New Years Eve Edinburgh 2020, Events, Parties, Hotel Packages
New Years Eve Edinburgh 2020, Where To Celebrate New Years Eve Edinburgh 2020, Things To Do New Years Eve Edinburgh 2020, Hotel Accommodation For NYE 2020 Edinburgh
NEW YEARS EVE IN EDINBURGH CITY
Edinburgh's Hogmanay is one of the biggest and best New Year celebrations in the world. Things get underway on 30 December with the spectacular Torchlight Procession. Join thousands of torch carriers as they create a river of fire from the historic Royal Mile to the son et lumiƩre and fireworks finale on Calton Hill. On Hogmanay itself, the action moves to Princes Street in the very heart of the city of Edinburgh beneath the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. Around 80,000 people party their way into the new year at the Concert in the Gardens featuring incredible live music and entertainment from headlining band Biffy Clyro, DJ's, giant screens, outdoor bars and of course, the world-famous Edinburgh Hogmanay Midnight Fireworks on the castle ramparts.
HOGMANAY HIGHLIGHTS
Candlelit Concert at St. Giles

Source https://independenttravelcats.com/hogmanay-edinburgh-scotland-festival-guide/
Each year there is a New Year's Eve concert held at St. Giles, a beautiful 14th-century cathedral which is the main cathedrals in Scotland. This is a classic concert, and often features religious-themed music from composers such as Bach, Mozart, and Handel and local choirs. Candlelight and historic cathedrals add dramatic fun to this concert which usually lasts 1.5 to 2 hours. If you are looking for a moment of peace and spirituality in your Hogmanay celebration, this might be a good event for you! Tickets are needed to attend, and usually these tickets are sold out in advance. Children are permitted, but this program is not appropriate for babies or young children. This is a fully seated event.
Stoneheaven fireballs

In Stonehaven they really turn up the heat at New Year! One of many winter fire festivals unique to Scotland, this fireballs parade in Aberdeenshire is a powerful spectacle to behold. It's a free Hogmanay event which has been celebrated for over 100 years and it always attracts a large crowd. Traditionally, it was a cleansing ritual to burn off any bad spirits left from the old year so that the New Year can begin clean and purified. Watch in awe as the piper leads the procession marching down the street just before midnight as they swing balls of fire above their head in the ultimate test of bravery.
Hogmanay Ceilidh
A ceilidh, pronounced kay-lee, is a word used to describe a traditional social gathering that normally includes Gaelic music and dancing. The New Year's Eve Ceilidh in Edinburgh is a dance event with Scottish bands playing live music and calling out traditional dances. Each new dance is first demonstrated and then called out so that those not familiar with the dance steps can still join in. Most dances are for pairs but there are also set dances that include two to four sets of couples. If you are looking for an outdoor dance venue on New Year's Eve, this is probably it! Starting in 2017, the ceilidh has been held just under the castle so it was a perfect spot to view the fireworks. You do need to buy a ticket to join the Ceilidh and these normally sell out in advance. Children are welcome but this event is not recommended for really young children. If you want to attend a ceilidh with children, the First Footers Family Ceilidh on January 1st is very friendly event for kids and people of any age. There is no special dress code although some people do dress up, just be sure to wear something you can move in and comfortable shoes. There was a lady who showed up this year in a short dress and spike heels who didn't look like she was having much fun after about 10 minutes of dancing! There is a food and drink stand within the Ceilidh area as well as toilets. The Ceilidh normally starts at 8pm and ends at 1am.
