Leith & the Shore
Leith and the Shore: the port that feeds the city
The back story
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Andrew Tryon · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Leith and the Shore: the port that feeds the city
Leith is Edinburgh’s port, at the mouth of the Water of Leith. Around the Shore and Commercial Quay are three of the city’s seven One-Star restaurants of 2026 (The Kitchin, Restaurant Martin Wishart and Heron); the Royal Yacht Britannia and the floating hotel Fingal are moored nearby, and the tram now runs down Leith Walk to Newhaven.
The Shore
The Kitchin, Restaurant Martin Wishart, Fishers and Barry Fish by the water; Heron on Henderson Street.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Alan Findlay · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsBritannia
The Royal Yacht Britannia at Ocean Terminal, with Fingal moored nearby.
Take the tram down Leith Walk and walk back along the Water of Leith.
Our advice: book dinner in Leith, the city’s best eating quarter.
Why it's on our list
- The Shore
- Britannia
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Leith and the Shore: the port that feeds the city before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Leith and the Shore: the port that feeds the city are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 14 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest tram stops and railway stations
- The ShoreTram200 m3 min walk
- Port of LeithTram250 m3 min walk
- Foot of the WalkTram650 m8 min walk
Key sights
- Britannia800 mWalk 10 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Holyroodhouse2.7 kmWalk 33 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 12 min
- Royal Botanic Garden2.8 kmWalk 35 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 13 min
- St Giles’ Cathedral3.3 kmWalk 41 minCycle 14 minCar or taxi 14 min
- National Museum3.5 kmWalk 44 minCycle 15 minCar or taxi 15 min
- Arthur’s Seat3.6 kmCycle 16 minCar or taxi 15 min
- Edinburgh Castle3.7 kmCycle 16 minCar or taxi 15 min
- Edinburgh Airport12 kmCar or taxi 38 min
Main railway stations
- Edinburgh Waverley3.0 kmWalk 38 minCycle 13 minCar or taxi 13 min
- Haymarket4.6 kmCycle 20 minCar or taxi 18 min