Six Edinburgh’s Best Kept Secrets

Hidden Edinburgh

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Overflowing with the buzz and bustle of tourists and bustling inhabitants, Edinburgh is overflowing with secret jewels hidden away from the standard masses, as any capital city should be.

Wild West in the Morning

If you blink, you’ll miss this hidden gem in Edinburgh’s South Side that offers a flavour of the Wild West. This eccentric Street in Morningside was built in 1995 by Michael Faulker as a sales gimmick for a furniture company.

It is made up of saloon type buildings reminiscent of the American Southwest.

Advocate’s Close.

Several little lanes and shuts lead to secret locations that wind their way through Edinburgh’s ancient and picturesque old town. Walk along with Advocate’s Close, and you’ll come across structures dating back to the 15th century.

This little back lane in Edinburgh was recently restored as part of a project that received one of the UK’s most prestigious architectural awards.

A historic Victorian pump house has been transformed into a fine restaurant, while Lateral City’s Old Town Chambers —a collection of high-end serviced apartments tastefully constructed to integrate original brickwork and stone –is located farther down.

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Edinburgh Castle’s Soldier’s Dog Cemetery
 
This little garden pays respect to the castle’s troops’ pet dogs and regimental mascots and is a charming and sometimes overlooked feature of Edinburgh Castle. The Soldier’s Dog Cemetery, located beyond the parapets near where the one o’clock cannon is discharged, has been used since Queen Victoria’s period in 1840 and offers a unique area for silent reflection.
 
The Scotsman Steps
 
The Scotsman Steps, created in 1899 as part of the historic Scotsman building, are a significant element of the city that connects Edinburgh’s old and new towns, stretching from Market Street to North Bridge. In 2011, Turner Prize-winning artist Martin Creed resurfaced each of the 104 stairs with various marbles throughout the world, giving them fresh vitality.
 
Tom Riddle’s Grave
 
Harry Potter enthusiasts visiting Edinburgh will undoubtedly make their way to the world-famous café where JK Rowling is said to have penned the majority of the Potter novels. However, tucked away at the rear of Greyfriars Kirkyard lies another Potter must-see: the burial of 19th Century nobleman Tom Riddle, whom many think inspired the novel’s villain, Lord Voldemort.
 
Blackford Hill and The Hermitage Trail
 
Many visitors to Edinburgh prefer to ascend Arthur’s Seat, the beautiful extinct volcano in the city’s core —a fantastic trek with excellent views and many people. Few visitors know Blackford Hill and the Hermitage of Braid’s surrounding woodland nature reserve. Blackford Hill, located in the city’s southwest, has comparable stunning views over the city but is more tranquil. Visitors may see the castle, the Firth of Forth, and the city skyline, as well as Arthur’s Seat and the Royal Observatory.
 
We are confident that once you have picked where to stay in Edinburgh, you will enjoy the city. If you’re visiting for the first time, take a lengthy walk through Edinburgh’s streets. 
 
You may also spend half a day at Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Gardens, which has one of the best-kept palm homes in the country.

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