A shopper's guide to Edinburgh
Shopping in Edinburgh offers a real mix of luxury brands, high street stores and smaller quirky boutiques. If you are planning to indulge in some retail therapy in the Scottish capital, you may wonder where to begin. We thought we would help you out with a guide to the best places to shop in Edinburgh.
Princes Street
In the very heart of Edinburgh lies Princes Street, providing a mile-long stretch of high street shops of every description. From Marks and Spencer’s to Sports Direct as well as a host of phone shops (including an Apple store) and jewellers, you will find most of the big name brands along this street. This street boasts shopping with a view. The shops stand on one side of the street while the other side opens up to the wonderfully peaceful Princes Street Gardens, the perfect place to rest during a busy day shopping. Overlooking the Gardens is the world famous, and very impressive, Edinburgh Castle. Princes Street Gardens come alive at Christmas time when the German market stalls set up for the month of December. A great place to pick up any last minute gifts! And if it gets too cold, you can warm yourself up with a hot mug of glϋhwein and some food from the plentiful food stalls.
George Street
Running parallel to Princes Street, George Street is home to some high end brand names. The White Company, Jo Malone, Anthropologie, Jigsaw and Mint Velvet are just some of the names on one of the best known streets in Edinburgh’s New Town. During a visit to this fantastic shopping street you may want to treat yourself to some lunch, dinner or cocktails. You are in the right place. From the dramatic interior of the Dome to the trendier vibes of Tigerlily, Le Monde and Copper Blossom, George Street should be at the top of the agenda for any shopping trip to Edinburgh.
Multrees Walk
At the East end of George Street, beside St Andrews Square, lies Multrees Walk. This pedestrianised street is Edinburgh’s home to luxury shopping. Shops on this street include Kurt Geiger, Max Mara, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors and Hugo Boss. Multrees Walk also boasts Scotland’s only Harvey Nichols store, a high-end department store selling the likes of Gucci, Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney as well as a host of other luxury fashion brands. No visit to Multrees Walk, or indeed Edinburgh, is complete without a visit to Harvey Nichols’ Fourth Floor bar and restaurant. As the name suggests, it sits on the fourth floor of the store and offers spectacular views across Edinburgh on one side and across the Firth of Forth into Fife on the other.
Ocean Terminal
Situated by Leith Docks, this large shopping centre is a bit further out of town but well connected via the local bus service. Ocean Terminal is full of high street names, including Debenahms, French Connection, H&M, New Look and White Stuff. Also in the centre is The Leith Collective, a shop run as a community of artists which upcycle products to sell. The range of products is so diverse and can include anything from lamps, mirrors, jewellery and glassware. With new products being upcycled on a daily basis, it is worth visiting the shop to see what is on offer. In addition to the shopping, you can also follow in the footsteps of royalty by boarding the Royal Yacht Britannia. This fascinating tour allows you to explore Britannia’s five decks which were a home away from home for the Royal family when at sea for over 40 years. Or, if you would prefer to put your feet up with a film after a day’s shopping, the Vue cinema offers the latest blockbusters. There are plenty of food outlets to refuel during, or after, your shopping spree, including Wagamama, Pizza Express, Nando’s and Costa. In close proximity to Ocean Terminal are some great restaurants including two Michelin Star restaurants, Martin Wishart and The Kitchin.