threeweeks guide to edinburgh

If you're in Edinburgh for any period of time you probably need to know some practical stuff. Like whether there's a branch of your bank in the vicinity for example. That was a pretty good example actually, so that's where I'll start.

Banks in Edinburgh are mostly the Bank of Scotland, the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Clydesdale. In these days of link machines and the like they'll do perfectly well for getting cash (all three Scottish banks are in the Link network). And if you happen to bank with one of these three then I guess you're sorted - 'cos they're everywhere (especially Bank and Royal Bank). But what if you really need to actually go to a branch of your non-Scottish bank? Here are a few that might prove helpful.

Abbey National, 31 Hanover Street,
Alliance & Leicester, 136 Princess Street
Allied Irish, 19 Charlotte Square (west end of Princes Street, where the Books Festival is)
Barclays Bank, 1 St Andrews Square (at the east end of Princes Street)
Bank of Ireland, 11-13 Castle Street (off Princes Street)
Bradford & Bingley, 20 Frederick Street
Bristol and West, 13a Castle Street (off Princes Street)
Britannia Building Society, 55 George Street
Cheltenham & Gloucester, 19 Castle Street (you know, off Princes Street)
HSBC, 76 Hanover Street (off Princes Street)
Halifax, 75 George Street (the street parallel to Princes Street - the Assembly is here). There are various branches of the Halifax further out.
Lloyds TSB, 28 Hanover Street, 165 Lothian Road (same road as Filmhouse etc) and 9-11 Clerk Street (not far from Pod Deco and Pleasance). Many more further out.
Nationwide Building Society, 71 George Street
Newcastle Building Society, 63-65 Shandwick Place (at the west end of Princes Street)
Skipton Building Society, 19 Frederick Street (off Princes Street)
Woolwich, 72-74 George Street
Yorkshire Building Society, 46 Hanover Street

You'll quickly discover that Scotland has its own money, including pound notes, more of that in Edinburgh Quirks next week. If you're traveling to Edinburgh from abroad you need to get yourself sterling as quick as you can, because US dollars or fancy Euros do not get you far outside a handful of touristy shops and hotels. Most large banks have a bureau de change counter, but not all Scottish banks open at the weekend so come Saturday you should head to the Edinburgh Tourist Centre above Waverley Station on Princes Street. If you're going South after your stay in Edinburgh it might be wise to spend your Scottish money, they're very suspicious of it South of Carlisle.

Centrally located Post Offices are found at 33 Forrest Road (not far from the Royal Mile), St Mary's Street (near Waverley Station), 40 Frederick Street (off Princes Street), 5 Brougham Street (near to Cameo Cinema and the Kings Theatre) and 41 South Clerk Street.

If you need to get to A&E (and I sincerely hope you don't) it's at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Little France Crescent, Old Dalkieth Road - outrageously far out of town for an A&E department if you ask me. Until recently A&E was at the old Royal just off the Meadows. Now it's not. If you need to go, realistically, you'll have to get a cab. There are buses that go out there, but it's an emergency, isn't it? You aren't going to want to take a bus. I suppose if its really serious there's always 999 and those ambulance things.

For slightly less serious ailments you will find pharmacies at Boots The Chemists in the St James Centre at the East End of Princes Street (0131 556 1062), Lindsay & Gilmour at 105 Broughton Street, also in the East End (0131 556 1054), Donald G MacKinnon on Forrest Road (near the Bedlam Theatre and Pleasance Dome) and, most central, the Royal Mile Pharmacy at 67 High Street (0131 556 1971).

Again, I hope you won't need to, but if you have to contact the Police their central stations are located as follows: 14 St Leonards Street (off the Pleasance) and 2 Gayfield Square (off top of Leith Walk, near Playhouse). They also operate a drop in centre at 188 High Street near the Fringe Office where you can report crime, enquire about lost property, ask for directions, or, if you wish, learn about the history of policing in Edinburgh. You can contact the police on 0131 226 6966.