With thanks to http://www.flickr.com/photos/global-jet/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/spiderdog/ for photographs.

Edinburgh’s Hogmany celebrations are famous the world over, as Princes Street and Princes Street Gardens transforms into a sea of revelers dancing and singing their way into the New Year. Counting down the bells on Princes Street was my first experience of Edinburgh and one that encouraged me to come and live here some years ago, I am very excited.

As usual organisers have pulled out all the stops to ensure it’s a fabulous event and this year we see the headline acts Primal Scream, Mark Ronson, The Vaccines, Kassidy, Frisky and Mannish and The Cuban Brothers take to the stage to mark Edinburgh’s Hogmany celebrations.

For Edinburgh based band Matt Norris and The Moon, this 2012 Edinburgh Hogmany party will be extra special. After entering the ‘Hog The Street’ competition run by Edinburgh based Leith Records and winning, they will be playing on stage in front of thousands at the New Year celebrations.

With a set of 3 to 4 songs, Dave Law, who plays trumpet for the band, said it will be the biggest crowd they have played to so far, meaning the whole band is hugely excited.  Since forming in 2009 Matt Norris and The Moon have rapidly rose on the Edinburgh gigging scene. As yet unsigned they have gained momentum supporting the likes of Woodenbox, Three Blind Wolves and Villagers as well as their successful own shows at venues such as The Voodoo Rooms.

The band are fresh from the studio where they have recorded their soon to be released EP, and besides practising for this exciting Hogmany gig,  they are getting ready to tour the Highlands of Scotland. “The crowds in the Highlands are so appreciative of bands touring, we love it there” says Dave. “As well as the Highland Tour we’re hoping to play at more festivals next year, we start off in May with the Brew Dog Festival, ‘Brew on the Bog’, which will see us playing alongside some of our favourite Scottish bands, Kitty The Lion and Three Blind Wolves, the line up is amazing!”

“We jumped at the chance to enter the ‘Hog The Street’ competition and although we thought our chances of winning were good, we never imagined we would. It’s the continued support of our fans that have put us here. They got involved in our facebook page, and supported us on judging day, coming down to see us busking on Princes Street,  and giving generously to the chosen charity, Shelter. The Hogmany gig is a different league to what we’re used to, and we’ll enjoy minute of it i’m sure! Then we’re celebrating the rest of the new year together with a big after party!”

Matt Norris and The Moon can be found on Facebook and if you would like to listen to this great Edinburgh band you can do so there.

Standing opposite Edinburgh’s famous Jenners department store and looking out across to Princes Street Gardens, visitors to Edinburgh cannot fail to miss the impressive Victorian designed Scott Monument located at the top of the Gardens.  Visitors to the monument can climb the 287 steps, (yes we counted) to the top and enjoy clear views across Edinburgh and beyond. Open from April through to September the Scott Monument is a popular tourist attraction.

A notable part of Edinburgh city’s famous skyline, The Scott Monument, stands in memory of one of Scotland’s most notable writers, Sir Walter Scott. The 61.11 metre Victorian Gothic design is the largest monument to a writer in the world and it began creation in 1840.

Confusion has often surrounded the monument as to it’s ‘dirty’ appearance and it has received mixed reviews from visitors.  Indeed its 1990′s refurbishment was halted for this reason.  It was intended to undergo a full clean up but arguments were considered that the sandstone used in design, Binny Sandstone, is thought to have been chosen as it attracts dirt quickly to give the monument an ‘aged’ effect. In Victorian Britain this was a common design feature, though perhaps the smoke and soot from industrious Britain was not overly considered at the time.

Self taught architect George Meikle Kemp was appointed to construct the monument and Aberdeen born sculptor John Steell was commissioned for the design of the marble statue of Sir Walter Scott. John Steell’s works are dotted around Edinburgh. Visitors to the city can enjoy his further works including The Duke of Wellington, known locally as ‘The Iron Duke’ opposite the Balmoral Hotel, the Artist Allan Ramsey on The Mound and The Prince Consort in Charlotte Square. John Steell was appointed Sculptor to Queen Victoria in 1898. and shortly after the unveiling of his statue of Queen Victoria’s beloved Prince Albert, he received a knighthood.

Full details of the Scott Monument can be found here on the The City of Edinburgh’s website and with thanks to www.australiaphotos.co.uk

Photo Courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/people/cawa

Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, is a great city for shopping. Easy accessed by road, rail or plane, our beautiful city has much to offer for weekend shoppers.

During the winter months, Edinburgh’s Princes Street is without a doubt one of the nicest and easiest city centres to shop. All shops are located to one side with the pretty Princes Street Gardens on the other. Along Princes Street you will find typical High Street stores River Island, Next, Gap, H&M, The Disney Store, Build A Bear Factory, Office, BHS, Waterstones, The Levi Store, Urban Outfitters, HMV, Barratts, All Saints, USC, Zara, Boots, Game, Currys Digital, Whittards of Chelsea, Lush, The Body Shop, Thorntons, Monsoon, Accessorise and Russell and Bromley.

Edinburgh’s oldest department store, Jenners, which opened it’s doors in 1838, is located towards the east end of Princes Street. Jenners is known as the ‘Harrods of the North’ due to it’s royal association. The Queen visited in 1988 on it’s 150th anniversary and it has held a Royal warrant since 1911. Jenner’s has everything you require from a department store. It also has a very much revered Father Christmas and children will delight in a visit to the magical grotto. Stocking, to my excitement, a large collection of high street fashion pioneers, Biba, no visit to Edinburgh is complete without a walk through it’s doors.

Shopping in Edinburgh stepped up a further notch with the arrival of its very own Harvey Nichols department store in 2002. A weekend trip to Edinburgh is much more of a designer experience since the luxury brand stockist opened its doors.

Photo Credit http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennajones/

Stocking far too many designer brands to list  on this post at least Harvey Nichols evokes a sense of style and designer flair. Walking through it’s impressive glass door held opened by one of its attired doormen, can never fail to excite this shopper!

The downstairs floor houses every make-up counter you will ever need, and ones you do not even know you did. From Laura Mercier to Estee Lauder every cosmetic requirement is catered for. You can even book to get your nails done at the exclusive nail and champagne bar, a place most girls make a beeline for. The subsequent floors house beautifully designed creations that most Edinburgh residents can only covet from afar. The fourth floor in particular houses a great restaurant and a food store with delights from all over the world.

Located at the edge of Multrees Walk, where elite brands such as Emporio Armani, Ted Baker, Links Of London, Mulberry, Louis Vitton, Reiss, Kurt Geiger, Replay, Firetrap, Calvin Klein, and Bravissimo take up space, Multress Walk also has a Sassoon salon and cafe.

There are two further department stores located along Princes Street, John Lewis and House of Frasers, (who also own Jenners). Both are located at opposite ends of the street and between all four department stores you will find everything you need.

Princes Street also benefits from two shopping malls, the St James Centre and Princes Mall. Both are located at the East end of Princes Street, close to the majestic Balmoral Hotel. The St James Centre has a very big John Lewis and is connected to Multrees Walk. St James Centre houses most High Street Brands such as River Island and Next, as well as a cafeteria area and internet cafe. Princes Mall houses a few high street brands such as KooKai and New Look, as well as a several mixed designer shops and Scottish tourist shops.

Running parallel with Princes Street is George Street. George Street is an eclectic mix of cool bars, restaurants and mid to luxury range of branded shops. Here you will find a broad selection of fashion retailers including Jo Malone, Cath Kidston, Karen Millen, Pepperberry, Whistles, Jack Wills, Cruise, Thomas Pink, Jaegar, Jigsaw, Coast, The White Stuff, Space NK and Hobbs.

The most exciting news since Harvey Nichols joined Edinburgh’s vibrant shopping scene and something that has been keeping fashionistas in Edinburgh on tender hooks with its opening date, is not the trams, (don’t get us started on that just yet!) but the huge Primark store. Just in time for the expected hordes of Christmas shoppers, Primark is set to open it’s doors this winter. In the mean time shoppers have had to trek to Stirling, Glasgow or Dunfermline  to get their hands on the fast fashion label. But this winter, Edinburgh will be the one stop shop for visitors and residents alike.

Enjoy Edinburgh, Enjoy!

Edinburgh's Princes Street

Built after the Jacobite rebellion, Princes Street is a principle thoroughfare in Edinburgh’s New Town. Like other streets in that area, it was named for the family of King George III, and it quickly grew to become the main commercial road. Today it offers the perfect combination of shopping, history, and picturesque views.

[image credit: versevend]

Scenic Princes Street

Princes Street runs east to west for about a mile and is closed to private motorized vehicles. The southernmost street in the New Town area, Princes Street abuts a scenic area boasting beautiful gardens, grand monuments, and historic buildings. Dominating the view to the south is Edinburgh Castle, a historic gem and Scotland’s second most visited attraction. Located within its walls is St. Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest building in Edinburgh.

Princes Street to the right, with the gardens and Edinburgh Castle to the left

Also to the south are the Princes Street Gardens, a popular place to take a stroll. These Victorian parks are dotted with fountains and monuments, as well as a floral clock. Tree lined walkways and beds of flowers provide a relaxing atmosphere for visitors, while entertainment is provided by regular concerts held at a bandstand within the gardens.

The view of this area is kept uncluttered thanks to the few buildings on the southern side of the street. Instead, retailers and restaurants are built on the north side, and there is no shortage of them. Department stores, such as Marks & Spencer, are interspersed with confectioners and a well-known maker of kilts. Anyone with more expensive tastes can get their fill of high-end clothing at Jaeger, where a skirt might cost only slightly more than a new refrigerator.
With a little bit of everything, Princes Street offers a full day of entertainment for any visitor. The combination of historic sights, beautiful vistas, and excellent shopping are unbeatable, making Princes Street a must see for anyone visiting Edinburgh.

[Image credit: dkodigital]

Cockburn Street in Edinburgh's Old Town

Situated close to the North Sea on the East Coast of the Central Belt, just south of the Firth OF Forth, Edinburgh is the second largest city in Scotland, but the main tourist attraction for those visiting “the greatest country in the world”. Also, it’s one of the country’s biggest educational hub with an intellectual history that earned its nickname, the Athens of the North.

Thanks to an amazing cityscape that adds dramatic contours to the magnificent architecture with long surviving buildings, Edinburgh is shifting from the historic, yet bustling city centre of the medieval Old Town to the urbanity and the contemporary of the New Town, in the most stunning possible way. That must be the reason why Auld Reekie (Scots for Old Smoky) is now on an exquisite list that includes other World Heritage Sites. And “probably” with some help from the mind-blowing ancient stronghold that dominates the sky-line— the Edinburgh Castle.

Edinburgh Castle as seen from Princes Street gardens

But Edinburgh is not stuck in the past as some may think. It knows how to entertain, enlighten and intrigue, all at the same time. Although there’s a wide variety of good pubs, restaurants or bars, culture, arts, sports and plenty of “green” to spend some relaxing time, the thing that Edinburgh does best, are festivals. Every summer the city explodes and population even quadruples when the Edinburgh Festival (world’s largest festival, they say) opens its gates. So it’s quite obvious that they don’t call it the Festival City, for nothing.

And did we mention, that Edinburgh gets a lot of votes each year as one of the most desirable places to live, in the world? By now I suppose you know why! It’s one of those special cities that knows how to be both ancient and modern at the same time.

A busy Princes Street

There are many more things we could say about Edinburgh, and we’re making a sacred promise that we will. All you have to do is buckle up and enjoy while we delve in deeeper and deeper into the true heart of Edinburgh.

Image credits: 1, 2, 3