Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with edinburgh

Buying a baby gift from away.

typewriter — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:23:12 -0800

Gift-Filter - Please recommend a shop in Edinburgh that I can buy a tasteful new baby gift online that will deliver in a little over a week. Nuances: I wish to send a small gift to a work colleague of mine, whose wife is due to have a C-section in 10 days. Normally, when I purchase a new baby gift, I either know the couple or the wife so I often end up buying something for the mother. So this time I am a bit stuck for what to buy. (It seems weird to buy for the mother when I don't know her at all.) In this situation, I know the husband, but in a creative relationship that has been primarily online based and likely to continue for several years (fingers crossed for our collaboration!). That is to say, even though we have a creative relationship, I don't really know him very well, and certainly his family not at all. I would say that we are friendly colleagues.

From the time that we worked together in person, I would guess that his tastes (which would hopefully extend to his wife's) might be like the following: Tasteful, not fussy, prefers good quality, down-to-earth

Other random facts about the family: Both Oxford-educated, seem to share similar politics to me (ie. lefty left), own home, mid to late 30s, not religious, career-wise both husband and wife busy, artistic, successful, and they also have two young boys.

I live in Toronto, hence why I'm looking for an online place. I can spend about £20 - £40. Needs to be a place that delivers. (I looked through Etsy Local, but didn't see anything I liked there.)

Quiet places to study in Edinburgh?

tyris33 — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 09:29:54 -0800

Quiet pubs and cafes for a student to study in Edinburgh I'm currently on a year long exchange in Edinburgh, and I'm looking to find quiet places to study--they don't have to be dead silent just no loud music playing and loud conversations at the table next to me. I know noisy cafes are great for hanging out with friends, but I'd like a place where I can focus on what I'm reading. If you know of any pubs, cafes, parks, libraries, etc., that would be great. Bonus points for old places with lots of atmosphere (fireplaces, comfy chairs, etc).

Lake District via train

swimmingly — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:28:09 -0800

Will be taking train from Edinburgh to the Lake District and staying there one night before I take another train to London. Which part of the Lakes should I visit (and how), that will provide maximum convenience and gorgeousness? In other words, I am looking for information on which part of the Lake District will be the most convenient to get in and out of by train, and will be the most rewarding if I can spend only one day and one night there. I will probably be booking a B&B instead of camping, and I cannot drive. Will be carrying one rather cumbersome luggage bag so I'd rather not have to take many buses.

I'm not asking people to do my research for me -- I have Googled and wiki-ed and am now suffering from information overload. I am posting here in the hopes that people with more knowledge of the area can help me narrow down the dauntingly huge pool of available options.

Preferences: Since I'm travelling alone and an inexperienced hiker, I probably will only climb mountains that have mild ascents with established, non-deserted footpaths.

Thanks!

Magic Bus or not so much?

Freedomboy — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:26:17 -0800

How easy or hard is it to travel from London to Edinburgh on either train or bus when compared to a quick flight as an option? Is the experience worth the time and how does the cost versus hassle play out?

To London and Edinburgh, and back!

chunking express — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:15:16 -0800

London to Edinburgh and back! Why is it so damn expensive? My wife and I want to go to Edinburgh next week. We were thinking of going in the middle of the week -- Tuesday to Thursday. Sadly I realize now that we should have bought train tickets for this trip months ago. Is there some trick to getting cheap fares back and forth? Tickets are about 100 pounds or so each now. We could fly for less, though even that seems excessive.

Buses are a long trip, and would be about 40 pounds each by the looks of things. A bus to Edinburgh doesn't sound like much fun.

Any ideas? Please Hope Me.

Vegetarian meals in Edinburgh

fearnothing — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:06:30 -0800

Eating out with quality vegetarian options in central Edinburgh? Looking for suggestions on dining places around the middle of Edinburgh (UK), especially ones whose vegetarian dishes are known for being at least as good as non-veggie options. All styles are welcome, italian, indian, greek, thai, chinese... while I wouldn't say money is no object, it's by no means the most significant factor in my choice. Links to websites are especially welcome!

