Edinburgh - it Stinks

Advantages: Lots to see and do, the city contains some stunning buildings
Disadvantages: The roadworks, the tramworks, the bagpipes!

...I have been living in Edinburgh now for almost five years, and in that time I have gone from loving the place to desperately wanting to leave. I am, however, marooned here for the foreseeable future, due to a combination of factors, the most obvious one being sheer bad luck. We moved to Edinburgh from London for several reasons, the main one being my husband was working in the city at the time. Our daughter was due to leave her special school and the mainstream options available to her in London weren?t great. Actually, that?s being generous ? they were hopeless. For several years Edinburgh had been portrayed as the best place to live for quality of life, and my husband, having worked in the city in the past, was ready for a change ? so we made the decision to move 400 miles north. So what?s right with Edinburgh? The thing...

rosebud2001 28.07.2009 (29.07.2009) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Edinburgh (Scotland)

Shopping @ Edinburgh Waterfront

Advantages: Free Parking, Layout,
Disadvantages: None so far

...Back in 2001 this lovely decorated card dropped through the door. "Edinburgh waterfront welcomes you to Ocean Terminal. Being curious we packed the children in to the car and headed down to ocean terminal for the first time. Sit back and enjoy my review What is Ocean Terminal Ocean Terminal is a large (half million sqft) shopping centre set on the lovely up and coming waterfront near to Leith in Edinburgh. Set over three floors, ocean terminal offers a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and bars not to forget about the 12 screen cinema. It's all under one roof at Ocean Terminal. How to get there Thanks to LRT (local bus company) Ocean terminal is served very well with buses, you will see buses leaving Ocean terminal every 5 mins at peak times. Buses will take to you princess street and other surrounding areas to...

marcellep2 01.07.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Ocean Terminal (Edinburgh)

Exotica in Edinburgh

Advantages: Fun day out for all the family
Disadvantages: Can be depressing to see the animals cooped up, steep hill

...I recently visited my local zoo, which is Edinburgh Zoo, at my daughter's request. She has been here before, firstly with school about four years ago, and secondly with just her dad a few months before he died. The last time I was at the zoo was when I was younger than my daughter is now, on a school trip, which is pathetic really considering I live so near the place. I have to admit however that I am not a huge fan of zoos. I have been to many over the years and while I appreciate the role they play in conservation, I have my doubts about the wisdom of keeping animals in captivity for humans to peer at. My daughter, however, has no such qualms. For her the zoo offers her the chance to see animals without having to get close to them, something she loves and she has always enjoyed her trips to this zoo. So off we went to the zoo...

rosebud2001 02.07.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Edinburgh Zoo, Edinburgh

A brilliant aparthotel in Edinburgh

Advantages: Lovely well furbished apartments in a great location.
Disadvantages: 5 star means expensive... but you do get what you paid for!

... What is the Knight Residence? The Knight Residence is a luxury aparthotel in Edinburgh. This means you have your own serviced apartments instead of your average hotel, making you feel right at home and having your own private space. The Knight Residence has a 5 star rating and in 2008 they were the top hotel for customer service according to Expedia... not just in the UK, but in the whole of Europe! The apartments are designed to suit every traveller, so if your travelling as a big family or group of friends, you will be looking for the 3 bedroom apartment or, there are also one bedroom apartments and two bedroom apartments. What's in these apartments? The Knight Residence offers 2 different types of apartments (and 2 different prices!), Superior and Comfort. In Comfort expect to find a HD LCD TV with Virgin...

GemmaC25 15.04.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of The Knight Residence, Edinburgh

Edinburgh, with a capital E.

Advantages: Lots to do,great for tourits, shopping, eating out.
Disadvantages: Gets very busy in Summer months, weather can be dreadful

...I remember when I was a little girl. My Grandma and I would plan days out to Edinburgh and I used to get so excited. She'd pick me up very early in the morning just after Breakfast and we'd take the train through. We'd arrive at Waverly train station and go for a drink and doughnut or cake before we hit the shops. Then we'd go onto Princes street and shop untill we dropped until lunchtime. Then, we'd go for lunch in either John Lewis Cafe, or another department store cafe, or we'd find a nice little italian restaurant to dine in! Then we'd hit the shops again untill 5 o'clock or so, then we'd go to a little newsagents, get a drink and some sweets and head off to the theatre to go and see a show, normally a musical. After the show we'd dine out in a restaurant, before getting the last train home. I always loved those days, and too this...

SweetTooth93 06.06.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Edinburgh in general

A great hotel to stay at when visiting Edinburgh

Advantages: Plenty to do and see, within walking distance
Disadvantages: None

...I have stayed at this hotel on a number of occasions as we love to visit Scotland! Whenever I visit Edinburgh I stay at this hotel, and book a room via the Holiday Inn Express website, as there are often cheaper rates available. Also I am a member of their Priority Club Rewards scheme which gives you points for every stay, which you can save up and redeem for free nights at any of their hotels. I have had a few free nights over the years, and am about to redeem another. Being a member of this scheme also entitles you to priority check in , extended check out times, comlimentary newspapers as well as bonus points offers, which are sent to you via email. It is completely free to join and a great scheme. All details can be found online at HiExpress.co.uk. I last visited in February where I paid £35 for a double room for myself...

JEFFJEN 07.07.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Holiday Inn Express, Edinburgh Leith

khushis of Edinburgh

Advantages: great food, nice atmosphere
Disadvantages: The main restaurant is shut right now

...Khushis claims to be one of the oldest existing Indian restaurants in Scotland, having opened their first restaurant in Edinburgh in 1947, and despite changes in premises has been going strong ever since. They are a Punjabi restaurant and all food is halal and mostly in the Punjabi tradition although there are some dishes from other parts of India. No alcohol is served in the restuarant but bringing along your own beer or wine is both accepted and common and there is no charge. The main restaurant was in a beautiful old Edinburgh building which had a huge, high ceilinged room inside. All was very tastefully decorated using Indian and Punjabi styles but avoiding the kitsch that is typical of many Indian restaurants. Everything was of high quality, from proper wooden furniture to the cutlery to the decoration. Generally it felt classy but...

flyingllamas 12.08.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Khushis Indian Restaurant, Edinburgh

JENNERS of Edinburgh

Advantages: Huge range of goods
Disadvantages: Expensive

...Edinburgh used to be well provided for in the department store department, but these days they are a little thinner on the ground. You would never guess to look at me, but I'm old enough to remember the days when stores such as Binns, PT's, RW Forsyth and Goldberg's, to name just a few, were still doing a roaring trade. One store that is still going strong however, is JENNERS, an Edinburgh institution. With it's neo-Gothic facade and it's location, directly opposite the Scott Monument, you just can't miss it. Luckily, for those who've had difficulty in spotting it, there's an optician in-house! JENNERS is the oldest independent department store in the world, having occupied its original location on Princes Street, Edinburgh, since 1838. It is home to well over 100 different departments, which sell everything from international...

proxam 15.12.2002 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Jenners (Department Store)

Childhood Memories In The Disney Store

Advantages: Special products, great for children, good quality and nice staff
Disadvantages: A lot of impulse buying

...The Disney Store is a shop that sells Disney merchandise. There are Disney Stores across the UK and indeed across the world. There are Disney Stores in Disney World and Disney Land. If you have never been in a Disney Store you will be amazed at the different types of products that are usually always in stock. Although I must say I think you either love or hate the Disney Store. My husband doesn't understand the appeal of purchasing a Disney character bear for £20 when you can buy another bear somewhere else for half the price. I think if you have been brought up to watch Disney cartoons then you have an automatic liking of Disney. Whenever I have been into the store there is a good selection with plenty of stock and the staff fill the shelves on a regular basis throughout the day. Impulse buying is very easy in this store as you...

Mickie26 16.04.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of The Disney Store

A (two) DAY TRIPPER'S GUIDE TO EDINBURGH

Advantages: So Much to See and Do. Something for everyone.
Disadvantages: It took me six months to write about it! Not a cheap family destination.

...street of only one side! For someone like me, more interested in architecture, Princes Street is actually fascinating for entirely different reasons. Originally this was an entirely residential street, the southern boundary of the New Town, hence the park below the castle. During the nineteenth century gradually commercial interests took over here, merchants moved in, converting large houses into shops and hotels, the huge, landmark Balmoral Hotel - opened in 1902, being the pinnacle of this development. From an architectural point of view, this is a most attractive street that has been vandalised by almost random and ugly1960?s additions adjacent to splendid historic buildings. One notable shop here is Jenners, if in Edinburgh to take a look inside this department store. A rare, independently owned store, it is something...

RICHADA 09.05.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Edinburgh (Scotland)