Rose Street facts for kids
Rose Street is a famous street in the New Town area of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is a narrow street that runs between two larger streets, Princes Street and George Street. Today, Rose Street is mainly known for its many shops. It is also well-known for its various cafes and eateries.
History of Rose Street
Rose Street was built a long time ago, between 1770 and 1781. It was designed as a smaller street running from east to west, connecting St Andrew Square to Charlotte Square. The street's name, "Rose," was chosen to represent England, just as a nearby street called Thistle Street represents Scotland.
At first, Rose Street had simple three-story houses. It was not as grand as the bigger streets around it. Over time, things changed. By the early 1800s, shops started to open on the ground floors of the houses. This change continued, and by the mid-1900s, the street was mostly filled with shops and places to eat.
In the 1980s, Rose Street became a pedestrian-only street. This means that cars are not allowed, making it a pleasant place for people to walk and explore. Rose Street is also home to the BT Rose Street Telephone Exchange. This important building helps connect many phone and internet services for the west side of Edinburgh's New Town.
Famous Places and Stories
Rose Street has been called the "Amber Mile" by some people. This nickname was a fun way to describe the many cafes and public houses along the street. It was a nod to Edinburgh's famous Royal Mile, but Rose Street is not actually a mile long!
You can find some interesting places on Rose Street with links to famous Scottish writers. For example, there's a place called "Kenilworth" and another named "Abbotsford". These names come from the books and home of the famous writer Walter Scott.
Another well-known spot is Milne's Bar. One of its rooms was nicknamed the "Little Kremlin." This is because many important Scottish writers and thinkers, like Hugh MacDiarmid, used to meet there. Pictures of different Scottish poets are displayed on the walls.
Rose Street is also known for a fun challenge that people used to talk about. The comedian Billy Connolly once described it as the "Rose Street Challenge." It was a game where people tried to visit as many different places along Rose Street as they could. It was a way for groups, like rugby clubs, to see how far they could get down the street, marking their progress as they went.
Shopping on Rose Street
Rose Street is a great place for shopping! Many of the big shops on Princes Street have back entrances that lead directly onto Rose Street. These include popular stores like Jenners, Boots, and Next.
Besides the back entrances to larger stores, Rose Street also has its own unique shops. You can find smaller businesses there, such as hairdressers and a local Sainsbury's shop. There are also places to buy music, like Fopp, and stores for second-hand electronics, like CEX. You can also find shoe shops and fun novelty stores.
The street also has service lanes. These are special paths used by businesses on Princes, George, and Rose Streets to receive deliveries and manage their operations.
