The New Town
The New Town: squares, crescents and Princes Street
The back story
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Stephencdickson · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout The New Town: squares, crescents and Princes Street
North of Princes Street Gardens lies the Georgian New Town, laid out from the late 18th century: George Street between St Andrew Square and Charlotte Square, Queen Street’s gardens, and the crescents and circuses beyond. Calton Hill closes the view to the east.
Princes Street
The shopping street with the gardens and the castle on one side, from the Balmoral to the Caledonian.
The squares
St Andrew Square for Gleneagles Townhouse, Harvey Nichols and Multrees Walk; Charlotte Square for the Georgian House.
Walk George Street from end to end, then down to Stockbridge.
Our advice: the Scottish National Portrait Gallery on Queen Street is one of the city’s finest rooms.
Why it's on our list
- Princes Street
- The squares
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The New Town: squares, crescents and Princes Street before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from The New Town: squares, crescents and Princes Street 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
- West EndTram450 m6 min walk
- Princes StreetTram550 m7 min walk
- St Andrew SquareTram900 m12 min walk
Key sights
- Edinburgh Castle550 mWalk 7 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 6 min
- St Giles’ Cathedral1.0 kmWalk 13 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 8 min
- National Museum1.2 kmWalk 15 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Royal Botanic Garden1.5 kmWalk 19 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Holyroodhouse2.2 kmWalk 27 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Arthur’s Seat2.9 kmWalk 37 minCycle 13 minCar or taxi 13 min
- Britannia3.8 kmCycle 16 minCar or taxi 15 min
- Edinburgh Airport9.5 kmCycle 41 minCar or taxi 31 min
Main railway stations
- Edinburgh Waverley1.0 kmWalk 12 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Haymarket1.1 kmWalk 13 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 8 min