WCU Rugby

More to Auld Reekie Than Rugby

On the 8th of March, the city of Edinburgh is likely to see an influx of tourists to see the England v Scotland rugby union match as part the 2008 Six Nations Championship. Held at Murrayfield Stadium – with a capacity just shy of 68,000 spectators – the game itself is just one reason to plan a trip to the Scottish capital. If you are planning on attending the match, there are plenty of things to do before and afterwards to make the trip to Auld Reekie as entertaining and rich as possible.

As one of the most picturesque cities in the UK, Edinburgh combines the ancient and modern with a uniquely Scottish feel. Its historic centre is bisected by Princes Street Gardens, a broad piece of parkland in the heart of the city. To the south is the medieval Old Town, watched over by Edinburgh Castle, perched atop an extinct volcanic crag, while to the north lies the Georgian-period New Town and Princes Street itself – the main thoroughfare and shopping street of the city.

Though the city’s public transport might seem relatively incomprehensive compared to London or even Glasgow, this shouldn’t be a drawback for tourists. One of the beauties of Edinburgh is its compactness – most of the sights and major tourist attractions are within the Old Town and New Town areas of the city and are no further than a 15 minute walk apart, making walking along beautiful and lively streets one of the pleasures of the city. Be prepared however, to deal with a number of hills. For instance, walking from Princes Street, up towards Edinburgh Castle requires some significant legwork up The Mound and the Royal Mile, but is well worth the effort for the views en route.

If you do opt to use public transport, Edinburgh is serviced by two bus companies: Lothian and First. There are also at least three companies that operate sightseeing buses throughout the year. Each sightseeing bus follows a different route around the city, but start and finish at Waverley Bridge, next to Waverley Station on Princes Street.

If you do plan on taking in a lot of the sights, the Edinburgh Pass is well-worth considering; offering entry to many of Edinburgh’s top attractions, a 90-page guidebook and discounts on restaurants and shops. The Edinburgh Pass also includes free public transport around the city and to and from the airport. The city’s best-known sights include the aforementioned Edinburgh Castle, The Palace of Holyroodhouse, St Giles’ Cathedral, the Royal Mile, The Whisky Museum and the Scottish Parliament. A little further afield, the Royal Yacht Britannia is moored in Leith Docks, just a short bus ride away from the city centre.

Edinburgh is said to have the highest pub per capita ratio in the UK and any trip to Edinburgh should convince you that this is more than mere boasting! There are plenty of traditional pubs throughout the city as well as concentrated in areas such as the Grassmarket and along Rose Street. There are also lots of modern clubs around the Cowgate and George Street, the latter being slightly more upmarket, catering to every type of music and budget imaginable.

Though it is considered one of the most expensive cities in the UK, hotels in Edinburgh are generally good value for money, with B&B’s and hostels available for the more budget-conscious. Be sure to book accommodation well in advance if you are planning on attending the rugby, though, as the best deals are likely to have been snapped up nearer to the game time.

Be careful though! You might find that with so much on offer to see and do around Edinburgh, you might forget about the rugby altogether!

About the Author

Paul McIndoe is an online, freelance financial journalist. He lives in Edinburgh with his two dogs.

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