Travel podcasts for city break fans. All the historical and cultural background you need to enjoy your visit.
Episodes
Wednesday Jan 26, 2022
Wednesday Jan 26, 2022
Suggested walks, starting in the Old Town, with tales from Cowgate and the Grassmarket, Greyfriar's Bobby and J K Rowling's Hogwarts. In the New Town, plenty more squares, circuses and crescents and some idyllic detours, north through Stockbridge to the Botanic Gardens or west into Dean Village. There's Dorothy Wordsworth on Arthur's Seat, the explanation for 'Scotland's disgrace' on Calton Hill and a 'Democracy Trail' around sights of political and historical significance.
Recommended reading
Scotland's Democracy Trail by Stuart McHardy and Donald Smith
Useful links
https://www.introducingedinburgh.com/princes-street-gardens
https://www.rbge.org.uk (Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh)
https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk/edinburgh
City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Edinburgh series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
We love to receive your comments and suggestions!
You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be very much appreciated!
Wednesday Jan 19, 2022
Wednesday Jan 19, 2022
Update: From now on, City Breaks episodes will go out on a fortnightly basis. Episode 08 of the Edinburgh series will be made available next week, on January 26th and the remainder of the Edinburgh series will follow at two week intervals. The Edinburgh series will be followed by a new, as yet, mystery series. Suggestions welcome! You can e mail us at: citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk
Wednesday Jan 12, 2022
Wednesday Jan 12, 2022
The highlight of this episode is a visit to the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood. But first, the colourful story of who ruled Scotland over the centuries, the Scottish kings, the ongoing tussles with England, the Act of Union and subsequent rebellions and finally the Scotland Act of 1998 which led to the founding of the new parliament where a speaker could proudly announce that 'the Scottish Parliament, which adjourned on the 25th March 1707, is reconvened.'
Recommended read
Scotland's Democracy Trail by Stuart McHardy and Donald Smith
Useful links
https://www.parliament.scot
https://www.parliament.scot/visit/virtual-tour
City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Edinburgh series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
We love to receive your comments and suggestions!
You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be very much appreciated!
Wednesday Jan 05, 2022
Wednesday Jan 05, 2022
Four travel bloggers share their inspirational city break ideas, covering everything from the quirky to the practical. The seven cities featured range over three continents, including cycling the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and making the most of Bangkok's markets, not forgetting five historical gems from Europe. Something, we hope, for every taste and budget. Have a listen!
Useful links
our website: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
to find us on twitter: @citybreakscast
to e-mail us: citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk
This week's guest websites
https://www.letsgosomewhereelse.co.uk
https://www.theglobetrottingteacher.com
https://www.strayidler.com/home_en.html
Wednesday Dec 22, 2021
Wednesday Dec 22, 2021
A visit to Edinburgh's New Town, with its elegant Georgian streets and squares, to linger a little in the Georgian Museum and to hear tales of the Scottish Enlightenment when, said the editor William Smellie, you could stand at the Mercat Cross and 'in a few minutes, take 50 men of genius and learning by the hand.' And the women? Well, society hostesses Mrs Apreece and Mrs Waddington were much admired, one 'for the vivacity of her conversation' and the other 'for her remarkable beauty and the grace of her manners’
Useful links
https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/georgian-house
https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk/edinburgh
City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Edinburgh series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
We love to receive your comments and suggestions!
You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be very much appreciated!
Wednesday Dec 15, 2021
Wednesday Dec 15, 2021
We visit Edinburgh's Old Town, or 'Auld Reekie' as the poet Robert Fergusson called it. Thankfully, Daniel Defoe's 18th century warning that when walking the streets at night you risk 'having Chamber Pots of Ordure thrown upon your head' no longer applies. We visit two informative museums - The Real Mary King's Close and Gladstone's Land - and then bring you the story of the city's most infamous resident, Deacon Brodie, pious citizen by day, but at night, 'a gambler and a thief, dissipated and licentious.'
Useful links
https://www.realmarykingsclose.com
https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/gladstones-land
https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk/edinburgh
City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Edinburgh series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
We love to receive your comments and suggestions!
You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. It helps others to find us.
Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
The Royal Mile in Edinburgh is 'one of the fairest streets I ever saw', wrote James Howell in the 17th century. We explore it from top to bottom, highlighting what to look out for and giving a little of the street's turbulent history: proclamations and drunken celebrations at the Mercat Cross, Jenny Geddes hurling a chair at the Reverend James Hannay in St Giles' Cathedral and John Knox raging against idolatry and 'the monstrous regiment of women.'
Useful links
https://stgilescathedral.org.uk
https://www.scottishstorytellingcentre.com/john-knox-house
https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk/edinburgh
City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Edinburgh series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
We love to receive your comments and suggestions!
You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. It helps others to find us.
Wednesday Dec 01, 2021
Wednesday Dec 01, 2021
Six more intriguing city break ideas from guest travel bloggers. This month, we cover a couple of European favourites, take in both NYC and Mexico City, venture to Abu Dhabi and go on our first 'virtual trip' to the Jewish Quarter in Prague. As ever, loads of ideas for what to see, do, eat and drink along the way. Have a listen and be inspired.
Useful links
our website: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
to find us on twitter: @citybreakscast
to e-mail us: citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk
This week's guest websites
Wednesday Nov 24, 2021
Wednesday Nov 24, 2021
Tales from the history of Holyrood in Edinburgh: King David's escape from death while out hunting in the 12th century, inspiring him to found the abbey of the holy rood (cross), a royal wedding designed to unite the thistle and the rose in 1503 and all the drama of Mary Queen of Scots and her life at the palace. (Think intrigues, religious unrest, murders and her eventual flight to England) Hear stories about the later Stuart monarchs and find out what to look out for when you visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse and its beautiful grounds.
Useful links
https://www.rct.uk/visit/palace-of-holyroodhouse
https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk/edinburgh
City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time! Check our website to find more episodes from our Edinburgh series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
We love to receive your comments and suggestions!
You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. It helps others to find us.
Wednesday Nov 17, 2021
Wednesday Nov 17, 2021
A stroll through the history of Edinburgh Castle takes in kings and sieges, feasting, battles, murders and plots. There are plenty of tales of capture and recapture, of English invaders and rival Scottish clans. Find out too what to look out for when you visit the castle today, including The Great Hall, built by James IV to host feasts and celebrations, the little room where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her son James, born to reign over both Scotland and England, and ancient treasures like the Stone of Scone and the Scottish Crown Jewels.
Useful links
https://www.edinburghcastle.scot
https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk/edinburgh
City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Edinburgh series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
We love to receive your comments and suggestions!
You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. It helps others to find us.