Princes Street & Gardens

Relaxing setting beneath Edinburgh Castle

Princes Street is considered Edinburgh's main shopping street, stretching about one mile from Lothian Road to Leith Street in the southern part of the city's New Town. Here you'll find all the popular high street shops along with bustling cafes. All the commerce is kept to the north side of the street, leaving the south side open to pleasant views towards the Old Town across Princes Street Gardens, which runs alongside the street to Edinburgh Castle.

Within the gardens are many statues and monuments dedicated to various prominent Scots and war veterans. Around Christmastime each year, the eastern part of the gardens is transformed into a "Winter Wonderland" with amusement park rides and a Christmas market selling foods and handcrafts.