Beautiful department store on Princes St, with a super unique layout due to the historical building…read moreit's in. If you are from Canada, this store is just like Hudson's Bay. If you are from the USA, it's just like Macy's. Ran out of Clarins cream and stopped here to stock back up. Had AMAZING service by the rep!

I had purchased a cashmere overcoat back in the mid 1980's. Most likely when the store was owned…read more& operated by the original owning family. I'm in the USA. This coat is as good as new almost 40 years later. It was well made. If there was a way to contact the original owning family I would like to thank them for such a well made garment.

It's 5 stars all the way! It's just a great spot that connects you to many different parts of Old…read moreTown. The views of the castle from here are also incredible. Especially if you want to see the volcanic plug under the castle. The best views of it are from here. It's also where you can make your way up the Vennel Steps to see the old defensive walls of the city. There are even two or three different ways that you can get to the castle from here. The Granny Green Steps are located on the west side of the square. It will take you up to Johnston Terrace where you can take another set of stairs called Castle Wynd North up to the castle. The second option is to take the Castle Wynd South path in the middle of the square which will lead into the Patrick Geddes Steps and directly to the North Steps. Another way is to walk up West Bow from the square to Victoria Street (also in Grassmarket). Take the stairway up to Victoria Terrace and then make your way up to the steps at Castle Wynd North or to the Royal Mile. You'll get a different perspective of the Grassmarket area and the castle from all angles. We visited it daily. We even passed through it on our way to Greyfriars Kirkyard via Candlemaker Row. The National Museum of Scotland is also easily accessible from here. The square in Grassmarket is the perfect meet up location. There's a lot of dark history here as well. It was one of the public execution sites that included the unsuccessful one of "Half-Hangit Maggie Dickson" in 1724. There's a bar at the square named after her. You'll also see a memorial written on the stones of the square for the last person (James Andrews) to be hanged at the gallows there on 4 February 1784. All creepiness aside, it's a very lively and active place that you'll pass through at some point. I mean, how could you not? It's an area full of beauty and history. *Updated on 5/5/2026 to correct a name.

Grassmarket is located in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town, just behind Edinburgh Castle. It's one…read moreof the oldest parts of the city, dating back to the 14th century. it is a popular area of the city today, just as it has been for many years. The Grassmarket is one of the most vibrant and charming neighbourhoods in Edinburgh and it's not a place you want to miss. However, one of the best parts about visiting this area are the views you'll get of the castle! Lined with buzzing bars, restaurants with worldwide flavours, delicious coffee shops and eclectic shops, the area's winding streets are a delight to explore at your leisure. Take a historic walking tour. Free historic walking tour maps are available from the local pubs and shops in the area. You can read or listen to the audio history of the area here. OR Visit the Greyfriars Bobby monument and grave site of a devoted little dog.

I've recently been checking out and reviewing some of Edinburgh's many gift shops. I came across…read morethis one today, situated at the top of the High Street, and popped in. If there was a scale of gift shops, this would be at the upmarket end. There is a wealth of cashmere items along with a great deal of tartan, amongst a small range of other clothes. I would imagine the prices would reflect the high quality of the offered product. Thankfully, this shop is not full of any of the mass-produced tourist rubbish that you find in so many gift shops. This shop is for the more discerning shopper, looking for that high-quality memento of their visit to Edinburgh. If you love cashmere, and let's face it, even the name sounds comfortable, then this place may well be one of your first ports of call. Prime location for prime merchandise. Definitely worth a look.

This business is in the road to Edinburgh Castle that so many tourist trek to. There is nothing…read morewrong with this establishment per se. It's one of the many businesses that cater to tourists with Scottish themed merchandise, not locally made. The locals miss the prior local business. The prices were okay, but not great.

