text: Princes Street is one of the most iconic, unieque high streets in the world. Where else can you shop till you drop with an ancient castle looming over you on the horizon?\n\nThe shopping side of Princes Street is made up of high street components. Although the vast majority of the stores can be found on any high street or mall in the UK (and occasionally beyond), they are all well kept outlets set in gorgeous Georgian and Victorian buildings. If you care to look away from the bright lights of River Island for a second, the architecture is absolutely stunning on most of these buildings.\n\nFor over a mile. Princes Street stretches on, and is probably the most straightforward of all town centres to navigate since you don't have to veer up any side streets. If you choose to there are some lovely ones, but if you just fancy a high street blitz, it's all there for you. You can't possibly get lost, and even if you do achieve the impossible there will be plenty of locals around to help you out.\n\nFacing out over the glorious Princes St Gardens, castle and Wallace Monument, it is a momentous occasion walking down this street for the first time. The mixture of old and new is breathtaking, and with shops as different as Jenners and Topshop it makes for a fine day shopping.