When New Town was being built you have to admit they were quite clever about a number of things. Princes street is one of them: with shops only allowed to be built on one side (and particularly the sunny side- whenever the sun is out) and leaving the opposite side as a public path with an unobstructed view of the Castle makes shopping quite enjoyable. Granted the recent tram line works have caused a lot of obstruction and the modern shop fronts have ruined the New Town architecture of the 1800s this is certainly a quite original shopping street. It has primarily big clothes chains and department stores (such as Debenhams and Jenner's ) with the occasional Boots, Body Shop or HSBC thrown in. Here's a fun geeky fact for you: Princes street actually is for the plural of prince rather than Princess street which it is frequently confused for. There are a lot of buses coming up and down going to all corners of Edinburgh, so it's quite a good central spot for some strolling around shopping. If however, outdoor walking is not your thing you might be better off at one of the larger department stores located out of Town. read more

Firstly, lets avoid the nasty business of the trams that are being installed onto princes Street - no matter who you ask, you'll just end up with a disgruntled mumble. So lets avoid it all together. So, you can keep your Oxford Street and your Bond Street, London. Give me Princes Street in Edinburgh any day. What makes Princes Street so special? Is it the huge number of shops - everything from world famous department stores such as Jenners, to modern and new shops such as Urban Legend - as well as everything in between? Or is it the fact that while on one side there are some of the best shops around, and on the other is a simply breathtaking view of the Castle and Princes Street Gardens? In my opinion, it could be both. read more

Princes Street - From Princes Street Website - Local Flavor Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Princes Street is by far my favourite place to shop in Edinburgh. Infact, I really can't see past it and rarely bother going elsewhere. Everything you need is on this street, and in my opinion, the Topshop, H&M and Miss Selfridge are the main attractions, and probably the best I have shopped in in Scotland. Of course you have the complete opposite of the busy shopping street just across the road. Just a couple of minutes and you can be sitting on the grass or having a coffee at The Fountain Cafe whilst gazing up at some of the most spectacular scenery you will ever see. Perfection. So if its an eclectic mix of metropolitan shopping and peaceful, breathtaking scenery you want, there is simply no other place to go than Princes Street Edinburgh. read more

Princes Street is a fab High Street and it is home to many of my favourite shops; Whittard of Chelsea, Superdrug and a huge Topshop to name a few. I really could spend hours in the Topshop here, it's incredible! It's also home to the infamous Jenners. On top of all of the shops it's has a stunning view of Edinburgh Castle and it's only a stones throw from the train station - perfect! The main downside is trying to cross Princes Street, it's choc-a-block with cars and buses so I usually play it safe and wait for the trusty old green man. I think I've lost a few of my nine lives running across it before. read more

With the backdrop of Edinburgh castle and well kept flora, Prices Street Gardens is an ideal parallel to the to the, at times, busy and congested shopping district of Edinburgh. Catch the gardens on a sunny day and you'll find it attracts a variety of people young and old, a interesting mix of activity (the occasional performing arts demonstration), and all round pleasant atmosphere. Ideal for sprawling out on the grass verges with your lunch, staring up towards the castle perched on its towering rock formation. read more

Princes Street - Local Flavor Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

As a fully-fledged, loud and proud misery guts, I tend to prefer it when it's grey and drizzly rather than beaming down with sunshine. To that end, I'm maybe not the best person to commentate on Prince's Street Gardens, but regardless of my dislike for sunshine, it's very beautiful and has cracking views over the castle and some of Edinburgh's other grand buildings. It's still no excuse to take your top off, guzzle cider and chuck a frisbee about as soon as the thermometer hits 20. read more

