Neighbourhood guide

West End

Theatres, cathedrals and Lothian Road

The West End is the area west of Lothian Road and the end of Princes Street. It has the main concert hall, two theatres and a pair of church buildings.

Usher Hall on Lothian Road is the main concert hall, and the Royal Lyceum Theatre and Traverse Theatre are both on streets just off it. The Traverse is Scotland's new writing theatre.

St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral is on Palmerston Place, and St John's Church sits at the west end of Princes Street. Coates Crescent Gardens are a Georgian crescent's gardens facing Atholl Crescent.

Getting there

Haymarket station and the tram are the nearest transport, and Lothian Road is a short walk from Princes Street.

7 places

Tap to open the interactive map

See West End on the interactive map

Nearby neighbourhoods

Dean Village A valley of mills and the modern art galleries 3 places · 1.0 km away

New Town Georgian streets and Princes Street 19 places · 1.1 km away

Old Town Castle, Royal Mile and the closes 32 places · 1.2 km away

Stockbridge Market, river and Sunday walks 6 places · 1.2 km away

The best of West End

Best concert hall Usher Hall The city's main concert venue.

Best new writing Traverse Theatre Scotland's new writing theatre.

Best cathedral St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral On Palmerston Place.

Things to do in West End

The domed front of Usher Hall at Lothian Road

Landmark Usher Hall The city's main concert hall on Lothian Road, hosting classical, rock, pop, dance and spoken word.

The pale facade of the Royal Lyceum Theatre above its glass foyer

Landmark Royal Lyceum Theatre A theatre on Grindlay Street, whose company is registered at 30b Grindlay Street.

The brick and glass front of the Traverse Theatre with its banners

Landmark Traverse Theatre Scotland's new writing theatre, in Cambridge Street. Its address is printed as Edinburgh EH1 2ED.

The glass and steel front of the Edinburgh International Conference Centre

Landmark Edinburgh International Conference Centre A multi-purpose conference and events venue in the city centre.

St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral and its three spires

Church St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral The Scottish Episcopal Church's cathedral in Edinburgh.

The Gladstone Memorial statue group in Coates Crescent Gardens

Park · Free Coates Crescent Gardens A Georgian crescent's gardens at the west end of Princes Street, with floral displays and a monument.

The stone tower and nave of St John's Church at the West End

Church St John's Church A Scottish Episcopal congregation on Princes Street, at the west end of the gardens. Its address is printed as Princes St., Edinburgh EH2 4BJ.

What's on in West End

Local events in the next 30 days, read from the ward, park and organiser pages each one links to.

Imaginate Scratch That! Performance
Thu 12 Nov · Traverse 2
Performance at Traverse 2, Tollcross.
£5.50 · from 19:00 · Map · Source: Traverse Theatre
No Apologies Performance
12 to 13 Nov · Traverse 1
Performance at Traverse 1, Tollcross.
£5.50 to £20 · from 19:30 · Map · Source: Traverse Theatre
No Woman Is An Island Performance
13 to 14 Nov · Traverse 2
Performance at Traverse 2, Tollcross.
from 19:00 · Map · Source: Traverse Theatre
The Haunting of Hill House Performance
On now, until 14 Nov · Royal Lyceum Theatre
Performance at Royal Lyceum Theatre, Tollcross.
from 19:30 · Map · Source: Royal Lyceum Theatre
Christopher Macarthur-Boyd: Howling at the Moon Performance
Sun 15 Nov · Royal Lyceum Theatre
Performance at Royal Lyceum Theatre, Tollcross.
from 20:00 · Map · Source: Royal Lyceum Theatre
Edinburgh Short Film Festival Festival
On now, until 21 Nov · Filmhouse
Festival at Filmhouse.
Map · Source: Forever Edinburgh
Team Viking Performance
19 to 21 Nov · Traverse 2
Performance at Traverse 2, Tollcross.
£5.50 to £17 · from 19:00 · Map · Source: Traverse Theatre
Wine Tasting with Great Grog (Festive Wines) Food
Fri 20 Nov · Royal Lyceum Theatre
Food and drink event at Royal Lyceum Theatre, Tollcross.
from 19:00 · Map · Source: Royal Lyceum Theatre
Scottish Sinfonia: Bruch Violin Concerto Concert
Sun 22 Nov · The Parish Church of St Cuthbert
Concert at The Parish Church of St Cuthbert, Princes Street Gardens.
Map · Source: Culture Edinburgh
Unicornis Activities
Sun 22 Nov · Church of the Sacred Heart
Event at Church of the Sacred Heart.
£11.55 · Map · Source: Forever Edinburgh

Show all 28 events

Ryan Young Concert
Mon 23 Nov · Traverse Bar
Concert at Traverse Bar, Tollcross.
from 20:00 · Map · Source: Traverse Theatre
Tony Hadley - The Christmas Big Band Tour 2026 Activities
Mon 23 Nov · Usher Hall
Event at Usher Hall, Tollcross.
Map · Source: Culture Edinburgh
Perfect Dead Girls Performance
24 to 25 Nov · Traverse 2
Performance at Traverse 2, Tollcross.
£5.50 to £17 · from 19:00 · Map · Source: Traverse Theatre
Page2Stage (Nov 26) Performance
Wed 25 Nov · Traverse 1
Performance at Traverse 1, Tollcross.
£5.50 to £10 · from 19:30 · Map · Source: Traverse Theatre
Soundhouse Winter Festival Festival
26 to 30 Nov · Traverse Theatre
Festival at Traverse Theatre, Tollcross.
Map · Source: Forever Edinburgh
Candlelight®: Disney Love Songs Concert
Fri 27 Nov · St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral
Concert at St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral.
From £16.00 · Map · Source: Forever Edinburgh
Chris Packham's World of Wonder: A Planet on the Edge Concert
Fri 27 Nov · Usher Hall
Concert at Usher Hall, Tollcross.
Map · Source: Culture Edinburgh
A Christmas Carol Performance
28 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 · The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh
Performance at The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh.
From £22.00 · from 19:00 · Map · Source: Forever Edinburgh
An Evening with Sir Chris Hoy Performance
Sat 28 Nov · Usher Hall
Performance at Usher Hall, Tollcross.
Map · Source: Culture Edinburgh
The Witching Hour: A Work In Progress Performance Performance
Wed 2 Dec · Traverse 2
Performance at Traverse 2, Tollcross.
£5.50 to £10 · from 19:00 · Map · Source: Traverse Theatre
Musical Portrait of Frank Lloyd Wright Performance
Thu 3 Dec · Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
Performance at Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.
£3.00 · Map · Source: Forever Edinburgh
Squidge Performance
3 to 4 Dec · Traverse 2
Performance at Traverse 2, Tollcross.
£5.50 to £17 · from 19:00 · Map · Source: Traverse Theatre
Anna Massie & Hannah Rarity Christmas Concert
Mon 7 Dec · Traverse Bar
Concert at Traverse Bar, Tollcross.
£20 · from 20:00 · Map · Source: Traverse Theatre
Emerging Artists - Rachel & Holli Exhibition
Mon 7 Dec · Usher Hall
Exhibition at Usher Hall, Tollcross.
£2 · Map · Source: Culture Edinburgh
Scotland's Human Rights Festival - The Gazan Women Festival
Wed 9 Dec · Traverse 2
Festival at Traverse 2, Tollcross.
£5.50 to £22.50 · from 20:00 · Map · Source: Traverse Theatre
Xmas on the Dancefloor with guest star Gorka Márquez Performance
Thu 10 Dec · Usher Hall
Performance at Usher Hall, Tollcross.
Map · Source: Culture Edinburgh
Mark Thomas: 40 in Stand-Up Years Performance
Fri 11 Dec · Traverse 1
Performance at Traverse 1, Tollcross.
£5.50 to £22.50 · from 19:30 · Map · Source: Traverse Theatre
RSNO Season 26-27: Pictures at an Exhibition Exhibition
Fri 11 Dec · Usher Hall
Exhibition at Usher Hall, Tollcross.
£2 · Map · Source: Culture Edinburgh

Show 3 events nearby, outside West End

Edinburgh Farmers' Market Market
Saturdays. Next: Sat 14 Nov · Castle Terrace, Tollcross
Weekly farmers' market below the castle ramparts on Castle Terrace, open every Saturday all year.
Sat 09:00 to 14:00 · Map · Source: Edinburgh Farmers' Market
Christmas Afternoon Tea at Edinburgh Castle Food
1 Dec 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 · Edinburgh Castle, Old Town
Christmas-themed afternoon tea at Edinburgh Castle on selected dates from 1 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.
Map · Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Victorian Christmas at Edinburgh Castle Activities
5 to 13 Dec · Edinburgh Castle, Old Town
Living history re-enactors at Edinburgh Castle on selected dates from 5 to 13 December 2026.
Map · Source: Historic Environment Scotland

All 28 local events in West End

From the blog

The Dugald Stewart Monument on Calton Hill with the Old Town skyline and Edinburgh Castle beyond autumn trees

Things to Do in Edinburgh: What the Guides Agree On for a First Visit Read

Stay in West End

Browse live availability and compare prices around the neighbourhood.

See hotels near West End on Booking.comPrices are for the night of Saturday 14 November. You can change the dates on Booking.com. If you book, Roam Edinburgh earns a small commission from Stay22 at no extra cost to you.