Overnight trip to Edinburgh for IHSP students
08 Feb 2024
Media Content Creator Cordelia Cross reports back on a fun-filled trip to festive Edinburgh with a group of Brazilian International High School Programme (IHSP) students
This year Kings Oxford decided for our International High School Programme Students trip to travel to Edinburgh for an overnight excursion. Our journey began with a very early morning train ride from Oxford to Edinburgh, whilst the staff members caught up on some much-needed sleep, the students were as energetic and lively as ever – no surprises there! The train journey was a picturesque route that set the tone for the adventures to come.
Upon arrival we headed to the hostel to drop of our bags, from here we wasted no time in heading straight to Arthur’s Seat, an ancient volcano, and the main peak in the group of hills in Edinburgh, offering breath taking panoramic views of the city.
The hike, whilst difficult, was invigorating, and once we all made it to the top, we soaked up the stunning Scottish landscape. We were thankful to have made it as the sun was setting, which was truly fantastic. After the descent we headed back into the city centre and embarked on a spine-tingling ghost tour through the narrow and mysterious alleyways of Edinburgh’s Old Town. Our tour guide whilst humorous and in character, gave us insight into the darker side of the city’s history and life here during the 1700’s.
After the ghostly excitement, we strolled over to the enchanting Christmas market. The festive atmosphere, twinkling lights and fantastic aroma of mulled wine chocolate churros enticed us all! After indulging in some Christmas shopping, we regrouped for an evening meal at Las Iguanas. Once the meal was concluded we headed back to the hostel for a good night’s sleep as everyone was feeling worn out from the jam-packed day of activities!
The next morning, we regrouped for a buffet-style breakfast, and then headed out to explore more of Edinburgh. Our first stop was the Edinburgh Castle, perched majestically atop Castle Rock. The castle has very impressive architecture and spectacular views across the city and the seascape. Next on the itinerary was a visit to the famous Camera Obscura and World of Illusions – Edinburgh’s first ever tourist attraction. It was a fascinating and fun attraction that offered mind-bending optical illusions as well as panoramic views of Edinburgh from the rooftop. The interactive exhibits were a huge hit with our Brazilian group, sparking lots of laugher and amazement as we navigated our way around the building.
After some free time to further explore the city, we met up for our final meal together at Italian restaurant, Amarone. This authentic restaurant located just a short walk away from Edinburgh’s main train station meant we could take our time enjoying our meal together, reminiscing about the adventures of the past 24 hours before departing for Oxford. The journey home, whilst long, gave us all the chance to rest and reminisce about all the fun we had shared together. All in all, it was a wonderful trip carefully planned and executed by Simon and Glenda. Huge thanks to the team for making long-lasting memories for this lively, excitable Brazilian IHSP group – Edinburgh was brilliant!