Princes Street is one of the most iconic, unieque high streets in the world. Where else can you shop till you drop with an ancient castle looming over you on the horizon? The shopping side of Princes Street is made up of high street components. Although the vast majority of the stores can be found on any high street or mall in the UK (and occasionally beyond), they are all well kept outlets set in gorgeous Georgian and Victorian buildings. If you care to look away from the bright lights of River Island for a second, the architecture is absolutely stunning on most of these buildings. For over a mile. Princes Street stretches on, and is probably the most straightforward of all town centres to navigate since you don't have to veer up any side streets. If you choose to there are some lovely ones, but if you just fancy a high street blitz, it's all there for you. You can't possibly get lost, and even if you do achieve the impossible there will be plenty of locals around to help you out. Facing out over the glorious Princes St Gardens, castle and Wallace Monument, it is a momentous occasion walking down this street for the first time. The mixture of old and new is breathtaking, and with shops as different as Jenners and Topshop it makes for a fine day shopping. read more

Edinburgh isn't exactly known for its shopping. Infact, if I need to go shopping I'll get the train to Glasgow, because they have more selection and Primark! Being a student, Primark is important. There have been a few rumours that Primark will be opening in Edinburgh Princes St too, and I've seen the signs myself but nothing seems to happen! Princes st has a great selection of shops though. Jenners at one end and House of Fraser at the other, you're just as well to spend the day in here. There is Topshop, H&M (two of them), Office, All Saints, Urban Outfitters and many, many more. Yeah it all looks good on paper, ut in reality it's a total nightmare trying to walk along the street. It's wide enough, so you would think there wouldn't be much of a problem, but my God I've wanted to punch a few people here. It gets too busy, simple! If you're not stuck behind the slowest people on the planet, you're stuck on a collision course with someone wanting money from you. Although the shops are brilliant, I hate shopping on Princes Street because I have a very short fuse when it comes to being stuck behind slow people or trying to thread my way through crowds! The solution is simple though - cross the road and walk on the other side! read more

Even though Princes Street gardens have been reviewed many times before, I thought I would contribute my own view of one of Edinburgh's delights! The gardens, which were artificially made (The area used to be a lake) is the ideal place to chill out in the city centre on a hot day! The gardens are all bright and well looked after. Whilst sitting and walking in the gardens you are offered great views of the city, including views looking up to the castle. Inside the gardens, the Sir Walter Scott Monument is located there, with it being a tourist hot spot. Deeper in the gardens there is an open air stage which has been home to many public music events. During the winter, these gardens are transformed into the Christmas village, with a Ferris wheel and an ice rink. Whatever time of year though, Princes Street gardens always stands out! read more

I always think it's bizarre that the main street in Edinburgh only has shops on one side of the street. The other side has the jaw-droppingly stunning view of Prince Street Gardens, with Edinburgh Castle keeping a watchful eye high above on the rocks, and railway lines running right through the bottom of the valley. There can be no other place quite like it. It's especially pretty at the height of summer, but it's gorgeous when the gardens are covered in snow too. If you visit Edinburgh, it's a must see. Don't be like us local people who often take it for granted. read more

Has amazing views... Is great in any season... Staple of Edina. read more

As my sister-in-law says the sun always shines in Princes Street. And unless you're walking east-to-west that is a joyous thing! Yes, the street is full of the same old, same old brand names (Gap, O2, M&S, Boots et al), yes, it can get pretty crowded at peak shopping times, but.BUT where else in the world do you shop with such a backdrop? I live in this city and I never get tired of the view; the crowds, oh yes, but never the view. And the joy of Edinburgh is that you don't have to walk that far to get away from the hordes and the run-of-the-mill: Stockbridge for the foodies, Dundas Street for the art collectors, Cockburn Street for the eclectic, St Andrews Square for the fashionistas. There are other cities with either better restaurants or better shops or better views; but no other city in the world offers all three (and more) within walking distance of the city centre. A pocket-sized gem. read more

Great place for people watching in the city! Ess read more

BUSY BUSY BUSY Part of Edinburgh historic heritage almost half the shops on this street and and in old stonework buildings. The other half are modern If you are not a fan or crowds don't go there at peak times and never go there at the weekend. Always best to plan ahead and if they main street cut along rose street it is far safer. Good a few decent shops. There is a lot of road work in town ATM so bare that in mind when trying to get in to town. read more

