Edinburgh : second greatest city - the Capital of Scotland

Today I want to introduce you this amazing city: Edinburgh. Actually, it's one of my favourite city of Scotland.

Edinburgh is at the same time an old-style and modern city, and mainly known as the capital of Scotland.

First of all, I'm going to give you advice about all the conveniences, then I'll show you all the restaurants and places to go to enjoy your stay!

How could you get there?

It's really easy to go to Edinburgh. In fact, you have lots of different ways to get to Edinburgh.

The first one, if you're not settled in the country itself, is the plane. You'll fly until Edinburgh airport. Then a bus will pick you up to drive you downtown. You may count about £6 for the bus trip.

Then, whether you live in Glasgow, you've the bus at your disposal. In fact, less than about 4 months ago, the bus company created a link Glasgow-Edinburgh. It's really convenient for the people living next to Buchanan Bus station and it's also cheaper than the train (the trip is a little bit longer, however).

You may count £4 for the single ticket, £6 go and return.

You have lots of departures from Buchanan Bus station, Bus n°900, Citylink. Stances 48/49. Every 15min. This one will bring you on Princes Street or Edinburgh bus station.

For more details about the timetables, check here : http://www.citylink.co.uk/timetables/Winter14/FINAL_Winter2014_GlasgowEdinburgh_8pp.pdf

As well, you can catch the train from Glasgow Central or Queen Street stations, for the ones living in Glasgow. It's really convenient in so far as, the trains are going every 15min from Glasgow Queen Street and Glasgow Central. 
On the other hand, there are lots of trains from Ayr, Aberdeen and much more cities all over Scotland as well.

Prices from Glasgow: £12 for the single ticket, about £12.50 return.
Prices from Ayr: about £25/£30 return tickets.

How could you get around in and outside the city ?

Diffferent ways of transportations are offered to you.

Firstly, you've numerous buses which allow you to move all around the city. However, it's not the only way to get around the city. Indeed, you've the tramline as well, besides the main street of the capital, in the New Town.

Nevertheless, unlike Glasgow, you don't have any subway.

However, obviously, you've got the train. The main train station is situated in the city centre and is called Waverley Station, its trains will take you everywhere you want within the UK.

Finally, you've got the plane. The main airport in the capital is Edinburgh airport, it's situated at about 25 minutes from the city-centre. In order to get there, you may take a bus: The Airlink 100 express and N22 night buses reach Waverley Bridge in about 25 minutes. You can take the Arlink 100 near the Scots monument on Princes Street also. 

Count about £6. Frequency: every 15 minutes.

Otherwise, you can take the tram on Princes Street or Edinburgh Park and then going until Edinburgh airport stop.  

Fare: Adult single £5, adult return £8. Frequency: every 8-12 minutes.

Once arrived to the airport you can go everywhere you want or merely go back home: a lot of destinations are linked to this airport.

Good news : flights going to London up to £15 !

Where could you find an accomodation ?

Actually, you have different choices, as the following :

- The youth hostels from £8/night. Some are really well situated and at the heart of Edinburgh.

Here are the main youth hostels you can find, however it's not an exhaustive list:

https://kickasshostels.co.uk/

http://www.edinburghcitycentrehostels.co.uk/ 

http://smartcityhostels.com/

https://www.syha.org.uk/

Kickasshostels is the cheapest I know, and as well it's really well settled in the city.

- Hostels: quit expensive, you can find them all around the city.

- Air bnb: less expensive than hostels, with a good quality. https://www.airbnb.fr/ 

Edinburgh is not a huge city, so you can stay either in the Old Town or in the New Town, you won't be so far from all the facilities.

Where could you eat ?

- The elephant house: J.K.Rowling wrote parts of Harry Potter’s saga in this place. 

Really cosy and good atmosphere. Also, reasonable prices for having a drink or a snack.

Address: 21 George IV Bridge.

Prices: between £5-£15 for a meal

- Dirty dicks: a funny name for a pub on Rose Street with fancy decoration. This one offers as well as drinks, different typical scottish meals.The food and service are really good ! Go for it :)

Prices: between £7-£15 for a meal.

- You have a lot of different pubs which are offering meals as well on Rose Street for instance, but not only there, you can find them out everywhere in Edinburgh. You will find of course different fast food all around the city too. 

