This is close to Royal Mile and is another epic street with great shopping and great views of the Palace and has a beautiful park alongside it. read more

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One of the cool things about Edinburgh is that even in the area deemed as New Town, you still get some really cool architecture and that historic feel. Although we stayed in Old Town, I liked this area of Edinburgh because they had all the best restaurants! The options were more plentiful here and there were more places to open later at night. read more

It's been a while since the last time we've been in Edinburgh. This time there were a LOT more visitors. There was a festival going on and the streets were packed. Luckily Princes Street is pretty wide, so there was still space to enjoy a walk up and down the street. The shops are what you usually find in major cities. Primark and M&S being to most interesting to us. M&S always has good quality loungewear for low prices. H&M, Kiko, Swatch, Apple - they are all here. But besides the shops there are some sights to spot from here. Of course the Edinburgh Castle. But also the very nice Scottish National Gallery or the impressive Scott Monument. The Princes Street Gardens park is just across the street and worth a look. Be careful crossing the streets though, Princes is a very busy street with lots of traffic. read more

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Princes Street is one of the major streets in Edinburgh's city centre and is arguably the heart of the new town, great for both shopping and just taking in the views of the city. The Scott Monument is located here, along the street you can also find Princess Street Gardens and views of Edinburgh Castle in the distance. Many large stores are located along the street, including Boots and Marks and Spencer, at one end of the street there is also a Waldorf Astoria Hotel, which is the only Waldorf Astoria branded property that Hilton have in the UK. It's nice to walk along the street, but obviously, as a major road runs through it, it isn't always the best during the morning and afternoon peaks, and some shops have now closed to move into the St James Quarter Mall, which is within walking distance. The main shopping street in the capital of Scotland, it may have lost its' prestige slightly since St James Quarter was revamped and reopened, and it may not compare to the Champs-Élysées and co, but there's just something about Princes Street that makes it worth a visit, and a tourist attraction in its' own right in the fantastic city of Edinburgh. 4* read more

No visit to Edinburgh would be complete without a visit to Princes Street and the gardens. What a colossally stunning view of the castle! It's even better in fall when the leaves are changing and the air is crisp. It's such a perfect place to walk and selfie and take normal photos too. On the actual street, there's plenty of shopping. I spent more time in the gardens than on the street though. But I'm sure there are wool shops a'plenty. Old Town is nearby...because most things seem to be nearby in Edinburgh. But I'd say go here and the castle for sure. It's so cool to contrast the perspectives. read more

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I absolutely loved Princess Street Park, you get such a great view of Edinburgh castle and there's so much rich history and greenness all throughout the park. As soon as you walk in you see thistles, which is Scotland's National Flower. I loved seeing little dogs running around it definitely made my heart miss my little fluffs back home! There are a lot of great statues as you walk about and at the very end there's a playground close to a little cafe. We sat and ate cotton candy as we gazed at the castle. read more

This place is always so overwhelmingly busy. Like all the time. A must see for tourists and this is pretty much the central shopping strip for Edinburgh city. I can't think of any shops it's lacking and is pretty much your launching point into old town, new town, the Royal Mile and the gardens across the street. Also within view of stunning monuments like the Scott monument, Nelson monument and its only a short walk to Calton Hill. Ok as I wrote this I'm falling more in love with Princes Street but the fact remains, this place is impossibly busy every hour of the day. That said, if you can think of anything you need or want you'll like find it on Princes Street or within walking distance of it. read more

Princes Street - Local Flavor Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Let me point this out right off the bat: this five star is simply for the view... I like Princes Street when I don't have to walk down it. With a coffee in hand and plunked on a park bench, you'd be hard pressed to find a better view of the skyline (without you know, walking uphill...). At these times, I adore Princes Street... but eventually I have to move and when that happens, if it's not exceptionally early in the morning or exceptionally late at night, love goes to frustration pretty darn quickly. Like any tourist hub, Princes Street is routinely packed to the rafters - with the train station and the aforementioned view, paired with the parade of big box stores, it's tourist heaven and local hell. I actively avoid this street in the summer because I walk exceptionally fast and nothing bugs me more than getting stuck behind a slow family of tourists who have fanned out on the sidewalk. Or worse yet, those groups who unceremoniously stop to take a picture of the castle, causing the pedestrian equivalent of a ten car pile up outside Boots... it's busy. But on a clear weekday night in autumn, walking back from a pint in Old Town there is no place prettier... and for those quiet moments of "whoa, I live here!", I hand over a five star. read more

