EDINBURGH llFE
EDINBURGH LIFE continued
Other Events
Storywheel Sat 9 Oct, 8.30pm. £5. Salisbury Centre, 2 Salisbury Road, 667 5438. lfyou’re in the mood for something to expand your horizons then take yourself along to this evening of storytelling, singing from the soul and a bit of Harmonic Toning.
Living History Displays Edinburgh Castle, 225 9846. Entry to Castle: £6.50 (£2—£5). Three theatrical demonstrations bringing history to life this fortnight: A Tragic Queen & The French Prisons looks at the reign of Mary Queen of Scots and the Napoleonic Wars respectively on Sun 10 Oct and Sun 17 Oct, 11.30am—4.30pm. Life Under Siege recreates the time of the Jacobite uprising on Thu 7 Oct, Thu 14 Oct and Thu 21 Oct, 10am—4pm; and the Jacobite redcoats and Highland clans do battle in All For The Prince on Fri 8 Oct and Fri 15 Oct, 10am—4pm.
Dance the World DanceathonSun 10 Oct. Assembly Rooms. 54 George Street, 220 4349. Your chance to cha-cha, tango, Iinedance or even bodypop your way through a twelve hour dance marathon, organised by Dance Base to raise funds for the Epilepsy Association of Scotland. For details of how to take part call ()141 427 5225.
Film Quiz Wed 13 Oct, 8.45pm. Free. Odeon, Clerk Street, 0870 5050007. Brush up on your film knowledge, memorisc your I‘lulliwells’ and Cinemania, then head down to the Odeon bar for the first of their monthly film quiz nights. Teams of up to four players can take part to win free cinema tickets and a host of film-related merchandise.
The 1999 Literary Auction Mon 18 Oct, 6pm. Free. 65 George Street, 557 2876. An unusual auction organised by Scottish PEN to raise funds for persecuted writers. Goodies up for sale include first editions of Irvine Welsh ’s A Visitor 's Guide and Beatrix Potter’s 'I‘he Roly-Poly Pudding.
PERMANENT ATTRACTIONS
Camera Obscura Castlehill (Royal Mile), Edinburgh, 226 3709. Sat 62: Sun 10am-6pm;
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PETE BEST‘S MAGICAL HISTO
Mon—Fri 9.30am—6pm. £3.95 (£1.95—£3.15); family ticket £11.50. Pick up a pedestrian in your hand at this attraction, which gives visitors a real-time, 360° image of the city. There is also an exhibition devoted to holographs and photography on the lower floors.
Dynamic Earth
Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, 550 7800. Daily Sun 10am—6pm. £5.95 (£3.50); family ticket £16.50. With volcanoes erupting beneath your feet, a tropical rainstorm pouring down, earthquakes and tidal waves at every turn, the history of the earth has never been more interesting. Edinburgh’s brand new visitor attraction uses stunning new developments in interactive technology to piece together the history of the planet, creating a thoroughly modern way to step back in time.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh, 225 9846. Daily 9.30am—6pm (last admission 5.15pm). £6 (£2-£5). Although much of the castle’s medieval character was lost when it was converted into barracks in the 19th century, continuing excavations aim to redress this. Other attractions include James lV’s famous cannon, Mons Meg, lots of military silverware and, of course, The Stone Of Destiny, used to crown Scottish kings since time began.
Edinburgh Zoo
Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, 334 9171. Daily 9am-5pm. £6.80 (£3.80—£4.80); family ticket £19—£23.50. Widely accepted as one of the finest zoos in Britain, there’s plenty here to while away an afternoon, or even a whole day if you take your time. The penguin parade at 2pm is a must and the newly- built African plains afford a fantastic view of the city. Also on show Abstractions And Dragons. See Edinburgh Art listings, page 77.
Hopetoun House
Shore Road, South Queensferry, Edinburgh, 331 2451. Daily until 26 Sep, then weekends only 10am—5.30pm (last
RY TOUR Fri 8 Oct, 8pm, St Brides Centre, 10 Orwell Terrace, 346 1405. Don't miss
admission 4.30pm). £2.70—£5. This stately home, part of which is still lived in by the Marquises of Linlithgow, was built in the 18th century by architects Sir William Bruce and William Adam. lt houses furnishings and artwork collected by the family over the past 400 years. Other attractions include the Red Deer Park and generous gardens criss-crossed with woodland walks.
