Making Magic at The Cauldron Edinburgh

You guys know I love magic. And if you're new here, and you don't know, you will after the next few weeks. Well, I've been following a new bar called The Cauldron that opened in London and was excited to make reservations and get brewing. Unfortunately, the Cauldron in London was going to be too far away for me get to, so when I saw an Edinburgh location was opening up, I jumped at the chance to go.

Each location has different decor and is a small, magical location perfect for a few witches and wizards or a crowd. So, even if you've been to one, you can get an entirely new experience at others.

Once you arrive, you check in and choose a wand. Or it chooses you. Each has a story and you learn about the material and core. Mine was carved from a unicorn horn that was sustainably-sourced. No unicorns were actually harmed. It was made for someone with daring and creativity. Eric's wand (the one shown in the Boomerang above) was carved of mermaid coral and meant for someone mischievous and sneaky who likes the element of surprise. These were perfect for us. My sister-in-law and her husband joined us and chose entirely different wands for themselves.

You put on a robe and you're welcomed with a drink (you can choose alcoholic or non) and a warm-up spell with your new wand. Ours was a choice between magical creatures. Each had a different magic word you used to ask for a drink (obviously this just adds to the fun), and we all had a good time filling our glasses. Now that you're not super thirsty, you can get to work on the real stuff.

At your work station there's a funky little set up with a cauldron, vials of potion ingredients, a magic box and recipes to brew your amazing drinks. If you don't drink, that's okay, because they can rework drinks for you without involving alcohol, you just have to let them know ahead of time. We did one of each and the non-alcoholic drinks were just as tasty. 

Each "potion" has a detailed recipe sheet with pictures and you're assigned a head witch or wizard to be on hand to help you out or bring you more volatile ingredients, like dry ice, and show you the spells to turn lights on and off and open the magic box door.

Our first potion was the Transfiguration Toniq, which was gin-based and changed colors. The second involved grinding herbs and stirring dry ice in your cauldron. It was also gin-based. We all thought this was extremely fun and interesting, because you are using historically accurate ingredients as well.

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Each seating involves two potions that you create. They have a variety of munchies you can choose to order for an extra charge. Being in the UK, the majority of these were some form of cheese toastie. We were going out right after, so we didn't order any, but the drinks here are strong, so you might want a little something to sop up the alcohol. There are also additional drinks, and I knew I had to get the Dragon's Breath, because fire, and it. was. awesome. The presentation was amazing. We took video from several different angles. Also, how can you pass up a signature cocktail? (see some other pics & video here.)

Your Cauldron experience lasts an hour and 45 minutes, which gives you more than enough time to relax, plus brew and drink your two potions, and even have a few other drinks and poke around the potions classroom. Edinburgh's location has a small forest and Herbology greenhouse. We loved it and made sure to take advantage of the photo op.

If you're a fan of Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings or Sabrina or chemistry or drinking, The Cauldron should totally be on your list when you're in Edinburgh, London or New York City. I can't wait to go again when I have the chance, or maybe they will open more locations closer to me.

Find out more about The Cauldron on their website for rates, exact locations and to buy tickets. For what you get and the fun you have, I feel like the value of your Experience is much higher than just going to a bar where the drinks might cost the same or even more.  Plus, you get to actually create something cool, instead of sitting around waiting for someone to serve you. 


Now, grab your most magical friends! Who's ready to make something extraordinary?


Disclaimer: I was comped for my and Eric's reservation for the purposes of this review, but all opinions (and purchase of the extra magical concoction) are 100% my own. This was a must-do on my Edinburgh list whether or not I got a complimentary seating. Thank you to The Cauldron Edinburgh for letting me experience the magic they create. 

Edinburgh With Kids

If you're looking for a fantastic getaway for the whole family, Edinburgh is definitely it. It can be budget-friendly, it has a lot to offer that is historical and educational, while still being fun for kids and adults. This infographic gives you a few options for any kind of weather. Just don't forget to pack your rain jackets and waterproof walking shoes, because there's a lot of hiking in town, and many things on cobblestones.

