So I'm planning another trip, and once again want to include any tips or advice from you helpful people,i've always find interesting bits when i vist this site...Anyhow here's my plan and what i'd like to know... i'm going to Edinburgh, Scotland in Sept.(aug 31st-sept7th or 8th) for a friends wedding on the 4th. Plans so far seem that we are staying in Edinburgh for the first couple days then staying at the wedding site Lennoxlove castle. I'd like recommendations on hotels or B&B in edinbugh probely moderate to high end. OH YES , what is the weather there in sept. half of us are conviced its going to be chilly w/only a high of sixty-one ,and the others think it's like eighty..big difference. also, what shall we see while there if we like history, shopping, tours, music and musems? LAST thing i'm having trouble w/ getting a decent flight. Can i find one under a thousand from chicago non-stop or one stop no transfer?.thank you in advance. This is my first trip overseas, so any advice is appreciated, after the wedding we are planning to go to london for a look see but have yet any idea the best(ie: easiest) way to do that! please post any toughts on all or any of it thanks! <BR>heather

The Edinburgh Festival will be on when you are there. The up side here is that there will be limitless entertainment. The down side-all the hotels, B&Bs, hostels etc. will be booked way in advance...so wherever you decide to stay, book NOW. The temperature could be either of your examples, probably somewhere in between, but do be prepared for rain. Don't miss the Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade and try to get tickets for the second show at night. I'm sure lots of other Fodorites will offer more advice on where to stay. You could check out Edinburgh's web site at www.edinburgh.org. You will have a great time.

<BR>Scotland must be a big wedding site this year -- wouldn't have anything to do with Madonna's recent nuptials would it? :} <BR> <BR>We leave tomorrow for a wedding at a castle outside of Edinburgh. I'll report back on things to do & see -- including the formal kilt that I'm hiring to wear to the wedding!

You're going to my favorite city (London is a very close second). We always stay at the Dunedin Guest House. Marsella and David are incredible hosts. The house is beautiful, big lovely rooms (all with bathrooms), great breakfast, etc. They have 4 stars but are priced very competitively. Also, they are always more than happy to ive lots of information on things to see and do, restaurants, etc. Their Web site is: [email protected]. You will LOVE them! We get back and forth from London via train. It's a 4 hour ride through scenic countryside. Takes you to Kings Cross station. Book it at least 3 weeks out for extremely good rates. By the way, once you're on board you'll often hear announcements offering to upgrade you to first class for about 10 lbs (when there are empty seats). The ordinary cost to go first class in about 75 lbs more, so grab it! Have a great trip!

I went to Scotland over Thanksgiving and I stayed at a hotel right next to the Castle. I forgot what its called, but its a Hilton property (gotto love Hilton points for free rooms!). It was fantastic (huge,huge room with a beautiful view of the Castle). Even though its a Hilton property - its a historic hotel that was even mentioned during our tour of the town.

Forgot before- we took the train to London. It was very easy (its described in all of the tour books). However, there had been a landslide on the traintrack a couple of weeks before we went and so our trip took 8 hours on the train (usually its much quicker). The train schedule is listed on the web (I'm not sure how reliable it is).

Melanie, Was it the Caledonian Hotel?

Accommodation- try the Crown plaza on the Mile. Very good without being the absolute top of the range. Great location. Used to be the Scandic Crown. <BR> <BR>It will be closer to 61 than 80 degrees <BR> <BR>Edinburgh itself is a mixture of a wonderful late mediaeval city with a planned Georgian New Town. The Castle is a must, but a brisk hike up Arthur's seat (a hill in the centre of the town above Holyrood Palace) will give you magnificent views out over the whole of east central Scotland. The Forth Rail bridge is worth driving past. The estuary of the Forth widens to superb beaches (with wonderful links golf courses behind them ) and in Fife you have St Andrew's, home of golf (the beach where they filmed the opening sequences of Chariots of Fire?). To get there you go past Loch Leven where Mary Queen of Scots was kept imprisoned on one of the islands. <BR> <BR>The Royal Yacht Britannia is berthed at Leith, Edinburgh's port, and can be visited by the public, and the new Museum of Scotland in the centre of the City is pretty good, for the architecture as well as the exhibits. <BR>

<BR>It's also a great shopping city. <BR> <BR>To the south you are about an hour's drive from the Borders; lovely rolling hills and some lovely stately mansions including Abbotsford which was owned by Sir Walter Scott- whose memorial is in the middle of Edinburgh's main shopping street, and which can be climbed for the view over the gardens and up to the Castle. <BR> <BR>Mary Kings Close is a street which, in the middle ages, was on ground level but when the great plague came to visit Scotland (and Edinburgh in particular) it hit the place hard. The worst section of the city was right in the heart of the 'Old Town', where the present City Chambers are nowadays. This street was known as Mary King’s Close (after an advocate’s daughter so the story goes) and the local authorities, the kind beings that they are, decided to seal both entrances of the street up with everyone still inside. This street was rediscovered many years later and now you can take a tour down there. WARNING - they tell you that because of the many people sealed alive down there that there are ghosts aplenty. Tours can be arranged from the Royal Mile <BR> <BR>The two best places in Edinburgh for folk music are 2 pubs (surprise!) One is the Tron and the other is Sandy Bell's. Sandy Bell's also used to produce a news-sheet "Sandy Bell's Broadsheet" and I think they still do, which lists all the folky stuff going on all over Scotland. <BR>As far as Edinburgh is concerned, I can think of another pub which houses traditional/folk music. It's the Ensign Ewart which is situated near the entrance to the Castle - can't miss it. <BR> <BR>Arthur's Seat IS a magnificent climb and, unless it is raining, well worth it for the views. It is a great open space in the city. The approx. 1/2 mile hike provides a commanding view of the city, castle, sea, and surrounding countryside. <BR>Another possibility is to take your car up to the northwestern suburbs. In Davidson's Mains there is a baronial (i.e., circa 1895 but looking very medieval) house called Lauriston Castle. The tours are great, as this "castle" has secret passageways, a library bookshelf that hides a secret door, etc. From Davidson's Mains it is a very short (7-8 minutes)drive to Cramond, which has a yachtsman's harbor, the mouth of the River Almond, a medieval church (Cramond Kirk) and the remains (in the churchyard!) of Rome's northernmost garrison fort. <BR> <BR>

