What The Dickins: A Tale Of Edinburgh City

Give a Christmas Gift Experience this year…

This year, we thought we would try and ease the Christmas gift frustration by suggesting a few experience focused gifts, designed to help you make the most of this wonderful city.

Each year, buying Christmas gifts seems to become increasingly difficult. Buying ‘stuff’ for people becomes challenging as they accumulate more and more; toys, clothes, books, gadgets…the list is endless.

Why not give a Christmas Gift Experience this year?

We are spoilt to live in a city like Edinburgh, with so much going on throughout the year. Let’s make the most of it!

Feeling Thirsty?

One Square was one of the original bars in Edinburgh to develop its team with an expert knowledge of gin, ahead of the city’s current gin renaissance. The bar offers more than 70 premium varieties of gin and its Gin Concierge host daily tutored gin tastings, with the coveted weekend and evening spots now in high demand! One Square even launched its own brand of gin earlier this year, and the tastings provide the perfect opportunity to sample this small batch London dry One Square Gin.

A Gin Tasting at One Square costs £25 per head for four premium gins with accompanying tonic and garnish. Advance bookings are necessary; please call 0131 221 6422 to reserve a tasting slot.

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Fun for all the Family

See Edinburgh through a new pair of eyes at Camera Obscura. Learn about the fascinating history of the city through live moving images projected onto a viewing table through a giant periscope.

Edinburgh’s oldest visitor attraction has been delighting visitors since 1835 and offers experiences for adults and children alike. This Aladdin’s cave is filled with illusions, tricks, puzzles and unbelievable effects to experience and interact with. Prices from £9.95pp (children) and £13.95pp (adults).

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And, Relax…

If you’d like to treat someone to a relaxing day at the Spa, Edinburgh’s One Spa is a wonderful option. With treatments ranging from £40 and ‘escape‘ days from £70, there are certainly reasonable options for those who might benefit from a few hours of pure relaxation, as well as more expensive treatments for those eager to indulge.

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Time for a Dram!

The Scotch Whisky Experience has been inspiring visitors to Edinburgh about the joys of Scotch whisky for over 25 years.

If you’re looking for a gift for a whisky lover, The Scotch Whisky Experience has a tasting, tour and lesson for everyone. Compare and contrast blends, receive expert tuition from experienced guides, prepare tasting notes and enjoy a dram like a true connoisseur. Tickets from £14pp for a Silver Tour ranging to £60pp for the Platinum experience.

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Let’s Eat!

If you’re struggling to find a special experience for someone this Christmas, what better than a cookery course? The Edinburgh New Town Cookery School offer artisan bread making classes, curry courses, wine and fizz tastings and much, much more.

Edinburgh New Town Cookery School Gift Vouchers make the perfect gift, or, if you prefer, you can choose a course as a present or even contribute towards the cost of a course. Gift Vouchers start at £25 and are valid for 12 months.

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Photo Credit: OH! Taste

For the Snap Happy

Iconic Photo Tours run fantastic walking tours all over Edinburgh. Professional photographers, Will & Chris, have been running tours in Edinburgh for years and will not only show you the hidden gems of Edinburgh but help you capture them using your camera or phone.

Discover some lesser known Edinburgh locations develop photography skills. Tours available from £50pp. Please visit the website for more information on gift options.

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Male Grooming

If you know someone might enjoy a good haircut and shave, there is certainly no shortage of barbers in Edinburgh. However, where does a haircut come with a nice Arbikie Gin or a dram of Chivas Regal Whisky?

For those looking for a whole male grooming experience, Ruffians is certainly the best in town. Stylishly decorated, the salon offers complimentary drinks, hot shaves and head massages – the perfect gift! Prices from £15.
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Don’t forget to treat yourself this year…

All this Christmas shopping can be stressful. If you’re looking to wrap up the year, the “All Wrapped Up” spa day at One Spa includes an Ultimate Body Wrap with full body exfoliation and oriental head massage plus an Essential Back Massage, topped off with blissful time in the iconic rooftop hydropool and thermal suite.

All Wrapped Up costs £130 per person and is valid until 23rd December 2015. For further information and reservations please contact One Spa on 0131 221 7777 or email [email protected], quoting “All Wrapped Up”.

Where to Stay:

Dickins has some beautiful properties around Edinburgh, and they all include free wifi – perfect for online shopping this Christmas.

Why not take a look and find your perfect home from home?

Go on, you know you want to…

Click here to search our fabulous properties!

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