A tour of Edinburgh shows it has more to offer than just shops

EDINBURGH is one of the gems of Scotland – everyone knows that. And it’s not exactly a stranger to me. I’ve been countless times over the years.

But usually, I cover the same old beat. Maybe a bit of shopping on Princes Street.

A quick bite to eat. A drink or two. Then home.

So when the chance came to stay in our capital as a tourist and actually do a bit of exploring, it was too good to pass up.

We had central accommodation in Fountain Court on Thistle Street. Look for the Braid Apartments.

You couldn’t really ask for a better location. Less than five minutes from Princes Street and within easy walking distance of pretty Stockbridge, they made for a great base.

They’ve thought of everything to make Braid Apartments a home from home.

You know when you arrive at your destination and you want to go out exploring – but first you fancy a quick cuppa, just to recharge?

They provide a welcome pack of tea, coffee, milk and sugar, plus some household basics.

Breakfast isn’t included in the price of your stay, but they can provide a continental breakfast for an additional fee.

And it goes without saying that our apartment was the last word in luxury.

Think fluffy pillows on the beds, cosy duvets, free wifi, a dining area and TVs – including in the bedrooms.

It was almost enough to make us waver and forget the whole notion of exploring Edinburgh as tourists.

When the home comforts are this good, it’s tempting just to chill out and relax.

But we reminded ourselves we’d come to see Edinburgh and headed out.

First up had to be a trip round Edinburgh on a sightseeing bus.

A confession. When we’re on a city break my other half and I always take a tourist bus. Friends laugh and say that it’s a sign we’ve reached middle age. Well, what do they know?

They’re a great way of exploring a city and finding out a few facts about your chosen destination. With many of them, you can get on and off where and when you want. That means they can be an economical way of getting around.

Just take a tip from a veteran of these tours and avoid rush hours – or you may be stuck on them for a bit longer than you’d ideally like.

For our jaunt round Edinburgh, we chose a Rabbie’s tour. You might be familiar with them from tours of the Highlands, the Borders and several other areas.

They have a convertible bus for their Edinburgh tour. On a sunny day, it’s perfect. And it’s smaller than other tourist buses, so you get a more personalised service.

Our driver was Linda, an Edinburgh resident who knows the city like the back of her hand and was full of stories. Did you know that the landmark clock at the Balmoral Hotel runs three minutes fast so passengers rushing to Waverley Station are more likely to catch their trains? What a genius idea. More cities should adopt it.

The tour takes you round the New Town, down the Royal Mile, to the Scottish Parliament and Dean Village.

When you’re on a city break you do a lot of walking, so a wee break chilling out is just the (bus) ticket.

No tourist break would be complete without a trip to Edinburgh Castle, of course. Tours of the historical wonder leave regularly and the guides really know their stuff.

It was great to see they’re set up for disabled visitors, too. The castle even has a specially adapted car to get wheelchair users up to the top.

Of course, parts of the castle are more awkward for buggies and wheelchair users – it’s a centuries-old building.

But on the day we were there, we saw a family with a little boy in a wheelchair and the staff were great, going out of their way to make sure he had a special trip.

Afterwards, we had a trip round The Edinburgh Dungeon. It’s a different way of finding out about some of our capital city’s history – more fun, definitely more grisly and a chance to find out about the murkier side of Edinburgh’s past.

Think Burke and Hare, ghost stories, Sawney Bean and boat rides. Judging by the reaction of the teenagers in our group, it’s cool.

After that, we had a wander up Arthur’s Seat. It’s a bit of an effort, but worth it for the amazing views. And then, some R&R back at our gorgeous apartment.

Who needs boring old shopping when you can find this much fun in Scotland’s capital?

It’s a city to be proud of.

Stay at Braid Court Apartments from around £125 per night. A two-bed apartment is perfect for a small family or two couples on a weekend jaunt!

Rabbie’s city tour of Edinburgh is £20 per adult, £10 per child and lasts about 85 minutes. Check for special deals at rabbies.com

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