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.

Fountain Park is one of those soulless leisure complexes that is there to use up your hard earned…read morecash. There is a large Cineworld cinema, Pizza Hut, Nandos, a casino, Virgin Active health club, bars, bingo, bowling alley and a kiddies soft play center. I actually quite like Fountain Park because it is right on my doorstep and it has everything I need for an evening on entertainment. There is a large car park so you can drive here and if you use the cinema or other businesses your car park ticket is validated making the parking free. Free parking in Edinburgh is a bonus! You can go for something to eat and know what to expect in the chain restaurants before heading off to the cinema/bowling alley/casino. It's perhaps not as large as some of the out of town complexes you see in the likes of Glasgow, but it does have everything you need and something for everyone.

I have only been to Fountain Park once, for bowling. But I will return this afternoon to visit the…read moreCineworld. Anyway, I feel that this place is largely for the students living around this area as it has a massive Cineworld, a Pizza Hut, a Nando's and a Tenpin bowling alley among its facilities available. The place felt quite empty and depressing the last time I was in and there seemed to be a lot of empty space between the bowling alley and the cinema, with the main concourse functioning as an extended hallway to get between the two. There is an underground car park which is free for the first four hours but if you stay any longer than that, then you will have to pay money for every extra hour you stay there. I did like the bowling alley, and the Pizza Hut was pretty decent when we went to it so I suppose this place serves its purpose with one of the only casual bowling alleys in the Edinburgh area. I hope I will enjoy Cineworld as it seems significantly cheaper than Odeon and Vue.

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.

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.

Good hardware stores are a rare breed these days. Good hardware stores that sell a range as…read moreextensive as Houseproud of Morningside are like dodo eggs. From compost to pans, screwdrivers to bird tables they have it all. Split into two parts, the left hand side sells all the things you'd expect to find in a hardware store and more. They have a nifty garden section, selling pots, trowels, compost, bird tables among other things. They also have the usual range of tools, light bulbs. All the things you'll ever need. The right hand side is dedicated to kitchen products, and they have a huge range. I bought myself a hand blender from there which, at £20, was a little on the expensive side but not too overpriced. Given this place is an independent shop in an affluent area of Edinburgh you can expect to pay a little more than you would in a major chain. However, the staff are engaging and helpful and the plethora of products makes it worth a visit next time you run out of tea towels.

I have always found that good DIY stores, outside of the major chains, are hard to find in…read moreEdinburgh. Houseproud of Morningside are the exception to this rule. Situated on Morningside Road in a visible on-road location, they stand head and shoulders above all others I have tried in the city. As DIY shops go, they stock pretty much everything you would expect to find. From paints to Polyfilla, screwdrivers to sandpaper, they cover all the bases. I've visited this store on two occasions. Firstly, I went to pick up some expanding foam to fill in mouse holes in the flat. Not knowing exactly what I was looking for, I asked the assistance of a member of staff. He helpfully pointed out to me all of the different things they offered, showing a range of prices and uses. He helped me to find the product that was ideal for what I needed it for, and didn't automatically go for the hard sell on the most expensive. The second occasion was to buy a bradawl - something that is like a screwdriver, but has a point on the end rather than a screw head. Whilst this time I didn't need help finding it, the shop assistant at the counter still engaged me in some light-hearted chat whilst I was paying. It's these sort of things that I really appreciate in a small shop like this. They don't view customers as more money for the tills, but engage with you as a person. I will definitely be using this place again, as it saves a trip out of town to one of the larger chain stores. This shop is a must for all your Morningside DIY needs!

Fantastic job done on two engagement rings. Really pleasedread more

Marshalls looks like a traditional, older fashioned jewellery store from the exterior but you may…read morebe pleasantly surprised. I had mistakingly thought it looked a bit outdated, but they've got some lovely, delicate looking rings for as little as a tenner, Ortak necklaces and an interesting collection of second hand gold charms. A lot of their styles will appeal to older generations, but there are contemporary pieces if you look hard enough. Marshalls is also a functioning store that polishes, mends, customises pieces and engraves on request. The business is a Jack of all trades in that respect, but for the casual browser there are both timeless, modern and unusual trinkets to suit a variety of clinetele.

Hoochie Coochie is a little independant fashion boutique in Tollcross, where you can find an array…read moreof affordable lovely dresses, from vintage-style stuff to more gothic-style stuff. It is probably the only shop in town where where you buy clothes from a pirate, aka the lovely man who mans the shop. Apart from lots of lovely dresses, they also have accessories such as bags and shoes. A great place to treat yourself or buy a present!

Why is there only one other review?…read more Such a fun store to shop at. They have the best Christmas jumpers so I don't see why you would go anywhere else to buy one! (Oh right, the price tag...) The store owner is also a PIRATE. Not really. Kind of. He kind of looks like a pirate. He's really nice! So friendly! In short, great clothing and you get to meet a pirate. Kind of.

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.

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.

I presume the name Out of the Blue is meant to send the message that this shop is full of assorted…read moreitems that will surprise you and come across as a bit different, and I would agree that in this case, the shop pretty much deserves the name. There is a wide selection of most gift related genres here, so if you're in a rush to buy someone a present and this shop is nearby, I'd definitely recommend having a peep inside, because you're sure to find something. There are some quirkier items to choose from, like a cheese door wedge (who wouldn't laugh if they saw that in someone's house...no...just me?) and other novelty gifts like a clock, bottle stopper or lip gloss complete with crazy design of some kind. If novelty doesn't do it for you, then there are also plenty of play it safe, people pleasing options, with some pretty trendsome accessories for the home and some awesome women's Irregular Choice bags. There are also office accessories and other manly items like cufflinks, Top Gear and Superman merchandise, plus the eternally can't go wrong option of a good old scented candle for the ladies.

Wow. There are so many gift shops in this area, in fact, there are loads in the whole of Edinburgh…read morebut am I tired of them? Absolutely not. I am an absolute sucker for gift shops, even if the purchase I end up buying is a gift for myself rather than someone else. Out Of The Blue stocks what you would expect from such a store; handmade cards, gift wrap, candles, cuddly toys, home accessories, toiletries and other quirky little keepsakes that make perfect presents and are also good fun to browse. As an avid gardener I was immediately drawn to the cute gardening tools on offer and had to resist temptation as I was actually on a mission to get a gift for a friend. I ended up leaving with a little set of cupcake shaped lip glosses that I'm sure my friend will love, they were very reasonably priced and the staff were really friendly and helpful too.