BillJ

Hearing that the royal mile in Edinburgh is undergoing significant construction. I am wondering how that will effect our stay this July for our first visit. Plan on staying at Radisson Blu, which I think is on that street. Are pedestrians allowed? Are the shops open?
Just wondering about the conditions and how it might effect our stay.
Any info would be appreciated.

PatrickLondon

Is this what you mean? It just sounds like an ongoing general spruce-up to me:
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/122...mile_project/1

There are (as there always are) redevelopment and rebuilding works on different buildings and areas - there's this particular hooha, which doesn't sound as though the diggers are going to be getting to work just yet:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...iness-16197156

janisj

I hadn't heard anywhere about construction on the Royal Mile. Princes Street - yes. The tram construction - yes. Royal Mile - no.

Last month Sheila reported about the trouble driving/parking . . . but that's nothing to do w/ tourists/sightseeing.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...burgh-2012.cfm

http://www.edinburghtrams.com/

http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-ev...orks-1-2191885

PatrickLondon

Last autumn the Waverley Steps out of the station were being worked on and there were some slightly confusing alternative temporary stairways and passages, and Princes Street had all sorts of traffic diversions for the installation of tram tracks. But that sort of thing is normal for any city.

You could always ask your hotel what they know.....

unclegus

I walked down part of the Royal mile last weeken (the High street/main tourist bit) and there is now work of any major concern going on.
I have heard that in the gereral overall plan for transport movement in the city there will be changes made to the Royalmile and the part I mentioned to be totally traffic free. this will cause some dispuption but mainly to traffic and not pedestrians and anyway it will be some years in the futer because there is no way they are going to start all this whilst the mess of the tram construction is going on .................... or will they

willit

I walked the Royal mile quite a bit last week and Echo the above. There is a fair amount of work being done directly in front of the castle, but it is well separated, and there are no issues with pedestrian access.

There was one other, very small section of roadworks down by the Parliament buildings, but no inconvenience to people on foot. Temporary traffic lights meant slight delays for motor vehicles. This was almost certainly something trivial, and it has probably gone by now.

unclegus

I have just spent the morning travelling through the city center and back again.
The Haymarket area is a nightmare for both road users and pedestrians , the west end of Princes street is crazy and the east end of Princes street even more so. Buses and cars being diverted in directions i did not know exsisted. If you can avoid these areas as a driver, bus user or pedestrian i would do so for the foreseable future.

janisj

"<i>The Haymarket area is a nightmare for both road users and pedestrians , the west end of Princes street is crazy and the east end of Princes street even more so. </i>"

Just to clarify in case the OP is unfamiliar w/ Edinburgh . . . Haymarket and Princes street are not part of the Royal Mile and are not in Old Town.

unclegus

sorry i should have said that , but it is an integral part of the edinburgh transport system, travelling through there on a saturday was bad enough , how bad it is during weekeday rush hour i would hate to see.
The OP is staying in the Radisson Blu which to me is one of the best located hotels in the city, hopefully they will have no problems with the diversions going on for the tramworks.
BTW one of my favourite Pubs is just a 100 yards or so down the hill from the Radisson, The Worlds End, in my opinion does the best fish & chips of any pub in the city, can get busy in there but a wee wait at the bar with a drink and you will soon get a table,

BillJ

Thanks to all. I am now not concerned about any unusual activity. Appreciate the tip on "The World's End" pub. Have it in my notes.

unclegus

there are several good pubs arouns there, the Mitre across the road does not bad food and otfen has live music on. ,The Whiski bar just beside the Mitre does good food and has a great selecction of whisky, The Tass , right opposite the Worlds End often has live music on, can't comment about the food.

elberko

We ate at the Worlds End last September, and recall enjoying it. Pretty tiny, but convivial place and food was good.

~Liz

unclegus

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.u...worldsend.html
this is a link to the Worlds End and also explains the history behind the name,.