More, More, More: Explore Leith, Newhaven and the Shore

If you were to sum up Leith, Newhaven and the Shore in one word, ‘festive’ might be near the top of the list. It’s a vibrant, energetic, fun part of town, where there always seems to be something new going on and, therefore, something to celebrate. This Christmas, you can get straight into the festive spirit with the Yule Love Winter Trail that will bring illuminations to iconic buildings in Leith and Newhaven from 26 Nov. Of course, the trail is far from the only cap-F Festive thing going on – Leith’s makers and artists will be out in force at Christmas Markets at the Lind & Lime Distillery at Coburg Street by the Shore on 28 Nov and at the Drill Hall’s much-loved Winter Craft Market on 5-6 Dec.

The tram is the best method for getting into the heart of the action (Princes Street to the foot of Leith Walk in under fifteen minutes, you can’t go faster than that, we checked), while buses from the south, west and east of the city all cut through Leith and Newhaven at various points on their journey. For zipping from place to place, it’s hard to beat the Voi bikes, which are readily available from parking spots across Leith and Newhaven. Just unlock through the Voi app, hop on, and you’ll be on the move in no time. Seriously, the electric boost will have you up to speed pretty much straight away. You can pay as you go, or grab a Voi Pass through the app if you’re going to be hopping on and off.

That might be a good call, because Leith, Newhaven and the Shore are packed with great independent businesses, with some of our favourite places in the whole city to be found on their streets.

To help you find your new favourites, or revisit some spots you haven’t seen for a while, a new More by the Shore voucher scheme lets you double your money while supporting local venues and businesses. Spend £5 on a More by the Shore voucher and you can use it to spend £10 at one of dozens of business across Leith, Newhaven and the Shore. The vouchers are available until 3 Jan and valid from 14 Nov until 30 Mar; get yours via itison.com

And there are plenty of options to choose from. If you’re looking for gifts, head to Logan Malloch (13 Leith Walk) at the Foot of the Walk; it’s an expertly-curated space filled with cards, books and gifts produced by local makers. Pick up some art created by members of Leith’s vibrant creative community at Leith Makers (105 Leith Walk), and then head over to PekoeTea (11 Leith Walk) for expertly-sourced teas from around the world as well as all the equipment and know-how you’ll need to prepare them perfectly. Is there a better combo than a nice cup of tea and a satisfying bit of art on the wall? No, there isn’t!

OK, maybe a nice plant or a bunch of flowers – that’s nature’s art. Get yours at the venerable institution that is Garlands (29 Elm Row); this independent florist has been serving the Leith community with blooms of all kinds for more than three decades, so if you need something to add a bit of green to your living room, check them out. And if you aren’t a tea person, head to the Shore for Williams & Johnson (1 Customs Wharf), the brilliant small-batch coffee roaster whose cafe in Custom Lane is the place to go for beans and expert knowledge on how to get the most from them. They also do an excellent flat white.

All those businesses are included in the More by the Shore voucher scheme, so that’s the daytime sorted. When it comes to food and drink, Leith really does have a bit of everything, from the delicious seafood at the legendary Fishers (1 Shore) to incredible poutine and North American comfort food at Down the Hatch (13 Antigua St) to the fantastic brunches at the Old Spence Café (40 Queen Charlotte St). All three are taking part in the More by the Shore voucher scheme, as are some of Leith’s finest bars – the gastro pub vibes of the Old Chain Pier (32 Trinity Cres), the super-cool independent bar and gig venue Leith Depot (138-142 Leith Walk) the brilliant beer selection at Nobles by Bellfield (44A Constitution St), and the iconic LGBTQ+ institution that is CC Blooms (23-24 Calton Sq) are just a few of your choices.

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Participating businesses subject to change. For more on Leith, from the top of the Walk to The Shore to Newhaven and everywhere in between, visit edinburgh.org/morebytheshore