Caiy Stane

Situated in a recess in the wall on the eastern side of Caiystane View, near the junction with Oxgangs Road, this 9ft redstone monolith is an arresting sight in the residential district of Fairmilehead.

It is thought to mark the site of an ancient battle and is now in the care of the National Trust for Scotland.

Caiystane View, Oxgangs Road, Edinburgh EH10

The Bore Stane

The red stone sits on a plinth built into the wall of the former Morningside Parish Church. It was placed here in 1910 as a memorial to the battle of Flodden.

Morningside Road, Edinburgh 

Bliss Spa Hair & Beauty Academy

Bliss Spa & Beauty, based in The Club, Edinburgh College's spa facility, offers the public a wide variety of treatments with experienced students, under the supervision of their lecturers, in a luxurious setting.

Enjoy being pampered at a fraction of the cost you might expect to pay elsewhere.

Edinburgh College, 24 Milton Road East, Edinburgh EH15 2PP

0131 344 7348

bliss@edinburghcollege.ac.uk.

http://www.theclubedinburgh.com/

Big Chair Sculpture

The large grey granite chair, which was designed by Doug Cocker, was installed in 2004 to mark the regeneration of the Niddrie Mains area.

Oversized chairs as public art is nothing new – Washington DC, Geneva, Dartmoor, all have them but there is something about Niddrie's chair that looks utilitarian and unfriendly.

Perhaps, when tourists ask for directions to Arthur's Seat, they should be directed here...


Hay Avenue, Edinburgh EH16 4AQ

Beer Movers

In 1989, Edinburgh Council launched a Percent For Art scheme, under which a housing developer allocates a percentage of capital construction costs to works of art one the site. The scheme funded several artworks including the Beer Movers which is a nod to the site's brewing past.

Other Percent for Art commissions include Horse and Rider at Rutland Court and Horse, Rider, Eagle at Silvermills, both by Eoghan Bridge.

Easter Dalry Road, Edinburgh 

Barnton Quarry Complex

The site consists of two distinct buildings: the RAF WWII Fighter Command Sector Operations Centre (which can be seen from the surface) and the RAF ROTOR R4 Sector Operations Centre Bunker (buried 30m under Corstophine Hill).

The 1400m2 SOC building was built by the Air Ministry before WWII and was used during the war as an active Fighter Command command centre and thereafter for storage and was fully maintained until 1987.

The bunker was originally built for the RAF and during the 1950s was the Sector Operations Centre for coordinating Fighter Command response to UK airspace intrusion by Russian long-range nuclear bombers. Around 1960, the bunker was re-fitted as a Regional Seat of Government with the ability to accommodate 400 staff in the aftermath of a nuclear attack. Ownership transferred to Edinburgh Council in the early 80s and was sold to a private developer in 1989 after which time it suffered from vandalism and theft.

Today, the Barnton Quarry complex is owned by a partnership of individuals who hope to restore the building as a museum and educational centre.

Clermiston Road, Edinburgh (NT203748)

contact@barntonquarry.org.uk

http://barntonquarry.org.uk

@BarntonQuarry




 

West Princes Street Gardens

If you only have limited time in Edinburgh, head for West Princes Street Gardens which, unsurprisingly, is at the west end of Princes Street. The highlights of West Princes Street Gardens include:

The Ross Fountain with its voluptuous naked mermaids pouring water over their ample bosoms which scandalised the neighbouring church Dean (“Grossly indecent and disgusting; insulting and offensive to the moral feelings of the community and disgraceful to the City”).

The Floral Clock at the north-eastern edge of WPSG has been planted out every summer since 1903. It takes up to 40,000 plants to create a different theme each year. Recent themes have included Fairtrade, Zoo centenary and the Olympics.

The children's play park close to the Ross Fountain has chess-themed play areas for both toddlers and older children. There is a large wooden castle with slide and climbing nets.

Also look out for the cute Gardeners Cottage (the cottage is cute, not the gardener!), the Anne Frank Memorial Stone, and a Footbridge from where you can wave to trains coming to and from Waverley Station.

The Wojtek Memorial Trust has been raising funds to erect a life size bronze tribute to Wojtek the Bear in West Princes Street Gardens and this is hoped to be in place in 2015. 