A list of things to see includes <BR>The New Town-planned grid Georgian -makes Bath pale by comparison <BR>The Royal Mile -Medieval route between the Castle and Holyrood palace <BR>The Castle <BR>Valvona and Crolla -best deli in the UK <BR>Greyfriars Bobby - statue of dog who sat at his master’s grave for decades <BR>The Meadows - huge park I the town centre <BR>Dean Village - working men’s planned village <BR>The Scott Monument -Gothic Sky rocket memorial to Queen Victoria’s favourite Scottish author <BR>Calton Hill -Observatory <BR>Arthur's Seat -see above <BR>Hollyrood- Palace and Park - Queen’s Scottish town house and big garden <BR>The New parliament - this trip can be arranged. There is a visitor's gallery at the Scottish parliament and you can get tickets from (would you believe) the ticket office! There is no dress code. <BR>The Museum of Childhood - on the Royal Mile <BR>Cafe Vittoria - neighbourhood Tally restaurant. Very down to earth. <BR>St Giles Cathedral - on the Mile. Scene of Jenny what’shername’s tantrum. Crown tower <BR>Parliament House - where the big wigs hang out (what a terrible pun) <BR>Make sure you visit the National Museum of Scotland (Chambers St) in Edinburgh. It just opened and is incredible. <BR>Gladstone’s Land, -mediaeval close off the High Street(the Mile) <BR>Plus there are great restaurants, pubs, gardens and parks. My favorite restaurant is The Marque. It is on Causewayside and the food is fantastic. The prices were quite reasonable considering the level of cuisine (about $35.00 per person including dessert). If it's atmosphere you like try The Witchery. The prices are a little steep, but the food is good and it's right beside the castle. (as far as atmosphere, the name says it all) <BR> <BR>Other great restaurants include Stac Polly, Tuscan Square, Café Hub, Browns, Le Sept, Est Est Est, Bann’s, Henderson’s, the Kalpna, Viva Mexico, Shamiana, the Siam Erewan, the Loon Fung. <BR> <BR>Other great pubs include the Café Royal, the Barony, Mathers, the Diggers (posh name the Athletic Arms), the Roseburn, Bert’s, and the Abbotsford. <BR> <BR>This is a city heaving with museums. I believe I have mentioned the National Museum of Scotland and the Museum of Childhood. In addition there are:- <BR>The National Gallery and Royal Scottish Academy <BR>the National Portrait Gallery <BR>The Gallery of Modern Art <BR>The Dean Gallery <BR>The Georgian House <BR>The City Art Centre <BR>The Fruitmarket Gallery, <BR>The Collective Gallery <BR>The Printmakers’ Workshop <BR> <BR>Or you can go to the Zoo; Dynamic Earth(mixed reviews- haven’t been myself), or the Botanic Gardens. <BR>

Dear Heather, <BR> <BR>We stayed in a wonderful guest house in Edinburgh last June nad I can't say enough about our 4 days there. The name is Navaar House, they have a great web site -www.navaar.com - Yvonne & Stewart are the owners and the greatest hosts you could ask for. They are located on Mayfair I believe, very close to downtown and right on the main bus route. The accomadations are so great. <BR>Email Yvonne and she will get right back to with any questions. Edinburgh is a great city have fun.

Hi Heather, I especially tuned in for Sheila's advice. We are going to Scotland in August 9-15 for the Festival and Tattoo. <BR> I am printing out this reply, Sheila. Don't forget the Fodorite meeting with Tony(and Frank?), my husband is treating us all to dinner...you pick, OK? Judy

Heather, <BR> <BR>Sheila is a wonderful person who has great info! She helped us tremendously with our trip to Scotland in 1999. <BR> <BR>Btw, St. Andrews was absolutely wonderful! I highly recommed it! <BR> <BR>Kittie...looking forward to her next visit to Scotland

I would choose a hotel immediately. You are coming at the end of The Edinburgh Military Tatoo (ends Aug 25) and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (ends Aug 27). There may still be some hotel crowding when you arrive, so book a hotel as soon as possible. Then if you find a better one, you can cancel the first reservation. <BR> <BR>Concerning the weather, you might want to check out the website www.camvista.com before you go. They have live webcams of Edinburgh and you can see what the people are wearing and what the weather is actually like. <BR> <BR>I have taken the train between Edinburgh and London. It's a 4 hour trip and I think it's a nice way to go.