A Tourist at Home

Exploring Edinburgh: A regular visitor but this time with my camera.

As a regular visitor to Edinburgh, the familiar streets and historical architecture often blend into the backdrop of daily life. However, sometimes it takes an intentional lens to remind us of the city’s unparalleled beauty. Recently, I decided to take on the role of a tourist, equipped with my camera, to experience the sights anew and capture the essence of this gorgeous capital.

Getting off the train at Haymarket I started at the iconic Dean Village, it’s like a fairytale hidden in the gothic city architecture. I really love the coloured buildings and cobbled streets. But my advice is to get there super early to avoid getting caught up in the crowds as it really is a tourist trap.

I then walked along the canal to Stockbridge, and made my way up onto Princes Street. I stopped into Mimi’s Bakery for a coffee and fruit scone before heading onto the Royal Mile.

Strolling down the Royal Mile is full of atmosphere with all the cashmere shops, street performers, cafes and amazing architecture. I wandered through the Grassmarket, a lively area bursting with pubs, restaurants and market stalls. And it’s at the bottom of the Grassmarket where you find the steps to the Vennel which has one of the best views of Edinburgh Castle and is an absolute must photo opportunity. Again, this is a really popular spot made instagram famous, so if you want a clear photo get there early.

I loved taking some time out to photograph this city that I walk around so often. I’m so used to having a couple in front of my lens that it felt more intentional to capture these spots just for their own sake rather than as a background to a portrait.

Here are some of my favourites: