As the summer is nearly upon us, trips suitable for the sunny weather ahead are playing on the minds of many people. Edinburgh is a magnificent city with many attractions. Family days out are easy to plan in the Scottish capital because there is so much to do! Edinburgh zoo is a favourite with kids and adults alike, giving visitors the opportunity to see the world’s most interesting animals.
Edinburgh Zoo is home to over 1,000 animals including giant pandas. Therefore, whatever part of the world you are interested in, there is opportunity to explore and learn about animals from that area. If you are interested in seeing the Giant Pandas featured in the Edinburgh Zoo experience, you will have to book tickets to reserve a place on the tour. These are free, but need to be booked in advance. Edinburgh Zoo is also the only zoo in the UK where you will be able to see koala bears. This is an opportunity any animal lover will grab with both hands. The Hilltop Safari is another great attraction of Edinburgh Zoo, this is an easy way to get around the zoo and is even complemented by the driver’s commentary as you travel up the hill. The Hilltop Safari is free and runs from 10 am until 3.15 pm. Although this fantastic feature is free of charge, the zoo is of course willing to accept donations for Edinburgh Zoo’s conservation fund. The safari cart holds 20 passengers, so there’s room for all your family and friends. You may even be lucky enough to see one of the extraordinary events or functions the zoo puts on; on Saturday 2nd June 2012 a photograph tour will take place where you will get the chance to see a zoo photographer get snaps of the animals in action.
If this sounds like a great plan for a summer day out, organise your trip to Edinburgh today. You’ll need to think about suitable accommodation. Why not book one of our Edinburgh holiday apartments and ensure that you can enjoy a home away from home for a reasonable price? Take a look at the Edinburgh city page on the Serviced City Pads website to see the kind of options available for your stay. To find the best options, just get in touch with our reservations team, either by sending an enquiry through the website, or by calling us on 0844 335 8866. We will make the search for Edinburgh serviced apartments as easy as possible.

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is one of the most famous and largest arts festivals in the world. Last year’s Fringe had over 2,500 shows from 60 nations which took place in 258 venues. It’s undoubtedly one of the best things to either be part of, or visit, during the summer. Theatre and comedy are the main focus of the festival, with appearances from well-known dramatic groups and comedians as well as amateurs waiting for their big break. The arts of music and dance are also represented in the festival.
If you take the opportunity to visit the Edinburgh Fringe you will see the very best of the arts as well as alternative acts that break away from the mainstream with weird and wacky takes on theatre, comedy, music and dance. There’s always chance to see classical theatrical adaptations of William Shakespeare, but modern theatre plays a big part in the festival. Therefore, no matter what your tastes in the arts may be, you will always be satisfied.
This year, the festival will run from 3rd-27th August. This gives you the chance to check out which acts you’d really like to see, and make sure that your trip to Edinburgh will coincide with your work or university commitments.
Well known comedians Alan Davies and Rhod Gilbert are just two names among the array of outstanding line up for summer 2012. Jason Byrne from BBC Radio 2 is tipped to an act not to miss- with his new show, the clown of comedy is sure to have your sides splitting for an evening.
There is so much to see, and such a great atmosphere to take in at the Edinburgh Fringe that it’s well worth staying in the Scottish capital for at least a few days in August. If this arts festival sounds like your bag, why not have a proper Scottish get-away and stay in one of our Edinburgh serviced apartments? With great facilities and the benefit of complete privacy, you’d be bonkers not to book early to ensure you and your other Fringe-goers can sleep in comfort. To take a look at a range of Edinburgh apartment hotels, just visit the Edinburgh city page on the Serviced City Pads website.

If you fancy visiting Scotland’s Capital City, but don’t like the idea of manoeuvring your way through the people clad streets of Edinburgh, why not engage with the serenity of the sea and take a boat tour?
Edinburgh Boat Charters offers you the opportunity to see the city in as part of a more peaceful experience. You can take your time to see the picturesque coastline, Edinburgh’s momentous bridges and islands whilst sitting on a luxurious Bavaria Yacht. You can either opt to have a three hour tour of the bridges and islands or go for a full day excursion which allows you to trot as far North as Anstruther in Fife, or even as far South as Eyemouth. This is a really different way to experience the city and will leave you feeling eye opened as well as calm and rested.
You can even get some sailing hands on experience! This is an excellent opportunity for anyone who has ever been interested in boats. However, if you’re not comfortable with the idea of having a go at sailing, you’re more than welcome to just sit back and enjoy the ride.
The boat tour is an excellent way to celebrate a birthday, hen or stag do, or even an anniversary. The Edinburgh Boat Charters’ skipper is cited as a friendly fellow who has many a story to tell about his experiences of sailing. With such a friendly atmosphere and the gentle ripples of the water, your celebration will have a relaxed and tranquil feel.
You may as well continue this restful and soothing experience on into the night by booking a private Edinburgh holiday apartment to stay in. Our Edinburgh serviced apartments have great facilities and will ensure a comfy stay. To find out more just visit the Edinburgh city page on the Serviced City Pads website. You can send us your enquiry through the website, or call our reservations team on 0844 335 8866 to find the perfect serviced apartment for you.

