Travel & Stay
Getting to Edinburgh
We've chosen Scotland's capital as a convenient home base for our guests. Edinburgh has an international airport, and the fastest way to get to the city would be to fly straight there. But if you're finding that flights directly into Edinburgh are too expensive, then you can also find cheaper flights to London. From there, you can take the train from King's Cross Station to Scotland. That's what we did for our last visit to Edinburgh, and it worked like a charm!
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT: To enter the United Kingdom, Americans must fill out an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). If you don't fill out this form, you won't be permitted to enter the country. It must be done within three months of your trip. The entire process takes five minutes and costs about $20. You can find the form HERE.
Getting To The Venue
Borthwick Castle
North Middleton
Gorebridge EH23 4QY
The castle is about a 40 minute drive outside of Edinburgh. So that no one is forced to rent a car or pay for an expensive Uber, we will be providing free transportation to and from the venue. The coach will depart from Market Street Hotel at TBD TIME. At the end of the night, the same coach will take everyone back to the city.
If you miss the coach or feel strongly about driving yourself to the event, then you can drive or Uber. For your convenience, there is free parking on the premises.
One of the fun parts about getting married in a castle is that we've been able to find it on a lot of old maps!
Click the map to zoom in and see where Borthwick is (and where it's been for the past 600 years)
Where To Stay
For your convenience, we have secured discount codes for multiple hotels in Old Town Edinburgh. Because this is the most historic (and therefore touristy) part of the city, lodging prices can be quite high. Please believe us when we say that we worked very, very hard on this, and the discounted rates that we secured were the best available at the time.
While we believe that this is both the most convenient and the most beautiful part of town to stay in, you are in NO WAY obligated to stay in these hotels. If the prices are too expensive, then we encourage you to book a hotel or an Airbnb in another part of the city. Whatever you need to do to make this trip work for you, please do it!
Other hotels in this area we recommend checking out to see if they have any deals: Leonardo Royal, The Scotsman, Motel One Edinburgh, Old Waverly, Radisson Blu, Apex (Grassmarket or City of Edinburgh), and anything within the Ibis hotel family.
Just keep in mind that in order to take the coach to the wedding venue, it will be picking everyone up at Market Street Hotel at XX TIME. This means that no matter where you are staying, you should be at Market Street Hotel prior to XX TIME.
If you would rather Uber to the venue, then you may do so. But a free transportation option is available, so we suggest that you choose what works best for you, your schedule, and your budget.
Virgin Hotel
We have a discount code for October 15th through the 18th at Virgin. You can book any number of days within that window. Prices will vary depending on availability and time of booking.
Instructions:
1. Click the link below, which will take you to the Virgin Hotel booking page.
2. Select the dates you will be in Edinburgh.
3. On the right hand side of the screen, you will see selection boxes for your Virgin Hotel location and the number of adults staying in each room. Please adjust this information according to your own needs.
4. Underneath those selection boxes, you will see a plus sign, followed by the phrase "promo/group code."
5. Click on "promo/group code" and enter the promo code especiallyforyou.
6. Click "check availability." Once you do so, the list of discounted room prices will appear on your screen.
Again - the promo code is especiallyforyou
Hotel Indigo
We have a link that leads to a discounted booking portal for Hotel Indigo. They have frozen the price for our group, so no matter when you book, or how many nights you book, the nightly rate will stay the same. Our discounted rooms will be released to the public two months prior to October 15th, so book early if you can. You can cancel at anytime, free of charge.
Instructions:
1. Click the link below, which will take you to our individualized booking page.
2. We have reserved October 15th through the 18th. If you need to edit these dates for any reason, then you may do so at the top of the web page.
3. Click the blue box that says "Select."It will then bring you to the booking information page.
Market Street Hotel
We have a link that leads to a discounted booking portal for the Market Street Hotel. They are giving us a 20% discount off of whatever the current rate is. This rate is not frozen, and is subject to change depending on when you book. So, if you see a price you like, then snag it while you can! You can cancel until 24 hours prior to check-in.
Instructions:
1. Click the link below, which will take you to our individualized booking page.
2. We have reserved October 16th through the 19th. If you need to edit these dates for any reason, you may do so at the top of the web page.
3. Choose the room that works for you and click "book now."
Important caveat: If the link doesn't work, then you can go directly to the hotel website and apply the code MsHWEDDING26.