Open dawn til dusk 365 days a year, Princes Street Gardens is Edinburgh's equivalent of Central Park. Situated in the middle of the city, it was built in 1820 and with the exception of a carousel, childrens playground and ice-rink in the winter, it's remained untouched. There's acres of green grass, pretty flower beds and thousands of shrubs which help create a calm and peaceful environment. Artists can be seen painting canvases in the summer and there's usually a clutter of tourists snapping shots of the surrounding landmarks. Speaking of which, Princes Street Gardens offers picture postcard views of everything from Edinburgh Castle and Scott Monument to the South Bridge, National Portrait Gallery and of course, Princes Street itself. read more

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People, you - you do realise how awesome this street is, right? Right? I've heard people complain about the fact that there are shops only on one side. But - you guys! That's the whole point! That's the joy of it! Instead of a generic shopping street that could be any old place in the world, you have all your usual chains and everything for which the regular high-street fashionista could wish, with the added joy of dazzling views over the gardens and across to the Old Town. You get the gothic majesty of the Walter Scott Monument framed against the spires and turrets of Assembly Hall and St Giles' Cathedral. You get wide pavements to help you in navigating the throngs, and plenty of crossings in the street to take you over to the gallery or the gardens. You get something different from the streets that house these shops in other cities all over the UK. So why on earth would anyone want shops on the other side as well? I can't think of a single chain shop that's missing from Princes Street. Sure, it would be lovely to see some independent shops stake a claim in one of the black empty shopfronts in this currently somewhat snaggle-toothed row, but equally, one goes to Princes Street knowing what one wants, not in the spirit of exploration and creativity which inspires an indy spree - it serves an entirely different purpose, and serves it solidly and with pretty pictures opposite. The only downside to this arrangement is the tourist type that walks along just in front of you and then stops dead in his/her tracks, camera aloft, as though only having just noticed the castle. Still, that's one way to meet to people... read more

I have loads of fave places in Edinburgh but princes street garden is one of them. It's lush green lawn and beautiful backdrop of the various medieval buildings including Edinburgh castle makes this place the perfect place to lounge and watch the world pass by especially in the summer. One of my fave places to do in the summer is hanging out here with friends in the afternoon while eating ice cream. This place is perfect because: 1. It's located right smack in city centre, but when you're in it... It doesn't feel like your in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city centre. 2. It's free to enter and lounge anywhere. 3. So green and filled with lush plants (more so in the summer) 4. Easy place to find...just right smack in city centre. 5. Great place to "people watch." 6. There's places you can buy food like ice cream and enjoy it while chillin. 7. There's benches so if you don't want to sit on grass you don't have to. 8. The lawn is perfect to sit and lay around on... During the sunny days of summer, the tress provide shade. 9. Once you're recharged, you can cross the street and go shopping. 10. If you don't live in Edinburgh, you can easily take the buss or train since Waverley station is nearby and the majority of the bus stops are on princ read more

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This long, one-sided street is a bit like Marmite. You either love or hate it. It is rubbish for shopping as it only has shops on one side of it, but on the other hand it has a spectacular castle on the other side. Overall, on that one sunny day of the year that we have in Edinburgh, it is nice to take a leisurely walk along Princes Street, do a bit of shopping and bask in the glory that is Edinburgh castle. Maybe even grab an ice cream and lie in Princes Street Gardens. Today though, on this wet and miserable March day, I do not like Princes Street. I find it a chore to visit, especially if I want to go to Zara and Topshop as they are at opposite ends. read more

