Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Elie

"Be Mystified at Edinburgh’s Camera Obscura Almost opposite the Scotch Whisky experience is Edinburgh’s Camera Obscura, also home to the World of Illusions attraction. Being a photographer I was particularly interested in the Camera Obscura at the top of the building, but I have to admit to finding the World of Illusions a lot of fun."

"Climb Calton HIll Towards the end of the day, I’d suggest you head up Calton Hill. This is a wonderful spot for a view of the city and can be found at the east end of Princes Street. This hill is home to a series of monuments, including the National Monument of Scotland, which bears more than a passing resemblance to the Parthenon in Greece."

"Edinburgh is built on Calton Hill, like Rome in Italy and Bergen in Norway. The top of Calton Hill is one of the best spots for a spectacular view of Edinburgh, especially at sunset. It is a much easier climb than Arthur’s Seat, taking less than ten minutes to reach the top from Regent Road."

"Calton Hill is a mix of bustling commercial areas and quiet residential streets. The hill itself, with its city views, is home to the Collective contemporary art gallery and the unfinished National Monument. Calton Hill (World Heritage Site)"

"If weather is good you should take a moment to relax in the green corner of Princes Street Gardens. These beautiful gardens are perfect to take a pic nic or read a book. The people of Edinburgh often visit here to meet friends and take time out."

"After your visit, consider a stroll through the Princes Street Gardens or climb the Scott Monument for another bird’s eye view of Edinburgh. Royal Yacht Britannia"

"Princes Street Gardens is the most important public park in the heart of Edinburgh. Created in the 1820s after draining the Nor Loch."

"A short drive from Edinburgh’s city centre, youll find a light and airy restaurant within Dalkeith Country Park, where the highlight for the kids is sure to be the adventure playground. In fact it’s one of our top activities for children in Edinburgh. Not just a restaurant, The Restoration Yard also boasts a beautiful shop, deli, coffee bar and wellness space, so there’s something to please all ages."

"🥞 We're flippin' pancakes all day long for Pancake Day at The Kitchen - join us and choose from one... As one of the best places for your kids, this restaurant merges the old with the modern to create a superb restaurant serving a variety of dishes. It’s a magical place that merges amazing dishes with a quality staff."

"Visiting Dean Village is like taking a step back into time to old Edinburgh. In recent years, this little neighborhood has become a huge draw to photographers and tourists because of just how Instagrammable it is. For the best shot of the beautiful architecture and river, walk over the stone bridge and down besides the river."

"Beautiful Dean Village After lunch, spend the afternoon at Dean Village. Dean Village is a small, residential area in Edinburgh. It’s quiet, it’s beautiful, and it’s off the beaten path."

"Find this picturesque view at the bottom of Hawthornbank Lane if you don’t mind climbing down to the edge of the river!"

"Overlooking the North Sea and the medieval seaside town, St Andrews Cathedral is a ruined chancel dating back to the mid-12th century. It remains Scotland’s largest built cathedral to this date, with the ruins indicating that the building was approximately 119 m (390 ft) long. Built in 1158 by Bishop Arnold, the Cathedral became the centre of the Medieval Catholic Church in Scotland however it fell into disuse and ruin after Catholic mass was outlawed during the 16th century Scottish Reformation."

"Breathtaking and divine, St Andrews Cathedral has played its part in history since the 12th century before it fell to ruins during the Scottish Reformation. A faith-affirming beacon for religious leaders and followers, this age-old stone structure was the largest cathedral ever to grace Scotland. Once more, it served as the headquarters of the Scottish Medieval Church and hosted many bishops and archbishops of high standing over time."

"St Andrews is a town steeped in history and most notably its historic buildings. One of the oldest pieces of architecture in St Andrews is the Cathedral. You can find out more information about what to find here by visiting our History of the Castle and Cathedral Page."

"The lunch menu at Bell’s Diner has barely changed in 40 years, but why change a winning formula?. This cute little diner on the corner of St Stephen Street has been serving up gourmet burgers long before the likes of Byron got in on the act. Its steaks are also excellent and come with a choice of five sauces (go for the garlic butter), while the large hot fudge sundae pancakes are legendary in these parts."

"Housed in a converted warehouse and serving a menu that’s about as far removed from stereotypical Scottish cooking as imaginable, Tapa has earned itself a loyal following among in-the-know residents in Leith. Its take on Spanish tapas dishes provides a break from the norm: there are melt-in-your-mouth ribs, and the chef’s mother offers her own recipe for venison stew that’s not to be missed."

