2013 Edinburgh

I went to Edinburgh as part of a team bonding trip with the Students' Union. It was organised for a weekend in September and we stayed in Edinburgh Backpackers Hostel. 

We first visited Edinburgh Castle which sits high above the city. Edinburgh is quite a hilly city so have good foot wear on there will be a lot of walking and climbing. Edinburgh Castle was a home to many kings and queens for centuries. Queen Margaret died here in 1093 and later was made a saint. The chapel built in her honour by her son, King David I, is Edinburgh's oldest building.

Next we went on a tour of the dungeons of Edinburgh. There are lots of companies offering tours, and we went with The Edinburgh Dungeon. They gave a great tour, and they have lots of actors portraying slaves, peasants, pirates, grave diggers etc. There are a few thriller parts of the tour which was a laugh. We spend about an hour on the tour.

We also did an indoor go karting activity with Xtreme Karting and Combat. We got very competitive to see who would be the winner of each lap. It was good fun to do as a group. 

We did some shopping on Victoria Street, where they have a massive primark! 

There are lots of places to eat and drink, but I would recommend the Three Sisters for a large group. Nice food, good music and great atmosphere there. From here you can go pub crawling which there are lots in this area. 

There are lots of other things to do in Edinburgh, which we didn't get time to do, so here is a list of other options:

• Arthur's Seat- it is visible from much of the centre since it rises out of the wide grasslands of Holyrood Park. If you want to visit, pop on your hiking boots. At just over 250 metres, it makes for a (relatively) easy hike and at the highest point you’ll discover matchless views of the city skyline. 
• Whiskey Tours- there's lots of them and they're famous in Edinburgh. Grab a ticket for a distillery tour around the Southern Highlands.
• Scott Monument- Its sooty spire dedicated to the memory of Sir Walter Scott (and not, as is often believed, to the people of Scotland) is a Gothic marvel puncturing the well-manicured greenery of Princes Street Gardens. Squeeze your way up its narrow spiral staircase for a breathtaking view.
• Edinburgh Parkrun- starts at 9.30am on Saturdays and takes place on the Edinburgh promenade.