoors eating, though, so no fun if cold or wet; b) Palmyra on Nicholson Street - £2.80/£3.80 for vg chicken shwarma with salad in flatbread, or even cheaper veggie ones like feta or baba ganoush.

I've never had good fish & chips from an Edinburgh chippie but it's usually OK in food-oriented pubs.

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

Good pubs near where you are staying - the Guildford Arms, Cafe Royal, Queen's Arms, Oxford Bar.

THank you so much for the tips and good ideas. I am printing so I can use to plan our activites as well as food choices.

Toward the end of my Scotland trip report I give information about the apartment we rented for 4 or 5 days:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35058184

Thanks for posting I enjoyed reading your trip report. That apartment sounded a bit tight! We have stayed in cramped places before and still laugh about the experiences we had there.