Are you looking for somewhere fun and funky to enjoy your hen-weekend? Edinburgh is a city that hosts many hen-party packages where you can party yourself silly before the big day. As the maid of honour, you can make sure the bride to be says goodbye to singlehood in style! There are loads of places to have a wild night if you’re a crazy cat, or, instead you could venture into the highlands and put your own naturist twist on the hen-weekend.

Areas where you will find the pubs and clubs to cater for your hen weekend include:

Grassmarket

Lothian Road and surrounding streets

Rose Street and its surrounds and the Bridges.

George Street and the parallel Queen Street

Stockbridge and the waterfront at Leith

You might also find it interesting to note that Edinburgh is the top place for single male travellers. So if you want to set up the single members of your hen party with a foreign mystery man, here’s the perfect opportunity. Perhaps one of the hens will bag herself a sexy Spanish suitor and you’ll all be celebrating a hen-weekend again sometime soon!

If you decide that Edinburgh is the perfect hen-party destination for you, you should dedicate an entire weekend to the city! After all that partying you’ll need a serviced apartment to recuperate and relax. With an Edinburgh serviced apartment you will have much more room for everyone to get together in the afternoon/evening rather than being cramped in hotels or split across several rooms. There are loads of swanky Edinburgh holiday apartments on offer ifor short term stays which would be the icing on the cake for an unforgettable weekend in Scotland!

For anyone travelling to Edinburgh in April 2012 to see The Osmonds on their UK Tour, you should really be looking to stay in Edinburgh for a few days to really enjoy all the sights and sounds of the Scottish capital. One of the grandest cities in the world, any visitors should take at least a few days to fully appreciate Edinburgh and if you’re visiting to see a show or concert than that’s the perfect opportunity to stay.

The Osmonds are still going believe it or not. They’ve been entertaining the world for 5 decades now, having first burst onto the scene in 1958. Despite the age and longevity, the 2012 tour will be the largest UK tour the Osmonds will have ever been on; they will perform at nearly 50 venues up and down the country. The group want this final UK your to be ‘a great big thank you to all our fans for their love and support through the years’ and apparently they also ‘can’t wait’ for it. Well they will just have to wait as one can only resume the Osmonds do not have access to any forms of time travel.

Between the group and the individuals’ solo careers, they have released over 200 albums over the years, selling over 100,000,000 copies with 59 gold and platinum recordings. The tour starts in Bristol on 9^th March and finishes in Bournemouth on 6^th May. One of the highlights will surely be the Edinburgh performance that takes place at Usher Hall on April 22^nd as one of the grandest cities in the UK and a great backdrop to the warming and cheerful sounds of the Osmonds.

For anyone staying in Edinburgh, hotels might be the first accommodation option that springs to mind, however more and more people across the UK are choosing serviced apartments as their preferred choice and Edinburgh is no different. By booking a serviced apartment in Edinburgh you get the use of a whole apartment to enjoy your stay rather than the four walls of a hotel room. Also the nature of the apartments is that they are self-catering so you have much more flexibility in your stay.

Next February in Edinburgh, one of the most anticipated rugby events of the year, the RBS 6 Nations Scotland v England match will take place at Murrayfield stadium.  If you’re looking for accommodation in Edinburgh for this event, why not stay in an Edinburgh serviced apartment?  Serviced apartments are an increasingly fashionable and popular accommodation choice for visitors to cities, offering more freedom, more space and more amenities for your money than a hotel! Serviced City Pads has a large range of serviced apartments for you to choose from for your stay in Edinburgh. To see the serviced apartments in Edinburgh for the Scotland v England 6 Nations match, please click here.

The RBS 6 nations is an annual rugby union event that was founded in 1183 and that involves, funnily enough, 6 nations: England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France and Italy. As England are the current title holders, the England v Scotland game is sure to be an exciting one, the winner of which will be presented with the Calcutta cup, a prize which is bestowed to the winner of this particular game every year. England are currently in possession of the cup and have been since 2009, so the Scottish team will no doubt be keen to knock them off their throne and eager to win the overall tournament, having not been the champions of the tournament since it was called the 5 Nations back in 2009. Murrayfield is the largest stadium in Scotland and there is a good view from wherever you’re seated with an electric atmosphere reverberating all around the ground. If you’re a rugby fan then this game is not to be missed.

If you will be travelling to Edinburgh to see the RBS 6 Nations Scotland v England game, serviced apartment accommodation is a great alternative to a hotel room, offering more space than a hotel room and the advantage of having your own kitchen and dining/living area. Whether you are travelling alone, in a couple, a large group or a family, there is a serviced apartment in Edinburgh to suit you. To find out more about what serviced apartments are available for your stay, contact Serviced City Pads on 0844-335-8866 or have a look at the Edinburgh city page on the Serviced City Pads website.

Edinburgh is recognised as one of the best places in the UK to spend Christmas, providing 6 weeks of festivities and celebrations in the run up to the big day. One such festivity is the traditional German Christmas Market which runs for a month from 24th November up until Christmas Eve 24th December. When visiting Edinburgh to see the Christmas Market, serviced apartments are the perfect type of accommodation for you to book. Serviced apartments are an increasingly fashionable and popular choice for visitors to cities, offering more freedom, more amenities for your money and more space to hold all your Christmas Market purchases! Serviced City Pads has a large range of serviced apartments for you to choose from for your stay in Edinburgh. To see the serviced apartments available in Edinburgh in the run up to Christmas, please click here.
Christmas markets have been recorded as far back as the medieval times, originating in Europe in countries such as Germany and Austria. Now, there are markets all across the globe but Edinburgh’s market in particular is provided by stallholders based in Frankfurt, Germany. German Christmas Markets are one of the most exciting things about the festive period. There’s nothing quite like it to get you in the Christmas spirit than when you’re all wrapped up, drinking mulled wine and eating gingerbread, perusing stalls that are covered in fairy lights with festive music playing. Other highlights include tasty German food such as bratwurst and crepes, German beer and lots of pretty ornaments, gifts and accessories. The Edinburgh German Christmas Market is an event not to be missed and as it’ll be staying for a month, there’s no excuse not to go! Why not spend an evening or two exploring the markets and trying all the food and drink they have to offer before heading back to your warm, comfy serviced apartment to spend the night in content.
If you will be travelling to Edinburgh to visit the German Christmas Market, serviced apartments are a great accommodation alternative to a hotel room, offering more space and the advantage of having your own kitchen and dining/living area. Whether you are travelling alone, in a couple, a large group or a family, there is a serviced apartment in Edinburgh to suit you. To find out more about what serviced apartments are available for your stay, contact Serviced City Pads on 0844-335-8866 or have a look at the Edinburgh city page on the Serviced City Pads website.

This month in Edinburgh, Hanson, the band of long haired boys that brought you MMMbop, will be appearing at the HMV Picturehouse. The boys are all grown up and married now, the youngest being 26, but they’re still the same energetic and exciting band. Missing out on seeing the boys in concert would be a travesty. Who wouldn’t want to sing along to MMMbop with Hanson themselves? If you’re looking for accommodation in Edinburgh when you see Hanson in concert, why not stay in a serviced apartment? Serviced apartments are an increasingly fashionable and popular choice for visitors to cities, offering more freedom, more space and more amenities for your money! Serviced City Pads has a large range of serviced apartments for you to choose from for your stay in Edinburgh. To see the serviced apartments available in Edinburgh for Hanson’s concert, please click here.

Hanson are an American band, hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma.  The band is made up of three brothers: Isaac Hanson (now 30), Taylor Hanson (now 28) and Zach Hanson (now 26). The boys, though having been writing and recording songs since the early 90s first burst onto the chart scene in 1997 with the release of their single, MMMbop. The song was a phenomenal success, reaching number 1 in 27 countries and was nominated for 2 Grammy Awards. When their album, Middle of Nowhere, was released on May 6^th, it was declared ‘Hanson Day’ in Tulsa by the governor, Frank Keating. Some fans still celebrate this day even now, over 10 years later. The boys also racked up other hits with this album including, Weird and Thinking of You. Since the huge success of Middle of Nowhere and the succeeding tour, Hanson have been on a rocky ride. They left their record label due to creative differences and have created their own independent label, 3CG Records. The boys have taken part in numerous documentaries about their life as a band and profoundly supported charities helping to fight poverty in Africa. Hanson’s tour has already seen rave reviews so don’t miss out when the boys come to Edinburgh.