Princes Street - Princes Street, Christmas 2012 - Local Flavor Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Call me crazy, but I'd like to visit Edinburgh in the fog and drizzle someday. I don't know how I got so lucky to have tropical weather on my first visit to Scotland, but this was where I received my only sunburn of the season thus far (it actually happened at the Castle, which is pretty exposed at the top). But I didn't care about the heat, and neither did any of the pale-skinned and -haired ancestral cousins that surrounded me at Princes Street Gardens. The place is so gorgeous, and as it happened, there were so many shady spots on benches and the lawn, one could be protected. This was our picnic spot a couple times, and a place of rest during so many miles of walking. This is a great centerpiece for a day's visit to Edinburgh. There are gardens of many varieties, statuary and memorials, and excellent nature. The trees are decorative. The grass is so small and fine compared to the giant blades in the US. The views are stunning. Right nearby you have the Walter Scott Momument, and the nearby road to the Edinburgh Castle, plus chapels, museums, and other formidable buildings. Princes Street is obviously nearby, so shopping and eateries are a-plenty. There's an M&S grocery very nearby, ideal for a picnic. There's even a ferris wheel. The people watching was good. A couple guys practicing their tightrope juggling were shooed off by the park workers, in consideration of the trees. There were young families, newborn babies lying on the lawns, elderly couples arm-in-arm, purple - haired teens, military, and many foreign languages heard. It reminded me of a smaller Lincoln Park or Central Park. read more

Princes Street - Local Flavor Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Yay! I'm a fan. That's what four stars means, and it sums up Princes Street Gardens pretty well. It's a park in the middle of the city, like, slap bang in the middle. High-street shops on one side, and a big ol' castle on the other. There's a beautiful flower clock created every year, and a charming house belonging to the chief park ranger, plus a really lovely war memorial that I always forget is there. In the middle you've got the Ross Bandstand, which occasionally hosts gigs (I saw Belle and Sebastian here years ago), I challenge you to find a prettier venue. And at the west-most end is a children's play park. For me, it's the place I come and sit for twenty minutes on sunny days when I want to top up my vitamin D and get a break for the office. I'm pretty sure it's almost entirely full of office-workers doing the same thing between 12 and 2pm on weekdays. As long as I continue to work in the city centre, Princes Street Gardens will remain my sunny spot of choice. read more

Princess street brings back so many fond memories .... ~*Fuzzy nostalgia cut scene commences*~ I have truckloads of pictures of me happily frockling on the grass and aimlessly wandering around the entirety of the gardens. It's alluring and beautiful and in a prime location that runs parallel to all the shops. It's a perfect spot to grab a cup of tea, sit under a tree and people watch. Similar to the infamous Central Park in NYC, PSG IS everyone's park. In the spring and summer months, you'll find couples rolling around on the grass, locals leisurely walking, girls sunbathing (when it's not 50 degrees!), tourists oogling at the castle above and crazy American girls commanding piggy back rides from scots... -- wait no that's only when I'm there. Oops! If you're visiting Edinburgh, there's no way you can miss the gardens. ~*End fuzzy stuff*~ read more

Not much to add to what others have written except to say that in mid-April the tulips, daffodils, azaleas, and rhododendrons were at the peak of their blooming. Loads of statues with plaques, playgrounds, a carousel, snack bars, benches, and even a small amphitheater. I hope you Edinburgers (is that the right word?) appreciate how fortunate you are to have this garden in the heart of the city. read more

When I was child, I would go to this garden with my first gf back in highschool and "hold hands and make out" (aww....) under a tree (no joke!). It's under the Castle and right next to Edinburgh Train Station. Edinburgh has many beautiful greens and this one is very nice. It's right next to Princes Street, so you can rest & have a nice lunch or picnic when are tired of window shopping. read more

