Edinburgh it’s magic
Pottering around Scotland’s capital, you’ll be amazed at what
MYSTERY, majesty and magic seeps from every cobbled stone in Edinburgh’s Old Town and those who visit can’t help feeling themselves transported to a different world... JK Rowling did.
The world’s most famous living children’s author developed Harry Potter here and every Potterhead can list the city landmarks that crop up in the books.
Here on a whistlestop visit to the Scottish capital I can immediately see what JK did, the potential for a fantasy world.
Just a swish of a cloak away from my hotel for the night, the luxurious Radisson Collection on the Royal Mile, and more of that later, is Victoria Street.
Or Diagon Alley to you and me. Take in the sweeping lane and the architecture around you and the only thing that’s surprising is that Gringotts Bank isn’t rising up above you, while Eeylops Owl Emporium and Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour must surely have done business here back in the day.
THE Elephant House on George IV Bridge which takes you over to the New Town, did and does and that’s of course where JK made Harry and his pals come to life while genteel Edinburgh ladies sipped on their cappuccinos.
And it is in nearby Greyfriars Kirk that JK found the quirky names of some of her most famous characters, Professor McGonagall, Mad-Eye Moody and even Voldemort himself, named after Thomas Riddell... Voldemort, being Christened Tom Marvolo Riddle.
The author has moved out of Edinburgh now to rural Perthshire but should she feel the pull of the city dragging her back on occasions then she’d obviously want to stay somewhere plush, somewhere perhaps
180,000
the number bees on the roof. like the 5-star Radissson Collection on the Royal Mile. There’s no shortage of sorcery, wizardry and ghost tours around Edinburgh so you can easily indulge in any of these after you’ve held an owl and picked out the perfect wand from one of the many Potter merchandise stores. While The Elephant House is a must-stop for Potter fans, there is no shortage of quirky cafes in Edinburgh... just a five-minute saunter from the hotel is Maison de Moggy where there does seem to be something particularly supernatural about the inhabitants. For just £8p/hr you can pet the pussycats.
If you’re more of a dog person, get your downward facing dog on at the Radisson’s dog yoga classes! You’re guaranteed to feel rufffreshed after one of those.
Despite being bang smack in the middle of the city, this boutique hotel is a haven for bees, the power of which the Radisson harnesses. In an effort to save the pollinating powerhouses and promote biodiversity, it has made its roof home to 180,000 of them.
Their produce is harvested by the beekeepers at the Radisson to be consumed by visitors who can sample the honey for breakfast, or try a tipple of the sweet stuff sip in the cocktails and beers served in the hotel’s Epicurean bar.
If you’re visiting in the near future you’ll be one of the first people to sink into the Radisson Collection’s beautiful new beds.
If your idea of Scottish cuisine is Scotch eggs and haggis then think again. While the Radisson Collection’s Italian restaurant the Cucina, does both very well, the progressive hotel also has a perfectly posh vegan afternoon tea on offer if plant-based platters are what you’re into.
As for shopping, if it’s more than tartan you’re after, The Red Door Gallery, just around the corner from the hotel, showcases stunning affordable art from talented Scots.
However, the ultimate luxury for art fans exists within the confines of the hotel itself.
Leading Scots fashion designer Judy R. Clark designed two of the hotel’s top suites, with designers Christine Clark and Hatti Patterson each imprinting their signature style on a suite. If you’re enamoured with the art on your room’s wall, you’ll be pleased to know it’s all shoppable.
FOR fasion, The Godiva Boutique is full of fun pieces from independent designers and vintage pieces too.
If you’re looking to hit up the high street stores then Princes Street, mere minutes from the Hotel in the New Town, is the place for you.
A wake-up call from a brigade of bagpipers proved a pleasant surprise. The patriotic march up and back down the Royal Mile served as an amusing alarm.
The pipes drew me to the window where a less misty day unveiled the panoramic views the Radisson Collection’s rooms boast.
The vistas encompass Edinburgh’s many ornate steeples, including that of St Giles’ Cathedral, with a backdrop that stretched off out to the hills and the sea.
Getting to the Radisson Collection couldn’t be easier as Edinburgh boasts an impeccable public transport network. The stops for tram and Lothian Air Bus are only a flight of steps from the hotel’s front door and have services departing to and from the airport every ten minutes.
The latter even shows departure screens in real time so you needn’t go frantically searching for one when you arrive at the airport.
Should you choose to get the tram or the bus from Waverley Station, allow yourself an hour or two to check out Edinburgh’s Christmas before you depart.
The seasonal market has everything you need to feel warm, fuzzy and festive inside.
If you’d rather be dropped door to door, the exceptionally helpful and warm staff, many of whom hail from Ireland, will organise that for you too.
As for the flight, those visiting from Dublin you’ll be Scot-landing in no time with it taking just 75 minutes.