December in Edinburgh

Get into the festive spirit with a seasonal getaway to Scotland’s capital.

Background

Over four hundred miles from London, and Edinburgh couldn’t be further from the hustle and bustle of life in The City. Don’t let this put you off though, as Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh still has plenty to offer all of its visitors, just at a more relaxed pace.

Getting there

There are many different ways to get to Edinburgh meaning that there are options for everyone.

Flights from London take little over an hour with over 40 airlines flying in and out of Edinburgh International Airport (edinburghairport.com). Look for deals as sometimes this can be an expensive option.

If you are on a budget and are the patient type, coach is often a cheaper way to travel. Both National Express (nationalexpress.com) and Megabus (uk.megabus.com) coaches have routes from around the UK to Edinburgh.

Another option is to travel by car if you are used to driving long distances. Be careful though, as parking in Edinburgh can be expensive and limited.

Perhaps the best option is to travel by train. Edinburgh’s Waverley station is situated right in the centre of the city, making it convenient and close to most things. East Coast (eastcoast.co.uk) run about two or three trains every hour from London King’s Cross. Virgin Trains (virgintrains.co.uk) also have regular services from London Euston. Trains direct from London take approximately 4 ½ hours.

Where to stay

Being such a large and popular city with tourists, there are no end of places to stay in Edinburgh. From Premier Inn (premierinn.com) to The Balmoral (roccofortehotels.com), there is something for all budgets.

Definitely worth a mention is Motel One, which has two hotels in Edinburgh (Royal and Princes), both located within a ten minute walk of Waverley station (motel-one.com).

What to do

While in Edinburgh over the Christmas season, a visit to the Christmas market in the Princes Street Gardens is a must! With all sorts of attractions and stalls, there is plenty to look at and do.

If it’s your first time in Scotland’s capital, make sure you hop on a bus tour (edinburghtour.com). The average price is £14 per person with tickets available for one hour tours, 24 hours or even 48 hours, each allowing you to hop on and off at any stop.

One of the landmarks of Edinburgh, is of course Edinburgh Castle (edinburghcastle.gov.uk). Take some time to wander around and take in the history of one of the city’s most iconic symbols. Guided tours and audio guides are available to help you make sense of the vast place. The average entry ticket cost is £16.

Useful information

Remember that Edinburgh, especially in December, is not somewhere for a warm beach getaway. It will get especially cold so take plenty of warm clothing and jumpers to ensure you get the most out of your trip. An umbrella would also be useful as the weather can be unpredictable.