Clever ways to raise more money at a charity music night

equality7-2521 — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:52:14 -0800

I'm based in Scotland, and looking for clever ways to raise more money for a charity music show I am putting on. A decent number of people should be coming (100?) but not sure how many of them will donate before the night, I'd like to have a few things on the night to make sure I get around everyone to give them the chance to help, especially as I am not doing something super-challenging like running a marathon or skydiving etc. so am in no physical danger. At the moment the biggest danger is being dressed like a pirate singing backstreet boys songs (crazy voters!) I've thought about the usual raffle, competition, auction sort of things, but would like to do something fun on the night to make it more of an event.

I saw this post, which mentioned some good ideas:
http://ask.metafilter.com/107064/Dolladollabillz-how-to-get-them-from-you-for-charity I like the idea of raising money through things people would be doing anyway like eating and drinking. Maybe I could get a temporary license to sell alcohol or maybe there are clever ways to get around the selling part?

I've done something similar before where everyone that comes brings something from their house they don't want and then that gets raffled off, and that worked well, but need a new idea! All suggestions are welcome, what's worked well for you?

Details about what I am doing are here: http://www.colinasquith.com/showofhands/ if it helps get more of an idea.

She might have been a Mary-Sue

mippy — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 08:41:36 -0800

Help me identify a novel about a female student in Edinburgh, her boyfriend with acne scars (referred to as 'my soft-scarred angel') who used to buy her nice underwear, and some kind of traumatic event in her past (either parental or some kind of mental trauma) that kept coming back to affect her. It was printed in the '90s and googling the details I know brings up nothing! Memory says the heroine might have had a traditional name like Elizabeth or Helen, and that the title had the word 'beast' in it, but I'm not 100% sure on that one.

La Vie en London

santojulieta — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:05:05 -0800

Help me plan some activities for our honeymoon in London and Edinburgh. So, here are the details:

1. Going to be in London from Oct 15th to Oct 18th, then hopping a short flight to Edinburgh on the 18th and will stay there until the 22nd.

2. I have been to London and Edinburgh myself, but the future Mr. Santojulieta has not.

3. I don't mind a bit of touristy stuff, like the British Museum and Edinburgh Castle (which I personally enjoyed a great deal), but don't want to be stuck with solely touristy stuff.

4. We're very comfortable taking the tube anywhere.

5. We're also looking for things to do that would produce artifacts for us to bring home. (I'm not talking Indiana Jones type artifacts. I'm talking about going somewhere (that's not necessarily a gift shop) that will give me the opportunity to purchase some really awesome stuff to frame and put up on the wall or to display on a shelf.)

So, help me figure out some events to see or places to go. In a previous thread, someone mentioned that they'd gone to a burlesque show, which I think would be bitchin', but I don't know if any are playing (or more importantly, if any are good.) We don't want to be too overloaded with stuff to do, but I do want some good options.

I am getting rickets!

you're only jung once — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:58:27 -0800

The girlfriend and I cannot take another mm of rain in Scotland. We want to go somewhere hot (europe...anywhere!...hot!) for 4-5 nights (leaving tomorrow) but cannot find anywhere helpful to book a place to go. Please... help... somebody.... impulsive.. to find a website that'll help so WE CAN BE DRY!! As we are Scots we are also cheap. So no Lear jet recommendations. Cheers.

Acupuncture in Edinburgh

Chairboy — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:55:16 -0800

Can anyone please recommend a good acupuncturist in the Edinburgh area for my partners migraines/IBS? Preferably one that won't try to sell her lots of expensive herbal remedies on top of the treatment.

