I'm traveling with a group of 5 friends in our 30s and looking for recommendations for things to do, restaurants, bars and shopping in London, Paris and Edinburg (we will probably go see other parts of Scotland as well, either by car or train). We're flying to Heathrow and staying in London for 2.5 days because direct tickets to Paris were insanely expensive, then we're in Paris for 5 days and then Edinburgh for 6 days. Most of us have been to Paris and London before, but not for a long time. None of us have been to Scotland. Trip is from April 22 - May 5. Thanks!

Just quick -- When is the trip? That makes a difference. But assuming it isn't either August or the dead of winter just one comment for now - With a group that large renting a car and driving through bits of Scotland could be problematic. I'd base in Edinburgh the whole time and let the group come and go as they please and either take the train for day trips to places like Stirling - or use Rabbies for day trips (or maybe one of the 2 or 3 days tours) to lots of places.

https://www.rabbies.com/en/scotland-...urgh/day-tours

They do small group tours (16 or fewer passengers)

April 22-May 5. Thank you!

Oh -- forgot . . . Welcome to Fodors

Re London with really only two days free there you won't have much time to see/do much or try many restaurants. What sorts of cuisine/budget do you have in mind, and where are you staying?

It looks like you are going to be in Scotland that first weekend in May. May 1 is a Bank Holiday so I'd be booking hotels very soon if you haven't already. A list of main sites in/near Edinburgh would include among others - The Royal Mile/Castle/Whisky Centre/St Giles Cathedral/Holyrood Palace/Museum of Scotland (all up hill in the Old Town); Princes Street Gardens/National GalleryBotanic Gardens/Royal Yacht Britannia (all downhill in the New Town or on the Firth); Stirling Castle, St Andrews, Glasgow -- each an easy day trip from Edinburgh by public transport.

Re restaurants in Edinburgh -- as in London, they have everything from kebob take aways to Michelin starred places so again types of food/budget.

Thanks so much! Looks like our hotel in London is in Bloomsbury. We're pretty flexible in terms of budget, but at the same time none of us are into food enough to spend a ton of money on a single meal - maybe we'll do one fancy / expensive meal the entire trip. We're open to different cuisines - we're hoping to have great Indian food and fish and chips in London, lots of kebabs, and at least one classic French meal in Paris, and we all like Mediterranean food and meals of small plates / appetizers at a bar. 2 people on the trip are vegetarians but we don't have to eat all our meals together.

Thanks so much! We're staying in Bloomsbury in London. We are pretty flexible in terms of budget, but at the same time none of us are into food enough to spend a ton of money on it - we were thinking of having one fancy / expensive meal the entire trip. We're open to different cuisines - we want to have Indian food and fish and chips in London, kebabs anywhere, and at least one classic French meal in Paris. We all gravitate toward Mediterranean food and like to have meals of appetizers / small plates at bars. We have 2 vegetarians in the group, but they can usually find something to eat on any menu and we don't have to eat all of our meals together.

Dashing out so more later -- but especially in London and Edinburgh there won't be an issue since just about every menu will have Vegetarian and Vegan options

I know this is a silly question, but do you really need to visit Paris? It seems it would be so easy to add more time to London and then head north, taking a train to York (a great city!!) before heading to Edinburgh and beyond. There's so much to see in Scotland -- in addition to gorgeous countryside, more cities (Glasgow!) and towns.

Hi--I am leaving for Edinburgh, London, (Amsterdam) and Paris on Saturday for 3 1/2 weeks. I have been to all except Edinburgh numerous times.Solo traveler, 29+++++++. Use booking.com always.I tend to stay in one city 4-6 days in an apt especially with washer, close to subway/metro/tube. Not a big foodie at all. That said Edinburgh: 5 days doing the normal tourist things. Highlight will be day trip to Hadrian's Wall and Stirling Castle. London since it has been almost 10 years since I was there going to V&A, Abbey, Tower. Highlight for me is Brighton which for some reason I have always wanted to go to and seeing a musical. Outlying areas/cities are fabulous but have already been. Amsterdam is the whole focus of the trip as the tulips will be bloom. Paris: went in Nov 2021 and had to come home early as I hurt my leg, so finishing up Fontainbleu, Chantilly, Senlis and Giverny. I will be in Paris in November for a month just hanging out.

Best advice I think I could give is: tourist sites are still timed entry and you are going at a popular time so I would book sites. Accommodations are expenseive whjen you will be there. Book ASAP Trains in some parts of europe increase prices the closer to the travel date, check it out now and/or airfare. Youtube: I spend lots of time looking at quirky places in..., best street food in...best flea markets in... etc. In a large city I generally focus on one area so not constantly on transportation but walking and absorbing everyhting around me. Enjoy