Princes Street, Edinburgh
Stretching from Leith Street to Lothian Road like Edinburgh鈥檚 own stylish catwalk, Princes Street is an over-a-mile-long stretch of shopping temptation-the city鈥檚 main artery, buzzing with caf茅s, pubs, department stores, and selfie opportunities galore.
The street was named after two of King George III鈥檚 sons-Prince George (who later became King George IV) and Prince Frederick. While the early 18th-century buildings once stood prim and proper, the 19th century and later the 1960s had other plans. Cue the 鈥淧rinces Street Plan,鈥� a bold makeover that saw some old fa莽ades pulled down in favor of boxy modern storefronts, all in the name of progress and window-shopping efficiency.
The resulting new layout appears as follows: shops and commercial buzz line the north side, while the south side takes the scenic route, offering unbeatable views of the Old Town and the ever-dramatic Edinburgh Castle. Between them lies what was once a murky loch-or Nor Loch to be exact-drained in 1820 and transformed into the much more appealing Princes Street Gardens.
The gardens span 38 acres of greenery, split neatly by the Mound and sprinkled with statues like an outdoor sculpture gallery. One especially moving highlight is the War Memorial to Scottish-American soldiers, a spot for reflection amid the buskers and picnic blankets.
In the summer, the Ross Bandstand kicks into gear with concerts and open-air theatre. And don鈥檛 miss the city鈥檚 prettiest timekeeper-a floral clock that blooms right on cue.
The street was named after two of King George III鈥檚 sons-Prince George (who later became King George IV) and Prince Frederick. While the early 18th-century buildings once stood prim and proper, the 19th century and later the 1960s had other plans. Cue the 鈥淧rinces Street Plan,鈥� a bold makeover that saw some old fa莽ades pulled down in favor of boxy modern storefronts, all in the name of progress and window-shopping efficiency.
The resulting new layout appears as follows: shops and commercial buzz line the north side, while the south side takes the scenic route, offering unbeatable views of the Old Town and the ever-dramatic Edinburgh Castle. Between them lies what was once a murky loch-or Nor Loch to be exact-drained in 1820 and transformed into the much more appealing Princes Street Gardens.
The gardens span 38 acres of greenery, split neatly by the Mound and sprinkled with statues like an outdoor sculpture gallery. One especially moving highlight is the War Memorial to Scottish-American soldiers, a spot for reflection amid the buskers and picnic blankets.
In the summer, the Ross Bandstand kicks into gear with concerts and open-air theatre. And don鈥檛 miss the city鈥檚 prettiest timekeeper-a floral clock that blooms right on cue.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Edinburgh. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Princes Street on Map
Sight Name: Princes Street
Sight Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (See walking tours in Edinburgh)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (See walking tours in Edinburgh)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Edinburgh, Scotland
Create Your Own Walk in Edinburgh
Creating your own self-guided walk in Edinburgh is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Edinburgh Introduction Walking Tour
If you like cities with a split personality, Edinburgh is definitely one such, featuring a striking mix of medieval and Georgian architecture. Indeed, here medieval grit meets Enlightenment wit, and every cobbled incline has a story to tell-whether your legs are ready for it or not. Perched (or more like wedged) across volcanic hills, the city has been Scotland鈥檚 capital since the 15th century... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Harry Potter Trail
Years after the last Harry Potter book hit the shelves and the last movie rolled its credits, the cultural phenomenon of Harry Potter doesn't seem to fade away, and the fandom continues strong as ever. Although by now Harry Potter has become a household name across the globe, his literary roots are right here in Edinburgh.
Indeed, J.K. Rowling wrote much of the saga in Scotland鈥檚... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Indeed, J.K. Rowling wrote much of the saga in Scotland鈥檚... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
New Town Walking Tour
Rightly regarded as the historic masterpiece of city planning, the New Town of Edinburgh has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. The area forms a significant part of the Scottish capital and is known for its elegant Georgian architecture, abundant shopping opportunities, and many other delights firmly associated with this city.
One of the prominent landmarks in the New Town is... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
One of the prominent landmarks in the New Town is... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Edinburgh Pub Crawl
Edinburgh is rich in pubs, both old and new, spoiling their patrons with the best in town drinks and food. Although most traditional pubs in the city are laid back, with a quiet and relaxing atmosphere, some have dance floors and double as nightclubs. This self-guided adventure takes you to several such spots, each with its own story to tell.
Our journey begins at the World's End Pub, a... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Our journey begins at the World's End Pub, a... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Old Town Walking Tour
Edinburgh鈥檚 Old Town isn鈥檛 just old-it鈥檚 ancient, smoky, and proud of itself. This is the city鈥檚 historic core, where centuries of drama, diplomacy, and architectural ambition come layered in stone, soot, and scandal. From its Celtic roots to Roman incursions and royal power plays, this part of town has seen more plot twists than a binge-worthy period drama.
At the heart of it all lies... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
At the heart of it all lies... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Royal Mile Walking Tour
The Royal Mile, a steep thoroughfare in the heart of Edinburgh, has served as the city鈥檚 backbone since the medieval period. Carved along a volcanic ridge called Castle Rock, this spine of the Old Town slopes down from the mighty Edinburgh Castle at one end to the Holyroodhouse Palace and the weathered ruins of Holyrood Abbey at the other. The distance is almost exactly one Scots mile (hence the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
19 Best Pubs in New Town, Edinburgh
A guide to the pubs that make up the area that is called Edinburgh's New Town. A description about what you can expect from each of the locations in the directory. A fantastic directory if you are a tourist or even a...
Top 12 Pubs On and Around Royal Mile in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a vibrant city with abundant nightlife and no shortage of places to go after dusk. The Royal Mile alone, in the very heart of Edinburgh, is laden with character spots craving to be discovered by the first time visitors to the city. This is the highlight of some of the most notable bars...
Scottish Souvenirs: 15 Authentic Scottish Things to Buy in Edinburgh
The popularity of Scotland stretches far beyond its geographical borders, fueled, in large part, by Hollywood's interest in the Scottish theme - Sean Connery (as James Bond), "Braveheart", etc. Indeed, the cultural spectrum of this part of Britain is enormous and comprises great...