Souvenirs in Edinburgh: Holiday and Bargain Shopping

Imagine this scenario: A middle-aged husband and wife have just returned home from their two-week vacation in Scotland. They’ve come bearing gifts for their nieces and nephews, and the children sit in anticipation to open their presents. What wonderful goodies await them, they ask themselves while dreaming of sugary goodies and exotic toys. They unwrap their boxes with wide eyes…but to their dismay find only snow globes and t-shirts that say “My uncle went to Scotland and all I got was this lousy T- shirt.”

We’ve all been there – how often do we expect our family and friends to come home from their world travels with one-of-a-kind finds for us, only to be handed tacky key chains and refrigerator magnets instead? But you don’t have to make the same mistake as the dorky uncle and auntie in this story. The next time you visit Edinburgh, here’s what to buy and where to shop.

A typical souvenir shop

Gifts that are Always in Fashion

You may think that the cobbled street that leads up to Edinburgh Castle would be the ultimate tourist trap – and for the most part it is. But, that said, you can still find some pretty amazing items and deals in the shops that line the Royal Mile. Ignore the bagpipe music blaring from the shop entrances, skip the rows of tacky t-shirts, sweatshirts and overly-expensive (and extremely itchy) wool sweaters, and keep your eyes peeled for these three things: Tartan scarves, Celtic jewelry and kilts.

Tourists shopping on the Royal Mile

Tartan scarves have always been a big hit with my friends and family back home. Practical yet fashionable, they come in a variety of different patterns and colors that both men and women will love to wear. Moreover, they are surprisingly reasonably priced – you can get lambswool scarves as cheap as two for £10, or splurge on two cashmere scarves for £40 (many of the scarves will have matching hat and glove sets as well). Be sure to comparison shop as each store may be offering different deals, and if you wait until Boxing Day everything will be considerably discounted. If you want to give your girlfriend back home a more elegant gift, think about purchasing a silver Celtic cross necklace. Most of the stores on the Royal Mile also sell Celtic-style letter openers, earrings, rings and bracelets. Although prices vary, you can find some great jewelry in the £20-£30 range.

Ooh...Cashmere on Sale!

Now before I move on to the last item, let me clarify that this suggestion is only for women – men should never purchase a kilt off the rack from an ordinary souvenir shop. Wearing a kilt is an art form for the true Scotsmen – you can’t settle for one that sits too high up your torso or completely exposes your beer belly. It must be a perfect fit around your waist, and to achieve this most men will need to visit a traditional kilt shop where they can be measured and properly fitted. You’ll find these throughout the Old Town and along Princes Street. A tailored kilt usually costs around £200, although some stores may offer discounts on second-hand kilts. Either way, the benefit is that a tailor would be there to make sure that the kilt really does flatter your figure. While you’re there, shop assistants will help you find your family clan’s historical tartan (that is, if you have any Scottish blood in you) and if you are already splurging on a real kilt, you might as well pick up a few of the accessories go along with it.

Gentlemen, always go to a real kilt store like this one!

Women, on the other hand, have it easy. Kilts for women are not nearly as complicated as they are for men, so one off the rack will work just fine. On the Royal Mile, they usually sell for about £60. If you’re planning to wear one for a night out whether in Edinburgh or back home pair it with some leggings and cute ankle boots to complete the look. If you really want to look stylish, I recommend perusing the utterly cool knitwear at Ness. With shops on the Royal Mile and Lawn Market, this Scottish boutique sells skirts, sweaters, purses and more in bold tartan pastels. Their tartan wellington boots (about £35- £40) also come in handy for Scottish-style weather wherever you are in the world!

Shopping at Ness guarantees cuteness!

If you’re looking for something more quirky, walk along Victoria Street, which curves down from the George IV Bridge to the Grassmarket. Its brightly-painted shops sell a variety of things including vintage clothing, antique jewelry, costumes, Christmas decorations and novelty gags. Above the street sits Victoria Terrace, which you can enter by climbing the steps leading up to the Upper Bow. Relax here in one of the picturesque area’s many pubs and cafes.

Picturesque Victoria Street

Traditional Souvenirs Guaranteed to Please

If you or your family are foodies, then you simply must purchase some Scottish shortbread. Cheap yet delicious (you can typically pick up two boxes for £5), my American friends always rave about it. Fudge is a big hit among the menfolk as is whisky. You can learn all about the history of Scotland’s national drink at the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre which boasts an extensive whisky collection and gift shop. Prices range from as cheap as £10 a bottle to more than £100 for the really sublime selections.

Scots love their whisky!

If you are particularly adventurous, why not pop into Macsween and pick up a packet of haggis, Scotland’s somewhat notorious national dish. Haggis is made out sheep’s ‘pluck’ (i.e. a sheep’s heart, liver and lungs) and oatmeal, which is then stuffed into a sheep’s stomach and finally boiled. You may not believe it, but it’s actually pretty delicious. Macsween also sells vegetarian haggis, although I personally feel that this option kind of defeats the purpose. Besides, just imagine the look on your friends’ faces when you finally tell them what they’re eating!

Haggis...mmm...good!

If you want to buy something that will entertain little ones go for a plush “Nessie”. Cute and cuddly, it’s an excuse for you to tell them all about Scotland’s famous mysterious Loch Ness. Most shops also sell children’s books about the monster.

Make bedtime reading fun for the whole family!

Holiday Shopping

Finally, if you are in the Christmas spirit, head to Princes Street. Although it is home to similar souvenir shops as on the Royal Mile, it is also the site of the city’s annual Christmas funfair. At the German Market, you can pick up all kinds of reasonably-priced seasonal gifts from nutcrackers, tree ornaments and music boxes to nativity scenes, chocolate goodies, and retro and vintage children’s toys. Your adult friends will adore them too.

Vintage Toys at Edinburgh's German Market

[Photo credits: Nessie book by Amazon; Market toys by Chatiry Girl; Haggis by Calum Hutchinson; Victoria Street by FotoFling Scotland; Ness coat courtesy of Ness; all other photos by Alex Demianczuk]