New Town
Quick Summary
The New Town is a district in Edinburgh, Scotland, established in 1767 as a planned residential area for the affluent. Designed with a grid layout, it featured wide streets and grand squares, intended to offer privacy and gentility distinct from the commercial Old Town. Streets were named after members of the Hanoverian dynasty, reflecting Scotland's union with Britain in 1707.1
Initially lacking shops, the New Town's Princes Street eventually transformed into a commercial hub with the arrival of the railway. Notable 18th-century architecture includes Register House by the Adam brothers. The New Town's development contrasted with the Old Town's vertical expansion due to limited space. Today, efforts focus on restoring and improving the New Town's amenity.123
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