North Bridge
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Top ways to experience North Bridge and nearby attractions

The area
Neighbourhood: Old Town
Few Edinburghers live in the Old Town, but its labyrinth of dank alleys and steep streets suggests this was not always the case. Today, it’s mostly visitors, tartan-flavoured souvenir shops, and pipers that you’ll find on its cobbled streets. This is the place to get a feel for Auld Reekie (Old Smelly), as the town was once nicknamed, and stroll the Royal Mile, the thoroughfare that links the castle with the royal palace – two of Edinburgh’s great set-piece attractions. But there’s lots more exploring to do here down dozens of little alleys, or wynds, while at night the city’s busiest clubs erupt along the Cowgate which is closed to traffic for this purpose.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles125 reviews
Excellent
26
Very good
58
Average
38
Poor
3
Terrible
0

Darren C
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Solo
Amazing views ,such a lovely city at night exp around Xmas time ,with the outdoor market,aswell as the big wheel on Princess Street
Written 18 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

James P
Cambridge, UK2,452 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
The North Bridge links the 'old' and 'new' towns, spanning the valley - Princes Street to the High Street - where the train lines run from Waverley Station. In May much of it was clad in scaffolding and plastic for restoration work.
Written 8 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

malc1005
Kettering, UK4,723 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021 • Couples
It is currently undergoing repair work, so not much to see of the bridge under the tarpaulins, but a vital route between old and new Edinburgh.
Written 8 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

bsandrs
Portsmouth, UK23,078 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
This substantial bridge crosses the valley where the railway runs between the Old and the New towns. Excellent views from either side either towards Calton Hill or over Waverley station towards Princes Street gardens. We crossed it on several occasions last August, but our greatest success was a couple of years back during the Festival. The City and Bridge were packed especially as workman had closed one of the two pavements. Our arrival to cross coincided with reopening and we sailed alone across most of the bridge without any crowd whatsoever !
Written 11 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Malgorzata
12,113 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
North Bridge is a road bridge that connects Princes Street with the High Street, and indeed the New Town with the Old.The current bridge was built to replace the previous one between 1894 and 1897. It was built by Sir William Arrol & Co., the company also responsible for the construction of the Forth Road Bridge. The design of the ornamentation was by the City architect of the time, Robert Morham. At the southern end of the bridge are The Scotsman Hotel, and at the northern end of the bridge in the New Town, is the Balmoral Hotel. On the bridge you can see King's Own Scottish Borderers Memorial, by Edinburgh sculptor William Birnie Rhind . This memorial commemorates the soldiers who fought and died in the military campaigns of 1878-1902. North Bridge is also a place from which you can admire Edinburgh, the views are very nice. So let's go on foot sometimes.
Written 14 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anu
United Kingdom896 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Family
Beautiful views of calton hill and Balmoral hotel. This is the road bridge that connects the new town with the old.

North bridge is also home to King's own Scottish Borderers Memorial.
Written 19 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gaurav C
New Delhi, India3,090 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2019
One of the most important bridges in Edinburgh connecting old town with Princes street..It has 3 spans of beautiful arches..We crossed it many times during our stay
Written 9 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Darren T
Wales, UK163 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2019
Most people look at the bridge from a distance or from below. Currently under major refurbishment so I get to see the bridge from within on the scaffold and within the bowels so to say. Its a beautiful bridge, I cannot begin to describe the shapes and lines the steel forms, the markings on the solid stone, the way the stones have been fitted. The views down into the train station through the panes of glass just blew me away, the bridge is a 3 span wonder.
Written 28 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

malc1005
Kettering, UK4,723 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2019
A lovely bridge ,nice architecture, with some lovely views either side. Well worth a visit, if you are in the area.
Written 23 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Steve T
Preston, UK19,927 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019
..... if you weren't able to look over the sides. This is a functional entity that regrettably has particularly poor views from both sides of the bridge. I don't know why it's been cited as an attraction - though I do quickly add that it has some historic relevance given that it's been there in it's latest incarnation for more than 125 years.

The bridge is effectively allowing a road to turn off at circa 90 degrees from Princes Street and head on up to the George Square area - if you're in a wheel chair, have a push chair or require to move anything on wheels that's not motorised then this is the best way to get to the George Square area and beyond ie easiest in the old effort stakes.

We traipsed up and down it from/to our bus stop almost daily for a week whilst at the Fringe.
Written 28 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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North Bridge - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about North Bridge