Edinburgh November 2014 http://edinburghnov2014.blogspot.com/

Train from London to Edinburgh

Ibis Styles Edinburgh Centre St Andrew Square hotel

Stags and thistles to make Nessie whistle

Nestled in the heart of Edinburgh, the ibis Styles St Andrew Square is an ideal base to tease tales from this mysterious city. Whether you're here to have a date with History, browse some Burns or have an intimate affair with a single malt, this bonnie destination is the ultimate Highland fling. A journey into the wilds of the Scottish wilderness winds through origami stags, tartan trimmed showers, bank notes and barrels, whilst dancing thistles will whet your whistle.

The inspiration
Creatively crafted with full of Gaelic heritage and humour, our native designer pays homage to this cosmopolitan city still roaring with a fierce national pride. The hotel is alive with the energy, wit and vibrance of native artists, writers and comedians who sing, splash and regale with their tales of the city and surrounding Highlands. Herringbone plays with stainless steel and bonds Baronial with slapstick, wittily reflecting the diversity of the capital.

The design
The hotel is full of character and maintains modern functionality with a nod to tradition. Purple, green and blue bring a distinctive Scottish hue which is enhanced by funky furnishings such as wee whiskey barrel nightstands and wry Scot-slang friezes which educate as well as inspire. Take a course in Scottish slang as embroidered carpets with local lingo take you on a winding journey through the country's colourful use of language. Illustrated murals in each room tackle different Scottish themes, meaning you might fall asleep in a field of thistles or be woken by the glare of a highland stag. And of course, where there are trimmings, they're in tartan.

The experience
The interior ensures that your Celtic adventure continues when you step back into your hotel. The character and warmth of this proud country will be just as alive in the carpet beneath your feet as in the heather you walk through or Scotch you sip. Playful cultural references will keep you smiling throughout your stay in your own wee Scottish haven. Just watch out for Nessie who's hidden amongst the décor of the corridors!

 19 St Andrew SquareEH21AU - EDINBURGHUNITED KINGDOM

• Tel :
  (+44)131/2920200
• Fax :
  (+44)131/2920210
General informations:
H9058@accor.com
How to reach the hotel
GPS: N 55° 57' 15.83'' W 3° 11' 39.89''

 

why escape?

 

 Escape Edinburgh only opened its doors in May 2014, yet already the attraction is garnering rave reviews and was nominated by Trip Advisor as the capital’s Number One attraction.

The Escape Experience

Whether you’re taking part in a corporate team building event or want to spend a fun time with your friends, Escape Edinburgh offers a challenging experience. You will be locked in a room and have only an hour to find your way out. Your mission is to track down the safe holding the key that will unlock your route to freedom. In order to achieve success, you’ll have to solve puzzles, crack codes and look for clues in unlikely places.

You don’t have to be Einstein to play Escape

You will have to employ your skills of observation, your powers of deduction and use logic to crack some of the puzzles and codes. You will also have to feel confident enough to share some totally bonkers and random thoughts with your group, as these suggestions may help another person use their powers of reasoning and lateral thought. The whole experience will immerse you and you’ll find that the hour passes all too quickly.

The Classic Escape Room

This is a reconstructed living room where you’ll have to lift up objects and search for clues in the most unlikely places. You will be briefed on the scenario before the start of the game but then it’s up to you to find your way out. Expect to find hidden drawers, and locked boxes as well as other cunningly disguised objects. Some teams spend much of their time in the room just trying to work out where to start the game. If you want to read more reviews from some of our enthusiastic visitors, just visit our Facebook page, to date 973 people have clicked our ‘like’ button. The scenarios vary, so you’ll enjoy a different experience every time you visit Escape Edinburgh. It’s not just locals who take part in the Escape challenge; we’ve had visitors from all over the world.

The Da Vinci Room

This is the second of the live escape rooms. If you think of Da Vinci’s extraordinarily creative mind, then you’ll understand why we’ve named this room after the great man. Dan Brown’s Da Vinci code plays a major part in the shape of the game. You’ll be looking for the Holy Grail and will have to leave the room with this precious object. Of course nothing in the room is, as it seems. If you enjoy classic puzzles, cracking codes, as well as laughing with your friends, then you’ll really enjoy this new experience.

Booking is easy, and costs are competitive

It’s very easy to participate in Escape Edinburgh:

• Assemble a group of up to five friends, though we can cater for groups of 10 for corporate events, but please contact us in advance.
• You can either book online or you can give us a ring or book in person.
• We are always flexible and will try to accommodate your needs.
• Allocate 90 minutes for your experience, we will brief you before your session
• Escape Edinburgh costs only £60 per session

alternative THINKING-Think outside the box and use the logical side of your brain and challenge your creativity at the same time. You'll need all the logical thinking you can gather to break free.

SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT -Feel a great sense of achievement for something that you worked hard for. Our mind and our soul both demand it positive feedback and achievement. Come and crack the game and enjoy the great sensation.

CHALLENGE-We know that you have enough challenge in your life already. Maybe even too much. But our clearly defined challenge is different and fun. After the game you'll wish that all challenges in your life would be similar.

