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Next Up? Edinburgh, Scotland

07/02/13 | bucket list, Europe, The Met, Travel, Travel Plans

Travel is one thing I am extremely passionate about. I have had the opportunity to visit four continents and I would love to see the other three before I am 30.  I have a travel bucket list that you love, espeically when I do my past adventure series. I update it periodically but recently I have added a new destination to the list:  Edinburgh, Scotland.

It is a new destination on my list for three reasons:  the first is that in my favorite book, A Prisonor of Birth by Jeffery Archer, a main character  Sir Nicholas Moncrieff, is from Scotland, which I recently listened to for the third time on Audible.  Second, when I made my brother the photo book of his study abroad in Europe last fall for Christmas I realized that Edinburgh has some beautiful sites.  Finally, I noticed on my Pinterest board Places I Want to Go many of the images I have pinned are from Edinburgh.  Enough reasons for you?  It was for me!

This capital city is gorgeous and while I am not quite ready to book a flight across the pond I have been   looking at places to stay and the idea of staying in a authentic Scottish guest house makes the trip even exciting  – I am in love with some of the options on Venere.  I did not take any of these pictures, as I have not been to Ediburgh yet but hopefully one day I will have similar shots.

These are the five best things to do in Edinburgh as compiled from a list of primary and secondary sources. When I vist the city I am unsure of how many days I will have so I would have but I would try and fit as many of these in as possible! Here are the top things I would want to do:

(1)  Edinburgh Castle.  

I would willingly pay the high admission price to go inside its’ blackened stone walls to see the the Honours, or crown jewels of Scotland. I have been to the Tower of London (here) on two occasions and love looking at the priceless gems.  I hear that you should visit on weekdays and be suer to be there at 1 p.m. to see the gun firing. Noted.

(2) Museum of Scotland

The Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art) is my favorite museum in New York City because of the vast quantity  quality, and diversity of pieces on display I would absolutely want to go see the 2,000 years of history on display.  Plus, it is free!

(3) Holyroodhouse Palace
I did not think the castles in Disney farytales could possibly be as regal as they seem in cartoon form until I visited the Palace Versailles outside of Paris.  Wow.  The amount of opulence, weath, and class house in one building is astonishing.  Since this fateful visit, I have loved touring castles and palaces and as this is where The Royal Family stays while visiting Edinburgh I would absolutely want to visit!

(4) Arthur’s Seat

Do not be mistaken, I DO NOT hike but this summit — which actually sits atop an extinct volcano – I would classify as one of those “when in Rome…” things.  I automatically asumed, as apparently many do, that the name is in reference to King Arthur but, unfortunatelym it does not.  However, this would not deter me from a visit.  Apparently the 360-degree views at the top are worth and the crumbling remains of St. Anthony’s Chapel are beautiful.

(5) The Royal Mile 

Sweeping from the high-on-a-hill Edinburgh Castle to the Holyroodhouse Palace, the Royal Mile is one of the most famous streets in the world and, I am told, must see for all visitors to Edinburgh. Since this is in the Old Town, the historic heart of the city, and the center of everything my ideal trip would involve a hotel on this strip.

Oh, and in case you needed any more reasons US News & World Report ranked
Edinburgh  #13 in World’s Best Places to Visit, here. 
Have you visited Edinburgh?  Which of these sites would top your list? 

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Comments

  1. Kelsey Eaton says

    July 5, 2013 at 6:15 pm

    Ooh Scotland would be amazing!

  2. Janna Renee says

    July 4, 2013 at 12:59 pm

    I’ve been there and it’s awesome! You are going to love it 😉

  3. EMA says

    July 3, 2013 at 12:36 pm

    Wow Edinburgh looks so beautiful! I need to add this to my bucket list

    http://www.themirroronthewall.com

  4. ifs ands Butts says

    July 3, 2013 at 11:17 am

    Definitely would be magical!

  5. Jessica Mattioli says

    July 3, 2013 at 8:56 am

    Wow, amazing photos! Love it <3

    The Fashion Heels
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  6. erica says

    July 3, 2013 at 8:51 am

    I have never been, but would love to go… plus it helps I have family there. I just need to get over my fear of planes haha. xx

  7. Lucie Srbová says

    July 3, 2013 at 4:26 am

    Scotland is very beatiful. I am planning to move there in September. 🙂
    Style Without Limits
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  8. Style is... says

    July 3, 2013 at 1:39 am

    This looks amazing! Although I live in the Uk, I have never visited Edinburgh and any of these places, really must do.