Here is a great article about good places to go for eating in Edinburgh : http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/oct/12/10-best-restaurants-food-edinburgh (The Guardian).

What are the best places to visit in here ?

Here are the few things you can’t avoid.

 Beside the Royal Mile: 

- Edinburgh castle: actually, it's a citadel settled on an extinct volcano. Its architecture is really amazing and on top of this place you have a beautiful view of all over the city. I really encourage you to go there, it's the unavoidable place of the Scottish's capital.
However, bad point... the entrance is quit expensive: £16, and no student’s fares are offered. Of course, you're not obliged to get in the castle, but there are some beautiful spaces and rooms to see.

-  Camera obscura: basically, it’s an attraction based on optical illusion, just below the castle. It’s a really funny experience for adults and children. Price: £12.

-  Scotch whisky experience: settled just next to the castle, this museum will show you how the whisky is made and prepared. And surprise, you will be offered a great degustation during the presentation. 

-  St Gile’s cathedral: an amazing ancient church in the Old Town.

 - The Scottish Parliament: in front of Holyroodhouse Palace. It was inaugurated in 2004, the architecture is tremendous, and it’s one of the most modern Parliament of Europe. You can go visit it inside, and you can attend the session if you’ve booked it before. The entrance is free.

-  Palace of Holyroodhouse: it’s the official accommodation of the Queen when she spends time in Edinburgh, generally in July. You can visit this castle, however the entrance is £11, but it’s a good place to see. £13 if you want a guided tour of the gardens.

Old town:

-   Grass market neighbourhood: from 1477 to 1911 the scottish market took place there. Less poetic, in the 17’s century, executions happened in that place too.

Currently, there are a lot of pubs, terraces and restaurants in this area, you can go for a walk there, it's a really pleasant place.

  

 - National museum of Scotland: this is the main museum of Scotland. From Pleist, to modern’s paintings. For everyone taste! Timetable: 10:00am - 5:00pm. Free entrance. 

- Typical shops all around the old town.

New town:

-  Princes Street: the best place in Edinburgh to go shopping. There is also Scott's monument, a tremendous architecture. From this street, you'll have an amazing view of the old town, especially at night. 

- Rose street: you'll find there lots of typical pubs. Fancy of beers, this is your place!

- Charlotte Square: in here, you can find out the Buteh House, which is the official residence of the Scottish Prime Minister. By the way, I advise you to go to the Moray Place, Ainslie Place and Drummond Place as well which are in the area.

- Scottish National Gallery on Princes Street. Free entrance.

-  Walter Scott’s memorial, also known as Scott monument, on Princes Street. You can go at the top of this monument, the ticket costs £3. 

-  Calton Hill: amazing view of all the city, in the Regent Garden. 

Coming later: night out in Edinburgh
Version en français, très prochainement

Read More

Unknown 12:18  2 comments

Glasgow part 2 - Get around the city, sightseeing

How could you get around in and outside the city ?

You have different ways to move in Glasgow.
 
- Firstly, you have numerous bus stops in the city. Just know that the tickets are quiet expensive in Scotland. For more details about the city bus network, check the following website : http://www.spt.co.uk/bus/bus-stations/buchanan-bus-station/

- You have also at your disposal the subway, which you can take in Buchanan Street to go to the West End (Buchanan Street and St Enoch stops to Hillhead stop), it’s not the parisian subway, so don’t worry about being lost ! £3 go and return.
 
- Think about the taxis for your parties in nighclubs for instance, or if you want to go at the other side of the city. If you’re a lot to take a taxi, it won’t be expensive at all, so enjoy it !

Other put money into a bicycle, but the best way and the easier, finally, is walking !

- On the other hand, if you wish to live in Glasgow even if you will study in an other city around Glasgow, just know that the train network in Scotland is well developped. From my experience, being student in UWS Ayr campus, I’m taking 3 times each week the bus or train (it depends the hour, I’ll explain you in more details below) and it’s really convenient. £14 go and return on rush hours, £10.40 in normal hours. I advice you to subscribe to the 16-25 railcard which cost £30 the year and you have 33% of discount on your trips ! So I’m just paying 6.85£ thanks to this card to go to my uni, and detaining this card is a big advantage if you want to travel accross Scotland and even in all the UK !


