Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh facts for kids
View from the south in 2017
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| Location | Edinburgh, Scotland |
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| Coordinates | 55°58′53″N 3°10′37″W / 55.98139°N 3.17694°W |
| Address | Ocean Drive Leith Edinburgh EH6 6JJ |
| Opening date | 2001 |
| Developer | Forth Ports |
| Owner | ICG Group / Ambassador Group |
| Architect | Sir Terence Conran |
| No. of stores and services | 85 |
| Parking | 800 |
| Public transit access |  Ocean Terminal |
| Website | |
Ocean Terminal is a large shopping centre located in the Leith area of Edinburgh, Scotland. It's a popular spot for shopping, eating, and entertainment, right by the water.
Contents
Discovering Ocean Terminal's Past
Ocean Terminal was built on land that used to be busy shipyards and docks. This area is on the north side of Edinburgh, where the old ports of Newhaven and Leith meet. Before the shopping center, this spot was home to the Henry Robb shipyard, which closed in 1983.
Since then, the whole area has been rebuilt and made new. This big project was led by a company called Forth Ports. These new buildings have really helped make Leith a vibrant place again.
A very special ship, the Royal Yacht Britannia, is parked right next to Ocean Terminal. You can visit the Britannia through a special entrance inside the shopping center. It's a famous ship that used to belong to the British Royal Family!
Even though it's called "Ocean Terminal," it was originally planned to be a working port for passenger ships. But because the Britannia is now permanently moored there, it has never been used for that purpose. Forth Ports is planning to build another terminal nearby for cruise ships in the future.
You can also find a cool sculpture by artist Antony Gormley on an old pier behind the building.
Shops and Fun at Ocean Terminal
Ocean Terminal has lots to offer! You can find popular shops like PureGym, H&M, Superdry, and HMV. In total, there are about 85 shops to explore.
If you get hungry, there are 6 restaurants, 3 coffee shops, and various bars and cafés. For entertainment, there's a big 12-screen Vue cinema where you can catch the latest movies. There's also an urban dance studio, a fun soft-play area for younger kids, and a day spa for relaxing.
Some big stores like British Home Stores (until 2016) and Debenhams (until 2021) used to be here. Currently, there's even an NHS vaccination clinic on the second floor.
Getting to Ocean Terminal
Ocean Terminal is easy to reach, whether you're coming by car, bus, or tram.
Parking Your Car
The center has a large multi-level car park at the southern end of the building.
Bus Connections
Several Lothian Buses services stop right outside the main entrance. These include routes 10, 34, 35, 36, and the Skylink 200 which goes to the airport. The Edinburgh Bus Tours also stop here on their "Majestic" route, which is a great way to see the city.
Tram Travel
Ocean Terminal has its own stop on the Edinburgh Trams light rail route. This tram line opened in June 2023. You can take the tram from here to Newhaven or into the City Centre and even all the way to Edinburgh Airport.
The Ocean Terminal tram stop is an island platform located right at the main entrance plaza.
| Preceding station | Edinburgh Trams | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newhaven towards Newhaven |
Newhaven – Edinburgh Airport | Port of Leith towards Airport |
Future Plans for Ocean Terminal
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There are exciting plans for the future of Ocean Terminal! In 2018, the previous owners wanted to rename it "Porta" and focus on outlet stores, but these plans were later stopped.
Now, the City of Edinburgh Council has approved new plans for the center. The first part of this plan involves tearing down the northern section of the building. In its place, a new front will be built with fresh shops and public spaces. Demolition work for this started in spring 2024.
Plans for a second phase were submitted in November 2022. This phase includes building a large number of homes nearby. These plans were also approved by the council in January 2024.