Where can I find a bowler hat on my Scotland holiday?

cowbellemoo — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:47:05 -0800

Where can I find a formal bowler hat in Glasgow or Edinburgh? I've been watching The Avengers for a few weeks and I've got it into my mind to purchase a bowler hat while I am on vacation in Scotland to visit a friend. I would like a clerk to measure my head and offer just the right-sized hat (my head is large). I'm willing to spend $100-$200 (50-100 pounds, right?).

I'll be staying in Glasgow for most of the trip with a likely day trip to Edinburgh. My friend scouted out a department store for me, but didn't find a single bowler. Google has only given me disappointment. Does anyone know of a proper haberdasher or formal menswear shop (or chain) which carries high-quality bowlers in abundance?

Scotland-a-go-go Land

santojulieta — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 14:08:12 -0800

Travel Slash Honeymoon Filter: Help us coordinate in-country travel options between London and Edinburgh. Based on previous recommendations, we've decided to do it up right one night of our honeymoon and stay at The Witchery in Edinburgh. This is going to be one night in the middle of a 9 day stay, so we're looking for the best options to minimize time wasted travelling.

Right now, our best option is to book an Easy Jet flight that takes about 1:30 and will only run us about $200. However, we'd have to travel to the airport from (what we assume will be) central London.

What would you recommend?

Here are the essential details:

1. We're booked at the Witchery for October 17th and will be returning on October 18th.

2. We're both 27, so we're too old to apply for the student travel program with Britrail. Looking at Britrail tickets, it seems that a flexipass is going to run us in the neighborhood of $600, which seems nonsense to me.

3. We have no problem with renting a car and driving, except that I have no concept of what gas will cost in Europe. And it appears, according to Google Maps, that the drive will take 8ish hours.

4. Taking a coach, cheap though it might be, seems terribly unromantic and a huge waste of time.

London+England trasportantion, baggage shipping and hotel chains

elpapacito — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:09:47 -0800

London+England transportation/extra baggage shipping / hotel chains questions. A minor question about Scotland as well. Hi there. After looking at previous posts tagged london+travel, I'd like to ask the following questions:

- Hotels: I am used to book Ibis/Mercure (Accor Chain) alike rooms, which are often spartan , but clean, with air conditioning + tv and the occasional in-room wifi and broadband, which are a good bonus.

http://www.premiertravelinn.com/ and http://www.travelodge.co.uk/ were both recommended in a previous thread, and I get the impression they both are of very standardized, tiny, corporate just-to-sleep in chains. I'd like to know wheter my impression is correct or not OR if you know of any similar, no-frills no unpleasant surprises chains in London (even better if present all over England)

- The tube relative to tourism attractions: It seems to me that most of the attractions in London are quite concentrated in the center, which is Tube's Zone1 or 2 at worst, except for Kew, Greenwich and Windsdor. I was wondering wheter a locally bought Oyster card + Pay-As-I-Go (which I assume can be bought by non-nationals as well) could be more convenient than a x days Travel Card (which I also supposes is routinely contained in a Oyster)

- Excess baggage shipment: I have noticed that Royal Mail doesn't seem to be shipping packages internationally (to europe) whose weight is greater then 2 Kg. That's quite inconvenient as I will
prob have to ship books and other goods, but airplane extra weight fare is out of question. I'd like to know if there is any less expensive (in comparison with Fedex ad UPS) and reliable shipping company that can organize a pick-up of a +-30 Kg baggage/package or have a drop off location
in central london.

- Transportation: So far I have tried http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ site to figure out expenses and timetable, but I have also learned about https://www.nationalexpress.com/ buses which seem to be even less expensive. While I try contacting them, I'd like to know if their bus service is, in your experience, usually on-time and reasonably clean. Also information about better bus/train services
and sites would be appreciated.

- Scotland, Glasgow, Edinburgh

Damn, why is so damn expensive in august? Additionally, where's the best nearby location to get the highlander/trainspotting alike highland experience and what else is noteworthy
in Scotland (no lockness thanks) , except Edin of course.

Thanks for your time!

