Victoria Street
Address: Victoria Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2HE
Victoria Street in Edinburgh is one of the city’s most famous and photogenic streets. Dating from 1829-34, it is a relatively new part of the Old Town, built to provide access from George IV Bridge to the Grassmarket below. It was named Victoria Street in 1837, to mark the reign of Queen Victoria. Its sloped and curved layout, cobblestones, and colourful old fashioned shopfronts gives it a unique look. It is often said to be the inspiration behind the fictional magical street, Diagon Alley, in the Harry Potter book series, making this a hot spot for literary fans. It is a great place to visit to take in the unusual architecture and wander around its eclectic mix of independent cafés and shops.
Victoria Street features an upper level, Victoria Terrace, which overlooks the winding throughfare below. This provides an excellent viewpoint, and can be easily accessed from George IV Bridge or the Lawnmarket section of the Royal Mile, near the top of Victoria Street. There are also some great restaurants up on the terrace, where you can enjoy dining with a view of the street below.
5 things to do on Victoria Street
- Walk along the sloped and winding cobbles and admire the unique architecture of this iconic street.
- Take some striking pictures of the sweeping line of buildings and their colourful facades.
- Explore quirky shops, where you’ll find everything from Harry Potter memorabilia to antique books, luxury handbags, speciality cheeses and fine Scotch whiskies.
- Pop into one of the many independent cafés or restaurants for some refreshments.
- Go up onto Victoria Terrace for a great viewpoint of Victoria Street below.
