Compton Mackenzie stone plaque

Explorer Tom Edinburgh, Drummond Place, Bellevue House used to be a custom house but now just collects dust and opinions about what counts as 'official' anymore. It’s got a long list of former names because it kept changing its mind every decade or so. Bring your worst joke, the place has heard worse.

Explorer Tom Edinburgh, East Scotland Street, General is in a bitter feud with the rain. It’s a general view that looks like it’s arguing with the sky. The street seems to hate getting wet and throws a tantrum every time. A handy spot to stretch your legs and your imagination.

Explorer Tom Drummond Place Gardens would say to the place that replaced it, 'You may have more space, but do you have my character? Do you have my slightly crooked fence posts?' It’s private and a bit posh, like it expects you to bow when you walk past, even though you’re just trying to get to the bus stop. Take the long way round, it deserves the effort.

Explorer Tom Edinburgh, Bellevue Crescent is full of rabbits who think those unassigned cists are actually their personal underground luxury apartments. The crescent shape is just a fancy way of saying the ground has a lot of opinions about where things should be buried. You can stand there and wonder if the stones are judging your footwear choices. Take a mate and argue about what it was for.

Explorer Tom Scotland Street Railway Tunnel thinks tourists from Dublin have no respect for steep gradients and cable-hauled trains. Built between 1847 and 1868, it was so slanted that the engines couldn't climb it on their own. It’s a tunnel that essentially dragged people uphill by force. Look up, the best bit is always higher than you think.

Explorer Tom King George V Park again, because apparently we can’t have just one, is full of shortcuts that lead you straight back to where you started. It’s like a maze designed by someone who hated efficiency but loved confusion. Look serious, nod slowly, you’re basically an expert now after seeing it twice.

Explorer Tom East Claremont Street has a polished axehead that the wind keeps trying to steal for its own collection. It’s just sitting there looking sharper than most of us feel on a Tuesday morning. Great spot to propose. Or at least to propose lunch instead, which is safer.

Explorer Tom Site of Hart Street Studios is where the Corries penned 'The Flower of Scotland' before vanishing into legend. Locals swear that if you hum the tune backward, the ghost of a lute player appears to correct your pitch. It’s gone now, but the rhythm stays stuck in your head like a bad hangover. Bring someone who'll believe anything.

Explorer Tom Edinburgh, Eyre Place is definitely hiding a biscuit tin full of gold coins in the garden wall. It’s playing hard to get with its 'no class' status, which is basically just 'I’m shy but I have secrets.' Tell the kids it's a castle. Close enough for their imaginations to run wild.

Explorer Tom Millennium Milepost Canonmills in Edinburgh is guarding a scandal so old it’s basically fossilised now. It knows Leith is two miles away, but it acts like that’s an ocean it has to cross alone. Bring a flask and pretend you own the place.

Explorer Tom Edinburgh, Warriston Road has no idea when it was born or even what it is. A local bloke claims he invented it in his garage, which is frankly ridiculous but he stands by it. It’s just vibing without any proper documentation to prove its existence. Stand there long enough and someone will ask if you're lost.

Explorer Tom East End, Leith Street is currently accepting opinions from the local sheep, who think the traffic flow is a bit chaotic but the grass is decent. It’s a street that knows it’s historic but prefers to act like it just woke up from a nap. Take a breath of that air, it's older than your car.