Final Up to date on 1st June 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
If there’s one factor you need to know earlier than visiting Edinburgh it’s that unhealthy climate days are frequent. Scotland on the whole experiences lots of rain all year long, even in the summertime months, resulting from its mountainous panorama. Nevertheless, this Gothic fairytale metropolis may be much more enchanting when explored within the rain. Right here’s your information on the right way to spend a wet day in Edinburgh (and nonetheless have enjoyable!)
How usually does it rain in Edinburgh?
Sometimes there are round 190 days of rain in Edinburgh in a yr, on common Scotland receives the very best annual quantity of rain in the UK, that means that, in the event you’re not planning to go to the Scottish capital throughout the summer season, it would in all probability rain a minimum of a few times throughout your go to.
That being stated…the climate in Scotland is fairly unpredictable! The rainiest months in Edinburgh are between October and February. You’ll want to carry a water-resistant jacket too! Due to town’s proximity to the ocean and its hilly panorama, it will probably get very windy, so umbrellas usually show ineffective in these situations.
Greatest wet day actions in Edinburgh
Tour a distillery
After all, whereas in Scotland one of many extra fascinating issues to do is take a tour round a whisky distillery. In spite of everything, the golden liquid is their greatest export and what the nation is finest recognized for worldwide, dwelling to over 150 energetic whisky distilleries!
Within the coronary heart of Edinburgh, two essential whisky distilleries are simple to achieve, each of that are pretty new additions to the whisky scene, that means you could get an actual sense of custom in addition to the brand new and thrilling methods distillers are working with at the moment.
Holyrood Distillery – This distillery was established in 2019, and like many distilleries that wait for his or her whisky to age (which legally has to for 3 years and 1 day), Holyrood began by making a scrumptious choice of easy, but tasty, gin! By the top of 2023 a fittingly named whisky, Holyrood Arrival got here out as their first launch.
A tour across the distillery takes round 1 hour and also you’ll be capable of pattern all types of spirits, from their gin to new make (un-aged whisky) and now their precise whisky. The tour is informative and enjoyable, and it’s fascinating to learn the way a brand new distillery is pushing the boundaries of experimenting with yeast and malt in relation to making whisky. Guide a whisky tour for Holyrood Distillery right here.
Port of Leith – That is Scotland’s tallest vertical distillery, which stands at 9 tales excessive. Uncommon for a distillery due to the large copper stills which are required to make the golden malt, Port of Leith sits proudly on the water’s edge and there’s additionally a bar on the eighth ground the place you possibly can sip on whisky with a view and luxuriate in scrumptious meals. Guide a tour and tasting for Port of Leith right here.
I might recommend visiting a whisky distillery regardless of whether or not or not you drink it, merely due to how wealthy and fascinating the cultural heritage and significance this alcoholic spirit holds. Nevertheless, one other nice distiller tour for whisky haters is to go to Lind & Lime, a gin distillery.
Head to a small museum
After all, when it’s raining among the best issues you are able to do is take shelter someplace ideally for sufficient time for the rainfall to move, and what higher place to take action than at a museum!
Edinburgh is stuffed with small and distinctive museums and can also be dwelling to the Nationwide Museum of Scotland, which showcases an enormous assortment of Scottish historical past and tradition. And, nearly all of these spots are free to enter! Listed here are some advised museums to go to throughout the rain:
- Surgeon’s Corridor Museum – One of the vital distinctive museums of town, this showcases one of many largest and most historic pathology collections within the UK. Not for the faint-hearted, in case you are fascinated by the human anatomy then right here, you possibly can see all of it in jars proper earlier than you! (£9.50 go to)
- The Author’s Museum – This tiny museum shows an perception into the life and works of a few of Scotland’s most beloved writers. (Free entry)
- Digicam Obscura – A world of phantasm’, this vacationer attraction on the Royal Mile was based in 1835 and is 5 tales of fascinating illusions and perception into the magic of the digital camera, in addition to among the best rooftop views of town (round £20 to go to).
