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Offbeat Activities in Edinburgh

Celebrate a pagan fertility festival or stroll around the Royal Mile with musical accompaniment. This is not your typical itinerary. Quirky, cool and totally unclassifiable, experience an Edinburgh vacation like no other.

OOR Tours are the only musical walking tour of Edinburgh. The tour showcases history and stories of the people and events that shaped Edinburgh and the Royal Mile. You can enjoy traditional and modern songs, performed by an Edinburgh native.

For a formaldehyde fresh take on an educational trip, visit the Playfair Pathology Museum located within The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Marvel at the specimens of human remains in jars, learn the history of Edinburgh's infamous body snatchers Burk & Hare and discover the progression of surgical operation throughout the ages. It is best to see this display on an empty stomach.

Don't miss the opportunity to experience the color and energy of the unique Scottish Highlands Games on a day trip from Edinburgh. See men in kilts tossing the caber, putting the shot and throwing the hammer, and enjoy a memorable day out in the scenic Highlands. Highlights of this fantastic spectacle include Highlands dancing, pipe band displays, hammer throwing, tug-of-war, wrestling and, of course, tossing the caber.

Discover the underground vaults of Edinburgh city if you dare! Far below the busy, bustling Edinburgh streets there lies a dark, quiet and forgotten place. These wonderful dark rooms of arched ceilings, fireplaces and 18th century wine vaults lie beneath the South Bridge, one of the city's main thoroughfares.

The Beltane Fire Festival is held on Calton Hill on April 30th every year, is a Gaelic, neo-pagan fertility ceremony meant to mark the beginning of summer. It is an enthralling evening filled with bonfires, striking body paint and incredible performances from dancers and acrobats.

Be transported back to the '30s and '40s and learn how to swing dance with Zoot Swing for only £6 per class. They also offer weekend long aerial workshops and sensual and seductive blues dancing classes. Come alone or come with a friend, you'll be guaranteed a fun time no matter what!