As this review is for shopping on Princes Street I have to say it is not great. I agree with the other posters - it is an absolute sin that there are tat shops on what should be one of the most spectacular streets in the world. The surroundings are phenomenal and if I was to review the scenery and attractions it would be 5 star all the way. Edinburgh needs to pull it finger out and improve it's shops. Many smaller cities and even towns have a better selection. I love the tradition of Jenners. Frasers and Harvey Nics added to George Streets designer shops add a little something but Princes Street - you could do better. The best time to walk along Princes Street is very early morning before any of the shops open. You can then wander along at your leisure, window shop and enjoy the views of the castle etc. Christmas and the German Market makes it worth facing the crowds. But for a days shopping probably to be avoided. read more

Princes Street is fast becoming an embarassment. It's becoming filled with souvenier shops blaring horrible bagpipe music, mobile phone shops and various chain stores. The recent tram works have made it an eyesore and shops are suffering. I think it's really odd to see the Monument, Gardens, Castle, Art Gallery etc on one side and this jumble of noise and colour on the other. It's not a good look. read more

Gorgeous park! The view of the castle is stunning from this location. The benefits of rainy places are the gorgeous vegetation it brings. The flowers are so pretty. Enjoy a nice day at the park. read more

Dressed with history, beauty, glamour and ambience, Princes Street gives the unsuspecting passerby a glimpse of Edinburgh's historic splendour as well as its buzzing high street shops and cafes. The southern to mid-section of the street is enriched with the commanding Walter Scott Monument, the peaceful sanctity of the Princes Street Gardens, the Grecian-style National Gallery and the Bank of Scotland headquarters towering in the distance, all set against the emotional sounds of the lone piper that usually plays throughout the day. Boutique stores and major mainstream outlets equipped with the latest trends and fashion in clothes, music and home décor, will easily charm you into perusing. A vast collection of statues commemorating Scotland's heroes are situated throughout the length of the street, providing a window into times gone by. Visiting Princes Street wouldn't be the same if you didn't take time to browse in Jenner's, the world class department store often referred to as Edinburgh's Harrods. Housed in a Victorian building, this multi-storey store offers class and style with elegant chandeliers and dark wooden banisters. If you are feeling hungry, the café in Jenner's does a mouth watering and very reasonably priced full Scottish breakfast. read more

Princess street shopping is an experience , especially on a Saturday , basically it's one long streets with shops on the one side and it can get very very crowded, there is a number of great shops on princess street including Jenners , HMV , Disney store and all your usual high street shopping. This is defiantly not for everyone as it does get very busy during festival and seasonally holidays i would prefer to go to Glasgow as i think there is more range than Edinburgh. read more

I am not a massive fan of Princes street , a bit too busy for me and the shops are not really up to much ( most of the same high street stores can be found in near by malls that are much quieter and warmer) the tram works make it even more of a nightmare. However, there are some attractions such as Jenners, the gardens, scots monument and the Galleries. read more

I am a fan of Princes Street. it is crowded, granted, however it is the main shopping street in the capital of Scotland so that is to be expected. Despite this, it is also the only one sided main shopping street that i'm aware of in the UK and on the other side is a spectacular view of Edinburgh Castle. As you'd expect, there are all the main high street shops on Princes Street, and a ridiculous amount of phone shops. Try and avoid the robot guy that stands near Super Drug and pretends to be a robot. He's just intensely annoying read more

It used to be lovely to stroll along Princes Street, window-shopping and browsing through shops but now it is something to be endured rather than enjoyed. The selection of shops is poor, the cheap souvenir shops alone bring the tone down a whole notch or two, and the constant roadworks are nothing short of depressing. It is still nice to go when there are markets in Castle Street or for special events but I would no longer consider it to be the premier place to shop in Edinburgh. read more

We visited Edinburgh last month, and I am a fan of Princes Street. This is the first time we have visited Edinburgh, but certainly impressed with the number of shops available, and the type of shops. It is very bustling and busy, but that all makes for the experience and adds to the atmosphere. read more