Edinburgh With the Kids – Come Rain or Shine – An infographic by the team at Citybase Apartments

I'd also suggest Camera Obscura, The National Museum of Scotland, the Royal Botanic Garden and also the Tartan Weaving Mill near the castle. 

Stay tuned for my next posts on my trip for more ideas on a future trip.

Have you been to Scotland or is it on your wish list?

Awesome Things to Do in Edinburgh & Beyond

Over the next few weeks, you're going to be seeing a lot of posts about my time in Scotland and England, both of which I highly recommend visiting. Our time in Edinburgh was short but full, and I can't wait to go again and explore more of the country. 

For now, I wanted to give a quick preview of what we did that was sponsored by the lovely people of Visit Scotland, and then you can look forward to more in-depth posts on each.

Royal Yacht Brittania

North of the city center is Leith. Surrounded by water, this is a gorgeous little area that also houses the yacht that used to be a holiday sailing yacht for the Royal family. They would travel the world and host dignitaries by throwing lavish dinner parties. They would also work on their holidays (or, at least the Queen did) and had set schedules. They even had a smaller boat to use for excursions. 

The crew would take detailed notes on where they had been, and the Royal family would choose where they wanted to wake up the next morning. This is fantastic a look into how the Royals lived before other forms of transportation became easier and more luxurious. It was really like a mini floating palace.

Camera Obscura

Over 100 years ago, a female optician created this awesome way to use mirrors and light to view things on the ground from a tower. Sort of like a low-tech security camera. The original inverted bowl is still located at the top of Camera Obscura, but now the four floors below it are dedicated to weird and cool optical illusions. The entire place is interactive and each floor has a theme. If you follow me on Instagram, you saw a lot of pics already, including my time in the Vortex Tunnel.

 

Edinburgh Castle

Wherever you are in the city, the castle is almost sure to be visible. Set high up on a hill (a hill you must climb), the castle is a dramatic backdrop, but also an interesting bit of Edinburgh history. You can walk through dungeons and see the Crown Jewels all in the same visit. You'll see everything in between too, so wear your walking shoes. 

If you're worried about missing anything, because there's a lot, don't worry, because you get an audio guide. There are also amazing views of the city from the castle walls.

National Mining Museum

We probably wouldn't have seen this hidden gem if we weren't going to a wedding up the road, but I'm so glad I looked at what was nearby before I left. This two-story museum tells you all about the mining industry and the treatment of the workers. 

I'll be honest, the biggest reason I wanted to visit is because tours are run by ex-miners, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I learned. I have even more respect for those that mine and was able to ask a lot of questions since our group was so small.

The Palace at Holyrood House

We all expected Holyrood to be similar to the castle tour, but we were very wrong. Because the palace was quite small (in comparison), it was much easier to navigate (you also get an audio guide) and take in. It only takes about an hour to tour, and you can't take pictures inside, so it moves along quickly and you can focus your full attention on all the details. It's a lovely little glimpse into how the Royals live now, and a fun juxtaposition to the Brittania.

Scotch Whisky Experience 

I love whisky, and whiskey, and scotch. This short tour takes you on a journey from how the whisky is made to your glass. There's a bit of reading, a short barrel ride, a video that tells you about the different regions of Scotland that produces the different flavors of whisky, a tasting room, and The Whisky Vault. 

There are over 3,000 unique, unopened bottles in the vault. This is where you will taste your whisky and learn to do it properly. If you aren't a whisky drinker, but still interested in the process, they're happy to just bring you an Irn-Bru (a local carbonated drink that smells like orange soda, but has an indescribable flavor). Eric thought it tasted like bubblegum. I did not. Four of the five of us that tried it were not that into it, but it's fun to try.

I'll be bringing you more on these and the other places I visited in Edinburgh in the four days I had to explore. We packed quite a bit in, so stay tuned, especially if Edinburgh is on your travel wish list.

Have you ever been to Scotland?

Disclaimer: The activities in this post were gifted to me by VisitScotland, but all were things I was planning to visit, and all opinions are my own.