George Street & Charlotte Square
George Street
Parallel to Princes Street runs George Street — Edinburgh's most elegant promenade. While Princes Street offers more mainstream shopping, George Street is the address for boutiques, cocktail bars, and upscale restaurants. The Georgian facades are immaculate, the atmosphere cosmopolitan. In summer, the restaurants spill out onto the sidewalks, and the street feels almost Mediterranean (almost — the wind reminds you that you're in Scotland).
Charlotte Square
At the western end of George Street lies Charlotte Square — the masterpiece of architect Robert Adam (1791) and one of the finest Georgian ensembles in the world. Perfect symmetry, elegant proportions, the epitome of Edinburgh New Town:
- Georgian House (No. 7): An original and restored Georgian townhouse from the 1790s. The National Trust for Scotland has furnished it as it would have looked in the 18th century — a time travel into the life of Edinburgh's upper class. Admission: £9.
- Bute House (No. 6): The official residence of the First Minister of Scotland — Scotland's version of 10 Downing Street.
St Andrew Square
At the eastern end of George Street: St Andrew Square with the Melville Monument (a Roman-style column), the historic Dundas House (now Royal Bank of Scotland), and the Harvey Nichols department store. The square is the commercial heart of the New Town.