Obviously this shop is made for tourists (like me) and has some of the best real estate in…read moreEdinburgh on the Royal Mile. Even though it is touristy, it has an extensive selection of quality scarves and other wool/cashmere products. I purchased a scarf that cost something like £30 and i absolutely love it. The wool is great quality and warm but breathable and the perfect length. There is a wide range of tartan scarves at various price points. I contemplated visiting Johnstons of Elgin but their scarves are more than I'm willing to pay since I don't get to wear it more than a few times a year in Southern California. My little scarf has gone with me to the beautiful Highlands and goes with me on every trip to Scotland or colder climates now and I'm very happy with it. Service was efficient and polite as it tends to be there.

A great shop to see if you're a big Harry Potter fan. I've been to lots of HP gift shops and they…read morehad things I've seen before, for similar pricing. Even if you're not buying, it's still a fun shop!

Calling this a museum is quite a stretch... it is a gift shop for all things Harry Potter. It is…read morecool, but quite small and I wouldn't spend more than 10 minutes waiting in line unless you know for a fact there's something you intend to buy. We waited about 10 minutes and line and probably spent about 10 minutes inside. If we weren't in the area, I don't think it would have been worth it.

I actually really like this place. If you're from the U.S. then it's literally just like TJ. MAXX!…read morethis one is two story. Not too sure if they have a toilet, but I'm sure they do. It's a pretty big store. I also noticed some unique clothing, which I'm a fan of. If I had more room in my luggage then I would've bought some stuff. Haha!

Came here looking for some clothes and luggage. It was just OK and ended up not buying much. Would…read moreput this slightly better than Primark and lower than Mark and Spencer.

This is such a cute store! I visited it twice while I was in Edinburgh. They have lots of eclectic…read moreitems: stickers, cards, gifts, clothing, glasses and jewelry. I bought a couple of very unique pieces and have already received so many compliments on them! Will come back next time I am in town.

It was such an adorable little place, with lots of super adorable badges and stickers. Everything…read moreis such good quality and for really good prices. There is something for everyone there, I visited it when I was in Edinburgh and I got presents for all of my friends. The service was so quick, the line was super long and yet the person at the desk managed to get through everyone so quickly and she was so nice!

We liked it because it wasn't like all the souvenir shops - we are flying out tomorrow and wanted…read moresouvenirs that felt more personal. They had unique items including coin purses, jewelry, scarves, some mugs that didn't look like all the rest .. just a lot of great things in a tiny space.

The store layout seemed a little dated compared to other M&S stores I've been to, but the food hall…read morewas really well stocked and the bathrooms were clean. They had some different clothing items that I hadn't seen before. Definitely worth popping in if you're in town.

Marks and Spencer is a big and well known British retailer.  As we were walking around New Town, we…read moreputzed around in this store located in a prime stretch of Princes St and right across the street from the landmark Scott Monument.  It was a very busy store on a Saturday afternoon.  It was a good opportunity though for the wife to pick up some items like shortbreads, crackers, and cookies, and such as gift boxes and at reasonable prices.  Self check-out was popular and worked well here.

One of only 2 stores on the Royal Mile that is still owned and operated by the same family. The…read moreowners have amassed an amazing collection of truly beautiful pieces of jewelry from a range of prices. You'll find £200 silver rings from the 90s to priceless sapphire necklaces from the 1700s. But for as exquisite as their pieces are, the owners are extremely friendly and, if you ask, will tell you all about the various eras of the Royal Mile. My fiancée tried on a gorgeous silver necklace from a 1940s/50s contemporary of Frida Kahlo, and provided us with a packet of documentation proving it. After buying the piece (it looks amazing on her) we looked up the jewelry designer and found that, frankly, they could have been charging a lot more for the necklace. We walked away with an amazing deal, a beautiful necklace, and probably the best interaction I've ever had at a jewelry shop in my life.

This jewelry store is one very, very special place. Yes, they have amazing gorgeous jewelry, but…read morethe store is way more than that - visiting this store is an experience - a wonderful experience. The kind and brilliant brothers that run the place are nothing short of remarkable. They have taught me so much about jewelry, the history of the jewelry and the area. I visit this store every time I go to Edinburgh, would not miss it.