*contains affiliate links
With overseas travel impossible to navigate and not particularly attractive at this stage, I’m spending more time exploring places closer to home as well as revisiting some of my favourite spots. Dean Village in Edinburgh falls in to that category and is somewhere I stop by any time I’m in the East. It’s a small and quaint hamlet nestled a few minutes from the heart of the capital city and is classified as a world heritage site. It’s such a picturesque area with lots of different styles of buildings, some old, others new and a couple which are a combination of both. I love wandering around, taking it all in and I always spot something that I hadn’t noticed before. I will say, it’s not the most accessible place with lots of steep inclines, cobbled streets and very limited parking which is something to keep in mind if you plan to visit.
On this particular day, I stopped by on my way into the city centre for a spot of shopping on George Street. I keep forgetting the shops are open and I’ve gotten too used to ordering everything online. There are a few specific stores which I prefer to browse in person, Anthropologie being one of them. Their only store in Scotland is in the heart of our capital city and it’s a haven of homewares and worldly treasures. I can spend ages trawling through all the beautiful trinkets and unique pieces that personalise a home. I’ve got so many of their mugs, plates, notebooks, mirrors and cushions and they bring me joy each time I use them. Friends and family often gift me things from the brand as they know how much I love it and I truly appreciate that level of attention to detail. There were a few pieces from the Insight collection I was lusting after for a while but they were sold out on the website and despite constantly checking, they didn’t seem to be coming back in stock. Thankfully they had them in store and I managed to get everything I wanted and a few other pieces which is the luxury of being able to shop in person rather than online as you spot things you wouldn’t have seen otherwise.
After Anthropologie, I headed into Harvey Nichols. No trip to Edinburgh is complete without a quick look through the store. I mainly focus on beauty, home, shoes and bag sections although I will say on this occasion, the shelves were quite sparse and didn’t have the usual volume of items available. Nevertheless, it was nice to browse and see some of the newer designer pieces up close including the Coach Pillow Tabby bags. The window displays that run alongside the escalators were spectacular and particularly poignant with a nod to the recent lifting of restrictions and ability to hug loved ones again after so long. Floral displays with bright and uplifting designs really catch your attention and allow for a moment of reflection while heading up or down between floors.
Food was next on the agenda after a spot of shopping and there was only one place that would do – The Fishmarket Newhaven. I first visited in July 2020 and have been looking forward to returning ever since. I got the crispy cauliflower this time which is not something I’d usually go for but it was amazing as well as a portion of chips. It was exactly what was needed after doing more steps than I’d done in quite a while and filled me up for the drive home.
xo!