princess street in edinburgh

Shopping on Princes Street [map] is a fairly unique experience as shopping meets sightseeing in an intriguing showdown.

Dividing the Old Town from the New Town Princes Street is Edinburgh’s main thoroughfare with views of the castle and the gardens on one side and on the other, a commercial hub.

Princes Street’s most famous resident is Jenners, considered to be the Harrods of Edinburgh. Founded in 1838 it is the oldest privately owned department store in the world and houses a fabulous food hall, a beauty salon and a great toy section as well as everything you’d expect from a department store.

Also on Princes Street, not to be lost amongst the bookshops, record shops and department stores is Romanes & Paterson, an Aladdin’s cave of all things Scottish.

For even more shops try the Princes Mall (also known as Waverly Mall) found opposite Jenners by Waverly train station. Built on the site of an old fruit and veg market, the mall boasts Edinburgh’s only branded food court and has more than 50 shops for you to browse around.

If the shopping gets too much you can take refuge in Princes Street Gardens along the south side of Princes Street. Featuring a floral clock and a Victorian iron fountain, these gardens stretch from the foot of the castle to the west end of the city.

Within the gardens, you’ll find are a number of monuments and statues including the 200ft Scott Monument, the largest monument in the world commemorating a writer.

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