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The UK’s best Pride festivals: 2021

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Pride Glasgow
Date TBC

Scotland’s largest LGBTQI+ festival returns, with an incredible Pride Parade, a two-day music festival and plenty of sexy Scots in kilts. Last time saw over 13,000 revellers flood the streets with joy and colour, and this year’s set to be even bigger. Pride Glasgow is still taking volunteer applications, and more details are being confirmed soon.

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Edinburgh
Date TBC

Pride Edinburgh regularly draws more than 15,000 people to the capital, so this year they’re putting safety first with an online festival. Details are still being confirmed, but there’s plenty to do in the city without joining a crowd of thousands.

Edinburgh’s most popular gay bars are near the city centre, at the north end of Leith Street and Broughton Street. It’s known locally as the Pink Triangle and is full of great restaurants and bars. Try The Street for a buzzy, laid back dinner-and-drinks atmosphere, and Street NightClub downstairs comes alive after dark once you’re ready to storm the dancefloor.

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How to spend Summer in Glasgow and Edinburgh

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We all know Scotland is world famous for its beauty, culture and architecture, but it’s the locals that really know how to make the most of the summer there. From magical woodland creatures to wild swimming and outdoor theatre, we’re spoilt for choice all around Native Glasgow and Native Edinburgh.

Here are just a few of our favourite summer must-dos.

Summer in Edinburgh

Find The Reekie Beastie

Hunt down the real Edinburgh in an escape-room-meets-walking-tour-meets-treasure-hunt. Get a team together, register with Search Party and explore the streets of Edinburgh. You’ll learn about some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, track down clues, solve puzzles and play games to complete the mission and find Edinburgh’s missing spirit animal – The Reekie Beastie.

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Hit the beach

Portobello Beach is just a 30 minute bus ride from your apartment but feels like a world away. It’s a much loved escape for Edinburgh natives and visitors alike and on a sunny day the beach is full of sun bathers, wild swimmers, dog walkers and nature lovers. There are also cute little cafés on the promenade and traditional seaside amusements. If you can, bag one of the air hockey tables and challenge your new neighbours to a game.

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Take to the water

Just a 15 minute drive from your apartment, the Water of Leith Walkway passes through through some of the prettiest parts of the city. You’ll see Colinton Village and Dell, the Union Canal, Saughton Winter Gardens, the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art, Dean Village, Stockbridge and Leith. Ideal for a family walk or a solo stroll, it’s also great for cycling, wheelchairs and even horse riding, if you’re so inclined. Keep a look out for roe deer, badgers and foxes, too.

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Summer in Glasgow

A summer’s tale

Every year, the beautiful Botanical Gardens in Glasgow come alive with theatre. This year’s Bard in the Botanics season will bring Twelfth Night and The Winter’s Tale to their outdoor stage, with a socially distanced audience and plenty of magic amidst the rare plants and lush trees.

Book your tickets

Follow the faeries

Take a swift 40 minute drive to Loch Lomond and spend a day exploring one of the most beautiful places in the UK, following the award winning Faerie Trail. Here you’ll find a huge woodland full of faeries, trolls and unicorns, as well as stunning views and great food nearby. Try and snap up a table at Luss Fish & Chip Co – the perfect reward for all your faerie finding efforts.

Book your tickets

Southside scran

BigFeedStreetFood

Summer vibes call for street food, and lots of it. Big Feed is a weekly, family-friendly street food market on the Southside of Glasgow’s famous “Squinty Bridge”. There’s delicious food, live music and DJs, games for the kids and plenty of outdoor seating. Come hungry or decisive – you might have trouble choosing between a Firedog hot dog, aromatic roasted duck fries or triple chocolate churros.

Book your tickets

Book your summer sojourn in Scotland

How to spend Summer in Glasgow and Edinburgh

by

Hit the beach

Portobello Beach is just a 30 minute bus ride from your apartment but feels like a world away. It’s a much loved escape for Edinburgh natives and visitors alike and on a sunny day the beach is full of sun bathers, wild swimmers, dog walkers and nature lovers. There are also cute little cafés on the promenade and traditional seaside amusements. If you can, bag one of the air hockey tables and challenge your new neighbours to a game.

