TCU

Hotel Info: Premier Inn Edinburgh Royal Mile
Address: 33 E Market St, Edinburgh EH8 8FR, United Kingdom
Website: https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/scotland/lothian/edinburgh/edinburgh-city-centre-royal-mile.html

MY EDINBURGH MAP (with suggestions, shops, restaurants, etc)
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/3/edit?mid=1fWYFI3zNrBYBGpl3RdZlLkvZ3EFWp-s&usp=sharing

Tour Leader: Anna McNiel
Cell: +393287290848 (calling & whatsapp text & call)

UK Entry Requirements: https://www.gov.uk/eta
Before departure, make sure you have applied for and received confirmation of your UK tourist visa. The cost is £20 which you pay online.

Europe Entry Requirements: The European Union tourist visa system will not begin until later this year (Q4). For now no visa is required. You must have at least 6 months of validity on your passport.

Meet your tour leader and professors in the arrivals hall of the Edinburgh airport. We will collect you up in groups and put you into taxis to go to the hotel.

IMPORTANT: as most of you will have to transit through other airports to arrive in Edinburgh, please contact us immediately if you miss your connection and will arrive late.

CHECK-IN: although we will advise the hotel that you will be arriving early, check-in time is at 3:00pm. You will be able to use the bathrooms to freshen up. Make sure you have essentials in your hand luggage on packed on the top of your suitcase.

You will have free time to explore Edinburgh and get lunch before coming back to the hotel for check-in. There are physical maps available in reception. You can ask Anna to point you in the right direction!

Breakfast Included
Meet in reception at 9:45AM

WALKING TOUR 10AM to 1PM

• Begin with an introduction to Scottish culture and identity, and how Edinburgh has long served as the political, cultural, and artistic capital of Scotland

• Discover how clothing and textiles have played a key role in Scottish heritage. Learn about the history of tartan, tweed, and wool, and how these iconic materials became symbols of clan identity, craftsmanship, and national pride.

• Explore the atmospheric streets and hidden passageways of Edinburgh’s Old Town, hearing fascinating stories of folklore, fairies, witches, and darker chapters of the city’s past

• Along the way, stop in St Mary's Street to visit local textile and craft shops, where your guide will introduce you to traditional Scottish materials and contemporary artisans 

• Discover work by Scottish jewellery designers and artisans, highlighting how modern creators continue to draw inspiration from Scotland’s landscapes, symbols, and heritage

• Visit one of Edinburgh’s best vintage shops to see how historic garments and classic British fashion styles continue to influence contemporary fashion

• Continue through the historic Royal Mile area before bringing St. Giles’ Cathedral to life through stories of the Reformation, the figures who shaped Scotland’s religious history, and the cathedral’s role in Edinburgh’s past

• Drop-off at a local spot for lunch with recommendations from your guide (meal at your own cost)

FREE AFTERNOON SUGGESTIONS

Visit the Edinburgh Castle
Booking strongly recommended - this is one of Scotland’s most visited monuments.
https://www.edinburghcastle.scot/

Right near the castle is one of Edinburgh’s biggest tartan stores. Perfect if you are looking for your family tartan or looking for souvenirs. Note: as of last year the weaving mill was still closed.
https://www.thetartanweavingmill.co.uk/

The Witchery (5 star hotel and restaurant - close to the castle)
It’s fancy, but if you are looking to splurge it is also beautiful inside and the food is equally magical! Try an afternoon tea.
https://www.thewitchery.com/dine/afternoon-tea/

Visit Holyroodhouse Palace
The King's official residence in Edinburgh and the home of Scottish royal history. Located at the opposite end of the Royal Mile to the Castle.
https://www.rct.uk/visit/palace-of-holyroodhouse

Take the tram to visit The Royal Yacht Britannia
Formerly HMY Britannia and the Royal residence of Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family. Tram tickets can be bought from the machines on the platform. It is worthwhile booking your ticket for the Britannia before
https://www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk/

Make your own Tartan Handbag Workshop with Islander
There are multiple locations so check the map to see which ones are closest to where we are staying. Booking required.
https://islanderuk.com/pages/islander-workshop-experience

Breakfast Included
Meet in reception at 8:30AM. Don’t be late as we will be walking out immediately to get on our private bus which will be waiting!

