Resident Advisors: Christina Neuwirth, Lighthouse Bookshop

This article is taken from the 2025 edition of The Skinny Guide to Edinburgh – a 116-page selection of some of our favourite things to do and places to go across the city. Pick up a copy at venues across Edinburgh this summer, or read it online via Issuu.

What’s been a highlight of the last 12 months for Lighthouse Bookshop?
The Radical Book Fair is always a highlight of our calendar, as is the Book Fringe which we host with our friends at Typewronger Bookshop and Argonaut Books in August! I was very proud of the programming at this year's First Date romance fiction festival, which we ran in collaboration with Book Lovers Bookshop.

Where do you recommend people go in Edinburgh? Areas, attractions, walks etc?
One of my favourite places to walk is the Hermitage of Braid, super easy to reach by bus and with lots of flat riverside walking, all in a gorgeous lush forest. I think the Botanics are another real highlight, beautiful at any time of year and in the rain or the sunshine.

Favourite place to eat?
Go to Word of Mouth with a friend and split the veggie breakfast and the waffles with syrup and berries.

Favourite place to drink?
Sit at the bar at the Roseleaf.

Favourite shop?
Even split between Tiso (I just get very excited buying maps and things for adventuring) and Greyfriar's Art Shop (imagine having fresh pencils!)

Why do you like living here?
I love that it's so bright so late in the summer, and that spring lasts forever. I like that there are excellent transport links within the city and to the rest of the UK. I like that after 13 years here I'm still discovering new things.

What annoys you about living here?
Sometimes the humidity gets to me, and I do tend to find the Fringe quite stressful because I work right in the heart of it. It's also so exciting to get to be in the middle of all that art and performance! But sometimes it just gets overwhelming.

Do you have a Fringe survival tip?
Biggest water bottle, Loops earplugs, go to the cinema, cycle if you can (the pavements and the buses get super busy).