Princes Street - Local Flavor Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Let's be honest, this is a pretty handy spot of greenery right in the centre of town, with exceptional scenery for your perusal, something which I'm probably completely ungrateful for, having lived in Edinburgh for so long. The merits of lolling around in the gardens are simple. It's an expansive, well designed, green space available to everybody, so if you don't have a garden at home and fancy some chilled out sun basking, or if you're wandering about the centre and want to find a peaceful spot to drink your coffee or eat your lunch, or even just to banter with friends, the gardens are an accessible and scenic option. The gardens stretch across Princes Street in different, large sections, and form part of the dramatic looking landscape which separates old town and new. There are benches at intervals around the gardens, although a lot of people prefer a grassy seat or taking a pew underneath a tree. The views of the old town, including Edinburgh Castle of course, are beautiful from here, plus you have the towering Scott Monument to behold, the National Gallery, and the carousel and grand fountain towards the west side of the gardens. During hotter weather, people flock to the gardens in droves, which does create a really summery atmosphere, even if you can't find as quiet a spot as you would during the rest of the year. I love seeing the gardens most of all at Christmas time, when fairy lights are draped through the trees which border the gardens, and a Christmas fair and ice rink situate themselves inside the gardens for some festive mulled wine drinking and merry frolicking. read more

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What a beautiful park! On the last night of the Fringe festival we were able to sit in the park watch and listen to the orchestra and watch the fireworks! What a great way to start my Edinburgh trip! [I should've started with this review..]. Anyway, we also went here during the day and thankfully, the weather was nice. I love outdoor spaces (pending the weather of course) and this was absolutely lovely. I loved the greenery and flowers! (There's even a flower clock!) I loved the part of the park near the monument where you could just sit on the grass and admire the city and go to the other side and you can admire the castle! This is a great place to just sit with friends and chat, read a book, people watch, contemplate your life as you look out to the city or just admire the beauty of the city. read more

Princes Street - Flower clock! - Local Flavor Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I've only been here once before during the Christmas season when they have their Christmas stalls set up. You can hardly tell it's a nice garden when there are drinks and food stalls set up and kiddie rides everywhere. What a difference a few months make. A gorgeous garden to walk through and relax in or to cut through to get to the main street. We were in town with some friends doing the touristy stuff and decided to take a walk through here on our way towards the castle area. Everything is starting to bloom so right now is the most perfect time to go check out this garden. There are plenty of places to sit about, or lay in the grass. The fountain in the middle is off just now as it's in need of repairs, but i can imagine it being quite nice sitting in the garden listening to the sound of a fountain. read more

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I don't care what anyone else says, this is by far the most beautiful shopping street I have ever seen. Yes, so on rainy/snowy days it's a bit annoying having to put your brolley up every time you venture out of one shop and into another, but where else can you have capital city quality shopping on one side of the street, and a huge big grassy park and views of the gorgeous Edinburgh Castle on the other? Along the main street itself, you'll find all the usual big high street names like Gap, Topshop, Boots, Waterstones, The Body Shop etc and if it's a department store you're after ther's one at each at AND one in the middle (although Jenners is my favourite of the 3). The best thing about Princes Street though, is that it's designed in blocks like in America. It's on these little streets that cut across it every 50 metres or so that all the functional/boring day-to-day things like banks, newsagents and estate agents are - which means there's more room along the Princes Street itself for the good stuff. That said, there is one really, really, annoying thing about Princes Street (aside from the snow issues already mentioned): although it's lovely and beautiful with all the old Georgian and late Victorian architecture, it does mean that the shops are quite small and so most of the bigger ones have two or sometimes even three branches spread along this one street. The amount of times you'll be on autopilot and accidentally go to the wrong H&M for what you need, only to have to trudge what seems like a mile back along the road to the other branch, it's more than a bit of a pain. read more

Princes Street - image courtesy of www.princes-street.com - Local Flavor Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Princes Street is the centre of Edinburgh and is a shopaholics heaven. Lined with all the normal High Street stores, you will find plenty to spend your hard earned cash on. With the castle and gardens on the other side, it really is the perfect shopping street. Retailers must hate not being able to close Princes Street shoppers into a trap of High Street stores, instead they can wander off into the gardens. Pretty much all the bus routes in Edinburgh converge on Princes Street so it is accessible and will send you off in whatever direction you need to go in. Downside is the tram works. But that's another story for another day. read more

