Princes Street
Princes Street
4
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A busy street lined with shops, historic monuments and restaurants.
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Neighbourhood: Princes Street and Gardens
Glaswegians tease Edinburghers that their High Street is only half one, since buildings only line one side. But what they don’t say is how extraordinary the views are from Princes Street as a result. From here you look onto expansive and decorative public gardens beneath the mighty basalt cliffs on which Edinburgh’s Castle stands proud above the rest of the dramatic old town skyline. Yet many of those on Princes Street look the other way, as they’re concerned with chain store shopping or catching the tram or a train at main train station Waverley. But it’s not all utility here; the Scottish National Gallery rewards purposeless wandering, and December’s huge winter market in the gardens begins a season of revelry which ends with Hogmanay, Britain’s largest New Year’s street party.
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4.0
1,777 reviews
Excellent
620
Very good
663
Average
369
Poor
82
Terrible
43
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claudio d
Viterbo, Italy41,919 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
The most famous street in the New Town actually hinges north between Old Town and New Town. Just over a kilometre long, this wide street features an uninterrupted succession of shops on the northern side, while on the southern side it skirts the beautiful Princes Street Gardens. Despite the heavy traffic (especially buses) and the decreased quality of the shops compared to the past (also due to adaptation to the huge tourist flows), it remains one of the streets that I liked most in Edinburgh. Especially for the beautiful views of Castle Rock and the castle above and the Old Town skyline that you have from here, not to mention all the monuments that line the northern side of Princes Street Gardens, including the spectacular Scott Monument; immediately after the latter, among the great animation of people due to Waverly Station and its adjoining shopping center, stands out the beautiful building of the Balmoral Hotel (on the other side the equestrian statue of Wellington with behind the General Register House building). The Princes Street Gardens are divided between the west and east sectors: in the demarcation space you will no doubt notice the neoclassical building of the Royal Scottish Academy, while you have to go a little further inside this space to see the other neoclassical building of the National Gallery. The western beginning of the gardens, along Princes Street, is preceded by the neo-Gothic church of St John while on the other side the street begins with the Johnnie Walker shop with its characteristic carillon on the corner (the Binns Clock).
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Written 12 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
johnhouston2
Knaresborough, UK5,349 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
I have been fortunate to visit many capital cities throughout the world, and they all tend to have a main shopping street.
Princes Street fulfils this role in Edinburgh and, in my view, is rather unique.
Unlike most main thoroughfares, Princes Street is only built up along one side, with the other side left as an open area leading to beautiful gardens and providing fabulous views of the impressive Castle. What buildings there are include splendid monuments and statues as well as impressive hotels and other buildings.
Oh - and there’s lots of shops, restaurants etc as well!
Princes Street fulfils this role in Edinburgh and, in my view, is rather unique.
Unlike most main thoroughfares, Princes Street is only built up along one side, with the other side left as an open area leading to beautiful gardens and providing fabulous views of the impressive Castle. What buildings there are include splendid monuments and statues as well as impressive hotels and other buildings.
Oh - and there’s lots of shops, restaurants etc as well!
Written 14 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joanie H
Dagenham, UK614 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
We walked up and down this busy street during our time in Edinburgh. It is a busy street with many shops to look in, lots of sides streets cone off of this and you can find some good places to eat and drink. If you like shopping then you will enjoy this street.
Written 1 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MarCarl
Stratford-upon-Avon, UK402 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
It’s the Main Street of Edinburgh, shops bars and hotels.
A tram runs down the street ever 15 min,busses and lots of cars and taxis.
Crowded when we visited in late Aug, no amount of social distancing, and very few people wearing masks.
A tram runs down the street ever 15 min,busses and lots of cars and taxis.
Crowded when we visited in late Aug, no amount of social distancing, and very few people wearing masks.
Written 30 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jason M
Cardiff, UK80 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
Princes street is still a place to shop but it has suffered somewhat, probably from Covid effects.
Quite a few shops empty and it just did not have the same energy that I had always felt previously.
Hopefully a post virus comeback will take place and I can enjoy it again.
Quite a few shops empty and it just did not have the same energy that I had always felt previously.
Hopefully a post virus comeback will take place and I can enjoy it again.