LOSS OF TIME AND SELF-Thanks to the flow effect you'll enter a state of mind where you'll both lose your sense of time and your sense of self. The 1 hour will be up so fast that you won't believe it. But trust us, it's a great feeling.

 

Address: _1 St Colme Street,Edinburgh.Lothian,EH3 6AA

Phone :-07557362664  

Edinburgh Castle, National War Museum + The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum

Tickets and Prices- Buy tickets for Edinburgh Castle
Book your Fast Track tickets (at no extra cost) before you visit, using our webstore!
Please see our helpful information on booking online if you have any queries.
Ticket Types & Prices  -April 2013 - March 2015  Adult (16-59yrs) -£16.00
  
Last admission is 1 hour before closing.


Visit the Museum of the famous Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in Edinburgh Castle. Experience over 300 years of history from Scotland's only Cavalry Regiment. See the captured enemy standard from the Battle of Waterloo. Read about three Victoria Crosses and find out about our part in the First and Second World War. Contrast the old and the new, the sword with the musket and the horse with the tank. Discover the heroes that fought and died. It is a history without end for the Regiment continues  today proud in their tradition and of their motto "Second to None".

High Kirk of St Giles

 

 

There's been a church on this site since AD 854. Nothing remains of the earliest structures, but the four pillars that surround the Holy Table in the centre have stood firm since around 1120, surviving the desecration of armies during the Reformation. The kirk was considerably refurbished in the 19th century; much of what can be seen today dates from this period. Pedants should note that the fabric of the building is referred to as St Giles, while the church itself is known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh. Either way, it's the mother church of Presbyterianism.

John Knox became minister here in 1560, 12 years before his death. This was a tumultuous time for religion in Scotland, with Edinburgh - and Knox - very much at the heart of the Scottish Reformation. The kirk has changed status many times through the years, and today is often referred to as a cathedral even though it's only had two bishops in its history. As a Presbyterian place of worship, it cannot technically be considered a cathedral at all.

Inside, a great vaulted ceiling shelters a medieval interior dominated by the banners and plaques of Scottish regiments. The main entrance takes visitors past the West Porch screen, originally designed as a royal pew for Queen Victoria. Newer features include the 1911 Thistle Chapel, an intricately decorated chamber built in honour of a chivalric order named the Knights of the Thistle. The intimate panelled room was designed by Robert Lorimer, who also designed the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle. Installed in 1992, the organ is an even more recent addition, and features a glass back that reveals its workings.

Memorials and statues pay tribute to the likes of Knox, Robert Louis Stevenson and even Jenny Geddes, but the most notable feature may be the magnificent stained-glass windows. Constructed in the workshops of William Morris, the richly-hued Edward Burne Jones window was designed to be enhanced by the western light it catches. The dazzling West Window, dedicated to Robert Burns by Icelandic artist Leifur Breidfjord in 1984, is also noteworthy, while Douglas Strachan's North Window is a blaze of rich, cold colours and swirling designs.There has been a church on the site of St Giles since 854.

Nothing remains of the earliest structures, but the four pillars that surround the Holy Table in the centre have stood firm since around 1120, surviving the desecration of marauding armies during the Reformation in the 16th century. Numerous memorials and statues pay tribute to the likes of Knox, Robert Louis Stevenson and even Jenny Geddes, but perhaps the most notable feature of the interior is its magnificent stained glass windows. Constructed in the workshops of William Morris, the richly-hued Edward Burne Jones window was designed to be enhanced by the western light it catches. The dazzling West Window, dedicated to Robert Burns by Icelandic artist Leifur Breidfjord in 1984, is also noteworthy, while Douglas Strachan's North Window is a blaze of rich, cold colours and swirling designs.

Address-High Street--Area Old Town

Transport Bus 23, 27, 35, 41, 42, 45 or Nicolson Street-North Bridge buses
Telephone 0131 225 94420131 225 9442
High Kirk of St Giles website

                                                         

Open May-Sept 9am-7pm Mon-Fri; 9am-5pm Sat; 1-5pm Sun. Oct-Apr 9am-5pm Mon-Sat; 1-5pm Sun. Call for service times.

Admission free; donations welcome.

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Palace of Holyroodhouse

 

Founded as a monastery in 1128, the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh is The Queen's official residence in Scotland. Situated at the end of the Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is closely associated with Scotland's turbulent past, including Mary, Queen of Scots, who lived here between 1561 and 1567. Successive kings and queens have made the Palace of Holyroodhouse the premier royal residence in Scotland.
Today, the Palace is the setting for State ceremonies and official entertaining. During The Queen's Holyrood week, which usually runs from the end of June to the beginning of July, Her Majesty carries out a wide range of official engagements in Scotland.
The Investiture held in the Great Gallery is for Scottish residents whose achievements have been recognised in the twice-yearly Honours List which appears at New Year and on The Queen's Official Birthday in June.
King George V and Queen Mary held the first garden party in the grounds of Holyroodhouse and the tradition has been maintained to the present day. Each year, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh entertain around 8,000 guests from all walks of Scottish life during Holyrood week.
For visitor information, please visit the Royal Collection website.