VICTORIA STREET Edinburgh

With its higgledy-piggledy array of colourful shopfronts, gentle curve and proximity to the castle, Victoria Street in Edinburgh’s Old Town is a pleasure to peruse. There must have been something about its architecture that inspired JK Rowling, as many believe it to be the real-life Diagon Alley from her Harry Po er books. Robert Cresser’s brush shop may no longer be here, in business from 1873-2004, but curious independent shops endure. Stock up on artisan cheese at IJ Mellis Cheesemonger (mellischeese.net), stroke Sco!ish tweed at Walker

Slater (walkerslater. com), "nd fun stocking "llers at Museum Context (museumcontext.com), which sells unusual gi #s including Harry Po er merchandise, imbibe whisky at

The Bow Bar (thebowbar.co.uk) or bo!le some cordial or gin at Demijohn (demijohn.co.uk). A $ordable art by up- and- coming artists fresh out of Edinburgh College of Art can be found at The Red Door Gallery (edinburghart.com) at number 42. ‘ There weren’t many shops in the centre that provided art by local graduates,’ says gallery director Lindsey Brown. ‘ Victoria Street is a big draw in Old Town. People like the history of it.’

ABOVE Victoria Street was built between 1829-34 as part of a series of improvements to Edinburgh’s Old Town. It replaced a steep, narrow lane called West Bow. RIGHT The street’s gradual sweep is part of its attraction.