Princes Street gardens are the perfect place to spend one of the few sunny days we have in Edinburgh. Situated off Princes Street and split into East Princes Street Gardens (with the Scott Monument within) and the larger West Princes Street Gardens (with the Bandstand and childrens play park). Personally I prefer the West side, as the view of Edinburgh Castle is more stunning, and there's more space for everyone to get their patch of grass. The gardens are very well maintained by a large group of park wardens and gardeners and always look well kept. The clock made out of flowers at the steps of the West Princes Street gardens is famous in its own right, and people often gather to watch the cuckoo come out on the hour. All in all, a great place to spend a lazy day with an ice cream, watching the world go by read more

Loves going there for a walk, to avoid the Princes street It is a nice place to look at the greenery and the flowers beds Even to lie on the grass to look up at the edinburgh castle to admire the structure and the views really quiet after the traffic noise on the prices street I think it is the steep slope, which might have blocked out the noise. Even I love the summer times, while it is sunny, i tends to go there to lie on the grass, along with ice cream from the ice cream stalls, and to read a book... read more

George Street has now taken over from Princes Street as the place to shop. Princes Street is now full of bog standard chain stores and lots of discount stores and those awful loud Scotland shops that have started to spring up in Edinburgh - you can buy kilt towels and those hats with ginger hair attached! Give it a miss and try out George Street, Rose Street and some of the little streets that run up from Princes Street and over to Queen Street. read more

If you're visiting Edinburgh you'd certainly want to walk the length of Princes Street at least once - to the South there are some breathtaking views across the garden to the old town and several of Edinburgh's other iconic monuments. However, to the North the views aren't so pretty - lots of ugly 70's facades here. In terms of shopping, well there are lots of the usual chain stores that you can get anywhere else, plus a number of tartan shops with some eminently tacky rock/celtic music hybrid tunes pouring out the front door that are strictly for souvenir-hunters. Oooh and there's the famous department store Jenners as well, which is quite impressive but not the easiest of shops to navigate through (it's a bit like a maze!) My main probs with the street itself though are that during the day it's really crowded, especially around tourist seasons, and there are too many pushy sorts trying to get you to sign up for charity donations or to take part in some survey. The location also means that it's very exposed and windy at times. Generally, ok as a sightseeing experience or for big name shopping, but otherwise there's better in Edinburgh if you are able to spend a little more time exploring and are after some more interesting shops. read more

I love princes street , it is always alive :) i love it in all seasons! The festival in summer and german xmas market in xmas :) i dont shop there i just enjoy the scenery and the vibes :) read more

Altough it's based right in the very center of the city I like the place becuase it's more quiet than you think. You can relax on the grass looking up at the castle, you can feed the squirrels or enjoy a picnic on a summer day. Plus it has 2 historical monuments - a hughe and very original fountain made from iron (closer to the West End entrance) and the War Monument (entrance close to the National Gallery). Apart from that you can access the Castle from the gardes via a steep path going straight up from the base of the castle hill. check it out for yourselves...maybe a romantic autumn walk with the love of your life?? read more

Princes' Street is the shopping heartland of Scotland's capital city. It boasts a wealth of clothes stores, fast-food outlets and various franchises, such as the reputable book store Waterstones and Starbucks. It's the ideal location for a spot of retail therapy, with the stylish, designer stores in the parallel-running George Street particularly popular with wealthier customers. Scotland's grandest department store, Jenners, is the stand-out store on Princes' Street. Its huge depth and variety provides something for everyone: from fashion to jewellery to household accessories, it attracts thousands of shoppers every day. The foodhall and restaurant are particularly popular. To escape from the madness on princes' street, walk over the road - avoiding the endless stream of cars and buses - to find the sanctuary of the gardens. There, one can relax and escape from it all. read more

Princes Street shopping is decent enough and there is plenty of selection to choose from. There are also lots of cafes/bars/restaurants to have lunch/dinner in or a drink or 4. There are several entrances/exits which are linked with train station too - so be careful if youre meeting friends as it can be a bit confusing! read more

