Kaplan City Guide: Edinburgh

Every week we ask our students to give us an insight into their lives at Kaplan by providing a collection of tips for their Kaplan cities, from ‘must-see’ things to do, to favourite hangouts, and hidden restaurants. This month’s city is Edinburgh, the majestic capital of Scotland and one of the most iconic and historic cities in the United Kingdom. Here are some of the things they had to say about studying in Edinburgh:

Visit Arthur’s Seat

"If you are in Edinburgh you have to climb Arthur’s Seat, the views are fantastic."

Tip provided by
Hanna Marietta Stampfli, Switzerland

One of the most popular tips amongst our students was the shared thought that no trip to Edinburgh would be complete without a visit to Arthur’s Seat. Less of a seat and more of a walking route, Arthur’s Seat is in fact a collection of hills, and once at the top, offer amazing views of Edinburgh. With 5 different routes offering varying views from all different angles, this is the spot to visit with friends.

Edinburgh skyline
Enjoy beautiful views over Edinburgh

 

Head to Finnegan’s Wake

"In my opinion, the best place for going out is Finnegan’s Wake because it represents a typical Celtic bar – unique group music and an atmosphere that is typical of the lively ambiance found in Celtic pubs."

Tip provided by
Cédric Haricot, France

If you want to experience an authentic Scottish pub, Finnegan’s Wake is the choice of one of our Kaplan students, Cédric. He
describes it as the best place for going out as it represents a typical Celtic bar. Located in the city center, it's close to the Royal Mile and St. Giles Cathedral and makes the perfect pit stop between exploring the city or after a fun day out.

explore Edinburgh with friends
Visit Finnegan's Wake after exploring the city with friends

 

Go to Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival

"If you enjoy theater and comedy, you shouldn’t miss Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival."

Tip provided by
Hanna Marietta Stampfli, Switzerland

As a city that is famous for it’s Fringe Festival, the Fringe Festival is something that is recommended by many of our students. As the largest arts festival in the world, offering everything from dance classes, stage shows and pottery demonstrations, the festival offers something for every one of all ages. According to Swiss student Hannah, every August Edinburgh is always crowded because of the festival, which is great for those who enjoy crafts, theatre and comedy.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Enjoy one of the best comedy festivals in the world with Edinburgh castle as the backdrop

 

Walk the Royal Mile

"The Royal Mile is a great spot to visit because there are lots of pubs to enjoy a pint."

Tip provided by
Myriam Gallego Martinez, Spain

Another firm favourite amongst our students is to walk the iconic Royal Mile. For those of you that don’t know, the Royal Mile is the name given to a succession of streets that run throughout the Old Town of Edinburgh, connecting Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The Royal Mile is littered with pubs, bars and shops, and is considered to be a great place for shopping, eating and drinking while enjoying some of Edinburgh’s most historic scenery.

Royal Mile Edinburgh
Enjoy the beautiful Royal Mile

 

Where to eat

One of the best parts of living in a new city is trying out new restaurants and new foods. Many of our students were so impressed by the food in Edinburgh that they found it hard to pick their favourites. Luckily for you a small handful of them did manage to narrow down their favourites, so be sure to check out their recommendations.

For French student Cédric, his favourite place to eat was at an excellent Indian restaurant two minutes walk away from the Canal Point student accommodation. For Hannah Marietta, Café Class, near to the student’s residence, was her dining place of choice. She said everything in the café was delicious, even the ‘haggis and black pudding’ which is a local delicacy that you get if you order a Scottish breakfast (which she fully recommends by the way.) Chinese restaurant Lian Pu was another favourite with a number of our students, as was Shanghai Pub and Finnegan’s Wake.

Food in Edinburgh
Enjoy the culinary delights of Edinburgh

 

Have you visited or studied in Edinburgh and know of any local gems? Let us know!

 

If you are interested in improving your English, find out more about our schools in the UK and check out our school in Edinburgh.

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