Destinations

Travelling Back in Time

By the time I left Edinburgh, it was one of my favourite cities.
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With only one month left on my student visa, I am trying to enjoy every second I have left in the UK. For me, that means lots of travelling, because who knows when I’ll have a chance to come back.

Recently, I visited Edinburgh, Scotland. I did not know what to expect, but by the time I left it was one of my favourite cities.  Edinburgh feels as though it’s straight out of a fairy tale. I could picture kings and queens residing in the castle, or inn owners throwing chamber pot waste into the streets. The Royal Mile is the famous road that creates a downward slope from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace and Holyrood Abbey. It can be quite steep in some areas, so bring good walking shoes! Beautiful old buildings such as St. Giles’ Cathedral and Old College are also along that cobblestone road. This whole area, called Old Town, makes the city look medieval, but in the best sense of the word. I felt like I had been transported back in time.

The medieval architecture wasn’t the only thing I loved about Edinburgh. Scotland is famous for its scotch, and Edinburgh doesn’t disappoint with the Scotch Whisky Experience. The tour included a ride through the brewery and a whisky tasting at the end. The land surrounding Edinburgh is also incredible, especially for nature-lovers. Arthur’s Seat is the tallest in a group of hills that forms most of Holyrood Park. Hiking to the top was a trek, but was worth every step once I saw the beautiful view.

J. K. Rowling also has a huge presence in the city. The Elephant House is a coffee shop where Rowling wrote her early Harry Potter books. The names of many characters came from Greyfriars Kirkyard, including the infamous Tom Riddle. Next door to the graveyard was a school for orphans, which was the inspiration for Hogwarts. Walking throughout the city and seeing where Rowling got her ideas was unbelievably inspiring. It may have even motivated me to write this blog post!

For students like me travelling to Edinburgh, the Best Western Plus Edinburgh City Centre Bruntsfield Hotel is the perfect combination of location, price and convenience. Overlooking a park near the city centre of Edinburgh, the hotel is within walking distance of Edinburgh’s many attractions including Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street and The Royal Mile.

If you're looking for more inspiration for a short city break, take a look at our guide of what to do in Edinburgh where you'll find details of more things to do, great shopping, eating and drinking, culture and nightlife, plus details of all Best Western Edinburgh hotels.

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