Discover Leith

‘What’s open in Edinburgh?’ Not a question we thought we would be typing into search engines this summer. Whether you are a born and bred ‘Edinburgher’ or would just like to explore this majestic city for yourself, there’s never been a better time to be a tourist in Edinburgh. As we try our best to embrace the ‘new normal’, we’ve put together our top recommendations to explore Leith, just 2 miles from the city centre.

Stop off at the Shore to admire stunning waterfront architecture as well as the end of the Water of Leith path. Get back to nature and spot the wildlife, with signets and ducklings recent spotted swimming along. 

To feed your artistic soul, Coburg House is home to local creatives and designers who have returned to this fantastic gallery. Open every weekend, visitors can view special exhibitions which are hosted throughout the year. You can even take home your very own piece of art, from paintings to jewellery, from the Coburg House Shop.  

With its cupcake adorned entrance, it would be hard to walk past Mimi’s Bakehouse. Take one look at their menu, including Nutella-stuffed French toast, and you'll find it impossible to resist. Used for filming the upcoming sequel to the Netflix film The Princess Switch, this adorable family-run café offers a selection of brunch dishes, tantalising cakes and traybakes available to sit in or to take away.

A trip to Leith wouldn’t be complete without a visit to its top visitor attraction, The Royal Yacht Britannia of course! Permanently berthed at Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre, Britannia is a five-star attraction offering a fascinating audio guided tour across the five decks, from the State Apartments to the Crew’s Quarters. Follow in the footsteps of Royalty and imagine what life was like on board for the Royal Family during the Royal Yacht’s 40 years of Royal service as well as for the 220 Royal Yachtsmen who served aboard this iconic ship. 

After visiting Britannia, make sure you pop into the Scottish Design Exchange. Located on the first floor of Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre, this shop offers artwork and crafts from local producers. Many items have a special link to their Scottish heritage from printed artwork of Edinburgh Castle, to tweed lampshades made from the infamous Harris Tweed. 

Image credit:

VisitScotland/Kenny Lam

Mimi's Bakehouse