Emma Dunn

Put the plastic wobbly willies down. Hen parties are still one of the best bits about getting married, but the days of having a screaming gaggle of girls covered in sashes, feather boas, flashing genitals and - shudder - bright matching amateur printed t-shirts are thankfully on their way out.  Edinburgh is a hugely popular hen party destination and there are lots of fantastic original activities to get stuck into, so if the idea of a typical hen party sends shivers down your spine, read on. You can have a fantastic time with your girls doing something a little bit different in Edinburgh! Get your thinking cap on   What better way to put your gal pals' friendship to the test than being locked in a room for 60 minutes? Lots of live room escape games have popped up in the city, and they are a great way to test out your smarts and teamwork while having a lot of fun. Work your way through intriguing challenges and puzzles against the clock, and try to escape the room before the time runs out. Whether you manage to beat the game or not, you can always celebrate/drown your sorrows in a round of cocktails afterwards! Escape room games in Edinburgh include Can You Escape?, Escape Hour, Escape and Dr Knox's Enigma. Test your tastebuds   After testing your teamwork to its limit by busting out of a locked room, you might need a stiff drink. If that's the case, why not use it as an excuse to broaden your knowledge of one of Edinburgh's favourite tipples at a gin tasting masterclass? Th

With the Edinburgh Marathon Festival weekend fast approaching, if you've decided to run a marathon, half marathon, 10k or 5k run there’s no better place than our beautiful city to accomplish this amazing achievement. With scenic and forgiving routes, its no wonder Edinburgh’s Marathon is one of the most popular in the UK. Not only is this fantastic city brilliant for pounding the pavement but with its thriving food scene, it's one of the best places to eat well, carb load, and blow out as soon as you cross the finish line. No matter where you are in your training plan, Edinburgh has a food spot for you. For eating well: Union of Genius If you want to make sure you’re getting all the right nutrients during your training you need to eat right. One of the natural choices for healthy eating in Edinburgh is the soup legends at Union of Genius, who serve up hot steaming bowls of nutritious goodness, six days a week. Their soups are chock full of natural ingredients and energising superfoods, such as lentils, spinach, chickpeas and kale, and are absolutely delicious. Who knew being healthy could taste so good? Union of Genius, 8 Forrest Road For carb loading: Vittoria The night before the race, many runners like to eat a large meal high in carbohydrates to make sure they have plenty of energy the next day. Pasta is a common choice among many for the carb loading meal, and nowhere does pasta quite like Vittoria on Leith Walk or George IV Bridge. This long established Italian restau

So you've woken up, taken a look outside and realised that it's raining. What a bummer! Well, with an average 191 wet days in the year, it's not exactly a rare sight in Edinburgh. That's the bad news - but the good news is that there is still plenty to do and you can still have a great time, even when it's bucketing outside. Read on to find out how you should make most of your rainy day...  10am - Brew Lab <img id="58a0ff1c-5e69-8d4d-df0f-1951442c59df" data-caption="" data-credit="" data-width-class="" type="image/jpeg" total="522068" loaded="522068" src="http://media.timeout.com/images/102289171/image.jpg" alt="Brew Lab Edinburgh" class="photo lazy inline">     Start the day off with a warm comforting cup of coffee and cake from Brew Lab. This well respected coffee spot has loads of comfy leather sofas and chairs to snuggle up into while you get yourself ready for the day ahead. Once you've got your caffeine fix, race through the showers to the National Museum, which is just around the corner.  11am - National Museum of Scotland <img id="98456d72-5ce0-465c-7d15-9061b217f79a" data-caption="" data-credit="" data-width-class="" type="image/jpeg" total="647819" loaded="647819" src="http://media.timeout.com/images/102289187/image.jpg" alt="National Museum of Scotland" class="photo lazy inline">   Is there a better way to spend a rainy day in Edinburgh? This labyrinth of fascinating artefacts and displays will keep you amused for hours, with absolutely

