New Town

Modern designer life in a not-so-new neighbourhood

Word to the wise: If you need a break from the rush of the high street, head for the beautiful Princes Street Gardens, which also offers a scenic route to the Old Town.
An 18th century solution to overcrowding in the Old Town, the New Town isn’t really very new at all. In fact, the area is mostly characterised by its beautiful, original, Georgian architecture, which has earned it protected status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

If the Royal Mile is the centre of the Old Town then Princes Street is the heart of the New Town. It’s the city’s commercial shopping boulevard, with historic department stores sitting alongside high street chains, as well as its main transport hub (Waverley Train Station is located just off the end of Princes Street). The street also offers unparalleled views of Edinburgh Castle.
The elegant neoclassical houses of George Street (running parallel to Princes Street) are now mainly home to designer boutiques and trendy restaurants. While much is expensive in this sought-after neighbourhood, there is a healthy concentration of affordable restaurants and bars around the cross-section of Hanover and Thistle streets.