Spring is now here, and you may be in the middle of planning your holidays for the year, but you do not need to wait or travel far to find somewhere worth visiting in the UK. Edinburgh is known for its beautiful medieval architecture and hilltop castle, but many people do not know it is also one of Britain’s most walkable cities, making it very easy to commute without a car.
I grew up in Edinburgh, and one mistake I see visitors make every year is staying close to the city centre and not taking advantage of the buses to go and see the less busy parts of the city. One of my favourite places is Portobello, the seaside outskirts of Edinburgh, which looks stunning with lots of things to do but not many tourists consider visiting.
Portobello is known for its Victorian prom and beautiful white beach, which are perfect to visit now that the weather is getting warmer.
My favourite thing about the area is that there are not many chains, so it is the perfect place to explore if you enjoy quirky independent shops.
As a massive book reader, I love the Portobello Bookshop. You are guaranteed to find something interesting there, and right next door is Tanifiki, a very cosy coffee shop known for its Rwandan coffee beans.
Dave, a resident of Edinburgh who grew up in Portobello, said: “The promenade is worth walking down as there is always something different happening, and it always looks beautiful no matter the weather.”
He added: “Prince’s Street Gardens are lovely, but I would prefer walking to Figgate Park, which has great views but almost never has any tourists.”
Leonie, another resident of Edinburgh for over five years, said: “For food, my favourite place is the Shrimp Wreck in Portobello, but who doesn’t love seafood?”
However, the great thing about Edinburgh is that crowds can be avoided even within walking distance of the city centre, as long as you know the best places to go.
One of my favourite spots is the Willow Tearooms, which has a spectacular view of Edinburgh Castle. However, it is easily overlooked, so many tourists do not know about it.
Another very peaceful place, despite being only a few steps away from bigger tourist attractions, is Dunbar’s Close Garden. It is a beautiful place hidden near the Royal Mile that is great to walk around.
If you want to go somewhere historic other than the National Museum, I recommend visiting Mary King’s Close. It is a spooky underground street where residents were quarantined during the Black Death, and it is now believed to be haunted.
Leonie said: “I really love the Queen’s Drive path around Arthur’s Seat, especially by the loch where you can sit by one of the smaller hills and read. Even if it gets busy, it is usually very peaceful!”
Now in spring is the perfect time to visit Edinburgh, as the weather is warm. Peak season has not started yet, so you can enjoy the city without the crowds you see in summer.