Edinburgh: The place to be this summer

By Katie Kettle, Residence Inn by Marriott

Summer 2014 is fast upon us, and events-wise it’s going to be a big one for the city of Edinburgh and indeed, for Scotland as a whole.

Of course there’ll be the traditional events we’ve come to know and love, such as the Royal Highland Show and the Fringe Festival, but it’s one-off occasions that are causing this year’s calendar to be even more jam packed than usual. Edinburgh is already buzzing in expectation, and Residence Inn by Marriott is looking forward to welcoming guests from far and wide through its doors.

The Edinburgh Marathon kicks off all of the summer action on May 25. We’re expecting to see 30,000 runners from more than 100 countries pounding the pavements in and around ‘Auld Reekie’. And with our breakfast ‘to go’ option you can really hit the ground running during your visit to Edinburgh: you can rise early, grab a coffee and a croissant before heading down to the marathon route to beat the crowds and bag the best spot.

Hot on the marathon’s heels is the Royal Highland Show from June 19 to 22, which will put Scotland’s cuisine, outdoor activities and rural heritage firmly in the spotlight. There’s also the Edinburgh International Film Festival from June 18 to 29, which has been showcasing the very best in international cinema since 1947.

If that wasn’t enough, from July onwards, things start to get really exciting (and busy from our perspective!) Glasgow is hosting the Commonwealth Games in July and August and The Queen’s Baton Relay will be coming towards the home stretch. Since securing accommodation in Glasgow is increasingly becoming a challenge, why not make the Residence Inn by Marriott in Edinburgh your base for the Games experience? It only takes about an hour to get to Glasgow from Edinburgh by train and our ‘apart-hotel’ is a short walk to the station and with our ‘to-go’ cups and breakfast packaging you can still enjoy your morning pep up.

August is always a huge month in Edinburgh’s events calendar, with The Fringe, Tattoo and International Festivals bringing artists, performers, comedians and musicians from all over the world to the city. To round off a very busy summer, the world famous Ryder Cup is at Gleneagles from September 23 to 28. You can enjoy the tournament against the backdrop of the beautiful Perthshire countryside, then perhaps head back to Edinburgh for dinner, before falling into one of our cosy beds.

All of these exciting happenings will see people from all over the world descend on Edinburgh. Our associates speak a wide range of languages including English, Spanish, German, Polish, Dutch, Greek and Mandarin, so they’ll be able to guide international guests through the multitude of city events as well as the popular tourist attractions.

So, with so much to see and do in Edinburgh this summer, it’s worth putting the city at the very top of your must-visit list!

For more information on Residence Inn by Marriott or to book a room, visit the website or call 0131 229 7150.