Things to do

1 Edinburgh Castle

Dominating the city’s skyline as it has done for over 800 years, this castle is a national icon and, deservedly, the country’s most popular visitor attraction. Din Eidyn, “the stronghold of Eidyn”, from which Edinburgh takes its name, was the vital possession in Scotland’s wars.

Address: Edinburgh Castle Castlehill Edinburgh EH1 2NG UK
Phone: (0131) 225 9846
Opening info: Apr–Oct: 9:30am–6pm daily; Nov–Mar: 9:30am– 5pm daily; last admission 45 mins before closing
Tours every 30 mins
Adm £9.50; concessions £7; children £2
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

2 National Gallery of Scotland

A striking Neoclassical building midway along Edinburgh’s Princes Street, the National Gallery defies you to miss it. Widely regarded as one of the finest smaller galleries in the world, this collection is a manageable concentration of excellence.

The Address: The Mound Edinburgh, EH2 2EL
Phone: (0131) 624 6200
Opening info: 10am–5pm Fri–Wed, 10am–7pm Thu (extended during the Festival)
Admission charge: Free except for special exhibitions
www.nationalgalleries.org

3 Royal Museum and Museum of Scotland

The best and rarest of Scotland’s antiquities have been brought together in two treasure troves. Although they occupy adjacent buildings on Edinburgh’s Chambers Street, they maintain separate identities: the Royal Museum concentrates on international artifacts, while the modern Museum of Scotland is dedicated to the story of this land and its people.

Address: Chambers St Royal Museum EH1 1JF
Phone: (0131) 247 4219
Museum of Scotland
Phone: (0131) 247 4422
Opening info: 10am–5pm Mon–Sat (to 8pm Tue), noon–5pm Sun (for both museums)
Admission Charge: Free
www.nms.ac.uk

4 Burrell Collection and Pollok Park

The wealth that Sir William Burrell amassed in his lifetime allowed him to indulge his passion for collecting some of the world’s finest art, from a wide range of cultures and artistic periods.

Address: Pollok Country Park, 2060 Pollokshaws Rd, Glasgow

Burrell Collection
Phone: (0141) 287 2550
Opening info: 10am–5pm Mon–Thu & Sat, 11am–5pm Fri & Sun
Admission Charge: Free

Pollok House
Phone: (0141) 616 6410
Opening info: 10am–5pm daily; closed 25 & 26 Dec, 1 & 2 Jan
Admission Charge: £5; concessions £3.75

5 Glasgow Science Centre

This £75-million millennium project is a pure delight. The heart of the centre is the Science Mall, a glass-sided silver balloon with three floors of hands-on experiments, demonstrations and special-effect theatres. Adjacent to this is the world’s only revolving tower and an IMAX theatre projecting gigantic 3D films..

Address: 50 Pacific Quay G51 1EA
Phone: (0141) 420 5010
Opening info: 1 Apr–31 Oct: 10am–6pm (Glasgow Tower & IMAX: last entry 8pm Thu, Fri & Sat)
1 Nov–31 Mar: 10am–5pm (Glasgow Tower & IMAX: last entry 7pm Thu, Fri & Sat)
Admission Charge:  £6.95 (child £4.95) one attraction; £9.95 (child £7.95) two attractions; Add-ons £2.00
www.glasgowsciencecentre.org

 

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