Written 4 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandy
Kincardine, Canada2,092 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
This is a iconic street. Even in February rain, it is interesting. However, there are too many beggars and loose paving stones. Take a walk in the evening. Lots of good lighting of the monument. Especially, the Scott monument.
Recommend
Recommend
Written 18 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicola D
Hessle, UK3,080 contributions
Mar 2020
Princes Street is a long street marking the edge of Edinburgh’s New Town. It is approximately a mile long. One side of the road is lined with high street shops, department stores and hotels, and the other side of the road is highlighted at either end with the Balmoral Hotel (with it’s famous clock tower) and the striking Caledonian Hotel made of red sandstone. In between these 2 landmarks are Waverley Station, the amazing Princes Street Gardens, the Scott Monument, Royal Scottish Academy and the National Gallery of Scotland. There are also various national monuments. Princes Street is overlooked by the impressive Edinburgh Castle.
It is a pleasant and interesting walk despite the rough sleepers.
It is a pleasant and interesting walk despite the rough sleepers.
Written 19 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SuperguideEdinburgh
Lasswade, UK58 contributions
Jan 2023
I visited the Princes Street store on January 23 with a new phone that was giving me all sorts of problems I spotted a young Spanish assistant that I knew From when she worked in a Royal Mile bar at the same time ta young male assistant was making his way towards me. She introduced us, his name is Jamie.
He spent about half an hour and was so patient. I am a senior citizen so much of the modern technology is Rocket science to me. He sorted out my problems which had been bothering me for weeks , and all at no charge. I thjnk that's what is best about the store is the obvious enthusiasm and approachability of the people who work there. Be very proud and keep up the good work
Bill Hill
He spent about half an hour and was so patient. I am a senior citizen so much of the modern technology is Rocket science to me. He sorted out my problems which had been bothering me for weeks , and all at no charge. I thjnk that's what is best about the store is the obvious enthusiasm and approachability of the people who work there. Be very proud and keep up the good work
Bill Hill
Written 24 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bandit-One
Lucerne, Switzerland10,307 contributions
Aug 2022
It's been a while since the last time we've been in Edinburgh. This time there were a LOT more visitors. There was a festival going on and the streets were packed.
Luckily Princes Street is pretty wide, so there was still space to enjoy a walk up and down the street.
The shops are what you usually find in major cities. Primark and M&S being to most interesting to us. M&S always has good quality loungewear for low prices. H&M, Kiko, Swatch, Apple - they are all here.
But besides the shops there are some sights to spot from here. Of course the Edinburgh Castle. But also the very nice Scottish National Gallery or the impressive Scott Monument. The Princes Street Gardens park is just across the street and worth a look.
Be careful crossing the streets though, Princes is a very busy street with lots of traffic.
Luckily Princes Street is pretty wide, so there was still space to enjoy a walk up and down the street.
The shops are what you usually find in major cities. Primark and M&S being to most interesting to us. M&S always has good quality loungewear for low prices. H&M, Kiko, Swatch, Apple - they are all here.
But besides the shops there are some sights to spot from here. Of course the Edinburgh Castle. But also the very nice Scottish National Gallery or the impressive Scott Monument. The Princes Street Gardens park is just across the street and worth a look.
Be careful crossing the streets though, Princes is a very busy street with lots of traffic.
Written 3 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James P
Cambridge, UK2,799 contributions
May 2022
A road to get from the station to your hotel... not much else worth noting. Poor selection of shops now, and several beggars - just all feels a bit grim. Much, much better is to drop down into the Princes Street Gardens to travel the length if you need to.
Written 2 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are wanting to visit Princess Street while in Edinburgh. We will also be visiting Optical Illusion, which I believe is not far from here. Does anyone know of a car park or car parks that we could park in which is in walking distance to both these places (as we would be visiting both on the same day)?
Also, it would be a Sunday we would be visiting. Are all the shops and cafes open on Sunday, and what are their usual opening hours?
Thank you
Written 12 February 2016
Parking cars in Edinburgh is as difficult as collecting Scotch Mist !
Written 19 November 2018
Hallo Tomtisan, sicherlich findet man an der Princes Street viel Geschäfte, die Weltweit , bzw. in vielen Europäischen Ländern kennt. Dennoch findet man hier auch Geschäfte, die viele Schottische Produkte verkaufen. Bei so manchen Geschäften bekommt man auch eine recht gute Beratung.
Written 26 December 2015
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