Princes Street and Gardens Tourist Information

Edinburgh & Scotland Tourist Information Centre - Princes Street

The tourist information centre on Princes Street has the largest collection of leaflets and brochures I've ever seen. They are useful to get information on events and attractions not just in Edinburgh but in the whole of Scotland.

Getting to Edinburgh by Bus

Megabus/Scottish Citylink bus tickets to Edinburgh from £1. Travel from Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee, Perth and more.

Address, contact information

3 Princes St, Edinburgh, EH2 2QP
Tel: +44 0845 225 5121

Opening times

April & October:
Monday-Saturday: 9am-6pm;
Sunday: 10am-6pm
May, June & September:
Monday-Saturday: 9am-7pm;
Sunday: 10am -7pm
July & August:
Monday-Saturday: 9am-8pm;
Sunday: 10am -8pm
November - March:
Monday - Wednesday: 9am - 5pm;
Thursday - Saturday: 9am - 5pm;
Sunday: 10am - 5pm

The information on this page was last checked for accuracy in October 2009. Please check with the tourist information centre for up to date information.

>> Back to Princes Street guide index

All Princes Street articles:

Edinburgh New Town introduction Overview of the New Town including best places to visit plus tips and advice.

Princes Street highlights Visitor information about the shops and attractions on Princes Street.

Princes Street Gardens Overview of the most popular green space in Edinburgh.

Scott Monument Information about the unmistakable neogothic monument dedicated to Sir Walter Scott.

National Gallery of Scotland Information about the top free attraction in Edinburgh and one of the finest art galleries in Britain.

Calton Hill While not at the end of Princes Street itself, Calton Hill plays a very big part in the distinctive Edinburgh panorama but also as an excellent viewpoint.

Ramsay Gardens Although at the top of the Royal Mile, Ramsay Garden is a distinctive part of Edinburgh's skyline that can be seen from Princes Street.

Photos of Edinburgh City Centre Picture gallery of Princes Street, the gardens, Scott Monument, the Balmoral Hotel, Calton Hill and the New Town.

Attraction Details - Princes Street Princes Street tourist information including opening times and contact details of the Tourist Centre and attractions on Princes Street and Edinburgh City Centre.

Princes Street on the web Links to other web pages related to Princes Street, the Gardens and the heart of Edinburgh.

Also see:

Hotels near Princes Street Ideas for accommodation close to Edinburgh City Centre.

Edinburgh attractions and sightseeing All of the best attractions in Edinburgh plus pictures and sightseeing tips.

Plan the Best Edinburgh Holiday:

Edinburgh Travel Essentials

Find the best Hotels in Edinburgh and save up to 70% off standard room rates. Reserve now, pay on arrival. Hotels & B&Bs

Beautiful Photos from Edinburgh

Ramsay Gardens, EdinburghPhotograph of the Ramsay Gardens and the Camera Obscura as taken from Princes Street. Photo #3648

St Cuthbert's Kirkyard, EdinburghView from St Cuthbert's Kirkyard, at the west end of Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh. Photo #3537

Edinburgh Castle panorama from Scott MonumentView along Princes Street and Princes Street Gardens from the Scott Monument with St Mary's Cathedral and the Caledonian Hotel at the end of Princes Street. Photo #3294

Origin of 'Edinburgh'

Tourists have problems with the name of Edinburgh. There are hundreds of ways people write it and the most common writings include 'edinburg', 'edinborough', 'edimburgh', 'edinbourgh', 'ediburgh', 'edinbugh', 'edinboro', 'edingburgh', 'edinbrugh', 'edimburg', 'edinburugh', 'edingurgh', 'edinbrough', etc.

According to the Scottish Place Names dictionary, the name Edinburgh means 'Fort of the Rock Face'. The 'edin' part comes from Scottish Gaelic and means 'rock face', while 'burgh' comes from Old English meaning stronghold.

Some more obscure (and quite funny) ways of writing Edinburgh include: edinburough, edingburg, edinbourg, edinburh, edinurgh, edenburg, edinbough, edinbourough, edinbrgh, edingborough, edenburgh, edinberg, edinborgh, edinborugh, edinburge, edinburhg, edingbourgh, etc.

Edinburgh is spelt Edimburgo in Spanish and Italian and Édimbourg in French.

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