Lothian Road

At the far west end of Edinburgh’s city centre, Lothian Road provides a major vein for the movement of traffic and culture, with independent cinemas and three of Edinburgh’s major performance venues.

Some brave cyclists on busy Lothian Road in Edinburgh, approaching Princes Street

Taking a left turn off Princes Street, one first passes the well-regarded high end Caledonian Hotel on one side and the cemetery at the end of Princes Street Gardens on the left. Continuing along, there are a number of small businesses, pubs, restaurants and hotels as you head toward some of the mainstays of Edinburgh cultural life: the Traverse Theatre, Usher Hall, and the Lyceum Theater on the left-hand side of Lothian Road, and the Filmhouse on the right.

[image credit: chdot]

Business And Pleasure Meet on Lothian Road

Scattered between these cultural landmarks are restaurants ranging from Pizza Hut to Oriental Fusion and cafes, with knick-knack shops and sports stores as well. Small grocery store chains and high street drugstores like Boots also have a presence on Lothian Road, which is the best route out to Fountainbridge’s cinema and entertainment complex from the centre of the city.

Major companies, such as Standard Life Insurance, occupy some of the buildings on Lothian Road, which has a much more modern feel than many areas of Edinburgh which are geared toward more historic recollections. Lothian Road also offers easy access to the Grassmarket’s pubs and cocktail bars, and a simple, direct route out to the Tollcross, Bruntsfield, and Morningside areas of the city.

Evening traffic on Edinburgh's Lothian Road

[image credit: Lilo Lil]

As the jugular of Edinburgh’s West End, Lothian Road blends the new and old, offering spectacular views of Edinburgh Castle and easy access to many of the city’s more useful bus routes. Although the street begins with the high-class but somewhat stuffy Caledonian, it quickly acquires a hip, young professional vibe which makes it popular with those in their twenties and thirties.

Tourists on their own may want to try and avoid Lothian Road during late afternoons on Fridays and Saturdays, when rowdy Edinburgh residents seeking the area’s club and pub nightlife may make travelling down this road a less than pleasant experience. Lothian Road’s charms are diverse and enticing.