Huntly House
142 Canongate, Edinburgh, 529 4143. Mon-Sat 10am—5pm. Free. Packed with historic artefacts, this restored 16th century mansion tells the story of Edinburgh’s past and its people and houses important collections of Edinburgh silver and glass, Scottish pottery and shop signs. Also on show — It 's No Palm Beach. See Edinburgh Art listings, page 81.
Museum Of Childhood
42 High Street, Edinburgh, 529 4142. Mon$at 10am—5pm. Free. Founded in 1955, the museum has five public galleries with all manner of archive material and old toys relating to childhood through the ages. From antique dolls to 19805 computer games, there’s plenty here to send you off on a trip down memory lane. Also on show On The Crest OfA Wave. See Edinburgh Art listings, page 77.
Museum Of Scotland
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, 247 4219. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm; Sun noon—5pm; Tue 10am—8pm. £3 (£1.50); children under eighteen free. This is the most recent addition to our national museum selection and the only one dedicated solely to Scotland’s history and heritage. The building contains five thematically- arranged exhibitions, moving from pre- history, through the lndustrial Revolution, to the present day, at which point national heroes such as Billy Connolly and Elaine C. Smith get involved.
Palace Of Holyroodhouse Royal Mile, Edinburgh, 556 1096. Daily 9.30am—6pm (last admission 5.15pm).
your chance to say an almighty ‘D'oh!’ to Rio o's predecessor, the man who left The Beatles before they became the biggest band tn the world. With the aid 0 many previousl unseen photographs, Best takes you from the group's early days in Liverpool to the heady nights playing eig t-hour sets in Hamburg, with tales of Brian Epstein. Astrid Kirscherr and of course Messrs Lennon, McCartney and Harrison.
84 THE “ST 7—21 Oct 1999
£5.50 (£2.70—£4); family ticket £13.50. Starting life as a 13th century abbey, the palace has evolved into a sumptuous regal residence crammed full of paintings and artefacts dating back primarily to the 17th century. The tower apartments housed a sad and lonely Mary Queen of Scots for a time, but with a spectacular view of Arthur‘s Seat, and magnificent gardens to look at, it‘s hard to feel too sorry for her.
The People's Story
Canongate Tolbooth, 163 Canongate. Edinburgh, 529 4057. Mon—Sat 10am-5pm. Free. Situated in the Canongate Tolbooth, the sights, sounds and even smells of Edinburgh folk from the 18th century onwards are faithfully reproduced.
Royal Botanic Garden
lnverleith Row, Edinburgh, 552 7171. Daily 9.30am—5pm. Free. A sea of tranquillity in the hubbub of the city, the Botanic Garden is home to a wealth of flora and fauna from all over the world. The glasshouses give you the opportunity to check out tropical plants as well. The site also hosts art exhibitions, horticultural courses and various countryside events, including daily guided walks in the summer. Also on show Agnes Martin And John McLaughlin. See Edinburgh Art listings, page 77.
Royal Museum Of Scotland
2 Chambers Street, Edinburgh, 247 4219. MonnSat 10am—5pm; Sun noon—5pm; Tue 10am—8pm. £3 (£1.50); children under eighteen free. A 19th century museum housing international collections of natural history, geology, science, technology and the decorative arts. Also on show Sentimental Journey —A History Of Souvenirs, Hisashi Montose — Paperworks and Beyond Bounds. See Edinburgh Art listings, page 77.
Royal Observatory Visitor Centre Blackford Hill, Edinburgh, 668 8405. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm; Sun noon—5pm. £3 (£2); family ticket £7. This attraction is a mine of information on the heavens, from the latest interactive CD-Roms on space and astronomy to the observatory’s on- going work in Hawaii and Australia. Public star-gazing sessions take place every Friday night from October to March.
Royal Yacht Britannia
Ocean Drive, Leith, Edinburgh, 555 5566. Daily 10.30am—6pm (last admission 4.30pm). £7.50 (£3.75-£5.75); family ticket £20. The former Royal yacht has opened its doors to members of the public after a £25 million refit. The on-shore visitor centre contains historical information on the boat and its furnishings while, on the yacht itself, members of the public can have a good nosy round the Royals’ former quarters.
Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre
354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, 220 0441. Daily 9.30am-5pm. £4.95 (£2.50—£3.50); family ticket £12. Take a romp through the traditions and history of yer national drink at this fully interactive attraction. Highlights include a lesson from a ghost master-blender, a barrel-car ride through whisky history and a well-stocked bar in which to test your newly-acquired expertise.
Writers' Museum
Lady Stair’s House, Lady Stair’s Close, Edinburgh, 529 4901. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm. Free. A treasure-house of items relating to three of Scotland’s most famous writers: Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott.