150 Accessible Edinburgh: A Festival Guide Shopping 151
John Lewis
0131-556 9121; http://www.johnlewis.com; St James Centre, Leith St;
9am-6pm Mon-Fri, to 6.30pm Sat, 10am-6pm Sun; tram
The place to go for good-value clothes and household goods.
Multrees Walk
http://www.multreeswalk.co.uk; St Andrew Sq; St Andrew Sq
A designer shopping complex with flagship Harvey Nichols store
and boutiques by Louis Vuitton, Kurt Geiger, Boss and Burberry,
among others.
Oscar & Fitch
0131-556 6461; http://www.oscarandfitch.com; 20 Multrees Walk;
10am-6pm Mon-Wed, Fri & Sat, to 7pm Thu, 11am-5pm Sun; St
Andrew Sq
If you’re looking for some stylish spectacles, this boutique stocks
the city’s largest selection of designer eyewear, from head-
turningly avant-garde daytime glasses to popstar-cool shades,
all expertly fitted to your personal satisfaction. It’s inside the
shopping centre so should be wheelchair-accessible.
Palenque
0131-225 7194; http://www.palenquejewellery.co.uk; 99 Rose St;
9.30am-5.30pm Mon-Sat, 11am-5pm Sun; Princes St
Palenque is a treasure trove of contemporary silver jewellery
and handcrafted accessories made using ceramics, textiles and
metal-work. It’s wheelchair-accessible, as is its sister store at 56
High St (0131-557 9553).
Valvona & Crolla
0131-556 6066; http://www.valvonacrolla.co.uk; 19 Elm Row; 8.30am-
6pm Mon-Thu, 8am-6.30pm Fri & Sat, 10am-5pm Sun; all Leith
Walk buses
The acknowledged queen of Edinburgh delicatessens, estab-
lished during the 1930s, Valvona & Crolla is packed with Medi-
terranean goodies, including an excellent choice of fine wines. It
also has a good cafe. It’s wheelchair-accessible.
Waterstone’s West End
0131-226 2666; http://www.waterstones.com; 128 Princes St; 9am-
7pm Mon-Wed & Fri-Sat, 9am-8pm Thu, 10.30am-6pm Sun; all
Princes St busesA large bookshop with good selection of Edinburgh and Scottish
interest titles; it also has an in-store cafe with great views of the
castle. There are accessible buses and trams that stop nearby
on Princes St. There are single yellow lines on side streets of
Princes St for Blue Badge holders. Access is quite good as there
is a (small) lift the back of the store serving all floors. There is an
accessible toilet at the back of the top floor near the cafe.Waverley Mall
0131-557 3759; http://www.waverleymall.com; Waverley Bridge; 9am-
6pm Mon-Wed & Fri-Sat, to 7pm Thu, 11am-5pm Sun; all Princes
St busesA so-so shopping mall perched beside Waverley train station,
with fashion stores such as Superdry, Oasis and Pulp and gift
shops selling whisky and tartan.Old Town
The top end of the Royal Mile, from the castle down to the Lawn-
market, is infested with tacky, tartan tourist shops, but there are
many interesting, independent shops further downhill, and on
nearby Victoria, Cockburn and St Mary’s Sts.Armstrong’s
0131-220 5557; http://www.armstrongsvintage.co.uk; 83 Grassmarket;
10am-5.30pm Mon-Thu, to 6pm Fri & Sat, noon-6pm Sun; bus 2Armstrong’s is an Edinburgh fashion institution (established
in 1840, no less), a quality vintage clothes emporium offering
everything from elegant 1940s dresses to funky 1970s flares. As
well as having retro fashion, it’s a great place to hunt for ‘previ-
ously owned’ kilts and Harris tweed, or to seek inspiration for
that fancy-dress party. It’s wheelchair-accessible, but there’s a
step inside to access back rooms. The bathroom is inaccessible
to wheelchair users due to a flight of stairs. There are outlets in
Teviot Pl and Clark St, which both have level access.