Hogmanay Edinburgh Street Party
The Street Party is a large area that you can walk around that contains a number of stages with live entertainment. For instance, in 2018/2019 there were three main stages which hosted various live music acts that were playing simultaneously and there were also a couple of smaller areas with street performers, acrobats, and a radio announcer. There were also a few street performers walking amongst the crowds. This is the place to be if you are looking for a large outdoor party environment to celebrate New Year's Eve in Edinburgh. You will be able to see the fireworks from the Street Party at midnight, and there are also screens set up within the Street Party area to give people better views of the midnight moments. Admittance to the Street Party area requires a ticket, and children under age 12 are not permitted. There are a lot of tickets for the Street Party so they don't sell out as fast as the other events, but they do often sell out so I'd still book in advance to avoid disappointment. There are several food and drinks stands within the Street Party area as well as toilets. The Street Party usually opens at 7pm (entertainment usually starts around 8pm) and ends at 1am. Note that tickets for Concert in the Gardens also allow access to the Street Party arena. Note that there is also going to be a Silent Disco area within the Street Party. If you are interested in participating in the Silent Disco these tickets (£5.50 extra) are available to purchase for anyone who has Street Party or Concert in the Gardens ticket. Need to purchase these in advance.
Concerts and Shows around town
The Concert in the Gardens is a large outdoor concert held in Princes Street Gardens. If you are looking for live music on New Year's Eve, but not the giant party atmosphere of the Street Party, this is probably the place for you. The music concert features a main headline act plus a couple of guest acts. This year's headline act is Scottish indie band Franz Ferdinand, and other acts on the main stage will include UK bands Metronomy and Free Love. Past headline acts have included Rag'N'Bone Man, Pet Shop Boys, Paolo Nutini, and Lily Allen. At midnight the concert pauses for a countdown and the midnight fireworks and the singing of "Auld Lang Syne". Those at the Concert have a great view of the fireworks which are set off from Edinburgh Castle. Admittance to the Concert in the Gardens requires a ticket, and children under age 12 are not permitted. Premium area tickets are available which allow for a special viewing area that is less crowded and has limited seating. Concert tickets almost always sell out well in advance so book early. There are several food and drinks stands within the Concert area as well as toilets. The Concert usually starts at 9pm and ends at 1am.
Hogmanay Midnight Fireworks & "Auld Lang Syne"
A countdown to midnight begins about a minute before midnight and then the fireworks finale beings at midnight. The fireworks are set off from Edinburgh Castle, and the final fireworks finale lasts for several minutes and is set to music. The midnight fireworks displays on New Year's Eve are the best fireworks we've seen in Edinburgh, and are worth watching if you are in the city. Those attending the Ceilidh, Concert, or Street Party will be able to just look up to see them. Even if you are not taking part in any of the ticketed events, you can see if from multiple locations in the city as long as you can have a view of the area above Edinburgh Castle. For example you can head to Calton Hill or perhaps you can see it from your hotel window or balcony. This is also a great time for that champagne (or whisky) toast! At the end of the fireworks, the crowds joins in the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" that is typically led by the headline music performer. "Auld Lang Syne" is a poem by Scottish writer Robert Burns (part he wrote, part he borrowed from other older Scottish poems) that has been set to traditional folk music. It is sung in many English-speaking countries although in my experience, few people actually know all the words! Only a shortened version of the song is sang at the Hogmanay festival as it is fairly long. I'd look up the lyrics beforehand to join in if you don't know them. As in most parts of the world, people join hands during the singing of "Auld Lang Syne". However, there is a bit of a twist in Scotland that is often not done elsewhere as people in many countries cross arms during the entirety of the song. On Hogmanay, people often join hands with the people next to them, forming a circle. Then at the beginning of the last verse, everyone crosses their arms across their breast, so that the right hand reaches out to the person standing on their left and vice versa. Then when the music ends, everyone may move to the middle of the circle with their hands still joined. This is often not possible at the Concert of Street Party in a large crowd, but if you are at a smaller gathering in Scotland, they will likely do this.
The Loony Dook
If you need something to clear your head the morning after, why not take part in the (literally) breathtaking Loony Dook, the annual splash in the River Forth at South Queensferry? Take part in the Dookers Parade through the High Street before taking the plunge in the freezing Forth with the iconic Forth Bridges as a backdrop. And don't forget your fancy dress! Or you could just sleep in.
