J.K Rowling, the author of the famous Harry Potter books, took inspiration from the incredible Scottish city of Edinburgh. For fans of this magical series, this ancient city is a real treat and a Harry Potter tour with a qualified guide should not be missed. In a fun way, everything is told about the inspiration for the characters from with a lot of background information. You can decide for yourself what you pay at the end of the tour, and you are really left completely free.
However, if you are not a Harry Potter fan, there is still plenty to do in Edinburgh for a family holiday. Because we do not necessarily want to go eat out every time, we opt for a fully furnished apartment. The Chester Residence offers several different options, all set behind beautiful façades or our gracious, listed Georgian townhouses in Edinburgh's New Town. Each has a private, landscaped gardens which lead from the living areas. Flooded with light and with our trademark striking interior design, these are intimately privileged dwellings offering around 1300 sq. ft. of space.
Chester Residence
For a family we would recommend the two-bedroom apartments that are fully equipped. The beds are amazingly comfortable and each apartment has a beautiful living room. Very warm, cozy yet contemporary, and furnished to a high standard. So, it is certainly not a punishment to lounge on the couch with a good book and a glass of wine in the evening, when the children are in bed. All you need are some tasty snacks. You do not have to leave the house for this, because in the lounge you will find a wide range of all kinds of goodies. So, no doubt you could also stay there for a longer period. If you are a domestic goddess or a culinary god, then the fully equipped kitchens will be a highlight of your stay; crammed with top quality Siemens appliances and all the gadgets you'll need to whip up dinner party worthy feasts and to die for breakfasts.
If you want to cook for yourself but do not feel like doing the shopping, give the staff your shopping list and they will make sure that everything is in the kitchen in no time. Guests with young children find this service particularly useful - and of course there is nothing wrong with ordering the kids' favorite cereal and a Champagne breakfast for yourselves.
Our giant living room
All major sights are within walking distance of the apartments. Such as The Scottish museum. You can walk in here for free and you will find a surprisingly large collection of antiquities, beautiful stones, animal astronomy and much more; there is even an old steam train, several planes and formula 1 cars. The section with the history of Scotland is also interesting for visitors. Worthwhile for children and adults alike. Also, worth recommending is the Camera Obscura and World of Illusions. A fun attraction where especially children can enjoy themselves for a few hours. The building has 6 floors and each floor has its own theme where everything revolves around optical illusions. A fine layout with didactic and interactive participation of the visitor. The camera obscura is only a small part of the entire visit. Bizarre to see how your brain and eyes can be fooled. Make sure you go either early or late, otherwise the experiments that you can do will become crowded. The view from the top of the city is beautiful.
Speaking of the city; Edinburgh is such a destination where 'just' strolling through the city is an experience. For example, the castle towers high above the city. As soon as our children see it, they are curious about what it will be like inside. After a steep climb, we are certainly not disappointed. The view over the city and the surrounding area is beautiful. The exhibition in the building itself gives a good overview of the history of Scotland. The audio tour is really a recommendation! Another climb is to Arthur's Seat an extinct volcano which is the main peak of the group of hills. It is sometimes said that its name is derived from legends pertaining to King Arthur. The climb is easy for everyone. A bit steep at times but as said everyone should manage to get to the top. The climb takes between half an hour to an hour. Just what your pace is. It is very strange that from the buildings in the city you suddenly have the feeling of walking in the mountains. All kinds of hills with paths around Arthur's Seat. Walking around it is also beautiful.
Arthur’s Seat from another angle
You certainly cannot ignore the Royal Mile. It is a succession of streets that together form the main street of the so-called Old Town. In our opinion the most beautiful part of Edinburgh. The whole has several so-called 'closes', often narrow alleys, laid out in a herringbone pattern, which here and there lead to a courtyard-like environment. The mysterious Mary King's Close is perhaps the best known. The Royal Mile is home to many cafes, restaurants, and tourist-oriented shops, with a focus on the traditional Scottish kilts and tartans.
And your children will probably not want to miss the Princes Street Gardens. You cannot miss these since a giant Ferris wheel is positioned here as a fixture of the city’s summer and winter festivals.
Fans of the Netflix series The Crown should check out Leith, the harbor of the Scottish capital Edinburgh. This is where Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia is moored, the former yacht of the British royal family. It now serves as a high-traffic tourist attraction. The yacht has three masts, the highest of which is 42 meters long. It could reach a speed of 21.5 knots. Since commissioning in 1954, the yacht, with the Queen and Prince and / or other members of the royal family on board, has traveled 1,087,623 nautical miles (2,014,278 km), making 696 visits to foreign destinations. The crew consisted of 217 men and 19 officers. Many dignitaries have been guests on the ship. Prince Charles and Princess Diana honeymooned on Britannia in 1981. In 1986, more than 1,000 civil war refugees in Aden were evacuated by ship. It was set up in such a way that it could also serve as a hospital ship, but it was never used for that function. Now five decks, from the elegant State Apartments to the gleaming Engine Room, are on display. On the former upper deck there is also a very nice eatery with courteous service, where children are more than welcome as well.
If you explore the city a bit further, you will find spectacular rocks and rustic building, including stone decorations. Not surprisingly it is one of the liveliest cities in Europe, or as the Scottish people call it: Britain’s Other Eye. The view falls on all sides – green hills, the hint of the blue sea, the silhouettes of the buildings and the red cliffs. It is a city that calls you to explore it by foot – narrow streets, passageways, and churches away from the main streets. And lots of stairs to climb so beware with a pram. So, do not rush, take it by the day, but do not forget everyone’s walking shoes.
WOW
# A luxurious bolthole in central Edinburgh with an expanse of space and all the perks of a grand hotel.
# We especially appreciate the quiet location. No traffic noise, which is usually the case with hotels in the center.
# The staff is excellent - happy and ready to help with anything we need.