Hilton Edinburgh Carlton
We have a link that leads to discounted room pricing at the Hilton Carlton. Prices will vary depending on availability and time of booking. The discount will stop working 56 days prior to October 15th, so book early if you can. Anyone who needs to cancel their booking can do so free of charge up to 28 days prior to arrival.
Instructions:
1. Click the link below, which will take you to our individualized booking page.
2. Click the blue box that says "book now."
3. This will open a new window, showing price listings for October 15th through 18th.
4. If you need to edit these dates for any reason, then at the top of the page, you can click "edit stay" and choose new dates within that window.
What To Do
Our suggestions for touring around Edinburgh!
Mary King's Close
Did you know that modern-day Edinburgh was essentially built on top of the city's old streets and buildings? To truly understand Edinburgh, you have to first understand the mysterious underground city beneath the cobblestone streets. The tour is a bit corny, but still incredibly informative. Hop on down for a look - and, if it's your cup of tea, then you can even take a haunted tour after dark.
Edinburgh Castle
Despite once holding the title for the most besieged place in all of Britain, today's Edinburgh Castle is the jewel of the city. Tour one of the oldest fortified castles in Europe to learn all about its nearly thousand year old history. And don't forget to check out the Crown Jewels while you're there!
Calton Hill
Most travel guides will tell you that the best view of the city can be found on top of Arthur's Seat. But we disagree - Edinburgh actually looks best from Calton Hill, particularly at golden hour. And if you decide to climb up here, then you get the added bonus of seeing Nelson's Monument! It's a win-win.
Surgeon's Hall Museum
This one may be of interest to the doctors and nurses in the group. Best known for having the largest historic pathology collection in the UK, the Surgeon's Hall Museum is perfect for anyone who may be interested in medical history. A fair warning, though: if you have a sensitive stomach when it comes to seeing organs and skeletons, this particular spot may not be for you.
Greyfriars Kirkyard
Edinburgh has no shortage of beautiful cemeteries to explore, but Greyfriars is easily the most famous. It's best known for serving as the inspiration for the names of several Harry Potter characters, as well as for its violent resident ghost, the Mackenzie Poltergeist. If you want to check out other graveyards, then we can suggest St. Cuthbert's Kirkyard and the Old Calton Burial Ground.
National Galleries of Scotland
It may look imposing, but this gallery makes for a short and sweet museum visit. I (Alex) have been twice, and both times, I used it as a filler between other, longer sightseeing appointments. But that isn't to say that you shouldn't visit at all. The museum has a beautiful collection, and it's well worth your time.
Dean Village
Dean Village is a former village that, at some point in history, was gradually absorbed into the city. Today, it has still retained its village-like appearance, making it a great spot for scenic photos.
The Waters of Leith
One of our absolute favorite things that we did during our last trip was to walk along the Waters of Leith. This 13 mile riverside trail is easily the most tranquil place in the entire city. If you find yourself getting overwhelmed by the crowds of tourists, or you feel the need to be in nature, then this is the place to go. We started our walk at the Village of Dean, but there are plenty of other entry points all over the city.
Bookstores
We couldn't make a list of places to visit in Edinburgh without including a bookshop or two. Our personal favorite is Topping & Company. The selection is fantastic, and it has a weirdly high number of signed books. If you prefer used/antique books, then you should check out The Gently Mad, McNaughtan's, or Armchair Books instead. If you want a bookstore with a view, go to Waterstones in the West End. And if you want specialty bookshops, check out Book Lovers, Transreal Fiction, or Wild Fungarium.
National Portrait Gallery
Sure, the collection of portraits is cool. But the real reason to visit this museum is to see the main atrium. It is, hands down, the most beautiful room in the city.
St. Giles Cathedral
The most famous cathedral in Edinburgh, right there on the Royal Mile. Recently, it gained fame as the church where Queen Elizabeth's body lay in state after her death.
Swanston Farm
If you won't have time to make it out of the city, but you still want to see some Highland Cows, then this is the place for you. Swanston Farm is a working farm on the edge of Edinburgh where you can say hello to Scotland's most beloved animals. And, if you like it out there, then you can have a drink at their Brasserie or play a round of golf on their green. But, let's be honest - the real attraction here is the cows. Please note that you are not permitted to feed or pet the animals.