I LOVE Scotland! It’s beautiful and I feel like I am walking around Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling lived in Edinburgh and I can see where her inspiration for many aspects of her books came from. Victoria Street looks like Diagon Alley! Of course there are several Harry Potter themed shops on Victoria Street.
When traveling around I am conducting little research prior to each stop, doing my best to go with the flow and not overplan. I typically watch a few YouTube videos or read blogs (trying to support others) and then head out for the day. My first full day here was very productive!
After popping in shops along Victoria Street a.k.a Diagon Alley, I walked the Royal Mile. It is free to enter St Giles’ Cathedral, it’s stunning!!!
Tron Kirk Market on the Royal Mile is an excellent stop if you love art and are looking for local fare to take home. My favorite part is that it is located inside an old church! I wish in the states we were better at refurbishing old buildings instead of tearing them down for something new. Walking around Old Town Edinburgh I can tell they do an excellent job of preserving the facade of their buildings and I am here for it!
I enjoyed a lovely lunch at Biddy’s with a local pint. Being a vegetarian I am always surprised when traveling what my options will be. So far Scotland is proving to have a variety of local fare for me to choose from. If you want to read about my favorite dining spots in Edinburgh check out my blog post here.
Trying my best to make my money last I can’t afford to enter every castle or monument in Europe, but I can walk around the premises and enjoy the architecture. Palace of Holyroodhouse is a great example, I am able to see the structure through the gate and enter the gift shop. If you are a fan of the royal family then I recommend checking out this gift shop. It is full of memorabilia dedicated to Queen Elizabeth. Holyrood Park behind the palace is a great spot to enjoy the weather and relax for a bit. Bonus, there is a free water bottle filling station across from the park! One thing I am learning about Europe is they offer several areas for refilling your water bottles for free.
After relaxing in the park I walked to Scott Monument. Walter Scott it is the largest monument in the world dedicated to a writer. It is another wonderful place to relax and take in the views of Edinburgh.
I am staying in The Grange neighborhood (about a 30 minute walk to main Edinburgh) and I keep passing a fun looking pub, The Brass Monkey. I decide to pop in for dinner and I am so happy with this decision! The menu offers several vegetarian options, they have many local pints I can try, and everyone is very friendly. I order Vegan Fish Fingers and spicy fries. It’s enough I know I will have leftovers for later in the week. The bartender, Amelia, is great and shares with me things I must see while I am in town. She is recommending both tourist and local favorites. A local and a regular to Brass Monkey, Kenny, joins our conversation and is also giving me advice for my stay. Kenny lets me know that he owns Snax Cafe and invites us all to breakfast with him in the morning! We start talking about Harry Potter and according to Kenny, Harry Potter isn’t as big of a deal in the UK as it is in the states. Turns out his kids went to school with J.K. Rowling’s kids which I find fascinating!
I ended up staying longer than I planned at Brass Monkey trying local drinks with my new friends. We take shots of Mini Marys which are just Bloody Marys in a shot glass! I am not big on taking shots so I love this! I can’t wait to meet everyone for breakfast and try a traditional Scottish Breakfast!
Today’s Helpful Tips
Harry Potter Shop
I visited Museum Context: Retailer of Harry Potter Merchandise on Victoria Street. Great shop that is three stories high. Full of merchandise and fun photo ops like the mirror with the Chamber of Secrets message.
St Giles’ Cathedral
Free to enter, but they do have a donation station should you like to donate.
A Vegetarian in Edinburgh
Traveling with any dietary restriction can be scary, but I find great spots wherever I go!
