Highlights of Princes Street
Princes Street
Princes Street forms the southern edge of Edinburgh’s New Town. Shops, cafés, hotels, offices and cultural venues line the street, and some pavements offer views of Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town.
The Festival Wheel is a Ferris wheel installed only during certain seasons, such as the Edinburgh Festival in summer and the Christmas season in winter.
Princes Street Gardens is a garden stretching along the south side of the street, north of Edinburgh Castle. From the gardens, you can see Edinburgh Castle standing on top of a steep rocky hill.
The “Waverley” in Edinburgh Waverley station takes its name from the novel of the same name by Edinburgh-born writer Walter Scott. The Scott Monument along Princes Street was built between 1840 and 1846 to commemorate his achievements.
The Balmoral, known for its distinctive clock tower, is a luxury hotel adjacent to Edinburgh Waverley station. From Princes Street, the clock tower can also be seen as a landmark of the area around the station.
St Cuthbert Church is located at the western end of Princes Street Gardens. On the eastern apse, pointed arches and buttresses line up to emphasize verticality, making the contours of the Gothic Revival architecture easy to discern.
Princes Street: Basic Information
The information below was checked against official sources on October 13, 2026. Please also check the latest information on the official website when planning your trip.
- 🔗 Official website
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History and area guide to Princes Street from the City of Edinburgh.
Maintenancewww.edinburgh.gov.uk - 📍 Location
- Princes Street, Edinburgh. The street forms the southern edge of Edinburgh's New Town.
- 💶 Price
- Walking along the street is free. Shops, facilities and seasonal attractions such as the Ferris wheel have their own prices and conditions of use.
- ⏱️ Time required
- Allow approximately 1 to 2 hours to walk around the street's main views and nearby highlights.⚠️ The time required varies depending on stops at gardens, shops and seasonal facilities, crowds and time spent taking photographs.
Getting to Princes Street
From Edinburgh Waverley Station, head toward the north exit or Waverley Market, then leave the station via the exit on the Princes Street side. If you are taking the tram, get off at Princes Street and walk toward The Mound and Royal Scottish Academy Building to reach the pavement along the street. From the stop, follow the pavement beside the road toward the shop you want or the entrance on the Princes Street Gardens side.
Waverley Market provides direct access to both Princes Street and Edinburgh Waverley station. If you are visiting the station and the street one after the other, you can follow the signs and use the passage on the shopping-centre side.
For attractions, transport and suggested itineraries, see “Edinburgh: A Guide to Attractions, Food, Transport and Suggested Itineraries”.