Travel tips for Edinburgh

chickaboo — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:05:26 -0800

I'm going to the Edinburgh Festival in August - what is a realistic budget for what it will cost to attend the festival and feed myself, and where am I likely to find the cheapest method to get there? Luckily my lodging will be paid for during my stay -- but I have no sense of how much the food and admission fees etc are likely to cost? Any help -- and any recommendations of can't-miss things at the festival and in edinburgh are welcome! thank you

MFA in the UK

occidental — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:04:00 -0800

How can I find funding for a MFA at Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland? I was recently accepted into the Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland for a MFA in Painting. I have been unsuccessful in finding fellowships, scholarships, or grants to aid me in my studies there. Although ECA recently became eligible for US Stafford Loans which could cover most tuition, I would like to reduce any further debt, already being $25,000 deep. Does anyone know of grants, fellowships, or scholarships for post-graduate studies in Art for American Students studying in Scotland? I have searched the British Council Site. Specific links would be appreciated. Or, if anyone has experience with the financial aid office at ECA, I would be very receptive.

Moving to Edinburgh

alopez — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 10:21:21 -0800

I am an American moving to Edinburgh, Scotland. I'd like your advice on neighborhoods, telecomm, banking, and taxes. I am moving to Edinburgh for at least a year. I've seen some older questions such as this one, but my circumstances are slightly different.

Neighborhoods: I would like to be close to the University area in the city center, where I'll be working. I am not a student and I'll be making a pretty good wage, so I'm not limited to budget accomodations. I'd like to live in a neighborhood with lots of shops and restaurants, but nightlife isn't especially important. What neighborhoods should I be looking at?
Telecomm: I expect to visit the U.S. somewhat regularly for business and personal reasons. I would love to find a cellphone/plan that (1) provides good service in the U.K., (2) offers reasonable rates for calls to the U.S., and (3) is still functional in the U.S., even if I have to use a different sim card or some other workaround. Does such a thing exist? (If no, I'll settle for 2 out of 3).
More telecomm: high-speed internet recommendations?
Banking: I have a fair amount of money saved in the U.S, but my new salary will be in sterling. I'd ideally like to find a single bank that has branches in both the U.S. and the U.K. (and particularly Edinburgh and the northeast U.S.). What are my options?
Credit card: which providers aren't going to kill me with ridiculous charges for foreign transactions, like my current one does?
Taxes: help! I have always prepared my own taxes in the U.S., but I'm totally out of my depth here and I'd be happy to pay an expert. Where should I go for advice?

Also: any general expat advice? Good books for people in my situation? Is Living and Working in Britain worth ordering?

Where to stay in Edinburgh?

the duck by the oboe — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 03:31:49 -0800

ScotlandFilter: Where should I look for share accommodation in Edinburgh? I'll be spending twelve months in Edinburgh on a working holiday. I'm figuring on finding a room in a share house. What parts of the city are to be sought out/avoided? I have been there, but haven't seen much beyond the tourist areas.

Any tips about different means of obtaining accommodation welcome. Costs, necessity of references, proximity to good eating etc. It's all good.

Non-leather shoes in Edinburgh?

purephase — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 02:10:59 -0800

Decent non-leather shoes in Edinburgh? Arrived with a fairly uncomfortable pair and with all the walking I need to find something better. Vegetarian shoes seem fairly prominent in the UK (from an online ordering perspective) but are there any stores that carry them?

Looking for a wedding photographer in Edinburgh

ascullion — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 08:37:21 -0800

Does anyone have a recommendation for a wedding photographer in the Edinburgh (Scotland) area? I'm getting married there next year and the one job I've been allocated is finding a photographer.. but though we're getting married there, we don't really know anyone in the area, so don't have any personal recommendations... thanks in advance.