Find out more

Take to the waterDean Village Waters of Leith Edinburgh

Just a 15 minute drive from your apartment, the Water of Leith Walkway passes through through some of the prettiest parts of the city. You’ll see Colinton Village and Dell, the Union Canal, Saughton Winter Gardens, the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art, Dean Village, Stockbridge and Leith. Ideal for a family walk or a solo stroll, it’s also great for cycling, wheelchairs and even horse riding, if you’re so inclined. Keep a look out for roe deer, badgers and foxes, too.

Find out more

Summer in Glasgow

A summer’s tale

Every year, the beautiful Botanical Gardens in Glasgow come alive with theatre. This year’s Bard in the Botanics season will bring Twelfth Night and The Winter’s Tale to their outdoor stage, with a socially distanced audience and plenty of magic amidst the rare plants and lush trees.

Book your tickets

Follow the faeries

Take a swift 40 minute drive to Loch Lomond and spend a day exploring one of the most beautiful places in the UK, following the award winning Faerie Trail. Here you’ll find a huge woodland full of faeries, trolls and unicorns, as well as stunning views and great food nearby. Try and snap up a table at Luss Fish & Chip Co – the perfect reward for all your faerie finding efforts.

Book your tickets

Southside scran

Summer vibes call for street food, and lots of it. Big Feed is a weekly, family-friendly street food market on the Southside of Glasgow’s famous “Squinty Bridge”. There’s delicious food, live music and DJs, games for the kids and plenty of outdoor seating. Come hungry or decisive – you might have trouble choosing between a Firedog hot dog, aromatic roasted duck fries or triple chocolate churros.

Book your tickets

Book your summer sojourn in Scotland

The UK’s best street food

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Don’t miss the…

…rib meat roll by The Rib Man, who’s legendary in these parts. You’ll love these tender, shredded baby back ribs, piled high on soft white rolls and sloshed with Holy F*** hot sauce. He sells out fast, so get there early.

Find it at…

Ely’s Yard, E1 6QR
Saturday 11am – 5.30pm, Sunday 10am – 5pm

Glasgow

One of Scotland’s best loved markets has taken up permanent residence near Finnieston and it’s unmissable. It’s £5 to enter The Dockyard Social, but don’t be put off – the entry fee keeps standards high and you’ll definitely make the most of it. They switch up their food traders every two weeks, so there’s always something new to try.

Don’t miss the…

…fried chicken katsu ramen at Taiko Ramen. Twelve hour bone broth, crisp vegetables, pickled ginger and boneless strips of juicy chicken – bread-crumbed, fried to perfection and piled high.

Find it at…

95 Haugh Road, G3 8TX
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 12pm to 10.30pm

Edinburgh

The street food movement is thriving in Edinburgh, with well established markets and plucky new pop-ups appearing all over the city. Our go-to is Waverley Market @ Platform 2, with its dozens of brilliant food and drink vendors that transform the station every Friday.

Don’t miss the…

…honeycomb crispy slice at Mimi’s Bakehouse. We’re not quite sure what alchemy the team at Mimi’s employs to get this level of deliciousness into one baked good, but we do know that it’s not for sharing.

Find it at…

Edinburgh Waverley, EH1 1BB
Fridays, 11am to 7pm

Manchester

Locals and tourists alike love the street food culture of Manchester, which is deliciously scattered across the city. Our favourite, though, is Mackie Mayor. It’s a gorgeous Grade II listed building with ten exceptional eateries under its brand new glass roof, with everything from Taiwanese bao to some of the finest pizza in town.

Don’t miss the…

…mutton ragu from Tender Cow. It’s served with the crispiest hash brown you’ve ever had, topped with green chilli pesto and two fried eggs. Perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between.

Find it at…

Eagle Street, Northern Quarter, M4 5BU
Tuesday to Friday 11am – 10pm, Saturday 9am – 10pm and Sunday 9am – 6pm

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The best bike rides in the UK

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Rent

 

The locals call them Boris Bikes, but look out for Santander Cycles, the official city bike hire scheme. You can pick up a ride almost anywhere and pay for hire at the bike rack or online.

Ride

If you’re looking for the best bike rides in London, you’re spoilt for choice. One of our favourites is an easy 90 minute spin round some of the sights, suitable for all fitness levels. It starts in London Bridge, taking in the Victoria Embankment, Horseguards Parade Ground, London Eye, Big Ben and the Tower of London before finishing up back where you started, not far from Native Bankside.

Refuel

You’ll start and finish right near Borough Market, so take your pick from sizzling paella, an old-fashioned fry-up or a baguette stuffed with roast pork, to name but a few options.

