Good to know
Good to Know
- St James Quarter, Multrees Walk, Princes Street, George Street, the Royal Mile and Grassmarket are all genuinely walkable from each other within Edinburgh's compact city centre — you can cover the main shopping core comfortably on foot in a day.
- For everyday/practical shopping (supermarkets, phone repairs, pharmacy chains) rather than fashion, locals note The Gyle is more functional than inspirational — useful to know if you're chasing errands rather than browsing.
- Ocean Terminal, The Gyle, Fort Kinnaird and Cameron Toll are all genuinely outside the walkable centre (roughly 15–30 minutes by tram, bus or car) — worth factoring into your day if you're relying on public transport.
- The Apple Store on Princes Street is the only Apple retail/Genius Bar location in Edinburgh, so it can get busy — booking a Genius Bar appointment online ahead of a repair visit is more reliable than walking in.
- Parcel theft and misdelivery ('porch piracy') is a recognised UK-wide issue, not specific to Edinburgh, so it's worth using lockers/pickup points or requiring a signature for valuable online orders, especially in shared tenement buildings common in the city centre.
- Click-and-collect from city-centre stores (Argos, Currys, Apple) is often more reliable than home delivery if you're staying in a flat without secure parcel storage.
Apple Store
- Phone
- +44 131 242 8200
- Name
- Apple Store Princes Street
- Address
- 10 Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2AN
- Reputation
- Reviewers consistently note the store is centrally located and staff are described as knowledgeable, with cited examples of efficient same-visit repairs (e.g. MacBook Pro diagnostics), though some customers report inconsistent service or appointment delays.
- Neighborhood
- New Town / city centre
- Source Basis
- Apple's own store page and third-party review aggregation (Yelp, Wheree) for this specific Princes Street location
- Hours Note
- Generally open Mon–Sat with extended hours one weekday evening and shorter Sunday hours; check the Apple website before visiting since hours can shift around holidays.
Services
- Genius Bar for repairs and technical support (appointment or walk-in drop-in)
- Today at Apple sessions and small-business support
- Device trade-in for credit
- Buy online and pick up in store
Online Shopping Reliability
- Delivery Reliability Overview
- UK-wide delivery problems are common enough to be tracked by regulators and consumer bodies, not unique to Edinburgh specifically.
Known Issues
- Industry-wide monitoring shows delivery problems are widespread across the UK, not specific to Edinburgh.
- Independent seller and courier forums describe recurring issues with Royal Mail scanning/tracking accuracy and with parcels being left in unsecured 'safe places' rather than handed to the recipient.
- Trustpilot reviews of Amazon's UK shipping arm describe frequent complaints about parcels left in inappropriate or exposed locations, missed delivery windows, and difficulty reaching customer service.
Practical Tips
- Use Amazon Lockers or courier pickup shops (e.g. DPD Pickup) if you won't be home to receive a parcel — this avoids doorstep theft risk in shared stairwell/tenement buildings, which are common in central Edinburgh.
- Add flat number, stair/buzzer code, and delivery notes at checkout, since Edinburgh's Old Town and New Town tenement flats often confuse couriers unfamiliar with shared entrances.
- For high-value electronics, prefer options with signature-on-delivery or store click-and-collect over doorstep 'safe place' delivery.
Major Platforms
- Amazon.co.uk (Prime available; widely used, extensive product range and generally fast fulfilment in the city centre)
- Argos (same-day/next-day click-and-collect widely available at city-centre locations)
- Currys (for electronics, with click-and-collect)
- ASOS, Next and other UK-wide fashion retailers with reliable UK delivery
Central Core Districts And Malls
St James Quarter
- Type
- large-scale shopping mall / mixed-use complex
- Location
- East end of Princes Street, New Town
- Notes
- Over 80 stores including a large John Lewis, brands making their Scottish debut such as & Other Stories, Stradivarius, Bershka, and Pull&Bear, plus onsite Roomzzz Aparthotels and the W Edinburgh hotel.
- Description
- St James Quarter is a modern shopping and leisure complex located in the heart of Edinburgh, opened in 2021 on the site of the former St James Centre, featuring high-street and luxury stores, restaurants, cafes, and entertainment options including a cinema and fitness centers. The 1.7 million square feet also includes restaurants, cafés, bars, public spaces, leisure venues and a five-screen cinema.
Multrees Walk
- Type
- luxury shopping district (open-air pedestrian street)
- Location
- Off George Street / St Andrew Square, New Town, adjoining St James Quarter
- Notes
- Does not have public toilets on-site; nearest facilities are inside Harvey Nichols or the nearby bus station.
- Description
- Multrees Walk is home to Scotland's only Harvey Nichols and Louis Vuitton stores, along with other exclusive fashion brands like Mulberry, Burberry and Max Mara.
Princes Street
- Type
- main high-street shopping thoroughfare
- Location
- New Town, running below the Old Town/Castle
- Notes
- Shops line only one side of the street; the other side is Princes Street Gardens.
- Description
- Princes Street is the main shopping street in the city, lined with high-street favourites in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, with department/flagship stores including Marks & Spencer, Primark, Clarks and Dr Martens, plus an Apple Store and health/beauty chains like Boots and Lush.