Scotrail serves lots of cities and towns. Then you can move easily. From Glasgow, by train, the trip to go to Edinburgh lasts about 1 hour, to Ayr and Loch Lomond as well.
You can take the train from Central Station, Queen Street or Argyle Street.


For the people who will have course in Ayr or Paisley you have also buses which regularly leave from Buchanan bus station. £10.80 go and return to Ayr, £43 the 10 trips card.

Otherwise, I thought about carsharing with your uni scottish pals who have a car, or the Uber app.


What can you visit ?

West End :
First at all, Glasgow is plentiful of museums. And you’re lucky, in fact, they are all free (it allows you to avoid paying a fortune for them if you’re quickly getting bored in museums). The one I advice you to visit is Kelvingrove museum, which is next Glasgow university in the West End. Different painting, sculptures, expositions about civilisations are available.

Unavoidable : take a walk around Glasgow uni and its park « Kelvingrove park », it’s a very impressive university, same style as the one of Harry Potter’s manor !

Still in the Wes End, I suggest you to visit the Botanic Gardens and the church Oran Mor which has been turned into a pub.

City-centre :

Concerning the museums, I suggest you to go to The Gallery of Modern Art as well. It’s situated on Queen Street, city-centre. From my point of view this museum is interesting, but there is nothing crazy, just some modern art expositions (sculptures, paintings, drawings…), the museum is a little too small.





 


Also, go for a walk at the edge of the Clyde to chill out, or esle, along Buchan Street and Sauchiehall Street which are abundant regarding shops. At the same time, you should go for a stroll at Prince’s Square a luxurious shopping mall on Buchanan Street.





Don’t miss George Square where is the amazing and impressive town hall.
Concerning the walk, you may go to the Merchant City near the city-centre which is a gorgeous and typical neighbourhood (yeah I succedeed to write this word !!).

East-End :

Also, take a look at « Necropolis », it is located nearby Glasgow Royal Infirmary. By the way, visit St Mungo’s cathedral and its museum St Mungo’s museum of religious life and art. Both free entrance.
Easter, you should go to Glasgow Green, this garden where the Rangers (1873) and the Celtic (1888) (Le Routard) were born. In October, you will attend Glasgow Green firework in order to celebrate Guy Fawk tradition ! 

Finally, inescapable, the Celtic Park, the famous football stadium of Glasgow.  Plan a day to watch a match.

 
Others: 

After all, Scotland means beers and whisky. That’s why you have to get around a distillery or a beer manufactury to see how are they produced. I’ve been to Auchentoshan distillery, which is 15 minutes by taxi from Glasgow, and I confirm you that it’s a good address to go.
They will explain you how the whisky is produced, show you the place, and in bonus at the end you will have a savouring !

And for the people who will come in Glasgow in June, join me at « The West End Festival », 15 days of free outside concerts !

And please, don’t leave Glasgow before trying fish and chips !


Next post:

Where should you go for your night out?
Other tips


 ----------------------------------------------------------------


Se déplacer dans la ville et à l'extérieur

Différents moyens s'offrent à vous pour vous déplacer intra-muros.

Premièrement, vous avez de nombreux arrêts de bus dans la ville, sachez que les tickets de bus sont assez chers en Ecosse. Pour plus de renseignements sur les réseaux de bus, rendez-vous ici : http://www.spt.co.uk/bus/bus-stations/buchanan-bus-station/


Vous avez également à votre disposition le métro, que vous pouvez prendre sur Buchanan Street pour vous rendre dans le West end. (arrêt buchanan street, st enoch jusqu'à hillead), c'est pas le métro parisien, aucun risque de se perdre! 3£ aller-retour.
 



Pensez aux taxis pour vos rentrées de boîtes par exemple ou si vous allez à l'autre bout de la ville à plusieurs, les taxis ne sont pas très onéreux à Glasgow donc profitez-en! 

D'autres encore investissent dans un vélo, mais rien ne vaut la marche!

D'autre part, si vous souhaitez vivre à Glasgow même si vous étudiez dans une autre ville, sachez que le réseau de train est très adapté. De part mon expérience, comme j'étudie à UWS Ayr, je prends 3 fois par semaine le train/bus selon les jours (je vous expliquerez par la suite comme s'y rendre en bus) et cela se fait très bien. £14 pour aller à Ayr aller retour en rush hour ou £10.40 après 10h du matin. Je vous conseille de prendre une railcard 16-25 qui coûtent £30 que vous rentabiliserez très rapidement notamment si vous allez en cours en train, et que vous souhaitez parcourir l'Ecosse de toute sa longueur! 

Avec la railcard aller-retour £6.85.

Le train Ecossais dessert de très nombreuses villes et de nombreux villages. Vous pourrez donc vous déplacer facilement. De Glasgow comptez environ une heure pour aller à Edimbourg,  Ayr ou au Loch Lomond par exemple.




Pour ceux qui iront en cours à Ayr ou Paisley vous avez aussi des bus qui partent régulièrement de Buchanan Bus station. 10.80£ aller-retour pour aller à Ayr. Vous avez également une carte 10 trips à £43 pour faire des économies. Ligne X77.

Sinon j'ai pensé également au covoiturage avec des potes de fac qui sont écossais, ou bien avec l'application Uber.


Que visiter ?


West End

Alors tout d'abord, Glasgow regorge de musées. Et vous avez de la chance, ils sont gratuits (ça vous évite de payer une blinde si vous vous ennuyez rapidement dans les musées).

Celui que je conseille vraiment de faire est le Kelvingrove musum que j'ai fait avec un pote écossais, et qui est près de Glasgow university dans le West End. De nombreuses peintures, sculptures, expositions sur les civilisations sont présentes. 

Incontournable, faites une petite marche à pied autour de l'université de Glasgow et de son parc "Kelvingrove Park", elle est vraiment impressionnante, même style que le manoir d'Harry Potter.

Toujours dans le West End, je vous conseille de visiter les Botanic gardens et l'église transformée en pub Oran Mor. 

City-centre

Vous avez également The Gallery of Modern Art situé sur Queen street dans le city-centre. Rien de fou pour ma part, je m'attendais à mieux, vou y trouverez quelques expo d'arts moderne et contemporain (sculptures, peintures, dessins).

Promenez vous également au bord de la Clyde pour une bonne balade, ou bien le long des rues Buchanan street et Sauchiehall Street qui regorgent de boutiques qui donnent envie, et allez faire un petit tour au Prince's Square sur Buchanan Street qui est un centre commercial de luxe, à ne pas rater! 

Ne ratez pas George Square où se situe la splendide et imposante mairie de Glasgow.

Enfin, niveau balade, promenez vous dans le Merchant city, dans le centre ville qui est un quartier très typique, très agréable à visiter, j'adore!


East-end:

Le cimetière Nécropolis est aussi quelque chose à ne pas rater, il est situé près de la Royal Infirmary. Par la même occasion je vous conseille de visiter La cathédrale St Mungo et son musée "St Mungo's museum of religious life and art" , tous deux offrent une entrée gratuites et sont situés à côté de la Nécropolis.


Faite également un tour à Glasgow Green, ce jardin où les Rangers (1873) et le Celtic (1888) (Le Routard) ont vu le jour. En octobre vous pourrez assister au Glasgow Green firework pour fêter la tradition de Guy Fawkes! 

Pensez à vous rendre au Celtic Park, le fameux stade de football de Glasgow, prévoyez une journée pour aller voir un match.

 
Autres:

Pour finir, qui dit Ecosse... dit bière et whisky! C'est pourquoi faire le tour d'une distillerie ou bien d'une usine de bière est vraiment quelque chose à ne pas rater. Ayant moi-même vraiment apprécié la visite à Auchentoshan distillery, je vous confirme que c'est une bonne adresse où aller! On vous expliquera comment le whisky est fabriqué depuis l'orge jusqu'au whisky en bouteille. Vous aurez également droit à une visite des locaux. Et en prime, à la fin de votre balade, petite dégustation !

  Et pour ceux qui comptent venir à Glasgow en Juin, rejoignez-moi au "West End Festival", 15 jours de concerts gratuits en plein air!

Et s'il vous plaît, ne partez pas de Glasgow sans avoir testé un fish and chips !


Prochain article:
Où sortir le soir
Autres conseils

Read More

Unknown 13:04  1 comment