Looking for a little romantic inspiration?

Shop the pretty boutiques of the West End

If you’re shopping for a special Valentine’s gift – or indeed a ring – check out William Street, the heart of the West End, for vintage boutiques, bespoke gift shops and one-off jewellers.

A walk or cycle along the Union Canal, Water of Leith and former railway lines

Edinburgh has plenty tree-lined and traffic-free paths for both cycling and walking. The Union Canal starts at Fountainbridge (next to Cargo Bar and Restaurant). A good place to start exploring the Water Leith is down in the Dean Village or the visitor centre on Lanark Road. The cycling and footpath network (former railway lines) can be accessed via Wester Coates Terrace or Russell Road (both off Wester Coates A8 – main road out to the airport and into Haymarket). You can hire bikes from Bike Trax, Lochrin Place at Tollcross, Edinburgh.

Visit the city’s most talked about couple at Edinburgh Zoo

Venture a little further out of the West End and into Corstorphine to see Edinburgh Zoo’s  giant panda couple, Sunshine and Sweetie – the UK’s only giant pandas. Booking tickets to see the pandas is recommended.

Wow your date at The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

A walk through The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, with its impressive architecture and ambient interior, is a great way to impress a suitor – especially if you know what you’re talking about.  Who knew culture could be so romantic?!

Rent a serviced apartment for ultimate privacy

If it’s intimacy you’re after, rent a luxury, serviced apartment like one of the Chester Residences, where you can cook for each other, recreate nine-and-a-half weeks or stay in bed to your hearts’ content.

Book a no-expense-spared stay at The Bonham

If your loved one likes to be waited on hand and foot, book a romantic weekend at The Bonham  – one of the West End’s finest four-star boutique hotels. Its Sowing the Seeds of Love package includes luxury accommodation, a bottle of champagne, chocolate-dipped strawberries, an in-room rose petal breakfast and a tree planted in your name at Teaghlach Woods near Comrie.

Enjoy a romantic Eastern experience

For a completely different cultural experience, book a luxury suite at The Raj  – Edinburgh’s first Indian-themed hotel – and enjoy a four-poster Sheesham bed, ornate furnishings and a touch of romantic Rajasthan.

Tour the Rosslyn Chapel – set of the Da Vinci Code

Visit the romantic Rosslyn Chapel, where part of the Da Vinci Code, starring Tom Hanks, was set, for a unique tour of one of Scotland’s most fascinating and historic buildings.