Undiscovered Edinburgh

Lucy Fradin
Jun 11
2 min read

Edinburgh is a tourist hotspot, known for its Harry Potter-inspiring winding streets, beautiful buildings, and its tantalising closeness to the rolling nature of the Pentlands and the crashing seas of Portobello. Most who live here will have climbed Arthur’s Seat, visited the Royal Mile and the castle, and wandered around the National Museum. This article is a guide to undiscovered Edinburgh: great places to go that may be less well known.

1. Dr Neil's Garden

Known as Edinburgh’s “Secret Garden”, Dr Neil’s Garden is nestled by the beautiful Duddingston Loch in Holyrood Park. It was set up by local GPs in the 1960s and is known for its tranquillity and peacefulness. Not only are there an array of plants and trees to look at, but the garden also offers free art exhibitions in Thomson’s Tower, currently showing the paintings of Jennifer Austin and Eiko Yamashita. Whether it be for a walk, a drink in their café (with great prices and big portions), or a look at some art, Dr Neil’s Garden is not one to miss.

2. Cramond Island

Around a half an hour bus on the 47 from the city centre, you can get to Cramond Island through a pathway at low tide. With a stunning view across the Firth of Forth, the small island is a great place for a walk (and if you’re brave, a swim!) Just be careful not to be cut off by the tide on your way back!

Image of Cramond's Island. There is greenery on it, and water around it.

3. Surgeons’ Hall Museum

Edinburgh, in my opinion, is one of the best cities for museums. The clue is in the name with the Surgeons’ Hall Museum – it holds a vast history of surgical equipment, artefacts, and bone and tissue specimens. Its stunning exterior does not outshine the eclectic selection of objects on display in the museum. The £6 student ticket can guarantee hours of fun.

4. Rosslyn Chapel

There are many churches and cathedrals in Edinburgh, however, Rosslyn Chapel easily makes my top 3. Built in 1446, the chapel was left to fade away after the Reformation. However, due to conservation efforts, the beauty of the building remains: it is especially interesting to see the prominence of the “Green Men” statues on the interior. There is a free talk included in the ticket, as well as a lovely walk along the river – and, for fans of Tom Hanks, the chapel is featured in the popular film The Da Vinci Code! Just take the 37 bus from Princes Street and you’ll arrive right outside the chapel.

Image of Rosslyn chapel. It has a little washed down, yellow walls, with beautiful gravel and bushes around it.

5. Typewronger Books

As a literature student, I am always on the look out for good bookshops in Edinburgh (of which there is certainly not a shortage). I have settled on Typewronger Books as my firm favourite. Located on Haddington Place, the cosy shop sells a huge variety of books, including indie publications and zines. My favourite aspect is their free events programme: from book clubs to authors’ talks, Typewronger makes literature exciting and accessible for all.