George Street
- Type
- upscale shopping district
- Location
- New Town, parallel to Princes Street
- Notes
- Known for brands such as Whistles, Hobbs, Jaeger, Church's, Phase Eight and Jigsaw, plus the Assembly Rooms landmark building.
- Description
- George Street, set behind Princes Street, is home to upscale shops, high-end brands, cocktail bars and eateries along a wide Georgian boulevard bookended by St Andrew and Charlotte Squares.
Waverley Mall (Also Called Princes Mall)
- Type
- small indoor shopping centre
- Location
- Adjoining Edinburgh Waverley train station, off Princes Street
- Notes
- Fairly small and mainly high-street stores; always busy due to its very central location.
- Description
- With direct access onto both Princes Street and into Edinburgh Waverley Train Station, this centre is a convenient shopping stop with a range of shops, restaurants and a downstairs food court, popular for last-minute souvenirs before catching a train.
The Royal Mile
- Type
- historic shopping district
- Location
- Old Town, from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse
- Notes
- Dense with souvenir and tartan/whisky shops; also home to the Tron Kirk Market, a modern artisan market featuring Scottish designers.
- Description
- This historic backbone of the Old Town is an old favourite for gifts including Scottish crafts, cashmere and whisky, alongside some of Edinburgh's oldest taverns and eateries.
The Grassmarket
- Type
- historic shopping district
- Location
- Old Town, below the Castle
- Notes
- Also known for the cat café Maison de Moggy and gelato spot Mary's Milk Bar.
- Description
- The Grassmarket is a historic market place in the Old Town, once a bustling 15th-century livestock market, today filled with independent boutiques, galleries and artisan shops such as the Red Door Gallery.
Rose Street & Thistle Street
- Type
- boutique shopping streets
- Location
- New Town, between Princes Street and George Street
- Description
- Tucked away on Rose Street and Thistle Street are tailors, cobblers, whisky specialists and independent boutiques.
West End (Including William Street)
- Type
- boutique shopping district
- Location
- West End, a few minutes' walk from Princes Street
- Description
- Edinburgh's West End offers a mix of designer fashion boutiques, organic food retailers, gift and flower shops, with William Street known as a chic enclave of upmarket boutiques, gift shops and delis.
Stockbridge
- Type
- boutique/village shopping district
- Location
- Just north of the New Town
- Notes
- A short walk/bus ride from the city centre.
- Description
- Stockbridge has a mix of jewellers, galleries, second-hand and gourmet food shops complemented by cosy cafés and restaurants, plus the weekly Sunday Stockbridge Market for fresh produce and crafts.
Notable Malls Outside The Immediate Core
Ocean Terminal
- Type
- large-scale shopping mall
- Location
- Leith, on the waterfront
- Distance From Centre
- Roughly a 15-minute drive/tram ride from central Edinburgh
- Notes
- Designed by Sir Terence Conran; reachable via Edinburgh Trams (Newhaven line) and several Lothian Buses routes.
- Description
- Ocean Terminal boasts 45,000 sqm of shopping and leisure activities on three floors, including a mix of stores, bars and restaurants and a 12-screen cinema, with stunning views over the Firth of Forth, and is also home to the Royal Yacht Britannia.
The Gyle Shopping Centre
- Type
- large-scale shopping mall
- Location
- South Gyle, west Edinburgh, near the airport and city bypass
- Distance From Centre
- Around 30 minutes from the centre by bus or tram
- Notes
- More functional/everyday-errands oriented than a fashion destination; linked by pedestrian underpass to Edinburgh Gateway station.
- Description
- Spanning 20 hectares with 27,870 sq m of retail space, The Gyle has two anchor tenants (Marks & Spencer and Morrisons) and more than 70 retail outlets and services.
Fort Kinnaird
- Type
- outdoor retail park
- Location
- Newcraighall, eastern edge of Edinburgh
- Distance From Centre
- About a 25-minute drive from the city centre
- Notes
- Over 2,600 free parking spaces; includes a seven-screen Odeon.
- Description
- With over 70 branded and high street shops, restaurants and cafes, as well as a gym and cinema, Fort Kinnaird is an outdoor shopping destination open late seven days a week.
Cameron Toll Shopping Centre
- Type
- neighbourhood shopping centre
- Location
- South Edinburgh
- Distance From Centre
- Around a 30-minute bus ride from the city centre
- Description
- Cameron Toll's outlets tend to cover budget brands, travel, banking and some high street fashion, plus two supermarkets.
Craigleith Retail Park
- Type
- retail park
- Location
- South Groathill Road, north-west Edinburgh
- Distance From Centre
- Reachable by several Lothian Buses routes; not walkable from the core
- Description
- Craigleith Retail Park has a variety of home, fashion and food outlets.
Certified Service Notes
This Princes Street location is Edinburgh's only Apple-owned retail/service point; it has an in-store Genius Bar rather than a separate third-party Apple Authorized Service Provider being the primary go-to for most nomads in the city centre.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.