Glasgow

Rent

NextBike is Glasgow’s own city bike share scheme and you can find your nearest bike, book it and pay, all on the app.

Ride

For a leisurely 90 minute pootle by the river, start at the beautiful church of St Enoch and ride along the gorgeous Clyde Cycleway. You’ll pass Glasgow Green, old bridges and all kinds of riverside flora and fauna. You’ll end up back at the church, just a short ride from Native Glasgow.

Refuel

Right near the church you’ll find neighbourhood favourite Hootenanny. These days they’re serving up lush burgers from Patty Cake and crisp pizzas from Romans – perfect for carbo-loading before or even after your ride.

Edinburgh

Rent

It’s delightfully easy to get riding with Edinburgh Cycle Hire, with everything you need in their handy app.

Ride

Holyrood Park is a must-visit for anyone new to Edinburgh and cycling is a wonderful way to see this Royal Park unlike any other.

The Holyrood Park Road entrance is near the Commonwealth Pool, the Pollock Halls and the start of the Innocent Railway, if you fancy a detour. The path follows the road round, passing Dynamic Earth, the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyrood House. It ends by St. Margaret’s Loch, near Duke’s Walk, unless you’ve got the stamina for powering on up to Arthur’s Seat for the views.

Refuel

Right near the end of your trail is Baba Rista, where you can get coffee and pastries to replenish your energy, and take some fresh Italian bread, pizza or pasta back to your apartment.

Manchester

Rent

All-round bike-lover’s haven Manchester Bike Hire has a great range of city bikes to rent for three or more days, including electric ones.

Ride

A half hour spin through the city takes you to Daisy Nook, which Lowry himself loved and painted. It’s a country park that runs through the Medlock Valley and very popular with dog walkers, cyclists and horse riders. There’s a great path to take you to Hartshead Pike for the stunning views (it’s particularly beautiful at sunset), and on a clear day you can even see Snowdonia.

Refuel

The family run Daisy Nook Country Park Café is the perfect pit stop for coffee, cake and a chat with the regulars.

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Safe staycations in Scotland

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Baba

Baba

Levantine food is really making its mark on the Scottish food scene, thanks to Baba. The best of Lebanese, Syrian and Jordanian cuisine is here for the tasting, with grills, mezze and bar snacks you’re supposed to share but won’t really want to. Try the haggis merguez and Yemenite hot sauce – it’s a work of art.

Edinburgh Zoo

Edinburgh zoo

If you’re looking for some of the more exotic Edinburgh locals, you’ll find them here at the city’s legendary zoo. Famous for its conservation expertise, it’s home to the UK’s only giant pandas – Tian Tian and Yang Guang – and Europe’s largest outdoor penguin pool, with three different species and over 100 penguins.

McLarens on the Corner

For a laid-back but lively lunch, head to McLarens. It’s a family-friendly place, so it’s always bustling with dogs and kids and happy reunions, with a fabulous menu of innovative dishes from around the world. They’ve made some changes to their layout to keep everything covid-safe, and, trust us, you’ll want to save room for dessert.

 

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Native Edinburgh

 

 

 

Welcome back to Glasgow

Glasgow’s famously friendly locals can’t wait to welcome you back to their city. There’s so much going on already that it’s easy to forget we were ever locked down at all. Here’s where we’ll be spending our Glasgow staycation.

SWG3

acid bar

One of the city’s newest and most popular hotspots, SWG3 is a multi-disciplinary arts venue, hosting everything from concerts and poetry clubs to fashion shows and alternative bingo nights. Acid Bar is a great place to spend an hour or two – by day it’s a café, serving coffee and lunch, and by night it’s home to a rotation of great restaurants. These days it’s Julie’s Kopitiam, a Native favourite, adding some spice to these spring evenings.

Bloc+

bloc+ glasgow

If the latest lockdown has got you craving something new and completely different, set aside a night for Bloc+. It’s an independent live music bar, with excellent bands and DJs seven nights a week, completely free of charge. The music is high quality and wonderfully varied, the atmosphere is unpretentious and relaxed, and the food is big, bold and absolutely brilliant.

BAaD

Barras Art and Design (BAaD) is a wonderful place to spend the day when the sun is shining. It’s been transformed into a collection of light-filled spaces to lounge around, have a drink or two, grab a coffee, enjoy some scran (that’s food, you know) and soak up some entertainment. Make your way to the tropical courtyard oasis, floating restaurant or sunny container yard and see where the day takes you.

 

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