With the oldest parts of the city dating back to the 7th century, Edinburgh’s rich historical and cultural heritage has earned the nickname the ‘Athens of the North’. The city boasts a collection of museums and galleries, with plenty of locations to visit to immerse yourself, especially in the bleak January weather when facing the bitter cold is less than appealing.
Whether you’re looking for something to do this weekend, or somewhere to take your family when they visit, we’ve gathered our must-see cultural spots around the city.
Now, while I personally have my reservations (because of the failing your final exams superstition), your Young Scot card does mean you can visit Edinburgh Castle for only £1! During a visit to Edinburgh, before I became a student here, my family and I trekked up the mile, battling swathes of tourists to visit the monument. It was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.
If you are interested in cultural trips that don’t involve the possibility of cursing your whole degree, there are other options. Located right next to the University, on Chambers Street, the National Museum of Scotland never fails to provide enough exhibitions and entertainment for a rainy afternoon. As well as the permanent collections, the National Museum opens its exhibition Giants this month of 3D prehistoric sculptures. It’s also worth checking out what events the venue is running. For instance, this week the museum hosted its yearly burns night ceilidh, filling its main hall with dancers and music.
If you’ve tried and tested the National Museum, don’t fret — there are many other museums over the city to explore, with many also located in the centre around the university. As a literature student, the Writers Museum was one of my first spots to visit when I moved here, but I would also signpost the Surgeons Hall Museum, the Palestine Museum, and the Museum of Childhood as worthwhile spots to visit.
If galleries are more your speed, Edinburgh’s collection of national, modern and portrait art means there’s something for all of you art buffs. How many students can say they can wander around after class and look at Monet’s work? Not to mention my personal soft spot for a museum and gallery café.
While, after years of living in Edinburgh, it can become easy to become completely normalised to the breadth of cultural heritage surrounding us, it is important to occasionally take a step back and appreciate how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful and rich city.
Image by Harry Sharma for The Student