Our Guide to Shopping in Edinburgh
For all you lovely people visiting Edinburgh for the Royal Military Tattoo or Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, We know you like shopping (don’t we all), so we made you this handy blog so you can shop until you drop.
Edinburgh is a wonderful shopping destination – as well as the household high street names it boosts a diverse collection of boutiques where you’ll discover exciting specialities and eccentricities. Enjoy some well-deserve retail therapy on our cobbled streets. It has an unrivalled range of Scottish merchandise: whiskies and woollens, food and antiques. And don’t forget to look out for the more unusual gifts, there’s more to us than just tartan and haggis.
Princes Street
Princes Street is a shopper’s paradise. On one side of the street, you’ll find all the big national and international names, while on the other side, one of the most unique and spectacular skylines in the world. It’s also home to favourites like Marks and Spencer and New Look. The streets that link Princes Street with George Street are worth exploring for their mix of interesting smaller retail outlets and eateries. Rose Street, a pedestrianised lane behind Princes Street, is justly famous for its pubs, but is also excellent for high quality speciality shopping and restaurants.Towards the City’s East End, you’ll find Princes Mall, a favourite shopping haunt on two floors, with plenty of entertainment stores and fashion outlets. Here you’ll also find John Lewis, boasting a breathtaking assortment of wares. There’s not many places where you can enjoy your shopping in view of a gorgeous historic castle.
Princes Street Shopping
The West End
The West End is typical of Edinburgh. It’s the kind of place where shopping is a true leisure activity. Within 300 metres you’ll find leafy green squares and crescents, imposing churches, graceful architecture and ‘ye ole’ shops, all within a minute of two lively thoroughfares. Queensferry Street hustles with just as much bustle as its neighbour Shandwick Place and between the two you’ll find a plethora of eateries and speciality shops. William Street’s bars, bistros, art galleries and exclusive boutiques attract a discerning crowd, it’s the true hub of Indie fashion. While Stafford Street is a hub for interior design. Randolph Place is another quiet haven hiding within it some high-fashion treasures.
George Street
Located between Princes Street and Queen Street, with Charlotte Square and St Andrew Square at either end, George Street’s many architecturally stunning buildings now play host to a staggering array of upmarket and designer shops. George Street’s appeal is strengthened with the excellent choice of bars and restaurants providing sustenance for happy shoppers. Here you’ll find splendid examples of 1800’s bank-turned-classy eatery and if you find yourself in one of the street’s bars or nightclubs, there’s every chance you’ll bump into the odd celebrity. Unlike in some other cities, the tradition of personal service and quality has not been abandoned around these parts, with a few well-established George Street favourites renowned for their approach to customer service. If you fancy taking a break from carrying your bags, pop into the Dome for a delicious afternoon tea, cake is the best fuel.
Grassmarket & Victoria Street
Find something unique in some of Edinburgh’s beloved Grassmarket institutions. Shopping in stores like Armstrong’s Vintage and Godiva will have you the belle of the ball in no time with Singer sewing machine artistry and hidden treasures for both women and men galore! Treat yourself to some traditional Scottish tweed at Walker and Slater. Edinburgh’s vintage shops promote a quirky local alternative to Princes Street stores, indulge in all things independent. We heard through the grape vine that J.K Rowling used Victoria Street, with it’s narrow and winding road, as her muse for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter.
Victoria Street Shopping
The Bridges to Broughton Street
To sample the truly eclectic nature of Edinburgh shopping, take the journey from the Bridges at the East End of Princes Street down to Leith, taking in Broughton Street on the way. Here you’ll find an intriguing mix of shops, from cheap’n’cheerful through to proper posh, and everything in between. South Bridge is home to an abundance of shops catering for the vibrant student community, from books, music, comics and urban fashion. On Broughton Street you’ll find a combination of antique shops and boutiques, not to mention an ample selection of stylish bars and cafés. Veggies and alternative health enthusiasts can pick up all manner of supplies, and there’s plenty for the carnivores at the various delicatessens. Leith Walk is home to countless second-hand shops, traditional butchers, Sikh and Muslim haberdasheries, Chinese supermarkets, much-celebrated delicatessens and speciality shops.
Multrees Walk
Multrees Walk hosts all things luxurious, just off St Andrew Square and home of “the very best high-end retailers”. Louis Vuitton, Emporio Armani and Mulberry to name a few. Harvey Nicholls is also situated on the walk hosting a variety of designer labels including Gucci, Christopher Kane, Stella McCartney and Marc Jacobs. The shopping experience you can get at Multree’s walk is said to be “unrivalled” because of the impeccable customer service you’ll receive. Let us know about the exciting things you find on our instagram, @glorydays.edinburgh, click here to follow us.
Multree Walk Shopping
Thistle Street
According to lovely local man Robert Shephard “Thistle Street is often overlooked but is the oldest street in the New Town with a selection of top quality independent retailers like Jane Davidson and Pam Jenkins along with the widest selection of international restaurants in one small street – One Mexican restaurant (El Cartel) one Thai restaurant, two French restaurants one Italian and a vegetarian / vegan restaurant”. We are big supporters of keeping it local and loving our neighbours! Head over to the Thistle Street Bar for refreshments after a long day of shopping. Thanks for your advice Robert.
We hope you enjoy your shopping. Treat yourself, you are on holiday after all!
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Or if you are looking for other things to do in Edinburgh make sure to check out the blogs on our sister organisation, Destination Edinburgh.