Edinburgh Bingo: Spot 30 Typically Edinburgh Things
Walk the Royal Mile, tick off the card, snap a photo of every typically Edinburgh thing you can find. From a bagpiper in full kilt to the basalt cliff of the Castle, this is a 30-item Edinburgh bingo that turns any walk into a treasure hunt. No fixed route. Just keep your eyes open.
Challenges (30)
Spot a bagpiper
Find a bagpiper in full kilt playing on the Royal Mile, Princes Street or in front of the Castle. Photograph the pipes mid-tune.
Spot a Scottish tartan shop
Find a tartan shop with rows of kilts, scarves and clan-tartan books in the window. The Royal Mile has dozens. Photograph the window.
Spot a haggis dish
Find haggis on a pub menu or plate (often with neeps and tatties, sometimes inside a battered fritter). Photograph the dish.
Spot a whisky bottle row
Find a whisky shop window or distillery display with rows of single-malt bottles. Photograph the line-up.
Spot the Scottish saltire flag
Find a Scottish saltire (white X on blue) flying on a building, balcony or kilt sporran. Photograph the flag.
Spot a thistle
Find a Scottish thistle (live, painted, embroidered, on a pub sign). The national symbol is everywhere. Photograph it.
Spot a Highland cow souvenir
Find a Highland cow (the long-haired ginger breed) on a postcard, soft toy or coffee mug in a souvenir shop. Photograph the shaggy cow.
Spot a fish and chips parcel
Find a Scottish fish and chips parcel at a chippy on the Royal Mile, the Grassmarket or Leith. Photograph the wrapped parcel.
Spot a Union Jack and saltire together
Find a Union Jack flying alongside a saltire on a building or window. Photograph both flags.
Spot a Scottish pound note
Find a Scottish banknote (Royal Bank of Scotland, Bank of Scotland or Clydesdale issued, differs from English notes). Photograph the note (in your hand or a shop window display).
Spot Edinburgh Castle on the rock
Find a view of Edinburgh Castle perched on its basalt rock. Photograph it from Princes Street Gardens or the Grassmarket.
Spot the Royal Mile cobblestones
Walk the Royal Mile and photograph a stretch of the cobblestone street with a Tolbooth, statue or close in the frame.
Spot Greyfriars Bobby
Find the Greyfriars Bobby bronze (the loyal Skye terrier) on Candlemaker Row near Greyfriars Kirkyard. Photograph the polished nose.
Spot Calton Hill skyline
Walk up Calton Hill and find the views over Edinburgh with the National Monument (the unfinished Parthenon) on top. Photograph the panorama.
Spot the Scott Monument
Find the Scott Monument on Princes Street, the gothic black sandstone spire. Photograph the spire against the sky.
Spot Holyrood Palace gates
Find the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the bottom of the Royal Mile. Photograph the wrought-iron entrance gates with the palace behind.
Spot Princes Street Gardens
Walk through Princes Street Gardens at the base of the Castle. Photograph the gardens with the Castle Rock behind.
Spot a closes alley sign
In the Old Town find a "Close" alley sign (Mary King's Close, Advocate's Close, Anchor Close). Photograph the narrow alley behind the sign.
Spot a New Town Georgian facade
Walk into the Georgian New Town (Charlotte Square, Heriot Row, Queen Street) and find a perfectly symmetrical sandstone facade. Photograph the windows in rows.
Spot Arthur's Seat silhouette
Find a view of Arthur's Seat (the extinct volcano east of the city). Photograph the green hump from the city below or from on top of it.
Spot a Harry Potter reference
Find a Harry Potter reference: The Elephant House café, the Greyfriars Kirkyard gravestones (Tom Riddle), Diagon-Alley-inspired Victoria Street. Photograph the reference.
Spot Victoria Street's colourful arcades
Walk down Victoria Street in the Old Town. Photograph the curve of colourful shopfronts (red, yellow, blue, pink) with the Castle peeking above.
Spot a piped haggis at a Burns night menu
Find a Burns Night menu (around 25 January) or a haggis on a pub board with bagpipes references. Photograph the menu.
Spot Edinburgh Festival fringe poster
Around August the Fringe Festival posters cover every wall. The rest of the year find one in the venue offices or a Fringe shop. Photograph the poster.
Spot a Stockbridge Sunday market stall
On a Sunday find the Stockbridge Market with local stalls. The rest of the week find a Stockbridge boutique or café. Photograph the village atmosphere.
Spot a Royal Mile statue (Hume or Smith)
On the Royal Mile find one of the statues (David Hume, Adam Smith). Photograph the philosopher with his polished toe (rubbed for luck).
Spot a Scottish saltire shortbread tin
Find a Walker's shortbread tin or any Scottish-souvenir shortbread tin with tartan or saltire packaging. Photograph the tin.
Spot a Royal Mile bagpipe shop
Find a dedicated bagpipe shop on the Royal Mile (or a kilt-maker with sets of pipes in the window). Photograph the storefront.
Spot an Edinburgh pub Carlsberg or Tennent's tap
Find a Tennent's lager tap (the Scottish lager) or a McEwan's on a pub bar. Photograph the tap badge.
Spot the National Gallery facade
Find the Scottish National Gallery on the Mound with its Greek-Revival sandstone facade. Photograph the columns.
Frequently asked questions
The duration is up to the organizer when they set up the adventure. As a guideline, a focused day across the Royal Mile, the Old Town and the New Town ticks off most of the easy items, and stretching across a weekend (with Arthur's Seat and Calton Hill) lets a determined group complete all 30.
Each of the 30 items is a camera challenge. When you spot the thing, take a photo and submit it; the bingo card tracks progress. Play solo, with friends or split into teams and race to tick off the most items.
Some items (a bagpiper, a Highland cow souvenir) need a busy stretch of the Royal Mile or a specific shop. Sweep the Royal Mile for the easy items, the Old Town closes for atmospheric details, New Town for Georgian facades, Leith or Stockbridge for cafés.
The Royal Mile from the Castle to Holyrood Palace hits the most items. Add Princes Street and the New Town for the shopping, Calton Hill or Arthur's Seat for the panoramas, Grassmarket and the Cowgate for the pubs.
Yes. Kids love spotting bagpipers, the Castle, Greyfriars Bobby and Highland cow souvenirs; adults enjoy hunting whisky, tartan and Edinburgh Castle. No alcohol stops are required.