'I went to Edinburgh Christmas Market - and was astonished at prices of the rides'
20.11.2023 - 18:25
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
There is no better indicator that the Christmas season is underway than the opening of Christmas markets across Scotland.
From the country's biggest cities to its many charming towns and villages, there are plenty of Christmas markets to check out this winter — whether you're keen to pick up some local crafts or chow down on delicious seasonal food and drink.
Across Scotland, there is no market more iconic and popular than the one in Edinburgh, which is part of the capital's enormous Edinburgh Christmas celebrations — running all the way from November 17 to January 6. People far and wide flock to the city each year to soak up the Christmas atmosphere.
This year, Tourism Writer and Edinburgh local Alexander Smail wanted to see what all the fuss was about, so he headed down to the Edinburgh Christmas Market at East Princes Street Gardens on opening weekend. Here are his thoughts...
Despite living in Edinburgh, it's been a good few years since I had checked out its iconic Christmas Market, so when I headed over to Princes Street on Sunday morning I was interested to see if it was just as magical as I remember as a kid.
I was actually expecting to have to queue to get into the market area, so was pleasantly surprised when I was immediately let in without a long wait. Although it was a November morning, there was a decidedly wintry chill in the air.
The first thing I noticed about the market was just how noisy it was. This is hardly a surprise, of course, and it will no doubt only get busier as we move into December, but it is worth bearing in mind if you struggle with large crowds and loud sounds.
One thing that was immediately disappointing was the general lack of festive ambience. There were wreaths and trees scattered