West End, Edinburgh

West End
Melville Street looking down towards West Register House
West End is located in the City of Edinburgh council area
West End
West End
Location within the City of Edinburgh council area
West End is located in Scotland
West End
West End
Location within Scotland
Council area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Postcode districtEH2, EH3
Dialling code0131
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
List of places
UK
Scotland
55°56′53″N 3°12′52″W / 55.94814°N 3.21453°W / 55.94814; -3.21453

The West End is an affluent district of Edinburgh, Scotland, which along with the rest of the New Town and Old Town forms central Edinburgh, and Edinburgh's UNESCO World Heritage Site.[1] The area boasts several of the city's hotels, restaurants, independent shops, offices and arts venues, including the Edinburgh Filmhouse, Edinburgh International Conference Centre and the Caledonian Hotel.[2] The area also hosts art festivals and crafts fairs.[3][4][5]

Built as a western expansion of the New Town, the northern part of the West End sits on the Water of Leith river and forms part of Edinburgh's UNESCO World Heritage Site.[6] The West End is contiguous with the rest of New Town and is accordingly included in the New Town Conservation Area.[7] As can be inferred therefore, this area of the city contains many buildings of great architectural beauty, primarily long rows and crescents of Georgian terraced houses.[8] The West End also incorporates many of the New Town Gardens, a heritage designation since 2001.[9]

The district is one of Edinburgh's most affluent areas, and includes many of the most expensive streets in Scotland's capital.[10] Many nations have their consulates in the West End. The Scottish Episcopal Church has its headquarters, Forbes House, in the district and the official residence of the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is also located here.[11]

The West End district is immediately west of the rest of the New Town, and also the Old Town. It is bordered to the north by the Stockbridge, Dean Village, and Ravelston districts, Tollcross and Fountainbridge districts to the south, and West Coates, Haymarket and Murrayfield to the West.

  1. ^ "Randolph Crescent Visitor Guide, Hotels, Cottages, Things to do in Scotland". scotland.org.uk.
  2. ^ "The West End, Edinburgh - Edinburgh Guide". Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Enjoy the Spirit of Christmas in Edinburgh's West End Village Street Market". Edinburghguide.com. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  4. ^ "Randolph Crescent Visitor Guide, Hotels, Cottages, Things to do in Scotland". Scotland.org.uk.
  5. ^ "The Ultimate Guide to Edinburgh's West End - Forever Edinburgh". Edinburgh.org.
  6. ^ "Meet the West Enders". Edinburgh World Heritage. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  7. ^ "New Town Conservation Area Character Appraisal". Edinburgh.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Things to do". Edinburgh-westend.co.uk.
  9. ^ "THE NEW TOWN GARDENS (GDL00367)". Portal.historicenvironment.scot. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  10. ^ "Revealed: Here are the most expensive streets in Edinburgh". Edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Terms & Conditions". The Scottish Episcopal Church.