HOLLAND AND SHERRY 10AM to 12 NOON
https://apparel.hollandandsherry.com/en/ourstory

After a group introduction, we will split into smaller groups to visit all the different departments in the Peebles head office of H&S; sample weaving, cutting, distribution, marketing, design, planning, and in-house swatch book production. You will have the opportunity to try your hand at fabric cutting (maybe!) and speak to the people actually working in the various departments. Come ready with questions!!

LUNCH 12:15PM - 1:15PM
We will walk all together to our organized lunch (included). We are having a quick sandwich buffet so we can get on the road as quickly as possible for our next appointment.

BACK ON THE BUS 1:30PM
Drive time about 50 minutes.

LOCHCARRON TARTAN WEAVERS 2:30PM - 4:00PM
https://www.lochcarron.co.uk/about-us

From Kilt to Catwalk, Lochcarron of Scotland is the worlds leading manufacturer of tartan. With a heritage dating back to 1892, our cloth and products are proudly made in Scotland by skilled craftspeople who dye, warp, weave, mend and tailor our tartan textiles. We have over 500 authentic Scottish tartans for you to browse, proudly made in Scotland.

We will be splitting into 3 groups to tour the weaving facility. The tour takes about one hour. There will be some time for shopping at the end of the tour!

At 4PM we will hop back on our bus and drive approximately one hour to get back to the hotel.

Breakfast Included 7AM to 10AM (TBC)

See the free time suggestions from Day 2. Don’t forget the personalized google map also linked above for a list of Scottish stores to visit.

Don’t forget to do your research and assignments.

Have a GREAT DAY. See you tomorrow!

Photo: Victoria Street. PS this is where you will find the Harry Potter Shop!

Breakfast Included
Meet in reception at 8:30AM for immediate departure by private coach bus.

KINLOCH ANDERSON 9AM - 10:30AM
https://www.kinlochanderson.com/

Meet with Owner and CEO John Kinloch Anderson. John has wonderful stories to tell about the six generations of the KA family that have owned and influenced the style, direction, and survival of this historic business. Hear about the history, about making kilts for the ultimate British celebrity, the KING, and about the unexpected markets that tartan and kilts have found over the decades.

10:30AM hop back on the bus we have a half hour drive to our next appointment.

ARAMINTA CAMPBELL 11AM - 12:30PM
https://aramintacampbell.co.uk/

Refreshments will be provided (water and soft drinks)

Although Araminta herself will not be there, we will be meeting with the hand-weavers and other representatives from AC which will host us and walk us through the history and philosophy of the company. We will also see the hand weavers working.

Once we have finished, we will once again hop back on our bus and drive back into the center of Edinburgh.

The bus will leave us at the National Museum of Scotland. On the ground floor is a cafe, and there is is Grey Frairs Bobby Pub down the road. We will have free time for lunch and set a meeting time in the museum to start our tour.

TBC - presentation of the fashion collection at the National Museum of Scotland
https://www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland/see-and-do/explore-the-galleries/art-design-and-fashion

The museum closes at 5PM.
Once you are finished visiting the museum you are free to go.

IMPORTANT
Remember that we are leaving for London tomorrow. Make sure you leave time for packing. We will be traveling by high speed train. Try and keep the number of pieces of luggage to a minimum. Most of the suitcases will be stored on overhead luggage racks or in the sections at the beginning of each carriage.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND
Either using the built in lock on your suitcase or buying a TSA approved travel padlock.

DRESS: comfortably (train ride is 4 hours)