is Edinburgh a good place for at shopping trip, if yes, where area the best areas to go?

[IWantToLiveInPawnee]

Thinking about Edinburgh, is the shopping any good and which shops are a 'must'?

Thanks.

[BrexitentialCrisis]

If you fancy a good rummage, the Stockbridge charity shops are great! Full of classy stuff. And there are lovely cafes to go to afterwards.

[sugarmonster64]

I think Glasgow is better as its larger but Edinburgh is ok. It is pretty compact and main area is princes street and multrees walk/st James. George street has some shops like whistles etc. What kind of shops are you wanting?

[BrexitentialCrisis]

Failing that, princes st has an anthropologie, although the rest of it is pretty tatty and standard for any uk high street.

Glasgow is very good for shopping too.

[IWantToLiveInPawnee]

Whistles, Zara, all saints, John lewis and house of Fraser?

Plus little boutiques

Where is the best place to eat?

Looking at a hotel in Stockbridge, is that a nice area?

Is there anything else to do? Is the castle worth a visit?

Thanks again!

[MsBlandingsBuildsHerDreamHouse]

Another vote for Glasgow for shopping. Edinburgh has world class museums and galleries though. The National Portrait Gallery is mesmerising and I love the National Museum of Scotland too.

[sugarmonster64]

You'll find all those fairly close to each other. Stockbridge is lovely and really close to centre of town. Food again depends on what you fancy - scram and scally is Gastropub in Stockbridge, chaopraya nice Thai food, ondine does good fish, stac polly or Angels with bagpipes traditional Scottish and pomegranate highly recommended too. Castle is good as is a walk up Arthur's seat if it's nice. If you're visiting in August festival is on and it's full of shows and street performers.

[SauvignonPlonker]

Glasgow is definitely better. Whilst there are 2 House of Fraser stores in Edinburgh, the West End one is tiny, and the main store is much smaller than the Glasgow store.

West End of Glasgow has some lovely vintage shops eg Starry Starry Night. Some nice places in Merchant City too. There's a few boutiques in Edinburgh in William St & Thistle St, a few vintage shops on the way up from Waverley Station to the Royal Mile (Cockburn St, I think).

Some great museums in Glasgow too, Kelvingrove in West End, Modern Art Gallery right in the middle of town.

[AgentProvocateur]

I was going to recommend Glasgow too! Much better for shopping.

[Nospringflower]

Edinburgh is great for being compact enough to walk around and shops are good too.

Stockbridge would be a great place to stay as its close to the shops, with little shops itself and nice food places.

Scenery is spectacular - what's not to like. Glasgow's ok too though!

[LadyAntonella]

Definitely agree Glasgow is way better if you're primarily going for shopping. If you're combining with sightseeing and shops aren't such an issue then Princes Street is ok. Jenners has some nice concessions and is in a lovely building and I also liked Stockbridge for charity shops and cheese (really) and Ocean Terminal in Leith for bog standard high street stuff. I love Edinburgh as a city though. I used to live there and pine for it... ... TAKE ME WITH YOU!

[Veterinari]

Edinburgh is great:

Armitage and sons for vintage
Bruntsfield/morningside for charity shops, quirky gift shops and cafes
West port and Grassmarket for books, vintage and gifts
Causewayside for antiques
Royal mile for Ness
Princes St for High street
George st for Naice high st
St Andrew's square/multrees walk for Selfriges and designer

Lots of lovely cafes, cocktail bars and restaurants

Avoid the st james centre except John Lewis (cheap high street)

[thiswayplease]

Another vote for Glasgow shopping. I wouldn't really bother with Edinburgh for shopping.

There is the Livingston outlet too, if you wanted a day trip.

[IWantToLiveInPawnee]

We've settled in Edinburgh, it's a shopping, eating and sightseeing tour too! Booking a hotel in Stockbridge (The Raeburn). Going in July, so maybe the sales will have started?

Thanks for all the recommendations.

[Nospringflower]

The Raeburn is a lovely hotel with nice bar and restaurant. Depending when you are going it is worth booking restaurants in advance. Even bars in the centre seem to get booked up these days which is a most annoying trend!

[Iggi999]

Behind your hotel is a large park called Inverleith that has a lovely duck/swan pond a stones throw from you, and the Botanic gardens are a few minutes further. In case you fancy some fresh air when you get up the next day!

[IWantToLiveInPawnee]

Thanks nospring and iggii. Can you recommend particular restaurants/bars/lunch places.

I'm going to get dressed up but I'm not keen on over-swanky places!

[IWantToLiveInPawnee]

We're going mid-week too. Will we still need to book restaurants?

[Iggii]

I never get to go out anymore, so I'm not much help! Is lunch a break in shopping, or a long afternoon within drinkies? The grassmarket is popular for the latter, George street has several popular places (Tigerlily, Browns spring to mind) and lots of shops if it's the former you're after

[Iggii]

Oh, I wouldn't book for lunch, for evening if I saw somewhere during the day I'd maybe phone ahead to ensure a table with no waiting for dinner. The Shore is lovely for seafood restaurants (next to a canal, not the sea) but you'd need a bus.

[LadyReuleaux]

For little boutiquey and interesting shops, there's also Victoria St, William St and Broughton Street.

I like to go shopping starting at the West End around William Street, then along George Street where you will find all the posher chains like Jigsaw and Whistles, and then to Harvey Nicks and John Lewis in the East End.

Princes Street is the main shopping street with all the major chains like Boots, Gap and Next. It also has the amazing views and Princes St Gardens for a picnic.

I'd second a wander down Bruntsfield and Morningside especially if you like charity shops, but that's quite a detour.

Glasgow is better for hardcore shopping but it's not as relaxing IMO.

[PrimalLass]

Definitely go for a wander round the Botanics. It is beautiful.

[SauvignonPlonker]

I love the set menu at Martin Wishart in Leith. There's also Tom Kitchin there, or Mark Greenaway in the city centre - definitely book these!

You could maybe get the hop- on-off bus - covers city centre, Botanics, Leith & stops at all main sites.

[Birdsgottafly]

I'm in Liverpool and we went to Castles in Wales, regularly, as children and Adults, you can get a bit 'Castled out'.

I found Edinburgh Castle, impressive, so did my older teens.

It, is, as it more or less as it was, when it was a thriving Community, with the personal living Quartres of the King and Queen. The Military 'Prison' etc.

We got beautiful Cashmere Scarves, in the Woolen Mill, by the Castle.

Edinburgh, is a fantastic city, you'll have a fabulous time.

The Castle is indoors, so if a day of rain is expected, time it then. We bought the 'Hop on' bus tickets, to see the whole city.