EDINBURGH LIFE LISTINGS continued
PERMANENT ATTRACTIONS
Caledonian Brewery
42 Slateford Road. Edinburgh, 623 8066. The award-winning Caledonian Brewery, still going strong after 100 years, will let you into the secrets behind the crafting of their fine ales. A tour takes you through the brewing process, from crushing the malt to brewing in the open coppers, culminating in a free beer of your choice in the sample cellar.
Camera Obscura
Castlehill, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, 226 3709. Mon—Sun 10am—5pm. £4.25 (£1.95-£3.40); family ticket £12. Pick up a pedestrian in your hand at this attraction, which gives visitors a real- time, 360" image of the city. The most recent addition to the venue is the Magic Gallery, giving hands-on experiences of the art of visual trickery. There is also an exhibition devoted to holographs and photography on the lower floors. Dynamic Earth
Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, 550 7800. Mon—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
Edinburgh. 225 9846. Daily 9.30am—5pm (last admission 4.15pm). £7 (£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 IV’s famous cannon, Mons Meg, the One O’Clock (Jun 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, Edinburgh, 334 9171. Daily 9am—4.30pm. £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 2.15pm is a must and the newly- developed African plains afford a fantastic view of the city.
Gorgie City Farm
51 Gorgie Road, Edinburgh, 337 4202. Daily 9.30am—4pm. Free. Bringing country life to the heart of the city, this working farm houses a host of farmyard animals including ponies, pigs and goats. Other facilities include a children’s play area, cafe and workshop, wildlife garden, farm tractors and an interpretation centre, plus a full programme of supervised activities for children and adults. Medieval Torture Exhibition
45—47 Niddry Street, Edinburgh, 557 4700. Daily 10am—7pm. £1. If thumbscrews and jawbreakers are your thing then drop into this Edinburgh attraction, featuring the latest and greatest in medieval torture devices and instruments of humiliation, including the enigmatically-named ‘Scavenger’s Daughter’.
Museum Of Scotland
Chambers Street. Edinburgh, 247 4219. Monéat 10am—5pm; Sun noon-5pm; Tue 10am—8pm. £3 (£1.50); children under 18 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.
96 THE LIST 16—30 Nov 2000
Old Town Weaving Company
555 Castlehill, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, 226 1555. Mon-Sat 9am—5.30pm; Sun 10am—5pm. £4; children £1; family ticket £8. Watch tartan appear before your eyes at this weaving wonderland. You‘ll get the chance to try your hand on a real loom and visit two mixed media exhibitions, Story Of Hearing and Highland Dress Through The Ages. And if you’re feeling brave you can dress up in ancient Scottish costume and have your photie taken.
Royal Botanic Garden
lnverleith Row, Edinburgh, 552 7171. Daily 9.30am—4pm. Free. A sea of tranquillity in the hubbub of the city, the Botanic Garden is home to a wealth of flora 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
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. £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 10am—5pm. £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, Edinburgh, 229 1706. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm; Sun 11am—5pm. £5.50 (£4); family ticket £16. The newest addition to the Fountainpark complex provides 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.
St Giles' Cathedral
Royal Mile, Edinburgh, 225 9442. Mon—Sat 9am—5pm; Sun l—Spm. Founded in the 11005, this church has witnessed executions, riots and celebrations. With spectacular stained glass windows, ornate stonework and guided tours it’s a good starting point for exploring the Royal Mile, or if you’re feeling in need of spiritual rejuvenation go along to one of their regular services or music events.
Water 0f Leith Visitor Centre
24 Lanark Road, Edinburgh, 455 7367. Wed—Sun 10am—4pm. Discover everything there is to know about the 24 mile journey the Water of Leith takes from the Pentland Hills to Leith, through interactive displays and video panels. The visitor centre is the ideal starting point for a stroll along the Walkway where you can spot a wide diversity of plants and wildlife.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES
Dunfermline Christmas Streetfest Sat 18 Nov, lOam—Spm. Free. Town Centre, Dunfermline, 01383 314110. Starting the festive celebrations with a street market, seasonal music, a grand parade and the Christmas lights switch-on.
ON YOUR DOORSTEP ROYAL OBSERVATORY
the sky.
research department.
Fun factor 3/5 Informative 5/5 Value for money 5/5
first to check if in doubt.
entry to visitor centre.
Everything you ever wanted to know about the
Everybody at one pornt in their life has been even just a little bit fascmated by stars, space exploration and the concept that beyond this planet of ours other life could exist. While these may never reach past some folk's Star Wars-ian
ponderances or Star Trek-ian fantaSies, those Willing to extend their neck past the shelves of Forbidden Planet might jUSI find something new and exciting in
Metaphorically, if not physically over-shadowed by its older brother up on Calton Hill which is now rarely used, Blackford Hill Observatory is a hotbed of interstellar investigation, being part of Edinburgh University's Astronomy
Every Friday evening the Observatory plays host to an Popu/ar Obserwng where the public can view the cosmos through their six-inch telescope. The evening is complemented by the Astronomical Journey Of Discovery which is a series of lectures from the resident academics, and while these are goite speCialist, in- depth and technical — only those with an amount of knowledge, i.‘ not about astronomy, then maths and physics may get it — the Viewing itself is definitely a recommended experience for anyone. (Mark Robertsoni
How do you take part? Just turn up on Friday nights to the Obsematony at 7.30pm sharp. If it is particularly overcast there may be no public viewmg, so call
How much does it cost? £1 per person for Viewmg or lecture, and £3 (£2) for
a Royal Observatory V/5/tor Centre, Blackford Hi//, 668 8405.
St Andrew's Week I-‘ri 24—Thu 30 Nov.
3 Crawford Arts Centre, 93 North Street. St L Andrews. 01334 474610. A week-long
celebration of Seottishness including
1 exhibitions. plays. fireworks and ceilidh.
Kelso Races Mon -7 Nov, 12.50pm. £7—£I5; OAPs £1. Kelso Racecourse. Kelso, 01573 224767. A great day
featuring National IIunt horseracing at the
Kelso races.