The back story
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The back story
The New Town: squares, crescents and Princes Street
The Georgian New Town: Princes Street and its gardens, George Street, St Andrew Square, Charlotte Square and Calton Hill.
Area guide · Edinburgh
The New Town: our pick of the Georgian streets
Princes Street and its gardens, George Street, St Andrew Square, Charlotte Square, Calton Hill and the galleries.
What's onThis week in Edinburgh
What to see and do
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Princes Street Gardens
The Scott Monument
The Gothic spire to Sir Walter Scott in Princes Street Gardens; climb its stairs for the view.
East Princes Street Gardens, EdinburghExplore View on map
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National Trust for Scotland
The Georgian House
A New Town house on Charlotte Square, furnished as it was in Georgian times.
Charlotte Square, EdinburghExplore View on map
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The monuments
Calton Hill
The hill of monuments at the east end of Princes Street: the National Monument, the Nelson Monument and the city view.
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National Galleries of Scotland
Scottish National Gallery
The national collection of fine art on the Mound, between the Old Town and the New.
The Mound, Edinburgh EH2 2ELExplore View on map
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National Galleries of Scotland
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
The red-sandstone gallery of Scotland’s people on Queen Street, with its painted Great Hall.
1 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JDExplore View on map
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Founded 1826
Royal Scottish Academy
The academy of artists and architects on the Mound, with exhibitions through the year.
The Mound, Edinburgh EH2 2ELExplore View on map
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City Observatory, Calton Hill
Collective
Contemporary art in the old City Observatory on Calton Hill.
38 Calton Hill, Edinburgh EH7 5AAExplore View on map
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Founded 1974
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
One of Scotland’s national orchestras, with its home seasons in Edinburgh.
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Musicals
Edinburgh Playhouse
The big theatre at the top of Leith Walk, for touring musicals.
Greenside Place, Edinburgh EH1 3AAExplore View on map
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Four days at New Year
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay
Four days of New Year celebrations, with the Street Party under the castle.
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Below the castle
Princes Street Gardens
The gardens in the valley between the Old Town and the New, below Castle Rock, with the Ross Fountain.
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Self-guided
Calton Hill at sunset
A short climb from Waterloo Place to the monuments and the best view of the castle and the Old Town.
Where to eat
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One MICHELIN Star (2026)
Lyla
Modern British cooking in a Georgian townhouse on Royal Terrace, below Calton Hill.
3 Royal Terrace, EH7 5AB, EdinburghExplore View on map
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Bib Gourmand (2026)
tipo
Small plates and handmade pasta on Hanover Street.
110 Hanover Street, EH2 1DR, EdinburghExplore View on map
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Bib Gourmand (2026)
Noto
Asian-influenced small plates on Thistle Street.
47a Thistle Street, EH2 1DY, EdinburghExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
Number One
The Balmoral’s restaurant at 1 Princes Street.
1 Princes Street, EH2 2EQ, EdinburghExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
The Spence
All-day dining at Gleneagles Townhouse on St Andrew Square.
39 St Andrew Square, EH2 2AD, EdinburghExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
Lucky Yu
Asian-influenced cooking on Broughton Street.
53-55 Broughton Street, EH1 3RJ, EdinburghExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
Vinette
Modern British cooking on Broughton Street.
36 Broughton Street, EH1 3SB, EdinburghExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
The Broughton
A bar and kitchen on Broughton Street.
46-48A Broughton Street, EH1 3SA, EdinburghExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
Spry
A wine bar and kitchen at the top of Leith Walk.
1 Haddington Place, EH7 4AE, EdinburghExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
Little Capo
Contemporary Italian cooking on Howe Street.
18 Howe Street, EH3 6TG, EdinburghExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
Montrose
Modern cooking on Montrose Terrace, east of Calton Hill.
1 Montrose Terrace, EH7 5DJ, EdinburghExplore View on map
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A Parisian lane
Cafe St Honoré
Neil Forbes’s restaurant in a New Town lane, with daily-changing menus of local, seasonal produce.
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In Royal Terrace Gardens
The Gardener’s Cottage
Seasonal cooking in a small cottage in Royal Terrace Gardens, at the foot of Calton Hill.
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Bombay comfort food
Dishoom Edinburgh
Bombay comfort food from breakfast to late, in a room on St Andrew Square inspired by Patrick Geddes.
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Since 1934
Valvona & Crolla
The Italian delicatessen and caffè on Elm Row, a family business since 1934.
Elm Row, Edinburgh EH7 4AAExplore View on map
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Italian and Scottish
Contini George Street
The Contini family’s Italian restaurant on George Street.
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Under the glass dome
Palm Court at The Balmoral
Afternoon tea in the Balmoral’s Palm Court, at 1 Princes Street.
1 Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 2EQExplore View on map
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Bars
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Below Queen Street
Bramble
A basement cocktail bar on Queen Street, open late, walk-ins only.
16a Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JEExplore View on map
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Edwardian island bar
The Abbotsford
An Edwardian pub on Rose Street with an island bar of Spanish mahogany.
Rose Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PRExplore View on map
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The Stewarts since 1896
The Guildford Arms
A Victorian bar off Princes Street, run by the Stewart family since 1896.
West Register Street, Edinburgh EH2 2AAExplore View on map
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St Andrew Square
Lady Libertine
A multi-level bar and restaurant near George Street, with cocktails and DJs.
Shopping
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St Andrew Square
Harvey Nichols Edinburgh
The luxury department store on St Andrew Square, at the head of Multrees Walk.
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Off St Andrew Square
Multrees Walk
The pedestrian street of luxury boutiques off St Andrew Square.
Multrees Walk, Edinburgh EH1 3DQExplore View on map
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Formerly St James Quarter
Westfield St James Quarter
The city-centre shopping quarter at the east end of the New Town, by Princes Street and Waverley.
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Independent
Topping & Company Booksellers
An independent bookshop by Calton Hill, with author events.
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Broughton Place
Lyon & Turnbull
The auction house on Broughton Place: fine art, antiques, jewellery and design.
Where to stay
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Rocco Forte · 1 Princes Street
The Balmoral
Rocco Forte’s grand hotel at the east end of Princes Street, above Waverley, with Number One, Palm Court and a spa.
1 Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 2EQExplore View on map
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St Andrew Square
Gleneagles Townhouse
Gleneagles’ city house on St Andrew Square, with The Spence, a rooftop bar and a private members’ club.
39 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2ADExplore View on map
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On Charlotte Square
Kimpton Charlotte Square
A hotel and spa in the Georgian houses of Charlotte Square, at the west end of George Street.
Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4HQExplore View on map
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Westfield St James Quarter
W Edinburgh
The W hotel in the coiled-ribbon tower above Westfield St James Quarter, at the east end of the New Town.
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Serviced residence
Cheval The Edinburgh Grand
Five-star serviced apartments on St Andrew Square, by the Cheval Collection.
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St Andrew Square
Malmaison Edinburgh City
Malmaison’s New Town hotel in Buchan House on St Andrew Square, with its bar and brasserie.
Health and wellness
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Charlotte Square
The Spa at Kimpton Charlotte Square
A spa in the hotel on Charlotte Square: massage, sound therapy and spa days.
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