Princes Street, Edinburgh 1966

For much of the 20th century, Woolworth’s on Princes Street was a familiar and well-loved fixture in the heart of Edinburgh. Opening its doors in 1926, the store brought the American-style “five-and-dime” retail model to Scotland’s capital, offering affordable household goods, toys, sweets, records, and more—all within reach of the average shopper.

The Princes Street branch was part of Woolworths’ rapid expansion across the UK, following the opening of its first British store in Liverpool in 1909. Its location in Edinburgh couldn’t have been more prominent—facing Edinburgh Castle, on one of the city’s busiest shopping thoroughfares, it quickly became a magnet for bargain hunters, families, and city workers alike.

In 1956, responding to its growing popularity, the store underwent a major expansion and took over the land occupied by a cinema next door. The new layout created a much larger retail space, with modernised interiors and extended departments. It was during this post-war period that the store reached the height of its popularity, becoming one of the best-known Woolworth’s in Scotland. Its food hall, extensive record department, and famous pick ‘n’ mix counters were key draws for generations of shoppers.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Woolworth’s remained a bustling hub, especially popular with children and teenagers looking for toys, sweets, or the latest music singles. But by the early 1980s, shopping habits had begun to change. New competitors, changes in city centre retail trends, and a general decline in Woolworth’s fortunes nationwide all took their toll.

The Princes Street branch finally closed its doors in 1984, ending nearly six decades of service in the capital.