If you will be travelling to Edinburgh to see Hanson in concert, serviced apartments are a great alternative to a hotel room, offering more space and the advantage of having your own kitchen and dining/living area. Whether you are travelling alone, in a couple, a large group or a family, there is a serviced apartment in Edinburgh to suit you. To find out more about what serviced apartments are available for your stay, contact Serviced City Pads on 0844-335-8866 or have a look at the Edinburgh city page on the Serviced City Pads website.

Next February in Edinburgh, brace yourselves as ‘The Most Watched TV Star in the World’, David Hasselhoff comes to town for An Evening with David Hasselhoff, a night of music, TV moments from his career and lots of laughter and charm. If you’re thinking about travelling to Edinburgh to see the Hoff in action, why not stay in a serviced apartment? Serviced apartments are an increasingly fashionable and popular choice for visitors to cities, offering more freedom, more space and more amenities for your money! Serviced City Pads has a large range of serviced apartments for you to choose from for your stay in Edinburgh. To see the serviced apartments available in Edinburgh for An Evening with David Hasselhoff on the 26^th February 2012 at Usher Hall, Edinburgh, please click here.

David is one of the world’s most famous American actors having taken part in countless performances on TV, in films and on the stage, though he is best known for his leading roles in the TV shows, Knight Rider and Baywatch. He’s also had a stint as a popular and well known singer, particularly in German-speaking Europe. Yet his career has been turbulent and riddled with controversy. There have been numerous reports of hospitalisation due to alcohol-related reasons, accusations of violent behaviour and in 2007, a video filmed by one of his daughters surfaced of David lying drunk on the floor of a hotel room. His daughter, Taylor-Ann, can be heard pleading with him. More recently, David has cleaned himself up and been involved in reality TV shows, taking part in American show, Dancing with the Stars and acting as a judge on both America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent. An Evening with David Hasselhoff is sure to be a fascinating event and a chance for fans to get up close and personal with The Hoff as he relives the highlights of his career.

If you will be travelling to Edinburgh to see An Evening with David Hasselhoff, serviced apartments are a great alternative to a hotel room, offering more space and the advantage of having your own kitchen and dining/living area. Whether you are travelling alone, in a couple, a large group or a family, there is a serviced apartment in Edinburgh to suit you. To find out more about what serviced apartments are available for your stay, contact Serviced City Pads on 0844-335-8866 or have a look at the Edinburgh city page on the Serviced City Pads website.

On 25^th January 2012, Edinburgh celebrates the birth of ‘The Bard’, Robert Burns, one of Scotland’s best known poets and widely considered to be the national poet of Scotland. 25^th January has become known as Burns Night and has been celebrated since after his death for over 200 years. Why not travel to Edinburgh for Burns Night to join in the festivities and celebrations and stay in a serviced apartment? Serviced apartments are an increasingly popular choice for visitors to cities, offering more freedom, more space and more amenities for your money! Serviced City Pads has a large range of serviced apartments for you to choose from for your stay in Edinburgh. To see the serviced apartments available in Edinburgh for Burns Night, please click here.

Robert Burns, born in January 1759, is considered to be one of the great pioneering poets of Romantic era. He is known to have influenced other such leading Romantics as William Wordsworth, Percy Bysshe Shelley and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Even if you’re not a fan of literature and poetry, you are sure to have heard some of Robert Burns’ work. He wrote the infamous poem and song Auld Lang Syne which is traditionally sung at New Year’s celebrations, not just in Scotland but all around the English speaking world. American novelist, John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men, took its title from a line in Burns’ poem To a Mouse, “the best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men/ Gang aft agley”. Of Mice and Men is taught in the GCSE English Syllabus across the UK and was made into a major movie starring John Malcovich and Gary Sinise in 1992. Burns Night is sure to be an exciting and interesting night, giving you an insight deep into Scottish culture and tradition. It is an annual celebration across Scotland with traditional suppers, poems and songs and is more widely celebrated than Scotland’s national day, St. Andrews Day. You could celebrate by going out to one of the many Burns Suppers around the city or why not make your own in your serviced apartment and bask in the festivities and atmosphere of the city.

If you will be travelling to Edinburgh for Burns Night, serviced apartments are a great alternative to a hotel room, offering more space and the advantage of having your own kitchen and dining/living area. Whether you are travelling alone, in a couple, a large group or a family, there is a serviced apartment in Edinburgh to suit you. To find out more about what serviced apartments are available for your stay, contact Serviced City Pads on 0844-335-8866 or have a look at the Edinburgh city page on the Serviced City Pads website.