"A glowing flock of Macbooks illuminates Red Box, located in the heart of student stronghold Marchmont. The big desks and reliable Wi-Fi make it perfect for last-minute essays, soothed by the homely set up of fairy lights and cute dog portraits. Red Box roasts its own coffee and puts a focus on sustainability, with all of the packaging biodegradable or compostable where possible, and the food sourced locally and seasonally."

"A truly hidden hotspot for caffeine cravers in the know, Lowdown Coffee is one of the best-kept secrets in George Street, a pretty thoroughfare famed as one of New Town’s high-end shopping districts. Located in the basement of just one of many of the street’s stunningly crafted Georgian buildings, Lowdown becomes somewhat lost beneath all the hubbub, but given their minimalist décor and outlook – we imagine that’s just the way they like it. Using only seasonal and expressive beans, Lowdown is one of the few places in the city to get truly unique coffee as the barista’s pride themselves on matching beans to specialist brewing methods such as Clover Machines and Torch Mountain Drippers to unlock unfathomable flavours you never thought possible!"

"This no-frills spot is another New Town gem located inside one of the area’s signature style Georgian townhomes on the bottom level. It’s a bit hidden from the street, but once you’ve found it, Lowdown Coffee is a great spot to enjoy a Swedish style cup of jo courtesy of Koppi roasters. Don’t miss a slice of cake from Archipelago Bakery while you’re at it."

"The name Brew Lab alone evokes images of an experimental coffee house, run by an eccentric but genius barista on the hunt to achieve world coffee domination with his signature blend. Although there are no evil geniuses in sight, these guys do take coffee mega seriously and the tweaking and precision that goes into their brew methods are worthy of the laboratory name. The coffees they serve change week to week, so are ever seasonal and offer a rich and new experience every time."

"Located near The University of Edinburgh, Brew Lab is the brainchild of coffee aficionados Dave Law and Tom Hyde, who—as the shop's name suggests—take a scientific approach to brewing. A variety of pulled, brewed, and filtered phenomena prevail here, all highlighting methods and single-origin coffees from partner roaster Union-Hand Roasting. Each type of bean is selected to complement different milks or straight-up black espressos."

"Brew Lab is the first choice of many a coffee connoisseur in Edinburgh, focusing on single-origin speciality-grade coffee provided by Union Hand-Roasted – those in the know appreciate this brand for its ethical sourcing and heritage in the UK coffee community. The shop itself is as trendy as they come with bare-brick walls, modern tunes and a happily drip-fed clientele of hipsters, university students and remote workers."

"Tucked away on Frederick Street is Coro the Chocolate Cafe, who believe chocolate should be a fun and sharing experience and if you fancy a sweet pancake or crepe then where better to head to!. If you have a massive sweet tooth, we’re sure you’ll like the super chocolately option Vanilla Ice Cream & Melted Chocolate Pancakes or if you prefer a lighter fresher option, Maple Syrup & Fresh Fruit Pancakes might be for you!. Website: www.corochocolate.co.uk"

"A classical yet contemporary chocolaterie on Bruntsfield Place, in the boutique shopping district and much loved residential area of Bruntsfield. Their aim is to provide a unique and comfortable atmosphere for you to explore the delights of fine flavour chocolate. Sample hand crafted chocolates, organic bars, hot chocolate, French macarons or Italian gelato in the uniquely enchanting surrounds of their cafe."

"Their menu is filled to the brim with crepes, waffles, pancakes and chocolate fondue, all with what seems like an endless choice of toppings and combinations. From warm pancakes to fresh fruit, they pour chocolate on everything. And if that’s just not enough, you can wash it all down with a uniquely flavoured hot chocolate, like black pepper dark or mint white."

"Last but certainly not least we have Artisan Gelato Edinburgh in the Old Town, with their authentic Italian-looking store that is the perfect backdrop for a shot of your Instagrammable ice cream. Their hand crafted ice cream is to die for and some of their most popular flavours include pistachio bronte Sicily, chocolate orange and cheescake...we will take ten scoops please. One reviewer said it is the "best gelato outside of Italy" and, like their neighbours Over Langshaw Farm, they offer vegan, gluten free and dairy free options."