Edinburgh’s New Town
Say the words “new town”, and most people immediately picture concrete deserts and unimaginative architecture. That couldn’t be further from the truth in Edinburgh. The Scottish capital’s New Town dates back to the 18th century, and much of its stunning architecture has been extremely well preserved. It’s a mecca for anyone looking for a charming period home.
Together with the Old Town and parts of the West End, Edinburgh’s New Town is an example of grand Georgian architecture. It is also part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The entire site forms the historic heart of Edinburgh.
Where exactly is it?
The New Town lies directly to the north of Edinburgh’s Old Town. Even if you’ve never visited before, it’s easy to identify it on a map thanks to its rectangular layout. Where the Old Town is noted for its organically grown layout of windy roads, the New Town looks like an exact opposite. That is because it is the result of careful town planning.
Even on a basic map, these two parts of the historic heart of Edinburgh are easily distinguished. They are just as different when you are walking their streets.
To find out more about living in the Old Town, click here.
How was the New Town formed?
Whilst the Old Town grew organically, Edinburgh’s New Town is the result of some degree of city planning. By the late 17th and early 18th century, several things came together in the Scottish capital.
The city’s population grew, and the Old Town stopped serving its purpose. It became overcrowded and even unhygienic, and the medieval atmosphere we now love no longer aligned with a new, progressive society. Enlightenment had taken hold of Europe, and Edinburgh got swept up in the changing times.
It wasn’t long until the Duke of Albany, then the Royal Commissioner at Holyrood Palace, encouraged an extension of the city to the north in 1682. The Duke became King James VII and left Edinburgh, putting extension plans on hold. In the end it was Edinburgh’s city elders, led by Lord Provost George Drummond, who extended the city.
One of their main concerns was preventing an exodus of wealthy citizens to London. No matter the reasons behind the transition, it has made Edinburgh unique among European cities. Nowhere else can you witness such a considered and determined approach to town planning.
When construction started, North Bridge became one of the first crossing points between Old and New Town. City officials set up a competition to encourage architects to share their vision for the Edinburgh of the future. 26-year-old James Craig proposed a simple axial grid, following the natural contours of the land, and won the competition.
Craig’s plans hit roadblocks early on when controversy erupted around the street names he’d proposed. However, construction eventually began in the late 18th century. Today, Thistle Street is home to some of the oldest remaining buildings, dating back to 1767.
We’ll share more about the development of the New Town in one of our next blogs. For now, suffice to say that the first stage of the New Town was completed around 1820 and Edinburgh’s elite left their medieval homes for generously laid out streets, grand Georgian homes and green spaces.
What is it like to live there today?
Originally conceived as a residential suburb, today’s New Town combines Edinburgh’s best shopping with some of its most exciting period properties. Princes Street and George Street as well as their smaller, connecting streets offer an exciting (and sometimes eclectic) mix of luxury branded stores, home-grown designers and independent retailers. These streets are home to imposing head offices of leading banks and financial institutions as well as a selection of Edinburgh’s most exciting restaurants and leading hotels.
Move away from those two main roads, and a suburban atmosphere takes over. The aspirations of the Georgian architects are evident wherever you look. Spacious period homes feature grand entrances that welcome residents and visitors. Behind those doors you will still find well-preserved, charming period features.
But not every Georgian door leads to a single-family home anymore. Many of the original mansions have been redeveloped into more manageable, yet still generously proportioned homes. Recent renovations have added modern conveniences such as gas central heating and fast Wi-Fi, without taking away the Georgian charm. Look around, and you will still see sash and case windows in most buildings, for example.
Choosing a period property in Edinburgh’s New Town means you’ll be walking in the footsteps of the likes of Alexander Graham Bell, Robert Louis Stevenson and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, to name only a few. But this part of town is by no means stuck in the past. The New Town is a great place to meet for a lovingly crafted coffee, shop at independent food stores or simply enjoy a walk in one of the many parks.
If you have school-age children, the New Town has an excellent selection of public and exclusive private schools. Because of its relatively compact size, you may even be able to walk your kids to school, avoiding a time-consuming school run most of the time.
Are there any drawbacks? Like most cities of its era, Edinburgh wasn’t built with cars in mind. Parking is limited, but residents’ permits are available, making it easier to enjoy your new period home without the stress of searching for a parking spot.
Search period properties in the New Town here
