The New Town is Edinburgh's Georgian district, a planned grid of wide streets and squares north of Princes Street. Elegant, spacious and home to the city's main shops and gardens, it suits visitors who want a central base that feels calmer and more refined than the Old Town.
New Town at a glance
- Distance to Edinburgh Castle
- About 760 m as the crow flies, roughly 9 min on foot.
- From the city centre
- About 830 m as the crow flies.
- Nearest station
- Princes Street (tram stop), about 410 m from the centre of the area.
- Source
- Distances computed from OpenStreetMap coordinates (© OpenStreetMap contributors), checked 2026-09-14. Straight-line figures — walking routes are longer.
You're around Princes Street, George Street and St Andrew Square, with Princes Street Gardens and the Scott Monument close by. The area is flat, orderly and easy to walk, with upmarket shopping by day and a smart bar-and-restaurant scene along George Street in the evening.
Getting around
The Old Town and Edinburgh Castle are a short walk south across Princes Street. Waverley station is central, and the tram runs along Princes Street and St Andrew Square directly to Edinburgh (EDI) in around 30–35 minutes.
Before you book this area
- Vibe
- Polished Georgian streets, good shopping and a more grown-up, spacious feel.
- Green space
- Princes Street Gardens offer open lawns and Castle views right in the centre.
- Budget
- Generally an upscale, central address, though its size means variety in options.
Frequently asked
Is New Town a good area to stay in Edinburgh?
Yes, if you want a central base that feels calmer and more refined than the Old Town, with elegant Georgian streets, the city's main shops and open gardens. It's an upscale address, so travellers set on the medieval atmosphere of the Old Town might prefer to look there instead.
How far is New Town from Edinburgh Castle?
Edinburgh Castle is about 760 m away in a straight line, roughly 9 minutes on foot south across Princes Street.
What's the nearest station and how do I get around New Town?
The nearest rail stop is Princes Street tram stop, about 410 m from the area's centre. The area is flat and easy to walk, and the tram along Princes Street and St Andrew Square runs directly to Edinburgh Airport (EDI) in around 30–35 minutes.
Is New Town central?
Yes, it sits about 830 m from the city centre in a straight line, right around Princes Street, George Street and St Andrew Square.
What is New Town like in the evening?
George Street has a smart bar-and-restaurant scene in the evening, giving the area a more grown-up, spacious feel alongside its upmarket daytime shopping.
Comparing areas? See the full Edinburgh area guide →
Other areas near New Town
Sources
- OpenStreetMap — area location, distances and nearest station (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), checked 2026-09-14
- ReasonStay methodology — how areas are chosen and facts are verified
An independent guide to New Town, Edinburgh — honest orientation, no invented data.