Stockbridge
Our nearest neighbour: a village within the city, with independent bakeries, vintage shops and a Sunday market. Follow the Water of Leith from here to Dean Village.
Our tip · Go on Sunday morning for the market, then walk the river.
Local guide
Things to do near Edinburgh's New Town
Our reception team's guide to the neighbourhood, from the riverside paths of Stockbridge and Dean Village to sunrise on Calton Hill. Everything here is walkable from our front door.
On foot from Thornbury Place
Edinburgh neighbourhoods within a short walk
The New Town sits at the centre of everything. These are the places our guests love most, with honest walking times from the hotel.
Dean Village
A 19th-century mill village hidden in a wooded gorge, with cobbled lanes, the old granaries and some of the most photographed views in Edinburgh.
Our tip · Arrive early for quiet footpaths and soft light on the water.
Princes Street & the Gardens
The New Town's southern edge, where Princes Street Gardens fill the valley beneath the Castle rock. Grand department stores on one side, the Old Town skyline on the other.
Our tip · Cut through George Street on the way for cafés and boutiques.
Edinburgh Castle & the Old Town
Climb the Mound to the Castle Esplanade, then wander down the Royal Mile through medieval closes to St Giles' Cathedral and on towards Holyrood.
Our tip · Book Castle tickets online in advance, especially in summer.
Calton Hill
The hill that gives Edinburgh its 'Athens of the North' nickname, crowned by the National Monument and the Nelson Monument, with views to Arthur's Seat and the Forth.
Our tip · Come for sunrise or sunset. Take a jacket; it's breezy up top.
Royal Botanic Garden
Seventy acres of gardens and glasshouses just north of Stockbridge, with free entry to the grounds and a famous view of the city skyline from the lawns.
Our tip · Pair it with lunch in Stockbridge on the way back.
A scroll through the city
48 hours in Edinburgh from the New Town
A two-day itinerary that starts and ends at our door, mixing the famous sights with the quieter corners locals love.
- Day one
Day one · Morning
Coffee in Stockbridge, then the Water of Leith
After breakfast in the Morning Room, walk eight minutes downhill to Stockbridge for a second coffee and a browse of its delis and bookshops. Pick up the Water of Leith Walkway and follow the river upstream into Dean Village, with its mill buildings and footbridges.
8 min walk
Day one · Midday
Gallery and garden
Climb out of the gorge to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, then loop back through the New Town's crescents. If it's dry, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a lovely detour with free entry to the grounds.
15 min walk
Day one · Afternoon
Princes Street Gardens and the Old Town
Cross Princes Street into the gardens beneath the Castle rock, then climb the Mound to the Old Town. Book Edinburgh Castle in advance for an afternoon slot, and save time for the views over the New Town you started from.
20 min walk
Day one · Evening
A dram, then supper at home
Back to Ink & Brass for a whisky flight by the fire, then supper in the dining room. Our team can also book you a table at one of the New Town's many neighbourhood restaurants.
In the house
- Day two
Day two · Morning
Sunrise on Calton Hill
Early risers: it's an 18-minute walk east to Calton Hill. From the National Monument you'll see the Castle, Arthur's Seat and the Firth of Forth catch the first light. We'll have a flask of coffee ready at reception.
18 min walk
Day two · Midday
The Royal Mile and closes
Walk past Waverley Station and up to the Royal Mile. Duck into the narrow closes and wynds, visit St Giles' Cathedral, and lunch in one of the Old Town's cafés.
15 min walk
Day two · Afternoon
Arthur's Seat or Leith
Choose your finale: climb Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park for a proper hill walk in the city, or take the tram down to Leith for the shore, the old docks and a long, lazy late lunch.
Tram or 30 min walk
Day two · Evening
Dinner in the New Town
Finish on Thornbury Place with an early supper before your train from Waverley, 13 minutes on foot. We'll happily store your luggage all day after check-out.
13 min to Waverley
Walking times
How far is everything from the hotel?
8 min on foot
Not to scale
When to visit
Edinburgh through the year
March to May
Spring
Blossom in the New Town's private gardens, quieter streets and long, light evenings returning.
June to August
Summer
August brings the city's world-famous festivals. Book early: rooms and supper tables fill months ahead.
September to November
Autumn
Golden trees along the Water of Leith, crisp walks up Calton Hill and fires lit in Ink & Brass.
December to February
Winter
Festive lights on Princes Street, Hogmanay celebrations and Burns Night suppers on 25 January.
Getting around
Arriving in Edinburgh
By train
Waverley Station is a 13-minute walk, or a short taxi ride from the station rank.
From the airport
The tram runs from Edinburgh Airport to St Andrew Square in about 35 minutes. We're a 10-minute walk from the stop.
On two wheels
Borrow one of our city bikes for the Water of Leith path to Stockbridge, Dean Village or down to Leith.
Full directions are on our contact and booking page, or browse our New Town hotel rooms.
Local questions
Exploring Edinburgh: your questions
About 20 minutes on foot: down to Princes Street, through Princes Street Gardens and up the Mound to the Castle Esplanade.
Within a 20-minute walk you'll find Stockbridge, Dean Village and the Water of Leith, Princes Street Gardens, Calton Hill, the Royal Botanic Garden and the Old Town with the Castle and Royal Mile.
It's ideal if you want to walk everywhere but sleep somewhere quiet. The New Town's Georgian streets are calmer than the Old Town, yet the Castle and Waverley Station are both a short walk away.
Make the New Town your base
Book direct for our best rate, breakfast included and free cancellation up to 48 hours before arrival.