Princes Street is not as good as it used to be, there are far too many cheap tourist shops now, instead of all the high street stores which we always had before. Obviously you have still got a lot of high street stores like M&S, BHS, Jenners, Frasers, Next, River Island etc. But for a capital city i dont feel it does us justice, we could do so much more with the high street. On a Saturday it is far too crowded, and with not much room on the pavements it gets very frustrating. read more

I quite like princess street, and that is possibly because I only get to go there once and a while. I think it has a good range of shops, however I do agree that there are way to many rubbish Scottish shopping selling rubbish pretend Scottish stuff, and playing rubbish pretend Scottish music. There are also way to many mobile phone shops along princess street. Back to a positive note, there is a huge M&S, a Frasers and a Jenners along with lots of other shops like Next, Boots etc. If you fancy a day shopping at reasonable prices then Princess Street is a good place to be. Fantastic scenic views of the Castle and it's lovely wondering through Princess Street Gardens, especially at Xmas time when they have Winter Wonderland and the Xmas stalls etc. It is a busy street to try and maneuver along but no more busy than if you were shopping in Glasgow. It is really nice to wander along Princess Street early morning or late evening when it's less busy and you can enjoy the surroundings a lot more. read more

These are surprisingly peaceful gardens considering the main bustle of the shopping is just across the road. Unusual to have such interesting gardens so near to the shops with so much to see. Over looked by the castle, there is in fact two gardens, west & east, divided by the Mound. They are much larger than they first appear and there are two churches, a children's play area and some beautiful statues, including Sir Walter Scott. The plantings are beautiful and ever changing with some lovely rose beds. The Ross fountain reigns supreme but is usually turned off in the winter. This is an ideal place for a break from shopping, a casual walk, lunch or a picnic. It is the site for many events throughout the year. Railway station right at the end, buses all along the stretch & parking just follow the usual signs. read more

I love coming here to chill out on the lawn in summer time, it's great. And because you are allowed to drink outside in Edinburgh, you can get a bit of a party going with some friends if you want to. In winter time also, Princes Street Gardens hosts many attractions, such as a German-themed winter market. Definitely worth checking out no matter what time of year. read more

Princes Street Gardens are perfectly located in the centre of Edinburgh. Adjacent to Princes Street with all its shops and in the shadow of Edinburgh castle there really is no better place to enjoy a nice stroll or to people watch. In the summer the gardens fill with people having picnics or stopping for a rest amidst a nice long stroll. There is also a park and carousel in the summer months for the children and all year round there are cafes and stands with seats to eat at or have a drink on in the fresh air. read more

Princes Street Gardens is not to be missed if you're visiting the city, and should be enjoyed by all the residents. The gardens are beautiful and surprisingly peaceful despite the proximity to Princes Street. It used to be one of my favourite places to visit in the city and I look forward to seeing it again. My memory of the gardens is marred only by an experience we had with a Council worker there. My wife and I were feeding the birds in the garden and as they were pecking at the breadcrumbs we'd thrown for them this man in a yellow waistcoat came charging up to us screaming about how we were littering and threatening us to try and get us to clean up the crumbs the birds would have eaten had it not been for his loud intrusion. Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon experience in the gardens. Those in charge of maintaining the place can be a little militant and can tarnish an otherwise beautiful day. Not the fault of the gardens, but one star removed because of their obtrusive and sometimes offensive behaviour. read more

Lovely gardens with an even lovelier view of the city. What could be better - nature meets architecture. Definitely a place to go if you are in the area. Evening, morning - ANYTIME! read more

Beautiful plave and lovely to spend time in any season of the year. 1 star is taken off of it due to the drunken tramps.(raggedy men rather than slutty females lol) read more

A wonderful green space in the centre of this big Scottish city. We had a wonderful sunny afternoon and took a stroll through these gardens. The floral clock is really nice and has a display every half hour (I think!), it makes for a really nice walk through the city and the green of the grass is perfect. I hear it used to be the dumping ground for sewerage in the 14th - 18th century! (No wonder the grass is so green!) It's a beautiful spot to check out in Edinburgh, a bit of a hidden gem! read more