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Scotland on a Budget
With the global credit crunch, there are ways you can save money but enjoy Scotland at the same time. Here are some tips on what you can do to save on travel costs and things you can do that for free.
Train Tickets
The cheapest tickets are off-peak tickets. This means you can only travel at set times, and it’s usually when the trains are less busy. As a general rule, morning trains that run from 9.30am onwards can be bought as off-peak tickets. Make sure you know the restrictions of your off-peak ticket before you buy one so you don’t get caught out!
Train tickets are generally a lot cheaper if you buy them in advance. To get them as cheap as possible, book your tickets 12 weeks in advance. Find out more on the
National Rail Enquiries website.
Hotels
Hotels are usually more expensive in the run up to Christmas. In Edinburgh, they are most expensive throughout August because of the demand from people going to the Edinburgh festivals.
Schools close for six-weeks between July and August so flights and hotels are generally more expensive. To save money, it's worth keeping this in mind before you book travel or accommodation during these times.
There are also special deals on accommodation from VisitScotland, called Winter White Nights, available until 20 March 2009. Find out more at VisitScotland's
Winter White.
Cinemas
Many cinemas have special ticket deals. Apart from concessions for school pupils and senior citizens, you will find ticket deals during film festivals and in the afternoon.
Art Galleries and Museums
The National Galleries of Scotland are free to enter and many of the temporary exhibitions are also free. This
includes the National Gallery Complex, the Portrait Gallery and the Modern Art Gallery.
Find information about the exhibitions and museum facilities on the
National Galleries website.
Gardens and Parks
The Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh is FREE and open all year round (except 25 December and 1 January). However, there is a fee to enter the glasshouses. The gardens were established in 1670 and there are over 70 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds.
Find out more on the
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh website.
The National Trust for Scotland is the largest conservation charity in Scotland. It protects and promotes this country's natural and cultural heritage, which includes many gardens and properties.
Many properties ask for a small admission charge, but some have free admission. Among the properties under the National Trust protection is 28 South Charlotte Square. It has a gallery, which has a collection of paintings and furniture and there is no admission charge. Find out more about the
National Trust.
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