Cowgate

Students and young adults flood Edinburgh’s Cowgate, named for the animals who used to be driven along there.

Edinburgh's Cowgate - After a few drinks some cannot make head nor tail of it...

[image credit: jaakko.hakulinen]

This lower-level street winds its way beneath the South Bridge and George IV bridge, and is home to what some may call less reputable pubs and clubs, as well as student mainstays and Festival venues come August.

Cowgate looking towards the Grassmarket, crossing above is George IV Bridge.

[image credit: DNQA]

Wandering along the Cowgate

The Cowgate, which stretches from the Pleasance to the Grassmarket, is one of the longer streets in Edinburgh’s city centre. There is a great deal of history here, and as you wander this long, almost subterranean street, you can find traces of Edinburgh’s old history in the names of the closes and wynds that cross its borders.

Beginning at the Pleasance, where views of Arthur’s Seat and the nearby Dumbiedykes housing projects are readily available, one can pass along a number of older streets. Notable points include restaurants and bars that offer happy hours and pole dancing competitions, as well as Opium, which enjoys great rock cred with younger college students out for a night on the town.

One really big pub in the Cowgate is the Three Sisters, especially popular for stag and hen parties.

[image credit: phnk]

Edinburgh's Cowgate by night as seen from South Bridge

[image credit: Mr Pauly D]

A number of new venues have started popping up over the last few years, with private clubs and fringe venues cum members only bars taking the place of once deserted cavernous rooms.

One notable event in recent history is the fire that consumed a large portion of the Cowgate several years ago.

Burnt-out - The Cowgate fire site has left a gaping hole where clubs and pubs used to be.

[image credit: Ipoh 子]

This burnt-out region has been under construction for a number of years, with several large Fringe venues expressing an interest in rebuilding it for their own use during August months.

The fire site in Cowgate transformed to a venue during the festival

[image credit: chrisdonia]

Toward the west end of the Cowgate, one starts encountering a number of the regular clubs frequented by Edinburgh’s college and university students, including the lower level entrance to Espionage and pool halls where Channel 4 Comedians are known to reside during the Fringe’s drinking hours.

View from Cowgate Head towards Cowgate with Candlemaker Row and a backpacker's to the right.

[image credit: Ipoh 子]

Finally, the Underbelly venue (which is located in the vaults underneath George IV bridge) spills its guests out into the Grassmarket, where their revelry can continue.