In short
Edinburgh's New Town is a grid of Georgian streets, crescents and squares built from the 1760s, just north of Princes Street. Together with the Old Town it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Come for George Street's shops and restaurants, the grand circles of Moray Place and the view from Calton Hill.
Look north from the Castle and you’ll see the New Town: a grid of wide, elegant streets, crescents and private gardens laid out from the 1760s. It’s “new” only by Edinburgh standards, and it’s one of the finest examples of Georgian town planning anywhere in the world.
What’s the New Town like?
By the 18th century the medieval Old Town was dangerously overcrowded, and the city’s wealthier residents wanted space, light and fresh air. In 1766 a young architect called James Craig won a competition to design a new town on the fields to the north. His plan, three parallel streets between two grand squares, is still there today: Princes Street, George Street and Queen Street, between St Andrew Square and Charlotte Square.
The New Town kept growing north and west over the next 60 years, with grand circles like Moray Place and Royal Circus. Together with the Old Town, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What to see
- George Street, the grand middle street, lined with shops, bars and restaurants.
- Charlotte Square, designed by Robert Adam, where The Georgian House (National Trust for Scotland) shows how a wealthy family lived around 1800.
- The Scottish National Portrait Gallery on Queen Street, free and beautiful inside.
- Moray Place and Ainslie Place, for the grandest circular terraces in the city.
- Calton Hill, at the east end, for the classic view back over the city.
- Circus Lane, at the northern edge, where the New Town meets Stockbridge.
Where to eat and drink
Thistle Street is a narrow lane packed with good restaurants. Rose Street, between Princes Street and George Street, is lined with traditional pubs. George Street has the big, glamorous bars and restaurants. Book ahead at weekends.
A New Town walk
Start at St Andrew Square, walk the length of George Street to Charlotte Square, then head downhill through Moray Place and Royal Circus to Stockbridge. It’s about 45 minutes at a gentle pace, and almost all downhill.
A perfect day in the New Town
- Morning: Sunrise on Calton Hill, then breakfast near St Andrew Square.
- Late morning: The Scottish National Portrait Gallery on Queen Street.
- Lunch: Somewhere on Thistle Street.
- Afternoon: The Georgian House on Charlotte Square, then walk down through Moray Place and Royal Circus to Circus Lane.
- Evening: A pint on Rose Street and dinner back on George Street.
Getting there
The New Town starts right outside Waverley station and runs north from Princes Street. Trams run along Princes Street and down to St Andrew Square.
Good for
Architecture, shopping, smart dinners and a calmer place to stay than the Old Town while still being right in the centre.
Good to know
Questions people ask
Why is it called the New Town?
It was built from the 1760s as a planned extension to relieve the crowded medieval Old Town.
What is the main street in the New Town?
George Street, with Princes Street and Queen Street running parallel either side.
