New Town, Edinburgh

From Freepedia

The New Town is an area to the north of Edinburgh, often considered to be a masterpiece of city-planning. It retains much of the original neo-classical architecture. Separating the Old and New Towns is Princes Street Gardens; east and west, separated by the Mound. The Mound is built from spoil from the Newtown. At the foot of the Mound is the National Gallery.

The main thoroughfare is Princes Street, with spectacular views of the castle and Old Town. This was not intended to be so. George Street, running along the middle of the Newtown, was intended to be the main shopping street, but the views enticed the crowds, however George Street is slowly gaining more fashionable shops than Princes Street.

The opposite street to Princes is Queen Street. Running from Queen Street, across George Street to Princes Street is Castle Street, Frederick Street and Hanover Street. The western formal garden square is Charlotte Square. This was not always so. Charlotte was to be called St George Square, to coincide with St Andrew Square in the east and the union of the crowns. The lane to the south of George Street is called Rose Street, and to the north is Thistle Street.

The Assembly Rooms are in George Street, and Waverley Station is set under the clock tower of the Balmoral (formerly North British) Hotel. Three roads cross the valley. North Bridge in the east, Waverley at St David Street and The Mound at Hanover. Lothian Road forms the western boundary of the gardens.

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