January in Edinburgh is a month of long nights and short days, so if you’re thinking about a visit to Edinburgh for a weekend break, then you’ll probably be looking for activities to keep you cosy and out of the cold.

Over the many years we’ve been offering self-catering accommodation in Edinburgh (since 2001), we usually welcome visitors from Australia during January – escaping from the soaring temperatures at home, or extending a family stay over Christmas and New Year to see more of what’s on offer in Edinburgh.  Coming to the city to do genealogical research, or visit places which are important for a family history are other popular reasons to be here in the first month of the year.

As we offer accommodation close to Dynamic Earth, we’ve already welcomed a group of guests in 2012 to the Geological Society’s Tectonic Studies Group who were here for a conference, and appreciated the home-from-home atmosphere that they had at Craigwell Cottage.   (You can see their guest book comments for more.)

But if you’ve a little more time on your hands to explore Edinburgh, here are some ideas of top things to do on a weekend break in Edinburgh.

Visit the Turner in January exhibition

Every January, as a result of a bequest by the distinguished collector Henry Vaughan, his collection of Turner Watercolours are exhibited at the National Gallery of Scotland.  You can walk there easily from Craigwell Cottage, and even take a short-cut via Waverley Station leaving only a quick sprint across the eastern end of Princes Street Gardens if the weather’s particularly bitter.

See the Faces of Scotland old and new

Characters from Scottish History at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery

Keeping the theme of galleries, we were so pleased to have the Scottish National Portrait Gallery re-open in December 2011, but have only managed two visits there so far – one mainly sampling the coffee and scones in the excellent café in the Gallery, and the other to make more of a foray into the collection itself.  The renovation work has really managed to reveal the beauty of what had been a tired looking Victorian sandstone structure.  But the clever use of internal partitions has increased the hanging space in the gallery hugely, and there are great views from the now accessible windows.  I really liked looking at paintings including seascapes of Fife and the Firth of Forth, and then being able to look out of the windows to see the modern-day view. It was also nice to be asked by the @NatGalleriesSco – the National Galleries of Scotland on Twitter – what I thought of my visit!

RT @2edinburgh: @WhiskyTastingCo Been out visiting Scottish National Portrait Gallery today – Nice time? Do let us know what you thought!

— National Galleries(@NatGalleriesSco) January 9, 2012

As Scots, our thoughts in January turn to the celebration of Burns Night, of which more below, but while in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery you can find the statue of Robert Burns in the entrance hallway, and elsewhere in the gallery a portrait of his sister Isabella Burns Begg 1771-1858 – the youngest sister of Robert Burns. He asked her to sing his songs so he could hear how they sounded. Painted by several artists and photographed by Robert Adamson and David Octavius Hill, the portrait on display is by William Bonnar.

The statue was commissioned originally to be sited in the Burns Monument on Regent Road, which is at the top of the garden of Nether Craigwell, and which you will see during your stay at Craigwell Cottage.

If you’re taking a weekend break with children in Edinburgh, then they can have fun choosing which works of art in the collection most resemble them (actually, this one’s not just for the kids as I had good fun with it too!)

You use a touch-screen computer display to pick a work of art which most resembles the things you love.  Choosing: Fife – Sea – East Neuk gave me this work of art.

and using the people characteristics selections of:  brown hair – female – arty gave me a portrait of Tracey Emin.

Again, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery is able to be reached on foot from Craigwell Cottage – this time the top tip for a short cut is to go via St James Centre and Multrees Walk, and try to remember that the shops will still be there on the way back, so don’t get diverted by all those January sales bargains on offer!

Oh, and a quick personal recommendation if you find the cafe in the Portrait Gallery too crowded (it’s the ‘in’ place for meeting up at the moment and can be a bit busy) – we’ve loved Henderson’s Restaurant and Bar for many years – a vegetarian haven in the city centre where you can descend to the cosy basement and find some veggie comfort food.  It’s close enough to pop out and return for more at the Portrait Gallery after lunch.

Go on a hunt for the Best Hot Chocolate in Edinburgh

A great way to keep warm when out and about sightseeing in Edinburgh in January is to start a search for the Best Hot Chocolate in Edinburgh - The List has suggestions for Edinburgh and Glasgow, and we’d love it if you could let us know which one you enjoyed the most.

Visit the street in Edinburgh where it never rains, snows, hails or gets frosty!

A must at any time of year is a visit to Mary Kings Close, a good way to find out more about how the people of Edinburgh’s Old Town lived before the planned expansion of the city to the broad New Town streets.  If you’ve found members of your family tree who were at one time resident in one of the many “closes” (narrow streets and lanes) running off the Royal Mile, then a visit to Mary King’s Close can give you real insight into how people lived in these streets in olden days.  Some of my ancestors lived in the street which used to be called ‘South Back of Canongate’ and is now Holyrood Road (where you can find the offices of The Scotsman as well as Dynamic Earth), so when I visited Mary King’s Close when our son was studying the Royal Mile for his school project, it was fascinating to see the set up of rooms and cramped conditions which would have prevailed at the time when my ancestors lived near by. Visits are by way of small group tours, with a tour guide playing the part of a historical character and telling tales of days gone by – particularly the time when the plague known as the Black Death swept through Europe.

An easy walk from Craigwell Cottage via Campbell’s Close and up the Royal Mile to Mary King’s Close, which you’ll find by the City Chambers and near St Giles Cathedral, the High Kirk of Edinburgh.

Celebrate the life of Scotland’s Bard – Burns Night in Edinburgh

Although Robert Burns is primarily associated with Ayrshire, he did visit Edinburgh, and you can find out more about Robert Burns, his life and works at The Writers’ Museum in Lady Stair’s Close off the Royal Mile.  Scots still celebrate the birthday of Robert Burns on 25 January with poetry reading, singing songs, and gathering with friends for a traditional Burns Supper.  While visiting Edinburgh you might like to book a Burns Supper at one of the Restaurants near Craigwell Cottage.  We’re close to Howies Restaurant in Waterloo Place where in January 2012 local writer and broadcaster Alison Craig will be giving reply on behalf of the Lassies and world class piper: Louise Cantara will be playing  – a very reasonable £30 per person. Easy walk from Craigwell Cottage.

Our local on-line magazine “Informed Edinburgh” has published a list of Burns’ Suppers in Edinburgh for January 2012 which includes the others I was going to mention at The Tass and The Whiski Bar as well as a few I hadn’t heard of, so you might like to check their list for more details.

Join the 26 Treasures Project

If immersing yourself in the art and literature of Edinburgh has got you inspired, you might like to spend part of your weekend at another famous and recently refurbished one of Scotland’s public buildings – the National Museum of Scotland which has welcomed over 1 million visitors since it opened again in July 2010.  There’s currently a special project – 26 Treasures which runs until Burns’ Night on the 25 January 2012.  Find out how to join in the 26 Treasures Project and see the 26 Treasures on-line.  That’s one we’re hoping to be able to visit ourselves.

The National Museum of Scotland is also easy to walk to from Craigwell Cottage, but if you’ve young children with you on your weekend in Edinburgh, then the Lothian Buses 35 service might just help you get back to base after you’ve spent hours and hours in the Museum.  This is one place of the many places you definitely won’t finish exploring in one weekend, and you’ll hopefully want to come back again for another weekend with us.

We do hope you’ve enjoyed reading our selection of things to do on a January weekend break in Edinburgh.  We hope it’s encouraged you to come and visit us at Craigwell Cottage.  In January 2012 we’re reducing the price of our remaining weekend breaks to £275 for accommodation which sleeps up to 4.  Here are the weekends we have on offer:

20 – 23 January 2012 – 3 night weekend break at £275 – book now

27 – 30 January 2012 – 3 night weekend break at £275 – book now

If you’ve visited Edinburgh in January and have other great suggestions which we could include for next year, we’d love it if you’d leave a comment for us.

And if you can’t visit in January, but would like to find out more about dates for Festivals in Edinburgh 2012, then our friends over at Edinburgh Spotlight have put together a handy list of all the Edinburgh Festivals 2012.

We have some special offers at the moment at Craigwell Cottage – you can see full details on our Last Minute offers page.  A short break from 15 – 19 October 2009 is available at a reduced price of only £400 for 5 nights in central Edinburgh – a surprising little cottage in the centre of Edinburgh which makes a great alternative to hotel accommodation or self-catering apartments.

Craigwell Cottage Edinburgh has last minute availability for a short break in Edinburgh’s historic city centre starting from 3 June. Only £300 for a 3-night break (minimum booking).

Unique cottage with private parking and shared garden in historic Old Town near Royal Mile, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Holyrood Park and Scottish Parliament. On direct bus link to Edinburgh Airport, easy walking distance of Waverley (Main) Railway station and central shopping areas too. Sleeps 2-4. Other dates available – full details on www.2edinburgh.co.uk or call Susan +44(0)131 476 4011

With on-line booking available directly from our website you can book your last-minute break in minutes.