Why is Edinburgh one of the best places to visit during the pandemic?
Edinburgh is the capitol of Scotland, with a population of around 500,000 people. Edinburgh is the second most visited city in the UK and has a load of tourist attractions that are ready to go with as soon as the pandemic restrictions have been lifted. If you are looking for a free attraction, then the Royal botanic gardens are perfect for you. The gardens are home to 13,500 species of different flowers, which have been found and built over centuries of exploration. There is lots of safety measures in place for the pandemic, in line with government guidelines.
There are hand sanitors throughout the gardens, with a one system in place in the garden. The tickets must be purchased online although they are free, and the time slots get released weekly every Thursday on their website.
If you cannot visit the gardens, then there is an online shop where you can purchase stories about the gardens. Further information about the botanic gardens is available on their website.
If you are looking for a paid attraction, then there is no better than the Edinburgh Castle. The castle is Scotland’s number one paid tourist attraction, and the won the UK heritage attraction award. One of the famous attractions is the 1 o clock gun, which fires at 1:00 PM every day to remember the ships that set their maritime clocks in line with the gun.
Advanced bookings are done online, and if you are unable to book a ticket, there is a digital tour available on there website to view as well. The castle is easily commutable via bus, tram, and train. Any further information about the castle can be found their website.
If you are looking for animals, then Edinburgh Zoo is a great place to visit. The Zoo is the only place in the UK that has giant pandas and has 2,500 endangered species. The Zoo also has the largest penguin pool, in 82 acres of wooded hillside.
The Zoo has also taken steps to stay open whilst following local guidelines, by having a reduced capacity, a one-way route system and has pre booking where you must book online. There are also ticket stations to reduce human contact. Information on booking this can also be found on their website.
Edinburgh is also to explore the streets of Dean Village, which features things such as old industrial water mills. The industrial past can be seen with its architecture and stones plaques decorated. If you do visit the area, then make sure to bring your camera.
One of the nicer restaurants in Edinburgh is the Kitchin, which is a Michelin starred restaurant. The area is overlooking the Leith waterfront, which is full of Edinburgh’s trendier hangout spots. The restaurant is the 19th best restaurant in Edinburgh according to trip advisor, and is named after the chef, Joe KItchin. The food is some of the best in city, and you can buy their cookbooks at the reception of the restaurant. The chef tasting special menus are also highly recommended.
The area of Leith also has a Pitt market every Saturday, which has live music, street food and local beers available, although there is a small entry fee of £2 per adult, kids and dogs get free entry.
Edinburgh is a fantastic city, and is one that is worth the visit, whether you are waiting for the pandemic to finish, or just in need of a break, Then Edinburgh is one of the best places to go.
