Glasgow and Edinburgh

Posted by avmorris1 on 10/30/23 01:37 AM

My daughter (age 11) and I are doing the RS Family 13 day tour, which ends in Florence on June 14th. I'm then booking us to fly to Glasgow (we have a family member to visit). I've been to Glasgow before and bascially just want to see the University, Kelvingrove and show my daughter where my mom grew up (near the University).

Question: should I book two nights in Glasgow and do a day trip to Edinburgh? Looks like it's 1.5 hours by train each way. Or is it worth it to add another day and book the night in Edinburgh? Trying to take into account we will have just finished a busy 13 day tour.

Welcome your thoughts and advice!
thank you.

Amanda

Posted by Kathleen

Camano Island, WA, usa

10/30/23 02:26 AM

1450 posts

Edinburgh is worth a visit if you want to see Edinburgh Castle which is an extensive Military Museum, and Holyrood Palace which is still a royal palace. The towering brick buildings of the town are photogenic, especially next to the winding river. Look at "solotraveler's" photos of Edinburgh in his trip report on this site. Sounds like you might be back and will be able to spend more time in Scotland.

Posted by GerryM

London

10/30/23 06:15 AM

567 posts

The quickest trains are around 50 minutes from Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh Waverley.

It's really a judgement call on your part how best to see a bit of Edinburgh. You could easily spend much longer there and not be bored. It's much more geared to the tourist than Glasgow.

If it were my trip, I'd be tempted to find a nice place to stay in the west end of Glasgow and chill there, either for two or three nights. I'm from that side of the country so there is some inherent bias :-)

In practical terms, Edinburgh is an easy day trip. You won't experience all Edinburgh has to offer either in a day trip or one overnight though.

With the family connection to Glasgow and the time suck that changing lodgings for one night would be, I'd be happy to stay put. Hopefully you can come back and devote more time to Scotland in the future.

Posted by isn31c

Lake District, England

10/30/23 07:28 AM

5758 posts

I'm firmly of the minority camp on this forum who would stay in Glasgow and visit Edinburgh on day trips from there. For two reasons- the very different costs of hotels in Glasgow; and the ease of travel.
Half a dozen trains an hour, and over several routes, 18 hours a day. And an all night inter city bus service. Not that I am a night owl, but there is the comfort factor there.
While I love Edinburgh, I gell more with Glasgow. It's the undefinable, but I am just more a Glasgow type of guy.I
Every time I walk out of Central Station, a veteran of doing so, I get a vibrancy, a Scottishness that I can't define, which excites me, be it 6am or 11lpm. I don't get that in Edinburgh the same day-to-day there it just feels a bit false.
Unexplainable.

Posted by Frank II

Freedonia

10/30/23 08:17 AM

15014 posts

I've been to both cities numerous times and it's really a personal choice.

However, I'm going to suggest staying in Edinburgh for a number of reasons.

Your daughter is eleven and chances are after a long day of sightseeing in Edinburgh she will be tired. Do you then want to look forward to the journey back to not only Glasgow but then to your hotel? If you stay in Edinburgh, you can get a good night sleep, get up the next morning and spend more time in Edinburgh. There is a lot to see.

As you stated, you are going to be coming off a 13 day tour. These are fast paced and you will be tired. Add to that the fact there are no nonstop flights from either Florence or Pisa to Glasgow so that is going to take up at least half a day.

You may want to fly in the morning and rest the remainder of the day. (You will need it.)

BTW, from which airport are you flying home? That might also have a bearing as to your schedule.