Gay Bars in Edinburgh: Broughton Street and the Pink Triangle

Edinburgh’s gay scene is small and tightly clustered at the top of Leith Walk, around Broughton Street and Picardy Place — the area long known locally as the Pink Triangle. It is about ten minutes’ walk from Princes Street, which makes it the most conveniently placed gay scene in Britain for visitors, even though it has fewer venues than Glasgow.

• Compact and central — everything within a couple of minutes.
• Fewer venues than Glasgow, but far closer to where visitors stay.
• August fills the city and the venues with it.
• Trams and night buses run along York Place and Leith Walk.

Where the scene is

Edinburgh’s gay venues sit at the eastern end of the New Town, where Broughton Street meets Picardy Place and Leith Walk begins. The name Pink Triangle attached itself decades ago and stuck, though in practice it is a handful of streets rather than a district.

It is a ten-minute walk from the east end of Princes Street and about fifteen from Waverley station — uphill on the way back, which is worth knowing at 2am.

The bars and pubs

Getting there and getting home

• Edinburgh Waverley — about 15 minutes on foot.
• Trams — Picardy Place and York Place stops are right there, and the line runs to the airport.
• Buses — Leith Walk is one of the busiest corridors in the city, with night services.
• Walking — ten minutes from the east end of Princes Street.
• Taxis are plentiful and fares are modest, since the city is small.

When to go

• Thursday to Sunday for the busiest nights.
• After 11pm — earlier in the evening the pubs are quiet and pleasant.
• August — the Festival and Fringe fill everything. Expect queues, higher prices and difficulty getting a taxi.
• Edinburgh Pride in summer, and Hogmanay, when the city is at capacity.

Safety and access

• Keep your drink with you.
• Central and busy, with very short distances between venues.
• August is the exception — the whole city is crowded and getting home takes longer than you expect.
• Step-free access varies; several venues are in older buildings. Where recorded it shows on the card above.
• 999 for emergencies, 101 otherwise. Galop on 0800 999 5428.

More in staying safe when you meet people.

Edinburgh or Glasgow

Glasgow’s scene is bigger by a clear margin — more venues, and the Merchant City is far denser than the Pink Triangle. What Edinburgh has instead is proximity: its venues are a short walk from the centre and from most visitor accommodation, whereas Glasgow’s scene sits slightly off the main tourist route.

The cities are 50 minutes apart by train, and plenty of people go through to Glasgow for a bigger night. See gay bars in Glasgow.

Other venues and community spaces

The city as a whole is covered in our Edinburgh guide, and other cities in gay bars across the UK.

Frequently asked questions

Where are the gay bars in Edinburgh?

Around Broughton Street and Picardy Place at the top of Leith Walk — the area known as the Pink Triangle. It is about ten minutes’ walk from Princes Street.

Why is it called the Pink Triangle?

It is a long-standing local name for the cluster of streets around Broughton Street, Picardy Place and Leith Walk where the city’s gay venues are concentrated.

Is Edinburgh’s scene bigger than Glasgow’s?

No — Glasgow’s is larger and more concentrated. Edinburgh’s advantage is that its venues sit a short walk from the centre and from most places visitors stay.

How do I get there from Waverley station?

About 15 minutes on foot, or a short tram or bus ride to Picardy Place or York Place.

What is it like during the Festival?

Extremely busy. August fills the entire city, venues included, and taxis become hard to get. Expect queues and higher prices throughout.

What time do the bars get busy?

After 11pm at weekends. Earlier in the evening the pubs are quiet, which suits some people better.

Sources and further reading

• Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams
• Venue locations © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
• Galop — 0800 999 5428