We gotta get out of this place

sgt.serenity — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:58:46 -0800

Easyjet promo codes/ flight to london from edinburgh -help ! hi, we need to connect with a flight leaving london stansted mid june, we're leaving from edinburgh and our budget is limited - we dont know whether to get the train or a budget flight from edinburgh - the current easyjet promo code would be very helpful ! or some wizard link to a site about flights - i really have no clue about this sort of thing so cheers for bearing with me : )

The rose petals on the bed weren't necessary, but our rider clearly states 'indefinable sense of magic'.

Happy Dave — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 01:43:41 -0800

I'm getting married in June - what's the best balance of luxury and value in hotels, for one night, in Edinburgh? I'm getting married to my sweetheart on June 2nd in Edinburgh, where I'm from. However, I haven't lived in Edinburgh for nearly 3 years, and I've never stayed in a hotel there (plenty of family and friends to stay with usually).

However, for our wedding night, we're hoping to find a nice hotel to stay at, in central Edinburgh. We're only staying one night, then off on honeymoon, so I want to get somewhere pretty nice, but without spending the earth. Bonus for unusual or historic hotels.

I spent a lot of time over the last few years staying in Hiltons and Holiday Inns for work, so I'd rather avoid any of the major chains if I can.

Looking to spend between £150 and £250 for the night. I'd imagine some of the guests at the wedding might want to stay there too, so obviously the lower end of that scale would be good, given they're Americans coming over on a weak dollar. But we'll push the boat out for the right place.

Edinburgh for Kids.

rmhsinc — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 08:56:10 -0800

Taking our 13 and 11 year old grand daughters to Edinburgh for a week at the end of March. Things we might miss as an occasional tourist. First trip to Europe for them. My wife and I have traveled to Scotland from the US several times including two trips to Edinburgh. We are taking my grand daughters in several weeks. We picked Edinburgh because of our positive experiences and that it is large enough to be diverse and small enough to be manageable. We would like for them to experience as much of the real city as possible. We have a handle on the regular tourist things, which we will do, castles, ghost tour, double decker tour, Old Town and New Town, climb the hills etc. Any additional suggestions would be appreciated, including ideas about Glasgow. The 13 year old loves horses, reading, is an excellent student, sports (and wants to go to the hotel and have lunch where J K Rowlings wrote). She is the "grown up" on the trip. The eleven year old is very bright, likes sports, prefers dresses to slacks, and wants to "go clubbing"--my words not hers. We have rented an apartment in Old Town and I want them to have some mini adventures on their own--walks to stores on their own, public transit etc (we do have a compatible mobile phone). Thanks in advance.

No, I didn't know the Strazinsky's had a tartan...

Happy Dave — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:34:26 -0800

Help a Scots lad find a decent, good value kiltmaker in Edinburgh Hello Mefites - I'm getting married in May, and the time has come for me to get the cash together to get a decent kilt and associated gear. I'm Scottish originally, now living in London, but I'm planning on going back up to Edinburgh to get one. Ideally, I'd like to get a kilt, plus 'top half' options of a Prince Charlie jacket for evenings and a tweed effort for mornings.

Having grown up in tourist-town Edinburgh, I'm a little worried at the proliferation of hard-sell places that may over-charge visiting Americans etc for their gear - I'm looking for the real deal, made and measured with good service, high quality materials and a great end result.

I'm thinking top end of my budget is going to be £7-800 for the lot, but if I can get it for less, that'd be awesome.

Any recommendations?

Where in Edinburgh do I take a heavily pregnant hen?

penguin pie — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 11:24:09 -0800

Hen afternoon/evening activities in Edinburgh for an 8-month pregnant bride-to-be and about 20 friends? Obviously, the condition of the hen rules out white water rafting/getting riotously drunk. Suggestions so far have included a picnic on the beach (but that would need a wet weather alternative...this’ll be in May), and a cruise up the Forth. I used to live in Edinburgh so have an idea of the geography, but I left about 10 years ago, so am out of touch on what activities are available. Oh, and I’m arranging this from the Falkland Islands, so bonus points for things I can check out online. (I do have an accomplice in Edinburgh who can help, but as the bridesmaid, I’ve offered to kick things off).