Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Street,
a narrow car-free lane between Princes and George streets—with many
more pubs, shops, and restaurants.
Edinburgh's
Southside
and
West End
are primarily residential. The former is
home to the well-regarded
University of Edinburgh
(founded in the 16th century)
and the sprawling park known as the
Meadows.
The West End includes the last of
New Town developments started at the beginning of the 19th century. It has the-
aters, several small B&Bs, and swank boutique hotels, as well as the city's most
exclusive central neighborhoods.
North of the central city is
Leith,
Edinburgh's historic port where the Water of
Leith (a small river that meanders through the city) meets the Firth of Forth. Leith
briefly served as the Scottish capital, and its strategic location attracted Oliver
Cromwell's invading forces to build a
citadel here. It remained an indepen-
dent burgh until the 20th century.
Fans of Irvine Welsh (the author of
Trainspotting
) will know that it has a
rough and tumble reputation. But
today most of its shipping and the
sailors have gone, and lots of luxury
apartments are being built. But it
hasn't lost all of its atmosphere, and it offers a good selection of restaurants and
pubs. Leith is also the home of the Royal Yacht
Britannia.
Neighborhoods In Brief
Edinburgh has a host of districts—some of which appear to be only a few streets, and many
that can be folded into the broader areas of Old and New Towns.
Impressions
No situation could be more command-
ing for the head city of a Kingdom; none
better chosen for noble prospects.
—Robert Louis Stevenson
5
Old Town
This is where Edinburgh began.
Its spine is the
Royal Mile,
a medieval thor-
oughfare stretching for about a few kilome-
ters from Edinburgh Castle downhill to the
Palace of Holyroodhouse. The Royal Mile is
one boulevard with four segments bearing
different names: Castlehill, Lawnmarket,
High Street, and Canongate. “This is per-
haps the largest, longest, and finest street
for buildings and number of inhabitants in
the world,” wrote English author Daniel
Defoe. Old Town also includes the Grass-
market and Cowgate.
New Town
Situated north of Old Town,
the first New Town bloomed between 1766
and 1840, and is one of the largest Geor-
gian developments in the world. It grew to
encompass the northern half of the heart of
the city. Home to at least 25,000 residents,
it's also the largest historic conservation
area in Britain. New Town is made up of a
network of squares, streets, terraces, and
circuses (circular open spaces where sev-
eral streets meet), reaching from Haymar-
ket in the west almost to Leith Walk in the
east. New Town also extends from Canon-
mills in the north to Princes Street, its most
famous artery, on the south.
Stockbridge
Part of New Town today,
northwest of the castle, Stockbridge was
once a village, and it still rather feels like a
small town near the heart of the city, with
its own tight-knit community. Straddling
the Water of Leith, it is a good place for
visitors to the city to relax, with some
friendly cafes, pubs, restaurants, and shops.
Haymarket
&
Dalry
West of the city cen-
ter by about a few kilometers, these two
districts may be off the beaten path for
most visitors. Haymarket centers on the
railway station (an alternative to Waverley
for travelers to and from Glasgow or places