 

EH2 2HG 

Wardrop's Court

The entrance to Wardrop's Court is embellished with two dragons that date back to 1890s. At that time, Patrick Geddes (see Patrick Geddes Centre) was regenerating the Old Town, by encouraging university students and tutors to live in the community.

The dragons were carved by Geddes’ son Arthur and were restored to their original splendour in 2014.

Wardrop's Court leads into Makars' Court, a peaceful public space, next to the Writers’Museum. Enjoy the tranquility while reading the flagstones inscribed with quotations from Scottish writers from the 14th century to the present day.

EH1 2NY

Waldorf Astoria

More commonly known as “The Caley”, this is one of two station hotels (the other being the Balmoral) in Edinburgh. Walk around the corner to Rutland Street and you can still see the you can still see the gates that led into the former Princes Street Station.


The luxurious lobby lounge was formerly the station concourse and ticket office and is a glamorous setting for afternoon tea.


Look up above the entrance at the four seated figures. Left to right they represent Engineering, Agriculture, Commerce & The Arts. On the eastern (Lothian Road) side of the building, you can see 22 figures keeping watch over the St Cuthbert's kirkyard (sensible given the history of grave robbing).


Princes Street, Edinburgh EH1 2AB

0131 222 8888

guest_caledonian@waldorfastoria.com

http://waldorfastoriaedinburgh.com

@hotelcaledonian

Virgin Lounge

Virgin Lounge membership is completely free. You are welcome to borrow an iPad, use the free Wi-Fi and help yourself to free refreshments (yes, really!). Avail yourself of the magazines, papers and television. You can even bring a friend or family member in with you.

But there's a catch...you have to be a Virgin Money customer.

But...you can open a savings account online with £1...

Then, register to use the lounge, they will even remember how you like your coffee. Now that's a hidden gem!


28 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 1AF
0771 2848 300
uk.virginmoney.com
@VM

Victoria Terrace

If anything sums up Edinburgh, it is this curved, quirky street above the colourful shop fronts of Victoria Street below. If you are in Edinburgh only for a short time, head for beautiful Victoria Terrace which runs from George IV Bridge to Johnston Terrace and connects the Lawnmarket (part of the Royal Mile) with the Grassmarket below.

For those with longer time to spare, The Scottish Genealogy Society Family History Centre is located at number 15 and welcomes visitors wishing to trace their family tree.

Edinburgh EH1 2JL

Talbot Rice Gallery

Talbot Rice Gallery is part of the University of Edinburgh, in Scotland. It was established in 1975 and remains an outstanding centre for art and ideas. It comprises two distinct exhibition spaces. The White Gallery, a contemporary light space and The Georgian Gallery which was designed by William Playfair as a natural history museum.

Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL

0131 650 2210

info@talbotrice@ed.ac.uk

trg.ed.ac.uk
@talbotrice75

Stills Gallery

Scotland's centre for photography hosts exhibitions at their Cockburn Street base but few people venture beyond the ground floor gallery.

The resource area on the lower ground floor has a great wee photographic library featuring monographs, artists books, magazines and journals. Relax in the comfy seats and enjoy the free Wi-Fi.

Stills also offer darkroom facilities, run photographic workshops and equipment hire.

23 Cockburn St, Edinburgh EH1 1BP

0131 622 6200

info@stills.org

stills.org

@StillsEdinburgh

'Still' @ Old St Paul's Episcopal Church

Originally commissioned by the Ingleby Gallery for the 2004 Edinburgh Art Festival, Still has remained in the Memorial Chapel of St Paul's ever since.

A monumental 12 foot painting by the Scottish artist Alison Watt, depicting swathes of white fabric, Still is both arresting and calming.

39 Jeffrey Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1DH

0131 556 3332

office@osp.org.uk

osp.org.uk

Space Club

SpaceClub took an empty building and transformed it into a creative hub with rehearsal/meeting rooms, exhibition space and studios.  Sign up to be kept informed of exciting arty events.

Argyle House, 37 Castle Terrace Edinburgh EH1 2EL

info@spaceclub.org.uk

spaceclub.org.uk

@space__club

Simpson & Marwick Tiny Garden

Albany House, 58 Albany St, Edinburgh, EH1 3QR ‎

This minuscule pocket-sized garden is included in the hope that it will inspire office workers to similarly green up their work environment.