CELEBRATE NEW YEARS EVE AT PUBS
Doesn't matter if you like loud music and dancing, or a quiet place to drink and chat with friends. In Edinburgh you gonna find not one, but several pubs to have fun. The whisky and the beer culture is part of their life and during Hogmanay the pubs are open almost 24 hours. Because is never too late or never too soon to have a drink.
Joseph Pearce's Address : 23 Elm Row, Edinburgh, EH7 4AA, United Kingdom |
The Last Drop Address : 74-78 Grassmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2JR, United Kingdom |
The Bon Vivant Address : 55 Thistle St, Edinburgh, EH2 1DY, United Kingdom |
The Bow Bar Address : 80 West Bow, Edinburgh, EH1 2HH, United Kingdom |
The Sheep Heid Inn Address : 43-45 The Causeway, Edinburgh, EH15 3QA, United Kingdom |
Bennet's Bar Address : 8 Leven St, Edinburgh, EH3 9LG, United Kingdom |
Source URL : https://www.cntraveler.com/
BEST NIGHT CLUB IN EDINBURGH
While the official Street Party may be the more headline-grabbing way to spend Hogmanay in the capital, the healthy array of New Year's Eve clubs in Edinburgh is not to be overlooked. If you'd rather on December 31 was more acid house than 'Auld Lang Syne', these are the places you wanna go.
The Liquid Room Address : 9c Victoria St Edinburgh, EH1 2HE |
Cabaret Voltaire Address : 36-38 Blair Street Edinburgh, EH1 1QR |
4042 Address : 40 - 42 Grindlay Street Edinburgh, EH3 9AP |
The Bongo Club Address : 66 Cowgate Edinburgh, EH1 1JX |
La Belle Angele Address : 11 Hastie's Close Edinburgh, EH1 1HJ |
Lulu Address : 125a George St Edinburgh, EH2 4JN |
Source URL : https://www.10best.com/
BEST ROOFTOP BARS IN EDINBURGH
For a city overtaken with gothic medieval architecture and lacking in any form of high-rise buildings, you wouldn't expect Edinburgh to have many – if any –rooftop bars. Nonetheless, if you look hard enough, tucked away behind hills, above hotels and in department stores, you'll find your fair share of rooftop bars to enjoy a cocktail or two on, regardless of the weather. We've done the hard bit and located all the gems for you to explore next time you are in the city, so scroll down for our list of the best rooftop bars in Edinburgh.
![]() SKYbar Edinburgh WHERE : 34 Bread Street, EH3 9AF |
![]() Cold Town House WHERE : 4 Grassmarket, EH1 2JU |
![]() The Glasshouse WHERE : 2 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA |
![]() Tower Restaurant WHERE : Chambers Street, EH1 1JF |
![]() The Forth Floor Brasserie and Bar in Harvey Nichols WHERE : 30-34 St Andrew Square, EH2 2AD |
![]() Chaophraya Edinburgh WHERE : 33 Castle Street, EH2 3DN |
Source URL : https://www.squaremeal.co.uk/
BEST HOGMANAY DINING EXPERIENCES IN EDINBURGH
21212
Source : https://foodanddrink.scotsman.com/
This year, Edinburgh's only Michelin star restaurant with rooms, 21212 is hosting a number of guests in their exquisite dining room for an exclusive dining experience as they count down the final hours of 2018. Guests will be welcomed to the Georgian town house where they will enjoy a complimentary glass of vintage Champagne and a menu specially designed by Paul Kitching for this very special night. Guests can expect the usual cryptically named dishes, with a slight festive twist. The five-course menu celebrates the skill and talent of the kitchen team and the highest-quality ingredients. Dishes include a creamy truffle, yuletide haggis, argan and yeast risotto and a festive winter 'trifle' featuring New Year's 2019 Glayva, shortbread, basil and custard.
