Customer Reviews

Time Out Edinburgh: Glasgow, Lothian and Fife (Time Out Guides)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We used this book exclusively for our one week stay in Edinburgh during the Festival this August. It was my "bible", and it gave us some great ideas for restaurants and sights that we wouldn't have found on our own. All in all, a first-rate quidebook, better than the Lonely Planet guide.

The specialty of the Time Out guides is getting inside the local culture and nightlife. I have used the Time Out guides for London, Paris, New York: My favorite Time Out guide is for the king of nightlife cities, Madrid.
For this guide the Time Out people bring all their style and insight to bear but it is a 5 star book on a 3 star city, meaning that Edinburg has not as many museums or theatres, etc, as London; here the Time Out guide is very helpful in spending time like and with natives.
This guide does a very good job of covering Edinburgh, gives information on Glasgow, and the areas of interest above, below, and to the East of Edinburgh.
The first 30 pages covers the history of the Scotland, Edinburgh, and the current conditions, just enough to give an overview. The information about Edinburgh & its suburbs is detailed on the sights of interest, including websites, on hotels/accommodations, on restauranets/cafes/pubs/bars; great info on shopping. There is also very good information on art galleries, what to do with children, music, theatre, nightlife, sports, and the world famous festival in August.
There is also information on Glasgow and on other day trips.
Scotland is a dificult area to cover since it is unlikely you are going to spend a week in Edinburgh for itself as you would in London. I would have liked to see the Time Out guide split 50/50 on Glasgow & Edinburgh. Time Out guides are always skimpy on pictures, the Eyewitness guides make a good combination with them.
The maps are good, and if you are going to stay in Edinburgh you really must get this book. For me, staying in Glasgow as a base of operations for a week, and day-triping to Edinburgh, Striling, Arran, Loch Lomond, & Ayr, I still found this book quite helpful and was glad I got it.

Time Out guides are always useful as they come out yearly which most other guides don't do. They are usually trendy and give up-to-date info on the subject city. This book is a good example.