Accommodation in Edinburgh – apartments and guest houses
Hotels and hostels are often booked up months in advance in the Scottish capital – where does this leave the curious traveler looking for accommodation in Edinburgh?
Wimdu offer a wide range of apartments, bed and breakfast accommodation and guest houses in the centre of Edinburgh. Our Wimdu hosts are passionate about life in Edinburgh and can help recommend how to get the best out of your stay in the city. By staying at a Wimdu apartment or guesthouse, you get to live like a local. Instead of staying in a hotel in Edinburgh, why not wake up in a genuine Edinburgh apartment, hit the town for some brunch and get a feel for what it is really like to live in one of Europe’s most exciting cities.
Fun Facts
Edinburgh hosts the largest street party in the world on New Year’s Eve.
The name ‘caddy’ as in ‘golf caddy’ came from men in Edinburgh carrying pales of water up to apartments.
Many creatively minded people have drawn inspiration from Edinburgh and have called it home at some point. Most notably JK Rowling and Mark E. Smith.
Edinburgh’s population doubles to a million people during its August arts festival.
Receiving over a million visitors a year, Scotland’s capital city of
Edinburgh is the second most popular tourist destination in the UK. It’s not hard to see why – Edinburgh has it all – a rich history, several internationally renowned festivals and many miles of beautiful streets. It was spared much of the effects of industrialization in the 19th and 20th centuries and has consequently managed to keep its beauty and old world style. It is so beautiful in fact that it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Situated on 7 hills (a fact locals claim makes them comparable to Rome), Edinburgh has a dramatic feel and some of its most famous landmarks tower high above the city, perched atop these hills. Edinburgh is a busy place to visit at any time of the year and it is often very hard to find somewhere to stay, especially during festival season where the city is alive with music and comedy.
A wealth of things to do
What is there to see in Edinburgh? Well, you’re probably aware of the spectacular
Edinburgh Military Tattoo,
Arthurs Seat,
Camera Obscura and
The Scottish National Gallery. These should be on every visitor to Edinburgh’s to-do list! Walking around the
Medieval Old Town and
New Town areas of the city, sampling the high quality local cuisine on the
Royal Mile and visiting the
Scottish Parliament are also highly recommended, as is Edinburgh Castle. What about underneath the surface of Edinburgh? Have you heard of the
National Monument of Scotland? More commonly known as Edinburgh’s Parthenon, this half-finished replica of the Parthenon in Athens sits atop Calton Hill, close to the city centre. It is spectacular in scale and, despite not being finished, is a fitting tribute to Scotland’s fallen soldiers in the Napoleonic wars. Another of Edinburgh’s less well-known sights is William Street, a quaint street with a selection of boutique shops known only to the most intrepid of tourists. The Dominion Cinema is a family-run cinema with an evocative 1930s art deco interior, leather sofas and an interesting program of screenings. As you explore will more than likely come across the statue of
Greyfriars Bobby, on Candlemaker Row, which commemorates the dog that guarded his masters grave for 14 years.
A city of festivals
Edinburgh’s impressive list of festivals deserves special mention. Each August the city hosts the biggest arts festival in the world. The festival is divided into the
Edinburgh International Festival,
Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the
Edinburgh International Book Festival. These festivals are highly regarded and many top international acts perform each year. The Fringe Festival deserves special mention. 2,695 shows were performed over 279 venues in 2012 and the festival is known as the place to see cutting edge comedy and theatre. The festival is ‘unjuried’ meaning any type of performance is permitted. This leads to many experimental performances and a walk around the town on any given night of the festival will prove enlightening, frightening and exciting.
Edinburgh – your gateway to Scotland
Why not make the most of your trip and visit some of Scotland’s other fantastic sights? The picturesque city of
St Andrews is a short trip away to the north of Edinburgh. The journey is extremely beautiful and you pass by the awe-inspiring Lomond Hills.
Glasgow is to the west of Edinburgh and is a bustling, friendly town with a renowned music scene and diverse nightlife. To the West further are Scotland’s
Hebridean islands which feature some of the UK’s most unspoilt, dramatic scenery. Scottish people are known for their friendliness, hospitality and our Wimdu hosts are no different!
Getting to and around Edinburgh
Edinburgh Airport is Scotland’s busiest airport and is 12 miles from Edinburgh city centre. Trains also serve Edinburgh well from all parts of the United Kingdom. The bus is the main mode of transport in Edinburgh, something we should all be thankful given the large amount of hills everywhere! Lothian buses are efficient and easy to use, but if you have the opportunity it is nice to walk around the city as it isn’t that big and there are plenty of hidden gems to discover.
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