Cannonball Restaurant & Bar
Source : https://foodanddrink.scotsman.com
Cannonball Restaurant & Bar – Hogmanay Menu Annual sell out New Year's Eve celebration dinner with stunning views of Edinburgh Castle and the spectacular fireworks at midnight. Enjoy a festive Edinburgh Gin cocktail on arrival followed by a six course Scottish showcase tasting menu, including Seared salted pigeon and cranberry toast; Stornoway black pudding and apple bon bon with Isle of Mull scallop ceviche, chive and honey; and 70 per cent Valrhona chocolate and salted peanut bavoir, peanut brittle and caramel cream, white chocolate jelly and hot chocolate sauce. An artisan cheese selection of Barwheys, Erringtons and St. Andrews Farmhouse is also on offer.
Borthwick Castle
Source : https://foodanddrink.scotsman.com
Although a few miles from the city centre, Borthwick Castle is more than worth the short journey to Gorebridge from Edinburgh city centre. The former residence of Mary, Queen of Scots, Borthwick Castle is now one of Scotland's most luxurious private hire venues, meticulously refurbished in an authentic, Medieval style. Bring in 2019 as kings and queens of your very own castle, with a lavish Hogmanay celebration which is truly your own. From a New Year's Eve banquet by Head Chef, Derek Johnstone, to opulent bedchambers, magnificent reception areas, roaring fires and beautiful countryside views, this historic venue will house a Hogmanay celebration to remember.
The Honours

Source : https://foodanddrink.scotsman.com
Celebrate the New Year at the heart of the party at The Honors on North Castle Street. The Honours will be celebrating in style with a five-course menu featuring the finest seasonal produce such as partridge, salsify and celeriac. Enjoy your meal with a perfectly paired glass of wine and treat yourself to something special, then head out, ready for a brilliant evening.
The Bon Vivant

Source : https://foodanddrink.scotsman.com
Nestled on the cosy Thistle Street, The Bon Vivant are offering the perfect Hogmanay menu to enjoy pre-bells. Enjoy four perfectly prepared courses featuring dishes such as burnt leek pannacotta with carrot, golden raisins and seed granola and venison saddle with pancetta, celeriac, lingonberry, and game and walnut pithivier. Start the night off as it means to go on with a glass of champagne on arrival and dive into their vast array of wines and spirits as well as perfectly mixed cocktails. The warm and welcoming atmosphere is sure to put a smile on your face as we say goodbye to 2018.
Practical Tips for Edinburgh Hogmanay
- It will be cold and rainy, prepare yourself! Coats, umbrella, rain ponchos… Be ready for the fun with dry or wet weather.
- Reserve at least two more days to explore the city. The amount of places to visit and things to do in Edinburgh will surprise you. But don't forget that 1st and 2nd of January are bank holiday in Scotland, some attractions might be closed.
- Don't panic if during the Torchlight Procession your arms and jacket get covered of wax. It happens with everybody, the wax smells good and you can clean your clothes easily. Brown paper and iron, that's what you will need to get rid of the wax, Google it!
- If you decide to stay longer, here are our suggestions for hotels in Edinburgh
WHERE TO STAY IN EDINBURGH
You can assure yourself of the best hotels for accommodation at Edinburgh with all the services and facilities. But make sure to book rooms for yourself before all the good hotels get booked. Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh, Radisson Blu Hotel, Macdonald Holyrood Hotel & Spa, Fountain Court Apartments - Grove, The Balmoral Hotel, InterContinental Edinburgh The George are among the famous hotels of Edinburgh where you will get all the facilities and luxuries. Make your stay at Edinburgh worthwhile and enjoy your New Year Eve like never before. Check availability and book local hotels here.
![]() Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh |
Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh City Centre |
Macdonald Holyrood Hotel & Spa |
![]() Fountain Court Apartments - Grove |
![]() The Balmoral Hotel |
![]() InterContinental Edinburgh The George |
If you are planning to spend New Year's Eve in Edinburgh, check now the full and detailed list of Edinburgh accommodations hotels with biggest discounts ever for your early booking. here.
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