20 Hours in Edinburgh

It’s been seven years since my last trip to Edinburgh, and I’ve just returned from another short visit. This time I was travelling with Jono, who wanted to visit a couple of shops, Pokecards and Harburn Hobbies.

With Ireland West Airport just down the road, Edinburgh is an easy option for a short break, just a quick flight away. Jono was travelling in his wheelchair, so we booked special assistance. I can’t recommend it highly enough; it takes so much of the stress out of travelling. That said, Ireland West Airport is pretty stress-free anyway.

Edinburgh is a brilliant city, with something to see around every corner, and it’s easy to navigate, even if you have no sense of direction like me!

We took the tram from the airport into the city centre. It was so easy with a wheelchair, with level access and a smooth journey. We stayed at the Premier Inn Waverley, just a few minutes’ walk from the tram stop.

I usually love Premier Inn, but this one was a bit grubby, and getting the wheelchair through two fire doors was a challenge. It was quiet, though, despite building work outside.

Our flight was delayed, so the hotel restaurant was closed by the time we arrived. Dinner ended up being Burger King, which was cold and not quite what you want at 9pm. But needs must!

I didn’t sleep much and was up bright and early the next morning, leaving Jono to sleep in. I was surprised by how dark it was at 7am. The streetlights cast a yellow glow over the lanes, and as I walked up the worn steps, I found myself thinking about all the people who had walked there before me.

Autumn leaves covered the paths while squirrels and pigeons foraged for food. There’s something special about exploring a city before it fills with tourists.

Breakfast was at Black Sheep Bakery, where I ordered a waffle and coffee. That’s when the fun began: Revolut went down! Thankfully, I had a little cash with me, so I could get Jono some breakfast too.
Top tip: The bakery in Marks & Spencer is cheaper than Greggs. You can’t go wrong with a huge cheese pretzel for £1.30!

Luckily, I’d brought my credit union debit card. I don’t usually take it abroad because I need to tell them I’m travelling or they’ll block it. This has happened twice on one trip before! I rang them, let them know I was away, and thankfully had access to my money again.

Once Jono was up and about, we headed off shopping, including visits to Pokécards and Harburn Hobbies.We also enjoyed listening to the bagpipe player.

It’s worth remembering that Edinburgh is a very hilly city, and not everywhere is easy to reach on foot with a wheelchair. We walked to some places and used the bus or tram for others. The tram was our favourite way to travel. The staff were lovely, and on one occasion they even alerted the driver to our stop so he could give us more time to get off.

When Jono returned to the hotel for a rest, I made the most of the time and legged it around the city. I managed brief visits to the National Galleries of Scotland, the National Museum of Scotland and the National Library of Scotland. All brilliant, and all free!

After all that culture, it was time for chocolate.

Edinburgh is home to The Chocolatarium, and if you love chocolate, you need to visit. I’ve written before about the chocolate museum in Cologne, which was interesting but sadly lacking in chocolate. The Chocolatarium is chocolate heaven!

I won’t spoil the tour, as it’s something you need to experience for yourself, but being handed a cup of hot chocolate was an impressive start.

We learned about the history of chocolate and even got to make our own chocolate bars. Our guide, Colin from Dundalk, was brilliant, entertaining us throughout and making the experience extra special.

The tour finished with lots of chocolate tasting, with flavours ranging from banoffee and toffee apple (two of my favourites) to hot pickle and haggis. Yes, really!

Even if you don’t do the tour, you can pop into the shop, which has an extensive selection of chocolate to tempt you.

Speaking of shops, I also found my ideal place in Edinburgh: Socktopus. It sells nothing but socks, and I love socks! The choice was incredible. I was in sock heaven!

After all that shopping and chocolate, it was time for dinner. We got a takeaway from Tempting Tattie, a baked potato shop serving spuds as big as your head, with all sorts of fillings. It’s a popular spot, but the staff get through the queues quickly, and it’s well worth a visit. You can even convince yourself you’re having a slightly healthier dinner. That’s what I tell myself, anyway! Mind you, I did finish it off with a battered Mars Bar – you can’t go to Scotland not have one of them!

The following morning, I had another little wander, heading up towards Edinburgh Castle before it opened. I chatted to the squirrels in the park before returning to pack and catch the tram back to the airport.

Special Assistance at Edinburgh Airport was very busy, and the room was small. We let the staff know we were there and headed through security ourselves. Poor Jono was thoroughly searched, with security even checking underneath his wheelchair.

Our flight home was very quiet, with just 24 people on board. All in all, it was a lovely short break and well worth doing.

There’s one thing I’m kicking myself about, though. When I got home, I spotted a café near our hotel serving a Matilda cake, which looked like pure chocolate overload. I missed out! Still, it’s a great excuse to go back.

If you’re looking for more ideas for Edinburgh, have a read of my blog post from seven years ago. It includes ghost tours, a chocolate café (there I go with the chocolate again!), a cat café, a chihuahua café (now closed), and more. https://magnumlady.com/2019/05/13/48-hours-in-edinburgh/