Princes Mall Shopping Centre
Encyclopedia
Princes Mall is a shopping centre in Edinburgh
, Scotland.
It is located at the East end of Princes Street
in the City Centre, next to Edinburgh Waverley Railway station
. Although once home to a number of independent retailers, it now houses mainly high street chain stores, as well as a large food court.
Designed in the early 1980s, it was built primarily underground, with a landscaped plaza at street level, in order to preserve the view from Princes Street across to Edinburgh Castle
and the Old Town
. It opened as Waverley Market in November 1984, the name referencing the food market that once occupied the site. An official opening by Queen Elizabeth II took place on 25th July 1985.
In the centre's early years the atria were adorned by luxuriant planting and water features, with shoppers descending on escalators from Princes Street through a canopy of trees to the underground plaza..
Major refurbishment in the early 1990s coincided with a change of name to Waverley Shopping Centre. A prominent and popular aspect of the mall introduces at this time was the large water feature which dominated the main atrium and incorporated the 11ft high Herons Dream sculpture. This was removed during refurbishment in the early 2000s when the centre adopted its current name.
The mall suffered a decline in popularity in the early 2000s with 12 of the retail units empty at one stage. Major new lettings to fashion retailers CULT and AB10, coupled with a new escalator entrance from Princes Street have helped to reverse this decline.
Network Rail
are currently improving the Waverley steps, installing new stairs, escalators, lifts and a glazed roof, in a bid to improve disabled access to the station. Princes Mall will benefit from much improved entrances here. A temporary entrance to Waverley Station is currently located in the food court whilst work continues.
Edinburgh's main tourist information centre is located within the same development. It is accessed through a separate entrance on top of the mall.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland.
It is located at the East end of Princes Street
Princes Street
Princes Street is one of the major thoroughfares in central Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, and its main shopping street. It is the southernmost street of Edinburgh's New Town, stretching around 1 mile from Lothian Road in the west to Leith Street in the east. The street is mostly closed to private...
in the City Centre, next to Edinburgh Waverley Railway station
Edinburgh Waverley railway station
Edinburgh Waverley railway station is the main railway station in the Scottish capital Edinburgh. Covering an area of over 25 acres in the centre of the city, it is the second-largest main line railway station in the United Kingdom in terms of area, the largest being...
. Although once home to a number of independent retailers, it now houses mainly high street chain stores, as well as a large food court.
Designed in the early 1980s, it was built primarily underground, with a landscaped plaza at street level, in order to preserve the view from Princes Street across to Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
and the Old Town
Old Town, Edinburgh
The Old Town of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is the medieval part of the city. Together with the 18th-century New Town, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has preserved its medieval plan and many Reformation-era buildings....
. It opened as Waverley Market in November 1984, the name referencing the food market that once occupied the site. An official opening by Queen Elizabeth II took place on 25th July 1985.
In the centre's early years the atria were adorned by luxuriant planting and water features, with shoppers descending on escalators from Princes Street through a canopy of trees to the underground plaza..
Major refurbishment in the early 1990s coincided with a change of name to Waverley Shopping Centre. A prominent and popular aspect of the mall introduces at this time was the large water feature which dominated the main atrium and incorporated the 11ft high Herons Dream sculpture. This was removed during refurbishment in the early 2000s when the centre adopted its current name.
The mall suffered a decline in popularity in the early 2000s with 12 of the retail units empty at one stage. Major new lettings to fashion retailers CULT and AB10, coupled with a new escalator entrance from Princes Street have helped to reverse this decline.
Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
are currently improving the Waverley steps, installing new stairs, escalators, lifts and a glazed roof, in a bid to improve disabled access to the station. Princes Mall will benefit from much improved entrances here. A temporary entrance to Waverley Station is currently located in the food court whilst work continues.
Edinburgh's main tourist information centre is located within the same development. It is accessed through a separate entrance on top of the mall.