In the bottom of the Princes Street valley, the open-air Skating Rink is one of Edinburgh's most popular Christmas attractions. Morning, noon or night, and in (almost) any weather, you'll see a few souls out on the ice whirling round to the music... which, mercifully, isn't always drawn from the Christmas catalogue.

A tractor and skate-shod attendants prepare the rink for another busy day

It's a great experience, and it doesn't matter if you've never skated before: there's equipment for hire and always plenty of fellow novices for a bit of moral support. Try as you might, though, it's hard to forget that the whole of Princes Street Gardens will see if you fall over. Shrinking violets perhaps should not apply.

Eating and drinking:  In front of the windows where you get your skates, there's a good-sized sit-down food court with standard outdoor-event fare: burgers, crepes and - inevitably at time of year - mulled wine. It's all fine for a pit-stop while you're waiting your turn on the ice. But if you're not averse to a crowd and don't have too many kids in tow, you might like to try the nearby German Market, where the options are just that bit more inspiring.

Discounts