Countdown to Scotland, Baby!
Trip Itinerary
Our VRBO - 34 North Castle Street, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH2 3BN United Kingdom
Google Map - Reference for restaurants, pubs and other sites of interest
Sainsbury’s Local - On Howe Street, just north of the apt, next to Little Capo
Only confirmed events are shown
Thursday, October 8
7:00 pm - British Air flight 7014, Tampa to London
Friday, October 9
8:40 am - Arrive in London Gatwick Airport
10:30 am - Thameslink train to St. Pancras Station (1 hour) Tix in email
11:30 am - Walk from St Pancreas across to Kings Cross Station
12:30 pm - LNER train to Edinburgh from Kings Cross Station (4 hours)
7:30 pm - Dinner at Badger & Co.
Saturday, October 10
9:00 am - Edinburgh Farmers Market
Hop on / Hop Off bus tour - iPhone App
7:45 pm - Dinner at Cafe Royal
Sunday, October 11
9:30 am - Edinburgh Castle - Tix for guidebook in Apple Wallet, Printed admission tix in Sync folder and journal
12:00 noon - Lunch at the castle The Tea Room
5:00 pm - The Johnnie Walker Signature Experience (1.5 hours) Tix in Apple Wallet
7:00 pm - Dinner at the rooftop bar after tour
Monday, October 12
12:00 pm - P - Harris Tweed Workshop (1.5 hours) MAP
7:00 pm - The Real Mary King’s Close Lantern Led Tour - on High Street across from St. Giles Cathedral
Tuesday, October 13
10:45 am - Bus to Rosslyn Chapel [3] - 55 min bus ride or UBER
12:15 pm - Rossyln Chapel
1:45 pm - Return to Edinburgh [3] - Bus or UBER
9:00 pm - City of the Dead walking tour - Tree outside St. Giles
Wednesday, October 14
10:00 am - The Royal Yacht Britannia [1]
11:30 am - Lunch in the Tea Room
7:00 pm - Dinner at The Grill Room
Thursday, October 15
10:30 am - Palace of Holyroodhouse [2]
5:30 pm - Truffle making experience at The Chocolatarium (2 hours)
Friday, October 16
10:15 am - Palm Houses at the Royal Botanic Garden
7:00 pm - Dinner at The Witchery
Saturday, October 17
2:00 pm - Blood & Guts Walking Tour - Surgeons’ Hall Museum admission included
5:00 pm - Dinner at Little Capo ***5:00 reservation was a mistake. Can’t reschedule***
Sunday, October 18
11:00 am - St Giles Cathedral
2:00 pm - High Tea at Colonnades at the Signet Library
Monday, October 19
9:00 am - ScotRail train to Falkirk (trains leave every 30 mins, trip is about 35 mins)
10:40 am - The Falkirk Wheel
ScotRail train to Edinburgh (trains leave every 30 mins, trip is about 35 mins)
Tuesday, October 20
12:15 pm - Maid of the Forth - Inchcolm Island Landing Trip (3 Hours) Inchcolm Abbey
4:30 pm - Dinner at The Hawes Inn
Wednesday, October 21
Thursday, October 22
12:00 - LNER train to London Kings Cross Station (4:15 hours)
Walk across to St Pancras Station
Dinner near the station
Thameslink train to Gatwick Airport - Tix in email
Stay at the Hilton London Gatwick Airport Hotel
Friday, October 23
Breakfast at the hotel
12:20 pm - British Air Flight 7015, London Gatwick to Tampa, arrive 4:55 pm EST
Transportation
[1] VRBO to The Royal Yacht Britannia
The tram line extension connects the city center straight to the port.
Where to board: Walk one block south down Castle Street to Princes Street, where you will find the Princes Street Tram Stop.
Tram to take: Board the T50 Tram heading toward Ocean Terminal.
Frequency: Runs every 7 to 10 minutes.
Where to get off: Alight at the Ocean Terminal Tram Stop.
Cost:£2.00 for a single ticket within the city zone. Note: You must buy your ticket from the platform kiosk or tap your card at the platform validator before boarding.
[2] VRBO to Holyrood House
Option 1: Bus via Princes Street (Fastest & Most Frequent)
This is the most efficient route, utilizing Edinburgh's main transit artery to get you as close as possible via bus.
Where to board: Walk one block south down Castle Street to Princes Street. Locate Bus Stop PC (or adjacent stops on the north side of the street).
Buses to take: Board Lothian Buses Line 26, 44, or 124.
Frequency: Extremely frequent, with a bus passing by every 3 to 5 minutes.
Where to get off: Ride the bus east for roughly 5 minutes and alight at Waterloo Place or St Andrew's House.
The final walk: From the bus stop, enjoy a downhill 10-minute walk east along Regent Road, turning right onto Abbeyhill to arrive directly at the palace gates.
Cost:£2.00 for an adult single fare (simplest using contactless tap-to-pay).
Option 2: Lothian Bus Line 35 (Drops Closest to the Gates)
If you want to minimize the walking distance after you get off the bus, Line 35 travels down the Royal Mile and stops right outside the palace grounds.
Where to board: Walk south for about 8–10 minutes over The Mound to the intersection of the Royal Mile and South Bridge.
Bus to take: Board the Line 35 bus heading eastbound.
Where to get off: Alight at Canongate Kirk or Abbeyhill Crescent. You will be dropped off just a 2-minute walk from the Palace of Holyroodhouse entrance.
Cost:£2.00 for an adult single fare.
[3] VRBO to Rosslyn Chapel
Step-by-Step Route
Walk to Princes Street: From the corner of Castle Street and George Street, walk one block south (about 2 minutes) to reach Princes Street.
Board the Bus: Catch the Lothian Bus 37 heading toward Penicuik/Deanburn.
The Journey: The bus ride takes roughly 45 to 55 minutes depending on city traffic.
Alight at Roslin: Get off the bus at the Original Rosslyn Hotel stop in Roslin.
Walk to the Chapel: From the bus stop, it is a well-signposted, 5-minute walk down Chapel Loan to the gates of Rosslyn Chapel. [1, 2, 3]
Pro-Tips for Your Journey
Check the Bus Destination: Double-check the digital destination sign on the front of the bus or ask the driver before boarding. Not all Service 37 buses travel all the way into the village center; some skip the village loop, which can leave you with a much longer 15-minute walk from the main road. [1]
Fares & Payment: A single adult fare on Lothian Buses costs roughly £2.00 to £3.00. You can easily pay on board using contactless tapping (bank card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay)