Edinburgh Through a Designer’s Eye: Travel, Architecture, and Quiet Inspiration

A Winter Decision

I put my foot down.

“No, I’m visiting Scotland in winter.”

Too cold. Too wet. We wouldn’t enjoy our first Scottish encounter.

My husband tried another tactic.

“We could extend the trip. Take a train up instead of finishing in London.”

I threw my hands up.

“Well of course, yes, let’s do it.”

And that, my dear reader, is how a mere train ride and more time travelling can so easily twist my arm. Before we knew it, we were heading for Edinburgh, a city that continues to offer endless design inspiration.

In spite of my bullish belief that it would rain constantly, we had a miraculous three weeks across the UK with only one afternoon of light drizzle.

Seeing a City on Foot

There is nothing quite like experiencing a city on foot, and Edinburgh invites you to slow down and notice things. The best way we found to launch our weekend there was to take up a friend’s recommendation and join the Mountebank Comedy Walk of Edinburgh.

Our group of about twenty gathered around our guide, Daniel, and his ever-present dog. He began by asking a little about each of us. Perfect material for a comedian, and he made excellent use of it throughout the tour. So brace yourself, as there could be light-hearted joking at your expense. All such fun, I assure you. And it reminds you that cities are not only buildings and museums, but people, laughter, and shared moments.

One of the things we learned on the tour was a simple way of reading the city’s architecture. Much of the Dutch influence dates to the 1700s, the Greek revival to the 1800s, and much of the Victorian architecture to the 1900s. Once you begin to notice this, the streets start to feel like a timeline you can walk through. Moments like these are exactly what make travel such a rich source of Edinburgh design inspiration.

Speed Dating Art

Have you ever tried speed dating art?

One of the places I was determined to see was the Scottish National Gallery. I had very little time, barely forty minutes before closing, so I moved quickly through the rooms, yet even in that short visit the Scottish works from the 1920s caught my attention. Bold, colourful, energetic, and surprisingly modern. A reminder that every era has its moments of daring.

It is not a gallery to be missed.

A City of Words

I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I did not know Edinburgh is a UNESCO City of Literature. While I once wrote as a monthly columnist for a leading fashion magazine in the Middle East and love writing here with you, I am by no means formally schooled in literature. Still, I was instinctively delighted to discover Lady Stair’s House, a beautifully restored three-storey mansion built in 1622 and now home to the Writers’ Museum.

Inside are stories and artefacts connected to Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson, including a hand press reputed to have been used to print Scott’s Waverley novels. It is the sort of place that invites you to slow down, to read a little, and to imagine the lives lived within those walls.

Coffee, Always

Readers, I will never let you down in finding the best coffee and matcha in town. By far the cutest café we came across was Meh, and the Chelsea bun was just as delicious as the coffee itself.

Lesson Learnt

One thing we did miss, however, was seeing the inside of Edinburgh Castle. Please learn from us and book online in advance. It is one of the busiest attractions in the city, and as frequent travellers we really should have known better.

A Country House at Sea

On what was unarguably the coldest day, we travelled to Leith to board the Royal Yacht Britannia. I was surprised, and I must admit relieved, by how restrained the interiors were. There is a quiet simplicity to the rooms. Sir Hugh Casson, the architect and interior designer, believed simplicity was key, with the intention of giving the impression of a country house at sea.

That restraint makes the formal dining room all the more striking. A table seating fifty-six guests, said to take three hours to set, hosted dignitaries including South Africa’s own late Nelson Mandela. One cannot help but imagine the conversations that must have unfolded there.

What Travel Leaves With Us

For me, travel has always been one of the quiet ways inspiration finds its way into my work, arriving in stone streets, galleries, conversations, and in the small moments we almost miss.

And this is where I will leave you in Edinburgh, perhaps imagining those conversations around that long dining table, perhaps inspired to write something of your own, or perhaps simply thinking about your next cup of coffee.

But do not dream too long. We are off to the next adventure in the Scottish Highlands.

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

Highlights: Historic architecture, Scottish National Gallery, Writers’ Museum, walking tours, Royal Yacht Britannia, cafés

Design notes: Historic stone architecture, layered architectural styles, Scottish Colourist art, classical interiors, craftsmanship, heritage materials

Photography by: Lyn Cowie unless otherwise noted.