Enjoy A Magical Christmas in Edinburgh with Black Ivy
Christmas is a special time for many of us across the globe but especially here in the UK. People of all ages, young and old, get increasingly excited for Christmas as winter sets in and December rolls around.
Here at Black Ivy, we’re no different! We love decorating our boutique Edinburgh hotel for Christmas and adding that extra touch of festive cheer to our service. As much as Christmas is a busy time for us in the hospitality industry, seeing happy, smiley faces celebrating Christmas with their loved ones in our hotel, bar or restaurant makes it all worth it.
Read this short article to find out more about the special touches and amazing offers Black Ivy has introduced for the Christmas season, and discover some of our top recommendations on how to make the most of your time in Edinburgh over Christmas and New Year.
Why an Edinburgh Christmas is so special
Christmas gives us so much to look forward to. Good food, time with family Christmas pantos, and, of course, presents are just a few of the things we love most about Christmas.
But when it comes to Christmas in Edinburgh, there’s always an extra special feeling in the air. The lights go up, the shoppers come out and the Edinburgh Christmas Markets set up their stalls. Everywhere you look there’s a sparkle of tinsel or a flash of Christmas lights and the magical Old Town of Edinburgh manages to look even more picturesque.
We personally think Edinburgh is one of the best cities in the world for Christmas so to help you make the most of your time in Scotland’s capital, we’ve given some of our top recommendations for things to do in Edinburgh at Christmas time.
Visit Edinburgh Christmas Markets
Edinburgh’s Christmas markets are famous across the country, and not without good reason!
Located in the stunning setting of Princes St. Gardens, with the towering Scot Monument lit up for Christmas, standing next to the temporary big wheel, the bright lights of the market can be seen from miles around.
At the Edinburgh Christmas market 2022, you can expect:
- Stalls packed full of unique gifts
- Small business owners selling their items
- Traditional Christmas food and drink
- Fun fair rides
- Ferris wheel
- Street performers
- Christmas cocktails
- Plus much more!
Nothing will get you in the mood for Christmas quite like a visit to Edinburgh’s traditional Christmas markets. Be warned though, if you visit on a weekend throughout December it’s likely to be very busy and you may need to queue for entry.
Explore the Old Town
Edinburgh’s Old Town is a magical place at any time of the year, but at Christmas there’s an extra special atmosphere in the air. The lights go up in the boutique shop windows and the cobbled streets are illuminated with a warm Christmassy glow.
Some of the must-see Christmas locations in the Old Town are:
- Victoria Street! Walk into a Harry Potter winter wonderland as you stroll down one of Edinburgh’s most famous and iconic streets
- The Royal Mile. With Christmas cheer spilling out from every pub and restaurant along the mile, you won’t be short of places to pop into when visiting this historic street
- The Grassmarket. Another fantastic place for quaint UK pubs and good food!
- Visit Edinburgh Castle and see their special “Kingdom of Colours” light show, which runs exclusively over the Christmas period.
Shop until you drop
Edinburgh offers Christmas shoppers a lot of bang for their buck. With a mixture of high street stores, boutique shops, indoor shopping centres and souvenir shops, you won’t be a loss for places to shop when visiting Edinburgh this Christmas.
Some of the top Edinburgh shopping destinations are:
- St James Quarter: A modern, high-end shopping centre located just off Princes Street
- Edinburgh Christmas Markets: We know we mentioned it before, but the Christmas markets are a great place to pick up unique gifts for friends, family and loved ones
- Princes St: Walk along Edinburgh’s busiest high street to find a whole host of designer brands and stores
- Victoria Street. If you’re looking for boutique stores that offer something a little bit different, Victoria Street is the place to go!
Celebrate Hogmanay in traditional Scottish style
Edinburgh has more to offer than just Christmas. As soon as the big days is over, us Scots turn our attention to Hogmanay, which for non-Scots, is New Years Eve.
Hogmanay and Edinburgh go hand in hand. Nothing beats a New Year’s celebration in the Scottish capital, with the famous Edinburgh Street Party a must-go-to if you find yourself in Edinburgh over the festive and New Year period. With live bands, food and drink stalls, fun fair rides and the whole of Princes Street and the surrounds roads closed off, there is a truly special feel in the air when it comes to Hogmanay in Edinburgh.
You’ll also enjoy a spectacular firework display as the bells strike midnight to see in the New Year in style. Read the full timetable of what’s happening in Edinburgh this Hogmanay.
Alternatively, if you feel the street party might not be for you, Black Ivy are hosting our own wonderful Hogmanay celebrations at our hotel and restaurant in Bruntsfield. We’ll have a live DJ, drinks packages, a fun-filled countdown to the bells and a real party atmosphere. Everything needed to enjoy a proper Scottish Hogmanay! Enquire now to book your Hogmanay spot at Black Ivy in Edinburgh.
Black Ivy: The perfect place to stay this Christmas
So now that you know about all the delights that Edinburgh offers over the festive period, you’re probably wondering, “Where is the best place to stay in Edinburgh over Christmas?”.
We have the answer for you: Black Ivy’s boutique hotel in Bruntsfield, Edinburgh.
We go all out for Christmas, not just for the sake of our guests but because we love the joy and festive cheer that Christmas brings to people around the world. We’re lucky to celebrate Christmas and Hogmanay with our amazing guests each and every year, and we don’t take that for granted! We always do our best to make sure your Christmas is well-spent when staying at Black Ivy, whether that’s for a few days in early December or over Christmas Day itself, our personal touch and level of care shine through in everything we do.
This year we’re offering a fantastic range of festive packages so that you can celebrate in style. Within our package you’ll find sumptuous festive cocktails, a full 3-Course Christmas menu and some fantastic offers that have been designed to allow you and your party to enjoy local luxuries for less this Christmas time.
We are also offering Festive Vouchers for sale, so that you can treat your loved ones, friends or family members to a weekend away or for gorgeous meal in our restaurant for the date and time of your choosing.
To make your Christmas extra special this year, visit us at our Bruntsfield boutique hotel, be it for an overnight stay in Edinburgh, a festive drink at our bar or a delicious Christmas meal. We promise you won’t regret it!
