On my first visit to Edinburgh by myself, I visited Edinburgh Crystal Factory. Liked it, bought some crystal. On my second visit to Edinburgh with my mom, back to Edinburgh Crystal Factory, because she wanted to go. After more than 10 years, finally going back to Britain with my husband, who has never travelled abroad. He wants to go to Edinburgh Crystal Factory!!! If he insists, I will go, yet again. However, are there any other "factory tours" in England or Scotland that could prove as interesting, better yet, more interesting, that I may tempt my husband to visit rather than E.C. again? Please don't suggest whisky tours, unless you consider them outstanding, as that is quite obvious, and I'm already aware of those. Besides, even though the making of it will be fascinating, neither of us prefers the taste of whisky. :) Thanks so much.
Posted by
OP
Union, Maine, USA
95 posts
...also, not averse to visiting a different glass-blowing or crystal making place. Suggestions for those types still welcome.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
The Whisky Experience in Edinburgh is a good compromise instead of a distillery tour. It is light hearted and fun as well as giving you the history as well as the "making" of whisky. They do offer a free "wee dram" at the end, but you don't have to induldge. I'd aslo suggest a tour of a woolen factory. There are some in Edinburgh , near the castle as well as lots of other throughout the country. You can watch them weave the tartans etc. Caithness has an excellent glass blowing factory. There is a tour and a nice shop. If you are near Aviemore, there is a microbrewery (beer). They do tours with samples. Hubby liked their Golden Caringorm and Blessed Thistle beers- they mmre I think.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
I'm just glad to see that whisky is being spelled correctly. Some words are too important to be misspelled.
Posted by
Bromley, Kent,, UK
1829 posts
I'm afraid the Edinburgh Crystal factory has closed down. Sadly, like so many other "heritage" products eg bone china (I refuse to call it English Bone China!)it is now made overseas.
Apart from the loss of work and local skills (my great grandmother's family worked in the Potteries), IMO the fact that these people carry on charging premium prices for their goods borders on the fraudulent. What is special about a Royal Albert or a Wedgewood tea set made in Thailand or Indonesia? Off my soap box now!!!
BTW - please don't tell me that Oneida silverware is now made in China!
Posted by
OP
Union, Maine, USA
95 posts
So sad to hear of the Edinburgh Crystal factory closing down. Very sad indeed. Kent, I wouldn't dare spell Whisky any other way! :). Toni, love your suggestion of micro-brewery. While I don't have a taste for beer, my husband does! Any other micro-brewery suggestions? I like all your suggestions. and will bear them in mind while planning. While we do enjoy local history, and all that it entails, we find factory tours and the like quite enjoyable. The major areas we will likely visit are: Cotswolds, Portsmouth, York, Edinburgh, London (briefly) with daytrips from those locations...Please keep those suggestions coming.
Posted by
Marion
177 posts
Locharron of Scotland has a mill (woolen) tour. It is in Selkirk which is in the Borders part of Scotland near Melrose. They have a shop and visitor center there also. You would need a car to get there. You can google their web site if you are interested.
Posted by
West Sacramento, California, USA
281 posts
About an hours drive west of Edinburgh is the village of New Lanark. This is a World Heritage Site and was the home of textile mill in the 19th century. What makes this special is that it was quite innovative for its time with respect to how the mill's manager, Robert Owen, set things up to care for the workers and their families. It is set up as a living history museum in which the living quarters, co-op shops, schools, and mills are all part of the experience. And the setting is absolutely beautiful. It isn't a current factory, but it is historically significant.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
While they are not factory tours, as such, there are lots of craftsman's workshops that are open to the public. In Drumnadrochit (at the top of Loch Ness), and other villages I am certain, there are potter's workshops. The pottery I saw was lovely. Also in Drumnadrochit, there is a small glass blower's. I also think there are some woodworker's shops around, but don't recall where we saw them.
Posted by
Sheffield, UK
51 posts
There's always Cadbury's World, assuming Kraft haven't closed it down by the time you arrive:
http://www.cadburyworld.co.uk/CadburyWorld/Pages/CadburyWorld.aspx
Relatively near to that is the Black Country Living Museum, I think there are workshops there, but I went about 15 years ago on a school trip and spent most of my time attempting, vainly, to impress a female classmate so I didn't pay that much attention to it:
Then this site seems to have some information on various factory tours throughout the UK: