Edinburgh Trials Wider Pedestrian Areas in the Old Town
A summer experiment in closing key streets to traffic is changing how residents and visitors move through the historic core.
Edinburgh's Old Town is one of the most walked places in the country. Its narrow closes, stone staircases and cobbled streets draw millions of visitors each year, and the city has long debated how to balance footfall with traffic.
This summer, several streets near the Royal Mile are closed to most vehicles during the day. Delivery windows remain in the early morning, and access for residents and emergency services is preserved.
Early reports from local businesses are cautiously positive. Cafés with outdoor tables describe their busiest weeks in years.
Some shopkeepers, especially those reliant on quick van deliveries, say the new schedule has made restocking more difficult. The council has set up a feedback process to track concerns.
Visitors have noticed the change immediately. Without engine noise, the sound of street musicians, conversations and footsteps fills the air.
Cyclists are still adjusting to new routes that move them around, rather than through, the pedestrian zones.
City officials describe the trial as a test, not a decision. A full review is planned at the end of the season.