  9. Cake Couture says

    July 2, 2013 at 10:12 pm

    The Royal Mile! Great pics!
    xoxo

    http://www.cakeandcouture.com

  10. Kirsty says

    July 2, 2013 at 8:25 pm

    I just love Edinburgh! Such a beautiful city with so much life!
    If only it was warmer! I hope you get there soon Kelly, it’s such a fun place!
    x Kirsty
    http://geelongfashionista.com

  11. CaninesCouture says

    July 2, 2013 at 8:24 pm

    Jelly! Am dying to go to Edinburgh.

    xoxo,

    Jules of Canines & Couture
    http://www.caninesandcouture.com

  12. Sam says

    July 2, 2013 at 7:02 pm

    Hi Kelly, we share a passion for traveling. I didn’t have Edinburgh on my list before but after seeing these exquisite and scenic images, I just have to add it on. One day I hope 🙂

  13. Kate says

    July 2, 2013 at 4:41 pm

    wow great post, I’ve always liked the idea of visiting edinburgh, but now I think I have to check it out a little more;)
    xx Kate

    The Style Department

  14. Nicola Marleen says

    July 2, 2013 at 2:24 pm

    Wow amazing photographs! Ediburgh really looks like a place to go to!!

    xx nicola

    http://www.alpenglowsummit.com

  15. Laura @ Chaotic Domestic says

    July 2, 2013 at 1:18 pm

    That sounds like it would be an amazing trip! Looks beautiful! That would definitely be on my list too! (My list keeps getting longer!)

  16. Fabrizia says

    July 2, 2013 at 12:07 pm

    Such an amazing and wonderful city!
    Come back soon to visit me on Cosa Mi Metto???
    Win your favorite iPaint cover!!!

  17. Helene says

    July 2, 2013 at 11:21 am

    scotland is gorgeous! I absolutely love it!

  18. dim_3fs says

    July 2, 2013 at 11:16 am

    Great post!!! I love Edinburgh!!!

    dim_3fs from http://www.3forfabulousfashion.blogspot.com

    I just followed you in bloglovin!

  19. TheTinyHeart says

    July 2, 2013 at 9:33 am

    Edingburgh Castle definitely looks like a site to see! Scotland looks like a beautiful place.

    -Sharon
    The Tiny Heart

  20. bashashhazbaz says

    July 2, 2013 at 9:32 am

    yeah, scotland is high on my bucket list of places to visit, too and this post makes me want to go even more! 🙂 great post–loved it!

  21. Heidi says

    July 2, 2013 at 9:10 am

    Scotland was actually the next on our list along with Ireland, but that changed when we decided on an adventure for our honeymoon of sorts. My fiance is half Irish and a quarter Scottish so he’s wanted to visit for a very long time. However, we are headed to Australia for three weeks in September instead. We decided to travel instead of have a big wedding so Australia seemed like the place to go considering it is so expensive and a once in a lifetime excursion. I lived there while in college, but my fiance has never been. Hopefully once we get back from that trip we can be back on track to start making plans for a trip to Scotland because I still really want to go! It looks absolutely beautiful!

  22. Erica Boselli says

    July 2, 2013 at 9:00 am

    Wow! Incredible places!!! Love it! *_*

  23. Jackie l Food.Wine.Fashion says

    July 2, 2013 at 8:43 am

    So glad you brought this up! I need to expand my travel desires and after traveling to Europe for the first time last month I def have the travel bug.

    xo Jackie

  24. Annie says

    July 2, 2013 at 6:50 am

    Now you have me wanting to go to Scotland 🙂 It looks beautiful!

    Annie
    The Other Side of Gray

  25. JustJaslin says

    July 2, 2013 at 6:42 am

    I haven’t thought of Edinburgh before, but maybe now I do! The pictures all look so pretty!

    many kisses
    ♡ Jaslin from http://www.justjaslin.com

  26. Chrissie says

    July 2, 2013 at 6:05 am

    Hi 🙂 – I love scotland!!

    Greets from the EDELFABRIK
    Chrissie

Hi, I am Kelly and welcome to Sparkles and Shoes, a fashion, travel, and lifestyle blog.  I am a New York City girl at heart but I moved to London in the Spring of 2018!

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