EDINBURGH I.le listings
SPECIAL EVENTS continued
Cafe Scientifique Thu 13 Apr, 7-9pm. Free. lnstitut Francais d’Ecosse, 13 Randolph Crescent, 225 5366. Risk is the title of this informal discussion, nothing to do with the board game — more looking at issues of chance, costs and consequences. Part of Edinburgh International Science Festival.
Tours
Flowers By Night Sat 8—Sun 9 Apr, 8.30pm. £4 (£3). Royal Botanic Garden, lnverleith Row, 552 7171. Take a torchlit tour of the Garden to seek out plants which flower by moonlight. Part of Edinburgh International Science Festival.
Other Events
Wine Tasting Mon 10 Apr, 7.30pm. £7.50. Queen‘s Hall, Clerk Street, 668 2019. A tutored wine-tasting from Duncan Smith of Lawrence Smith & Son Ltd., organised by The Friends of The Queen’s Hall.
PERMANENT ATTRACTIONS
Brass Rubbing Centre
Chalmers Close, Royal Mile, 556 4364. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm. Free, but there is a charge for making a rubbing. Situated in the apse of a Gothic church dating back to 1460, the centre houses a selection of church brasses and ancient Pictish replicas — as well as lots of crayons so you can get rubbing.
Camera Obscura
Castlehill, Royal Mile, 226 3709. Mon—Sun 10am—5pm. £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.
City Of The Dead's Haunted Graveyard Tours
Meet by St Giles Cathedral, Royal Mile, 556 1601. £5 (£4). Thu—Sat 8.30pm. Join this spooky tour if you dare, and you’ll be guaranteed all manner of paranormal frights, including the infamous McKenzie Poltergeist. You have been warned.
Dynamic Earth
Holyrood Road, 550 7800. Wed—Sun 10am—5pm. £5.95 (£3.50—£4.40); 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 latest 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
Castlehill, 225 9846. Daily 9.30am—5pm (last admission 4.15pm). £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, the One O’Clock Gun with its own exhibition, lots of military silverware and, of course, The Stone Of Destiny, used to crown Scottish kings since time began.
Edinburgh Zoo
Corstorphine Road, 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. For details of temporary exhibitions, see Edinburgh Art Listings page 80
88 THE LIST 30 Mar—t3 Apr 2000
Georgian House
7 Charlotte Square, 225 2160. Re-opens Sat 1 Apr. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm (last admission 4.30pm); Sun 2—5pm (last admission 4.30pm). £4.40 (£2.90); Up to three children go free with a paying adult. Experience a period Georgian house, giving a taste of life in Edinburgh when the New Town was built.
Gladstone's Land
477b High Street, 226 5856. Re-opens Sat 1 Apr. MOH$8I 10am—5pm (last admission 4.30pm); Sun 2—5pm (last admission 4.30pm). £3.20 (£2.20); Up to three children go free with a paying adult.. Restored to the splendour enjoyed by the merchant classes in the 17th century, Gladstone ’5 land gives an authentic representation of life in the medieval Old Town at this time.
Huntly House
142 Canongate, 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. For details of temporary exhibitions, see Edinburgh Art Listings page 81
Midlothian Ski Centre
Biggar Road, Hillend, 445 4433. Mon—Sat 9.30am—9pm; Sun 9.30am—7pm. £6 for a one hour session (under eighteens £4). Europe’s longest artificial ski slope is the perfect place to learn or hone ski-ing and snowboarding skills. Mountain bikers can take the Chairlift before enjoying the new 600 metre downhill mountain bike trail. The centre also houses a competitively priced ski repair and maintenance facility.
Museum Of Childhood
42 High Street, 529 4142. Mon—Sat lOam—Spm. 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 ’5 plenty here to send you off on a trip down memory lane.
Museum Of Scotland
Chambers Street, 247 4219. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm; Sun noon—5pm; Tue IOam—8pm. £3 (£1.50); children under eigteen free. Devoted solely to the history and heritage of Scotland, the building contains five thematically-arranged exhibitions, moving from pre-history, through the Industrial 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, 556 1096. Daily 9.30am—4.30pm. £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. For details of temporary exhibitions, see Edinburgh Art Listings page 81
Royal Botanic Garden
lnverleith Row, 552 7171. Daily 930am—6pm. 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. For details of temporary exhibitions, see Edinburgh Art Listings page 81
Royal Museum
2 Chambers Street, 247 4219. Mon—Sat 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, plus two permanent exhibitions: Art & Industry and The Ivy Wu Gallery. For details of temporary exhibitions, see Edinburgh Art Listings page 82
Royal Observatory Visitor Centre Blackford Hill, 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 ongoing work in Hawaii and Australia. Public star-gazing sessions take place every Fri night from Oct to Mar.
Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre
354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, 220 0441. Daily 10am—5pm (last admission 4.15pm). £5.50 (£2.75—£3.85); family ticket £13.50. 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.
Shaping A Nation Fountainpark, Dundee Street, 229 1706.
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Mon-Sat 10am—5pm; Sun 11am—5pm. £5.50 (£4); family ticket £16. This brand new addition to the Fountainpark complex promises a fresh look at Scotland’s heritage. Interactive displays and computers give a ‘hands-on’ feel to the attraction, exploring the inventors and innovators who have made Scotland great. The finishing touch is a themed journey on the Turbo Ride.
The People's Story
Canongate Tolbooth, 163 Canongate, 529 4057. Mon—Sat lOam—Spm. Free. Situated in the Canongate Tolbooth, the sights, sounds and even smells of Edinburgh folk from the 18th century onwards are faithfully reproduced.
The Turbo Ride
Fountainpark, Dundee Street, 229 1706. Mon—Thu 4—10pm; Fri 4—1 1pm: Sat noon—11pm; Sun 1—10pm. £3.50 (£2.75); family ticket £10. Step on board the world’s most exciting tnotion simulator for a thrilling ride. Using flight simulation technology. digital sound and a five storey high screen, the Turbo Ride throws you right into the middle ofall the action, in films such as Dino Island and Red Rock Run.
Writers’ Museum
Lady Stair’s House. Lady Stair’s Close, 52‘) 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.
Isn't keeping Scotland beautiful a job for Environmental Health? Strictly speaking yes, but we can all play a part in National Spring C/ean.
If I help tidy up will I be rewarded with good karma in the next life? There’s always a chance you'll receive extra Brownie points in the grand scheme of things, but more importantly our local environment Will be free of beer cans, crisp packs and other unsavoury items, letting nature’s true beauty shine
Where do I sign up? Contact the number detailed below to register, decide on an eyesore that needs sprucing up and then enlist a team of enthusiastic helpers (bribery may be necessary at this point).
Any pointers? Leave your Gucci jeans and Prada sandals at home, and don’t
I National Spring Clean, 7-30 Apr, freephone 0800 .783 7838 to register, check out the website on www. tidybritainbrguk/nsc or contact 07786 47 7333 for
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