Edinburgh Items

Edinburgh – On the Clock

How much can you really get done on a weekend city break? Plenty, if our guide to Edinburgh On the Clock is anything to go by…

World’s largest bottle of single malt scotch on display in Edinburgh

The giant bottle of booze stands at 4ft 9in tall - roughly the same height as Danny DeVito - and contains 105.3 litres of Tomintoul 14-year-old single malt scotch.

Edinburgh Castle named 'top heritage attraction in the UK'

The historic site was honoured at the British Travel Awards last night, beating St Paul’s Cathedral in London and Cornwall’s Minack Theatre, which took silver and bronze respectively.

Go cycling on a short break in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a fantastic city for a short break thanks to its majestic castle, bustling bars, top restaurants and array of tourist attractions. However, Scotland's capital also boasts some wonderful great outdoors that are perfect for cycling.

Fun facts about Scotland

To celebrate the launch of Brave, Disney’s new movie set in the Highlands of Scotland, we’ve put together a list of fun facts about Scotland along with a picture galley of our favourite Scottish landscapes.

London triumphs in destination awards, but North is best for UK breaks

Although London triumphed in the TripAdvisor destination awards, where it was voted the World's Best Destination, the North of England and Scotland won the North/South divide in the UK top ten.

Top historical sites to explore in Edinburgh

Full of glorious landscapes and amazing attractions, Scotland is a fantastic place for a short break. If you're planning to stay in a castle to rent in Scotland, choose one near Edinburgh to discover the capital city's fascinating array of historical sites.

Cities that are better when it’s raining

It's good to know what you can do in a city when it rains. But it's even better to know which cities are actually improved by the rain! Get ready to pack your brolly and mac, because sunshine is totally overrated...

The UK’s best tearooms

Winter is the time when all we feel like doing is stopping off at a cosy cafe for a warming drink and a slice of gooey cake. We all know that the British love their tea, so it’s not surprising that the country is also home to some of the best cosy little tea rooms in the world. We’ve searched the country to find you the UK’s best tearooms, so that if you’re going on a short break this winter you’ll know where to find the perfect place to warm up.

Visit Edinburgh and its fascinating castle while staying in a castle yourself!

When you visit Edinburgh, you are sure to want to take a tour of its castle. So, what could be better than hiring a castle for your stay in order to gain a taster of the life of a king for yourself? You may even want to compare the landmark with your own accommodation.

Foodie travellers rate York and Edinburgh best in UK

If you are a foodie and eating-out fan, a short break to York or Edinburgh may be ideal for a mini getaway. A new poll by the readers and reviewers of TripAdvisor rated these two cities in the top 10 in Europe in terms of gastronomical delights.

Feature: Walking tour of Edinburgh

With the Edinburgh Fringe Festival currently on, here at idealshortbreaks.co.uk, we’ve been talking about our favourite places to go and things to do in the Scottish capital. Here we take you on a tour of the city taking in some of the places we love best.

Feature: Glamping holidays for a scenic UK short break

Glamping is the next ‘big-thing’ taking the travel industry by storm. Thanks to glamping, camping no longer has to mean dining on canned meat or waking up to a dewy field covered in crisp packets. Gone are the cold, sleepless nights...

Book a short break in Edinburgh hotels to enjoy the August festivals

If you're looking for a cultural short break where you can take in the arts, why not consider booking into Edinburgh hotels during August?

Feature: Top UK spa breaks to make you feel fantastic

Let’s face it, life can be hard sometimes. With the stresses of work and the grind of daily life taking its toll, sometimes the end is not in sight. So with the long bank holiday weekend coming up why not treat yourself?! From Indian head massages to rustic retreats in secluded countryside, we have searched high and low for spa breaks.

Magic festival to return to Edinburgh this summer

The Edinburgh International Magic Festival will return to the Scottish capital this summer following the success of the inaugural five-day Festival last July. The event will take place between July 1 and 8, and is one of only a few public facing magic festivals in the world.

Edinburgh top destination for stay at home holidaymakers

A new study has revealed that Edinburgh is the city that staycation Brits would most like to visit for a weekend away. The Scottish capital came out top in the poll conducted by Jury's Inn, with 39 per cent of the 2,000 people surveyed opting for it as their most preferred destination.

Edinburgh and London are family-friendly cities

The romantic city of Florence in Italy has been crowned the most family-friendly city in the first-ever TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Family awards. In boost for UK tourism, Edinburgh and London were named the second and third most family-friendly cities in Europe respectively.

See the best of British on a railway tour

Great Rail Journeys has expanded its range of British tours for 2011, with 14 different short breaks and long tours to choose from, including trips to Edinburgh, Torquay and Norwich for an in-depth guide to some of the best parts of the UK.

Free hamper for Edinburgh guests this spring

Book a stay at The Chester Residence in Edinburgh's fashionable West End district this spring and you will be greeted with a complimentary food hamper, worth £30, to get your city break off to a gourmet start.

Brits reveal their ideal Valentine's Day partner

Despite being happily married, David Beckham and Holly Willoughby are the most popular choice to wake up next to this Valentine's Day morning, according to a new poll from laterooms.com, which revealed some unlikely results.

Get cheap rates and bubbly with Travelodge

Spending a romantic weekend away doesn't have to cost the earth, with Travelodge offering reduced rates this Valentine's Day. Guests will also receive a free bottle of bubbly worth (£14.95) when they book a stay in any of the UK capital cities.

Saga offers half price city breaks for older travellers

Senior holidaymakers can get great discounts on their UK city break through Saga this year, with prices reduced on trips to Manchester, London and Edinburgh. Book online and you can get a further 20 per cent off food and drink at your hotel.

Heading north for Hogmanay? Get the free guide

Smartphone users looking to get the most out of the Edinburgh New Year's Eve celebrations will be glad to learn that Cool Places has launched a free app for iPhone and iPad to give you the definitive lowdown on the festive goings-on in the Scottish capital.

Exclusive boutique spa opens in Edinburgh

Spa lovers should head to Edinburgh for a relaxing pre-Christmas break as fashion legend Rosita Missoni has now officially opened the very first Hotel Missoni Spa in Edinburgh.