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Edinburgh for New Year's Eve

Has anyone spent New Year's Eve in Edinburgh? We will be arriving in Edinburgh on December 27th and are debating whether to stay in Edinburgh for New Year's Eve or head to London and spend New Year's Eve there. We fly out of London on New Year's Day, January 1st. So, we'll either stay in Edinburgh and fly into Heathrow January 1st and connect to our flight or head to London for 2 days and fly out on the 1st. We will have our 4 children/young adults (18, twin's 25 and 27 year old) with us.

I worry a little about arriving in London on December 30th (need to be in Edinburgh the 29th), getting to hotel/rental, orienting ourselves (been a few years since my husband or I have been there), getting into the craziness of the London fireworks (spectacular but thousands of people), getting back to where we are staying and then flying out next day. But if Edinburgh doesn't have much to offer, I'm sure the kids would rather be in London.

And if we do go to London, any ideas of areas to stay that are 1) easy access to train station from Edinburgh and 2) easy access to tube to Heathrow?

Thanks in advance for any advice/thoughts!

Posted by
5678 posts

New Years Eve is a huge celebration in Scotland and I think that Edinburgh has the biggest party. Here is the link to this year's Hogmanay celebration. Many people travel to Edinburgh for this party!

Posted by
3428 posts

The Scots call it Hogmanay. And for them it is a bigger holiday than Christmas! It is definitely on my bucket list!!! IF you have (or can get) room reservations, then definitely stay in Edinburgh. There is a big parade, dances, concerts (in doors and out), fireworks, even a 'fire walk' that everyone can participate in from central Edinburgh to Arthur's Seat carrying torches at night, and I think there are bonfires (I know there are in the more rural places). This goes on for several days, usually starting the 28, or 29th I believe. There is usually a winter fair set up in Princes Street Gardens with rides, etc. too! Special menus at some restaurants, etc.

Here's a quote from one of the websites about this year's events:

"Three days of spectacular events, incredible bands and amazing crowds from every corner of the globe. See Shetland Vikings bearing firelit torches, hear beautiful choral singing in St Giles' Cathedral, enjoy birling to traditional Scottish music on the Mound, and watch top stars and incredible fireworks from Princes Street Gardens. Edinburgh's Hogmanay shows the world how to party!

What makes it special?
•Highlighted as one of the ‘Top 100 things to do before you die’ and recently the only festival to appear in the ‘Discovery Channel – Top 25 World Travel Experiences’, Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party is one of the world’s greatest New Year celebrations.
•As the bells strike midnight, join hands with friends from across the globe in the world’s biggest rendition of Auld Lang Syne!

•Spend the first day of 2015 on a journey through Edinburgh’s Old Town and discover nine incredible new worlds, presenting the very best in music, art and theatre, created and curated by Scotland’s most innovative artists and musicians."

Posted by
1634 posts

Edinburgh's Hogmanay is huge, usually spectacular and highly weather dependent.

First thing you really need to check is is there sufficient accommodation for you all and also availability of tickets for the party if you want to go. Even at this point of the year the hotels for Hogmanay may well be fully booked already, especially ones in the New Town area.

Secondly in terms of your connection, you also need to know the party goes on until well into the small hours, with associated road closures. And all your party are old enough to buy alcohol which will be readily available.

If you choose to go for London, the hotel issue is possibly the same, they could easily be booking out now.

Posted by
5 posts

Thank you all so much for the information. I'm checking hotels now!!