Rose Street
New Town's bustling backstreet
Rose Street is Edinburgh's busiest back street. It's sandwiched between Princes Street and George Street and provides access to the back-entrances to businesses on both, so it never quite shakes the feel of a back-alley. But its biggest asset is its pedestrianised nature, this allows its many cafes and small shops to thrive; but most famously it also has the highest density of pubs in Edinburgh.
Some unrelated challenges on the street:
- Find the eight different mosaic roses on the pavement.
- See how many Walter Scott references you can spot in pub names.
- Attempt the "Rose Street Challenge" – a drinking game involving a tipple in each bar along the street.
Text © Christian Williams
Images by Ninian Reid, Stuart Caie