Initially I dismissed Princes Street Gardens as a way of filling space - a bit of lawn and a few shrubs, but this was for two reasons: firstly I saw it in winter and secondly because I was wrong. Seeing these gardens in summer is an absolute delight. In my past I've worked as a gardener, visited some truly exceptional gardens and I have to say that I'm impressed. If you are in the Princes Street area this is well worth a visit - there's plenty of benches (and you'll see that I really mean that when you visit it) so you may as well stop here for a rest or for some lunch. I can't think of a better place to take a break. Not only that, but across in your eyeline you'll see the castle and the spectacular mound it sits on. read more

Princes Street - Local Flavor Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Princes Street Gardens is second only to the Meadows for a place to chill out with your mates on hot, sunny days. The only problem is that is that it can get a bit tight for space, especially when everyone's trying to chuck a ball about. Regardless, it's got some well tended grass, nice benches and rows of trees and shrubs which give the place a really relaxed feel. Whenever my friends and I are on Princes Street on scorching days we get a MaccyD's and a milkshake and head down to the gardens. Even when it's not T-shirt and shorts weather, it's still a great place to come and chill out right in the heart of the city. read more

Princes Street - Local Flavor Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

With the festival period under full swing in Edinburgh, walking down Princes Street is a task requiring real patience, and if you feel an aneurism coming on as I have many times over the last few days, it's good to know one can escape down to the gardens. A friend and I discovered the gardens by mistake, and it's got to be The Pleasant Surprise of July 2010! Like many public areas in Edinburgh, it's immaculately maintained. It's also a whole level below Prince's Street so it's quite easy to forget all the chaos taking place just a few seconds away. It's large enough to properly strecth your legs, and they're all sorts of perfectly manicured flower bushes here and there! To top it all off, there's a pretty impressive fountain in the midst of all this, and a mindblowing view of the Edinburgh Castle just above. After spending such a long time mourning over the loss of the meadows, which is about 30 minutes away from my flat, I'm definitely a happy to have found a more than suitable replacement! read more

Princes Street - from wikipedia.org - Local Flavor Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

A very beautiful and inviting place. This is definitely another must visit in Edinburgh. I went there now, in summer and it was fantastic (though I was really lucky to catch some warm days which is pretty unusual for Scotland) The Princes Street Gardens surprised me with its colors and variety. Fairly speaking, I did not expect to see so much finesse and elegance in Scotland. And the Ross Fountain looks so majestic in the middle of all of it. I'm very happy that I got there and spent there some special moments with my friends. Thank You Scotland! read more

Princes Street would almost be like any other except for the gorgeous architecture and panoramic view of Edinburgh Castle, Princes St Gardens and the Old Town. It's filled with all the standard clothes shops, cafes and chemists you'll find everywhere else but is also home to Jenners Department Store, National Gallery of Scotland and the Scott Monument. Conveniently accessible by foot, tram, bus or train, no matter where you're staying in Edinburgh you'll get there easily. A perfect hybrid of shoppers paradise and culture vulture heaven. read more

Princes Street - View from Princess Street - Local Flavor Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Such a wonderful place to visit! Lots to see. Lots to do here. There are beautiful views of the gardens. Though, this is a very busy area. There are quite a few homeless panhandlers, that sometimes sleep on the sidewalks, but none seem overly aggressive or hostile. There are many fine places to grab a bite to eat, and various shops of every kind here. Certainly a place worth visiting, when in Edinburgh! read more

Beautiful garden's with crazy amazing views of Edinburgh. There is a gorgeous fountain towards the end where you can get a great shot of Edinburgh castle in the background. When I was there it was all decked out for the Olympics. A nice change of pace from the hustle and bustle on the streets of Edinburgh. read more

Princes Street - Edinburgh Castle from Princes Street Gardens - Local Flavor Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Nice Gardens, tons of seating space. Located in the city center. I wouldn't necessarily go there but will definitely take my lunch there when i'm on the road to enjoy some fresh air or walk through it rather than on the main shopping street. read more

Princes Street - Local Flavor Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The street in Edinburgh for shopping. I don't even like shopping very much, but I love hanging out on Princes Street, often just to watch people going about their daily lives. The street is nicer since traffic has been diverted off it (with the exception of buses and taxis). There are wide pavements to walk along, plenty of benches to have a seat and relax, and the beautiful Princes Street Gardens to sit in as well, the latter being particularly nice on a sunny day. The street is mainly made up of shops, especially chains like Superdrug, Primark, Debenhams, H&M etc. For more classy shopping, George Street is not far away. When I visit Princes Street, I tend to get coffee at Debenhams. Say what you will about that, but the view of the castle from the Debenhams Cafe is incredible. Princes Street also has attractions, such as the Scott Monument, the National Gallery, and some beautiful architecture as well. Plenty of photo opportunities. So important is this street, that it is the street one imagines when one thinks of "the centre of Edinburgh". Check it out. read more

Princes Street was built in the 18th century and was an area that was made to help the Scottish accept the monarch and hence the names in the area all have references to monarchy- Princes Street, George (the reigning king at the time) Street, Hanover Street etc. The problem with this old architecture is that the buildings are all pretty small and were not designed for the huge department stores that normal British High Streets have been purpose built for. However, there aren't many places in the world where you can shop until your hearts content in the shadow of a beautiful castle and at Christmas with the lights and the Ferris wheel, that lines up alongside the Scott Monument, there really isn't many places better to be! read more

It used to be so nice - and it used to have so many shops and it used... oh let's write what it is now. (well for the last 3 years..) The main word here is "TRAM" or rather the tram works. Which have dominated the street for far to long now. Even-though the full iron cordons have disappeared there is still the aftermath (even before any tram has shown) - Most of the shops have been transformed / closed or replaced. There are many empty units and the majority of the business is phone shops, banks and tatty sellers. I would so much like to write about the lovely strolls you can take here, but that would be a massive lie. The buses (almost all of them pass through Princes Street!) , taxis and general traffic have reclaimed the space once the closures were lifted. Yes, surely it looks over the many famous touristy and photogenically bits of Edinburgh: The Balmoral, Waverley Station, Princes Street Gardens, Mound, The Castle, The National Gallery, Scots Monument, Jenner's and Calton Hill in a distance.. oh.. and of course the Primark Flagship store. - and that's about it. More baffling is that this is the only big street that tourist tend to visit after the Royal Mile / High Street in Old Town. - whilst the hinterland containing Rose Street, George Street and Queen Street in New Town lies mostly unexplored. Hopefully the trams will clean up the traffic and not just add to it and make it even more noisy and unattractive. Also bear in mind that the Christmas Market and annual Hogmanay Street Party is held on this street. About one hundred thousand ( #100000 ) people descent here and squeeze together to celebrate the passing of another year. This is mostly what makes Princes Street a world famous street. 2 stars for the current famous visitor and cultural attractions and 1star for its potential - if the available shops and traffic flows were any better it would be a 5 star affair. sadly I don't see this happening for a long while. read more

Is there any way you can not love Princes Street Gardens? One of the best places for people watching in the world, these beautiful floral gardens are one of Edinburgh's most famous features. Dotted with probably close to 200 benches, it's a great meeting place for it's location and when it's sunny, can be a great place to lie on the grass and enjoy some rays. The Gardens are also home to a fantastic fair at Christmastime, that has half the gardens jam packed with stalls selling cotton candy to authentic polish fast food, a plethora of rides from the ferris wheel to the swings that I'm always absolutely terrified are going to throw me off, and more tourists flocking to it than probably anywhere else in the city. It's so beautiful and Colin and I love coming through every year to go. read more

On a nice day, it's the ideal place to just sit and people watch. On a rainier day, it's still a nice place to people watch. The Princes Street Gardens are lovely to stroll through and I think the key word here is stroll THROUGH. People are always cutting through it to go somewhere else. But it sure makes for lovely scenery! read more