Edinburgh attracts more than a million tourists every year, but for its 500,000 residents, the throbbing crowds can sometimes get a bit frustrating to say the least. So, it's hardly surprising that seasoned Edinburgh locals tend to steer clear of the usual hotspots, like Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. However, if you think that being a tourist in your own city means paying over the odds for lukewarm drinks, being bumped about in the street by herds of visitors or buying tonnes of tartan tat, then think again. Follow these tips to enjoy the best of our wonderful city without all of the seasonal stress:  Go out when its quieter (ie not August) Edinburgh has a very definite tourist season - it's usually from the beginning of June until the end of September, with August obviously being the epicentre. Avoid these times, and you’ll probably find that the crowds are a lot more manageable. Just be wary: some attractions change their opening hours during the non-peak season, so be sure to check ahead. Enjoy Edinburgh for free Being a tourist in Edinburgh doesn’t have to mean hefty entrance fees. In fact, a lot of the city’s top attractions, like the National Galleries, the National Museum on Chambers Street and many of the little museums on the Royal Mile (such as The People’s Story) are completely free of charge. Even those that do have an entrance fee, such as Edinburgh Castle, open their doors for free on St Andrews Day on November 30 every year. Allocated tickets sell out

Edinburgh has an absolutely thriving food scene, with hundreds of restaurants that span all sorts of cuisines from around the globe. From authentic Italian pizza to US/Scottish fusion (and yes, that is as good as it sounds), we have it all covered right here in this fine city. So why go dragging yourself around the world, when you can enjoy the best and most varied cuisine right on your doorstep? Let's pack our cases and explore Edinburgh in the wonderful breadth and depth of the nosh on offer! Sushi at Bonsai Bistro <img id="c223ff74-b140-efc7-a245-d99d9c1a6b0a" data-caption="" data-credit="" data-width-class="" type="image/jpeg" total="410760" loaded="410760" src="http://media.timeout.com/images/102085781/image.jpg" alt="Bonsai Bistro" class="photo lazy inline"> Let's make a start in Japan at Bonsai Bistro, which you can find either on Broughton Street in the city centre, or West Richmond Place in Newington. During festival season the latter is normally crammed with casual diners, and it's easy to see why. They have all the standard dishes you would expect of a decent sushi diner (nigiri, maki and California rolls) as well as some more unusual choices, like the strangely moreish cheese gyoza. The chicken yakitori and beef teriyaki are also solid choices here. The food all comes in at a reasonable price, but be willing to fight for a seat if you rock up during peak times. Fish and chips at Canons' Gait &am

Spring is on its way (honest!) and the days are getting longer and warmer. At this time of year, Edinburgh really blossoms with countless parks, coastlines and gardens to explore and enjoy. So get out of your winter hibernation and relish in the fresh air in some of our city's most beautiful outdoor spaces.Holyrood Park <img id="751d45d7-ec9a-d962-7533-89b89d4e1167" data-caption="" data-credit="" data-width-class="" type="image/jpeg" total="588658" loaded="588658" src="http://media.timeout.com/images/102077283/image.jpg" alt="Holyrood Park" class="photo lazy inline">   No piece on the Edinburgh outdoors would be complete without a hat-tip to our most famous park, right slap-bang in the town. This huge open space encompasses Arthur's Seat, the Crags and three lochs, giving you a real slice of the Scottish countryside right in the middle of the city. Whether you're up for the challenge of scaling the Seat, or just fancy a wee sit down and watching the ducks paddle by, there's no better way to spend a relaxing day than wandering through Holyrood. The Water of Leith   Starting at the Shore and meandering through the heart of Edinburgh via Canonmills, Stockbridge and Dean Village, the Water of Leith provides a perfect backdrop for a Sunday afternoon stroll. You'll be in good company with runners, dog walkers and yummy mummies with their strollers. There's something about the sound of gentle babbling water along the path that is so relaxing. If you find your hands ge