'''Stockbridge and Canonmills''' are two adjacent districts of Edinburgh. They cover the area immediately to the north of the New Town. The main tourist draw here is the '''Royal Botanic Garden''', but don't miss the eclectic variety of '''independent shops''' and some great places to '''eat and drink'''. It's also the place to see '''International cricket matches'''.

Get in

On foot

  • Walk northwards from the New Town, an easy, downhill walk with plenty to look at on the way.
  • Follow the picturesque '''Water of Leith Walkway''' from the West End or Leith. This follows the river which flows right through the area.
  • By bus

  • The number 36 bus passes right through this area, running from Holyrood via Queensferry Street in the West End to Ocean Terminal in Leith.
  • The number 8 and 17 buses serve Canonmills from South Bridge in the Old Town.
  • The numbers 24, 29 and 42 serve Stockbridge, running along Raeburn Place.
  • See

  • Royal Botanic Garden. nverleith Row (East Gate) / Arboretum Place (West Gate).. ignposted from all around the area. 131 552 7171. 131 248 2901. ttp://www.rbge.org.uk/. pen daily from 10AM (except 25 Dec and 1 Jan) Closing: 4PM Nov-Feb, 6PM Mar, 7PM Apr-Sep, 6PM Oct. Glasshouses close: 3:30PM Nov-Feb, 5PM Mar-Oct. ree entry to the gardens, entry to glasshouses __3.50 adults, __3 concessions, __1 children. Very impressive gardens with a collection of interesting plants. Great place to wander around on a sunny day, or to sit and have a picnic. Highlights include the Rock Garden; the 165m long herbaceous border, backed by a huge, century old beech hedge (a hedge may not sound too exciting but this one has to be seen to be believed!); and the Victorian Temperate Palm House, which is the tallest of its kind in the UK. The West Gate is currently closed until Summer 2009 due to building work; there is a temporary North Gate in Inverleith Place.

  • '''Patriothall Gallery, WASPS''', 1D Hamilton Place, Stockbridge, EH3 5AY [http://www.patriothallgallery.co.uk]. Small art gallery and set of artists studios located behind the Scotmid CO-OP supermarket in Hamilton Place. Has regular exhibitions of modern art, and very occasionally the artist's studios are open.
  • '''St Bernard's Well'''[http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/leisure/local_history_and_heritage/monuments/other_monuments/CEC_st._bernards_well]. On the Water of Leith Walkway, roughly opposite Ann Street. A well in a fine building from 1879. Open 12.00 - 15.00 on Sundays in August and first Sunday of month April - July.
  • Do

  • Walk or cycle along the '''Water of Leith Walkway'''[http://www.waterofleith.org.uk/]. The route follows the river right through the City from the suburb of Balerno, on the edge of the Pentland Hills, to the sea at Leith. The walkway is indicated by brown direction signs featuring a water wheel logo. The section from the Gallery of Modern Art through the Dean Village and Stockbridge to Canonmills is probably the most picturesque on the whole river. There are Brown Trout plus a dozen other species of fish in the river and birds including the Grey Heron, Goosander, Dipper and Kingfisher can be seen along the banks.
  • '''Fishing (Angling)''' on the Water of Leith. Permits are required, and can be obtained free of charge from the City Council[http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk] offices at Waverley Market in the New Town and Cockburn Street in the Old Town. Most Fishing Tackle shops throughout the city can also provide permits.
  • Take in a '''Cricket Match''' at The Grange, Raeburn Place, home of the ''Saltires''[http://www.cricketscotland.com/], Scotland's cricket team.
  • Buy

    Stockbridge is well-known throughout Edinburgh and beyond for its '''second-hand clothes shops''', which are spread along Raeburn Place and St Stephen Street. Both Stockbridge and Canonmills have a number of specialist food shops.

  • IJ Mellis. heesemonger. Baker Place, Stockbridge. few yards up the hill to the south of the bridge. 131 225 6566. ttp://www.ijmellischeesemonger.com/. nfo@ijmellischeesemonger.com. Cheese paradise! If you like cheese at all you will struggle to walk past this place as the aroma will draw you right in through the door. Specialist cheesemonger with a range of artisan cheeses from all over Scotland, the UK and Europe. With the greatest customer service in Edinburgh, the friendly staff are always more than happy to offer you a wee taste to help you make up your mind what to buy.

  • Edina Lock and Key. ronmonger. 0-12 Brandon Terrace, Canonmills. 131 623 5577. ales@inbrass.co.uk. 131 557 5433. ttp://www.inbrass.co.uk/. :30AM-5:30PM, early closing (1PM) Wed and Sat.. If you like the brass door furniture you've seen on the traditional townhouses in the New Town, Stockbridge and Canonmills, this is the place to pick up the knobs, knockers, numbers and letter-boxes you need to make your own front door look just the same. A real treasure-trove of a shop.

  • Sheila Fleet. esigner jewellery. 8 St Stephen Street, Stockbridge. 131 225 5939. ttp://www.sheilafleet.co.uk/. The well-known jewellery designer's first shop outside of her native Orkney. Fleet says that her original designs reflect the natural world around her in Orkney, and also the history and folklore of the islands.

  • Diana Forrester. esigner-led homeware, furniture and accessories. 2 North West Circus Place, Stockbridge. 131 225 5877. nfo@dianaforrester.co.uk. ttp://www.dianaforrester.co.uk.

  • '''Charity second hand shops''' in Raeburn Place, Stockbridge. Most of these stock the usual mix of clothes, books and household items, but there are three specialist shops: Oxfam Books, Shelter Books and Oxfam Music. These shops usually have a paid manager, with the other staff being volunteers, and the profits go to the named charity. Most of the stuff for sale has been donated.
  • '''Supermarkets''': From East to West (and also from cheaper to expensive): '''Tesco''', 7 Broughton Road, Cannomills EH7 4EW; '''Scotmid Co-op''', Hamilton Place, Stockbridge; '''Scotmid Co-op''', Raeburn Place, Stockbridge; '''Waitrose''', 38 Comely Bank Road, Stockbridge.
  • Eat

  • Dionika. panish Deli and Restaurant. -6 Canonmills Bridge, Canonmills. 131 652 3993. uan@dionika.com. ttp://www.dionika.com/. Dionika's owner is a
  • Buffalo Grill. Raeburn Place, Stockbridge. 131 332 3864. ttp://www.buffalogrill.co.uk/. Simply excellent steaks. I think they sell dishes other than steak but really why would you want to know that? BYOB license so pick up a bottle of wine from one of the local off-licenses on the way here.

  • Rafaels. Deanhaugh Street, Stockbridge. ext to the bridge. 131 332 1469. Cosy Stockbridge basement restaurant. Chef/proprietor Rafael hails from