When I was growing up in Glasgow I knew about Princes St. The main street in Edinburgh that gave you everything. If you wanted it, there would be someone on this street or one of the streets just off it that would sell it. 10 years later and I'm living in Edinburgh, and as much as I adore this city which is almost as much if not just a tad more than I adore my Glasgow roots, it seems that Edinburgh REALLY like phone shops. All joking aside now, this is such a beautiful street with fantastic views of the Casltle, the Princes St Gardens are beautiful and there is a bus to just about anywhere on the planet from this street so why is this street being ruined by all these phone shops? In some cases there are more than 1 branch in the same street. 2 Carphone Warehouse's, 2 3Mobile shops, 2 EE shops. Not cool. I understand this has more to do with phone companies being huge capitalists and buying up just about any square foot of space that they can to make a sale, it is a shame that it has gone that way though. I love this street for the views and the fact there are galleries and great places to eat and drink on a nice day. I just wish something could be done about those phone shops. read more

I both love and loath this street. I think this is directly proportionate to the number of people on it. On a busy shopping day, or in peak tourist season, it's hell! On a quiet night with the castle lit up it's amazing. A reminder of why I love Edinburgh. read more

Princes Street Gardens is a stunning oasis in the middle of the city. It has absolutely everything you look for in a city centre park... lawn, trees, shrubs, flowers, I'm pretty sure there's a rhododendron but then again I am botanically challenged. Also, squirrels, lots and lots and lots of squirrels, more squirrels than you could safely fit on a skewer, then again, barbecuing isn't allowed anyway. The gardens are free to visit and split in two by a ruddy big gallery in the middle, so, if it's raining you can get some culture read more

Princes Street... probably the most famous street in Edinburgh after the Royal Mile and Arden Street (the street John Rebus lives on in Ian Rankin's novels). but as much as i love edinburgh and all it's different offerings i'm not a massive fan of princes street. the pros of this street are the shops obviously. i love a roam around jenners as the building is so fantastic. and all the high street brands are there: new look, h&m, top shop, river island, next, and of course primark!! there is also a good sized marks & spencers with a great food hall and a massive HMV which is apparently not closing anymore. so very good for shopping! but then the cons... on a weekend this street and these shops are packed!! i really detest crowds and tend to get very irritated by them so this is not my ideal place to go on a weekend. also the pavements get rather congested with people waiting at bus stops for their next bus and tourists stopping randoming to take pictures and people just generally getting in my way. yeah, really hate crowds... also getting from one side to the other on a bus during rush hour takes agesssssssssss and i feel like i could probably walk it faster. so princes street has some positives but i'm not a big fan and tend to avoid it unless i need something from primark as this is the only location in town. however, i can undertand why it's such a hotspot with the lovely views of the castle and old town and also the beautiful princes street gardens! read more

I noticed yesterday that the listing for Princes St disappeared somehow, so I'm making a new one. Princes St is Edinburgh's main middle-of-the-road shopping street. It's not terribly upmarket but it's certainly not downmarket, it just... is what it is. For affordability, it has just about any type of shop you could want to visit all in one convenient row. I say "convenient" but actually the placement of these businesses means that Princes St can be a nightmare to navigate if you're just trying to get from Point A to Point B, because it has the tendency to be rammed full of people meandering around the shops. For this reason I do my best to avoid it on weekends, especially when it's dry. Everyone's favourite tram works have actually made Princes St a bit more pedestrian friendly in places (and much less friendly in others, when you can't see a crossing for miles) because it has parts of the street closed off to traffic but open to pedestrians. I've heard a rumour that there have been talks to remove non-tram traffic from the street entirely and make it mostly pedestrian, with covered cafe areas and more upmarket shops. That would certainly be interesting as Princes St could be so much more than it is now. The view of the castle and gorgeous Princes St Gardens to one side make this a pretty prime area for tourists to visit, but they're then met with the likes of the Gap and Primark. So for now it's a solid 3 star visit, but we'll see in the future. read more