Hidden Scotland
Sign in
The Royal Yacht Britannia and lunch at The Kitchin
Edinburgh

Leith – Britannia and a Michelin-Starred Lunch

A day, from St Andrew Square tram stop to the Shore tram stop.

The route

The Royal Yacht Britannia served the royal family for more than 44 years, and now she lies in Leith beside Ocean Terminal, open from her Bridge to her engine room.

A short walk along the old docks, The Kitchin cooks Scottish produce in what was a whisky bond, and has held a Michelin star since 2007. It makes a grand day in Leith: a royal story, then a lunch.

Before you go

  1. Book accommodation nearby

    If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.

    Old Town ChambersEdinburghOld Town ChambersA place to stayMoment George IV BridgeEdinburghMoment George IV BridgeSleeps 2West End MuseClose byWest End MuseSleeps 4The Scott HotelEdinburghThe Scott HotelA hotel

  2. Book tickets for the Royal Yacht Britannia

    Book Britannia tickets on its website by the day before for the lower online price; on the day, the ticket desk on the second floor of Ocean Terminal takes cards only.

  3. Book lunch at The Kitchin

    Book a lunch table on The Kitchin's website; parties of seven or more book by phone on 0131 555 1755.

The day

Leith

Britannia's decks, from the rooms where the royal family lived to the quarters of the crew who sailed her, then a lunch on Commercial Quay.

  1. Royal Yacht Britannia

    Royal Yacht Britannia

    An attraction

    Take the tram from St Andrew Square towards Newhaven and get off at Ocean Terminal. Britannia lies alongside the shopping centre, and her way in is on its second floor. An audio guide, with a version for children, takes you round all five decks at your own pace. You see the Bridge and the Admiral's cabin, the State Dining Room, where the Queen and Prince Philip hosted guests from Churchill to Mandela, and the Sun Lounge, her favourite room on board. Below decks are the crew's quarters, the laundry and the engine room.

    More about Royal Yacht Britannia

  2. About 10 min on foot

    The Kitchin

    The Kitchin

    Lunch

    The Kitchin is a short walk south-east along the docks, on Commercial Quay opposite the Scottish Government's offices. It has been open since 2006, in a building that keeps its old stone and timber, and a window from the dining room looks in on the chefs. The cooking follows the Scottish seasons. At lunch there's a set menu and the à la carte, with the tasting menus for anyone arriving before 2pm. The Shore tram stop is a short walk on for the way back.

    More about The Kitchin

If it rains

Most of the Britannia tour is indoors, and so is lunch.

Make it a weekend

More days out in Edinburgh.

EdinburghLeith and Newhaven: the Shore, Britannia and the harbour.EdinburghThe Shore at Leith and a dram at Teuchters Landing.EdinburghA walk along Portobello promenade from the bottle kilns.