- Museum of Childhood – That is the primary museum on the planet to specialise within the historical past of childhood, displaying a set of toys and playthings. (Free entry)
- Museum of Edinburgh – Showcasing the historical past of Edinburgh by means of a set of tales, pictures and objects. A spot the place locals can reminisce and vacationers can study. (Free entry)
- John Knox Home – A historic home that dates again to 1470, and the previous dwelling of a Scottish theologian and reformer within the sixteenth century. (£7 to go to)
- The Individuals’s Story Museum – This museum is a set which narrates the lives of Edinburgh’s working-class folks from the late 18th century to the current. (Free entry)
- Holyrood Palace – Though not technically a museum, this historic palace is the King’s official Scottish residence, and makes for an ideal approach to spend a few hours on a wet afternoon. (£22 to go to)
- Harry Potter Museum – A small store and exhibition house on Victoria Road which is dwelling to all issues Harry Potter associated, you’ll usually see queues outdoors the door! (Free entry, although there are paid excursions of Harry Potter places obtainable or you possibly can take your self on a self-guided tour)
Go to an artwork gallery
Fill your artistic thoughts by exploring a few of Edinburgh’s finest artwork galleries, stuffed with Scottish and worldwide artwork from way back to the 14th century to now. Listed here are a number of the essential galleries value trying out:
- Nationwide Galleries of Scotland – There are two buildings in entrance of each other, each showcasing Scottish and worldwide artwork that spans proper from the start of the Renaissance as much as the beginning of the twentieth century. (Free entry)
- Scottish Nationwide Portrait Gallery- Set inside a Neo-gothic palace, this lovely house homes the nationwide assortment of portraits and the nationwide assortment of pictures, most of that are by Scottish artists. (Free entry)
- Nationwide Galleries of Scotland One – There was two galleries till 2023, therefore the ‘one’ nevertheless, at the moment there’s only one, showcasing a everlasting assortment of up to date artwork in addition to rotating exhibitions. (Free entry)
- Stills – Devoted to exhibiting exhibitions on pictures, this gallery house additionally has a darkish room the place you should purchase workshops and discover the method of creating photographic movie. (Free entry)
- Fruitmarket – A up to date exhibition house that hosts a spread of worldwide and native up to date artists of all types of mediums. (Free to go to, exhibitions typically value)
- Talbot Rice – Owned by the College of Edinburgh, this exhibition house holds touring artists and their works, which are typically centred on cultural points. (Free entry, dependant on exhibitions)
- Metropolis Artwork Centre – A set of historic and fashionable Scottish work, pictures, sculpture and handcrafts. (Free entry)
- Dovecot – That is considered one of two working tapestry weaving studios that also exist in Britain. Set inside a former Victorian public bathhouse, this magical house is the place historical past is woven by a staff of full-time weavers who’re commissioned to create tapestries of well-known artworks, typically taking a number of months to finish! (Free entry to see the weaving ground, exhibitions are paid)
Take your self on a Harry Potter tour
No journey to Scotland’s capital can be full with out looking for a bit of little bit of Harry Potter within the very metropolis that impressed a lot of the story’s magical setting. Edinburgh is stuffed with so many Harry Potter places that you may simply spend a day taking your self on a wizard treasure hunt.
Begin at an historical cemetery the place many characters’ surnames from the books may be discovered is in, Greyfriars Kirkyard. Then close by there’s the Elephant Home Café which J.Ok. Rowling frequented to pen her novels within the backrooms of the café.
Candlemaker Row and Victoria Road are stated to have impressed Diagon Alley, although others have claimed that the inspiration for Diagon Alley comes from Gandy Road in Exeter, Devon. There are a number of different spots to see, and by merely simply strolling across the Gothic metropolis you’ll really feel the wizardry inspiration!
Discover historic pubs & take heed to people music
Public homes, beer and whisky are deeply rooted in Scottish tradition, and when it’s raining it’s not unusual to see everybody within the metropolis head to a comfy pub and luxuriate in a neighborhood Scottish beer whereas sheltering from the downpour. Listed here are only a few of my high spots of the place to go (and when/if they’ve reside music):
Malt & Hops, The Shore Leith – A private favorite, this pub dates again from 1749 and contained in the ceilings are coated in hops and there’s a roaring fire which is usually lit all through the winter months. Sometimes on a Sunday afternoon/night, the pub involves life with reside jazz music.
The Jolly Choose, The Royal Mile – Tucked away down one of many slim alleyways of the Royal Mile, this cosy little pub is about inside a historic sq. of tenement buildings and is among the finest spots to have a neighborhood ale and whisky.
The Black Cat, Rose Road New City – This small whisky bar is the one impartial pub left on this road, which is tucked away behind the primary excessive road of town. The most effective locations to pattern whisky! With a set of over 200 whiskies, they promote whisky flights, which implies you will get three totally different ones for an affordable worth. Additionally, there’s reside conventional people music virtually each night.
The Mom Superior, Leith – One other whisky haven, this pleasant and warming native pub is a reasonably new addition to the Edinburgh pub scene in comparison with most, however its whisky choice is huge! If you wish to get a dram from any nook of the world that is the place.
Go classic buying
The most well-liked and iconic locations to get classic garments from is Armstrong’s & Son, which is a classic garments store that was established in 1840, making it one of many oldest of its variety within the UK. Right here, you odor the age of the garments, and also you’ll be capable of discover any classic trend period you possibly can think about!
Among the finest neighbourhoods in Edinburgh to go classic buying embody Morningside Street, Stockbridge and Southside, as they’ve loads of charity outlets stuffed with treasures (particularly in Morningside & Stockbridge due to donations from the wealthier residents!)
Browse bookshops
One of many cosiest actions to do whereas exploring any metropolis is taking a peek inside a bookshop and looking the countless titles of books. Fortunately, in Edinburgh, there are a number of locations to guide store.
A specific favorite spot is Toppings Bookshop which sits on the high of Leith Stroll, set over two ranges this bookshop is so large that they’ve ladders to achieve the upper books. Close to to that is Typewronger Books, which is tucked away in a basement store.
Different locations value trying out embody Uncommon Birds Guide Store in Stockbridge which solely promote works written by ladies, and Armchair Books, a unusual spot the place you possibly can browse a choice of uncommon and second-hand books.
Take an underground tour of town
Explored Edinburgh’s underground vaults and spooky historical past by way of a guided tour. Dimly lit, the underground community of vaults lies beneath town’s Outdated City and was in-built 1788, historically used to accommodate taverns, workshops for cobblers and different tradesmen, in addition to storage areas for retailers. Guide an underground tour of Edinburgh vaults like this one.
Watch a present
Spend the afternoon watching leisure! Edinburgh is a hub for leisure with venues, from retro cinemas, to reside theatre and intimate settings for small productions. Residence to the biggest theatre in Scotland, which can also be the second largest within the UK, Edinburgh Playhouse.
Competition Theatre is used for ballet, opera, and large-scale music occasions, whereas the King’s Theatre usually reveals touring West Finish theatre in addition to native beginner firms. There’s additionally the Dominion Cinema, which reveals the same old present movies, set inside an Artwork Deco constructing.
Dine on native Scottish delicacies
Many individuals’s first ideas in relation to Scottish meals is prone to be haggis…which sure, is made out of all of the physique components of a sheep you in all probability couldn’t think about desirous to eat, although folks do say it’s scrumptious!
Nevertheless, Scotland can also be famed for its contemporary seafood, comforting fish stew and surprisingly, ice cream, due to the rise of Italian immigrants within the late nineteenth century. Listed here are some high strategies of the place you possibly can bask in native Scottish delicacies:
Howies – This Scottish chain has been serving up conventional Scottish meals in Edinburgh since 1990. There are three eating places within the coronary heart of Edinburgh, and for the standard of meals you get in a snug and relaxed restaurant, it’s very moderately priced.
Café Royal – Considered a hidden gem of town (though most individuals learn about it), Café Royal is a champagne and oyster bar that homes a stunning and intimate restaurant with stained glass home windows and within the bar space, the partitions are lined with lovely and ornate Victorian tiles.
Teuchters Touchdown – This cosy dockside pub is among the finest locations to take pleasure in a neighborhood ale in addition to scrumptious pub meals, with a number of basic Scottish choices. In addition they do small mugs, which makes it an ideal spot to strive a little bit of all the pieces in the event you’re not sure of what to get- strive stovies, a basic Scots stew of meat and potatoes.
S Lucas Ice Cream – A family-owned enterprise that has been serving creamy delights and sorbets for many years! One of the vital distinctive issues you possibly can strive is Iron Bru sorbet, which is a neon orange-coloured carbonated Scottish drink within the type of a frozen dessert.
Take a day journey
There’s a lot to see and do within the enchanting capital metropolis, that it’s laborious to think about your self spending time wherever else. Nevertheless, there are such a lot of day journeys from Edinburgh value taking and also you by no means know, it won’t be raining there!
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Charlotte is a photographer, cat lover and an avid knitter. When she’s not curled up on the couch along with her latest knitting challenge (and Rico her cat!) yow will discover her out and about on lengthy walks. Presently residing within the magical metropolis of Edinburgh, she appears to be like ahead to travelling and seeing extra of the world!