Picture it: Edinburgh, 2044. After retiring from corporate America, I’m now the proud owner of a gothic bookshop in the Stockbridge neighborhood of the city. The shop is decorated in dark velvety tones with plush chairs scattered throughout. Patrons relax while drinking cups of hot cocoa, tea, or cocktails— whatever suits their fancy. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the shop hosts yoga classes catered to the geriatric millennials of the community. Over the weekends, I go home to my seaside cottage where my Scottish terrier named Rupert frolics in a nearby field.

That’s me! That is now my retirement plan! I’ve discussed it with my financial advisor, LOL.

I want to throw it back to September 2024…for the Scotland leg of my UK trip. Which, for some reason, took me until now to post. As life happens, you know? So read about the London leg and come back to this one. Pretend I wrote them congruently, LOL. Help a geriatric millennial out.

Platform 9 ¾ , actually…it was Platform 3

Early on a Saturday morning, we made our way to King's Cross. Unfortunately, there isn’t a platform that whisks you away to a magical school…la sigh. However, there is now a permanent Platform 9 ¾ store you can visit. We arrived a little early to watch the leaderboards for our platform and to grab a wee breakfast snack.

Like airports, train stations have food and snack options. If you’re a first-time train commuter like me, I found this extremely convenient! For the train tickets, as with everything else, Dynamite Travel arranged them for us.

This was my first time traveling by train, so I was a little nervous and excited! Nervous, as I’m a little sensitive to motion… thanks to having vertigo, unfortunately, motion sickness can happen very quickly. But I did well, LOL.

Travel Tip: If you’re traveling between countries…I recommend smaller luggage. This will make it easier to lift your bags overhead or on the luggage carts for the train ride. Not to mention, we felt “luggage shamed” upon our arrival in Edinburgh. The first Uber driver said our luggage was too big for his car… luckily, it was not a problem for the next driver.

Another sidebar: make sure to select the correct vehicle size for said oversized luggage!

All aboard!

Like flights, the train ride between London and Edinburgh can vary depending on how many stops are along the way, so select your tickets wisely. Our train ride was over 6 hours long due to construction; however, I quite enjoyed it! Zooming through the countryside at 120+ miles per hour, watching cities, villages, the occasional cricket pitch, and sheep grazing in fields made time fly by. Not to mention, I was knee-deep in reading about the Night Court to help pass the time. Internet and dining options are also available. But seeing the English and Scottish countryside and traveling through cities and towns I had only seen on the telly, made it worthwhile. Surrounded by greenery and older buildings, Durham was gorgeous as we passed over the elevated bridge through the city. Newcastle was a mix of modern and older stone buildings. I even spotted a cricket pitch outside Carlisle. Needless to say, the train ride was worth it!

Edinburgh, Scotland

Have you ever felt drawn to a city or country before visiting it? Then fall madly in love with it? That’s Edinburgh, Scotland, for me. The history, architecture, sheep grazing in pastures…I had to put it on my travel list. The city is over 900 years old, and it has the castle to prove it!

Arriving in Edinburgh was a little rocky due to poor planning on my part… honestly, my belief that I can walk anywhere and everywhere needs to be studied…LOL. In my defense, it technically was a short walk from the train station to the hotel… but there are hills and stairs to contend with, which I did not know about. Throw back to where we were shamed, but moving forward!

Victoria Street

Our trip included a stay at the Virgin Hotel Edinburgh, right in the heart of Victoria Street. This street is rumored to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley. Quant shops and restaurants line the two-level street. In addition to feeling like Diagon Alley, walk down a little further and peek up at Edinburgh Castle! Victoria Street really does whisk you away to another world. Before getting into more about the Old Town area, I want to talk about the Virgin Hotel.

I never told my travel agent that we were bookaholics…I never even mentioned my love for reading. But somehow, they knew! The Virgin Hotel has a mini library…complete with cozy seating and a fireplace. Great hangout spot for in-between touring the city. Also, one of the best rooftops with amazing views of the city. My second favorite thing about the hotel was the chambers! We don’t have proof, but Susan and I think a woman had to design the rooms! You enter the dressing area. Complete with a vanity, storage, a separate WC (I cannot forget the heated toilet seats again), and a separate shower. And I must mention that you can close the door to this area! You know, in case you need to have a late-night run to the loo…close the door and you will not disturb your roommate! Brilliantly designed!!

Around Town

That night, we dined at Dunedin Kitchen and took a quick walk to enjoy the scenery. The next morning, we headed out for breakfast at a bistro in Grassmarket. Giving us plenty of time to explore. Susan almost got us run over crossing the street to look at cats in a window…(Maison De Moggy-Cat Café). At least she waited until after breakfast to risk our lives.

After risking our lives, we walked around St. Cuthbert’s Kirkyard cemetery. Guys, I can’t be the only one who loves looking at old graves, finding the oldest one, learning history, and finding out what haunts it. Tell me your secrets!! That was the first graveyard we explored in Edinburgh. It was one of the most peaceful cemeteries I’ve visited (but that one in Savannah, though). Not to mention it has the best view of the castle!

Looking up and seeing a real castle was magical. We made our way to Princes Street Gardens Playground to take a breather and enjoy the scenery. Enter more hot cocoa (guess who is lactose intolerant? This girl!), and chit chatted with what we believe to be an (redacted) from (redacted). I’m not a loquacious person by any means, but my travel buddy is. What started as everyone bonding over all the cute doggies in the park ended with Mr. (redacted) inviting himself to our table to chat some more. Where we learned his life story of how he’s rich, retired, living on a cruise ship, going from place to place…like a (redacted), I’m going to leave it at that…because don’t come after me, please, Mr. (redacted).

Greyfriars Kirkyard Cemetery

I can’t remember whether it was the same day or the next, but we toured yet another graveyard, Greyfriars Kirkyard Cemetery. The inspiration behind Tom Riddle, yes, the One Who Must Not Be Named, is buried here. Along with other noteworthy names you may recognize from the Harry Potter series. There’s a lot of history buried in those grounds—some dark, not-so-pleasant things. There is a prison within the grounds. I may write about that another time, but let’s keep this light.

Went back to the hotel and explored the rooftop with gorgeous views of the Kirkyard and castle.

Dean Village

The next day, we were off to Dean Village. This was such a picturesque place. Built in the 12th century, this quaint cobblestone village on the Water of Leith has roots in milling. It's peaceful and whimsical—just a brilliant spot to add to the list if you travel to the city. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the area.

Stockbridge

I have to be mindful that not everyone can walk for miles on end like me. I have my camera, in my own little world at times, and I’m off. But people need breaks! So we set off to Stockbridge! No, not Henry County, Georgia. Another neighborhood on the Water of Leith with Georgian architecture… not beating those allegations, Stockbridge, GA.

Like other places I’ve traveled, I can see myself living in Stockbridge, Edinburgh. When I looked up more info on the village, of course, it's one of the most desirable and expensive neighborhoods in Edinburgh. That tracks with my bougie-ness. But you guys, they had bookshops….and a LOT of them. And yes, we went in them, LOL. So, yes, retirement plan!

There is so much!

There is so much I could write about that leg of the trip, from our hike up Calton Hill, finding a same-day laundry service with a million Scotties hanging about…ok, maybe like 10. But since I have a self-imposed deadline and it's taken me a year and a half to write this little bit, let’s end it here. Thinking of doing part two with more on the history of this town…but guys, I LOVED every single moment of this trip.

For the moments in between...

Wanderlust Wednesday: Edinburgh, Scotland /June 3, 2026 by Latosha Hicks