Part of Princes Street is still closed after a fire tore through the former Debenhams building in central Edinburgh, leaving one of the city’s busiest corridors dealing with a second day of disruption.
The blaze caused significant damage to the disused B-listed property. The roof and top floors were destroyed, and the inside of the rest of the structure was left blackened and charred.
If you are heading into the city centre, expect tram changes, bus diversions, and cordons around Princes Street while the area is made safe. That is awkward enough on a normal weekday, and even more so in midsummer when central Edinburgh stays busy from early morning into late evening.
Which Parts Of Central Edinburgh Are Still Closed?
The fire broke out in the early hours of Thursday at the site of the old Debenhams department store on Princes Street.
By Thursday evening, Castle Street, Frederick Street and Rose Street North Lane had reopened at around 8.30pm.
But the main closure around Princes Street remains in place, along with Rose Street and Rose Street South Lane.
That leaves a busy chunk of the city centre harder to cross on foot and more awkward to navigate by public transport, especially for anyone staying near the West End, heading to Waverley, or planning a straightforward tram run in from the airport. If you are still deciding where to stay in Edinburgh, it is worth remembering that a hotel a few minutes farther from Princes Street can sometimes be simpler when the main corridor is partially shut.
Edinburgh Tram Services Are Running Part Route
Edinburgh Trams are only running between Edinburgh Airport and the West End.
That means anyone expecting the usual direct ride through the city centre will need to stop short and switch plans.
Ticket acceptance has been put in place on:
- ScotRail between Edinburgh Gateway and Edinburgh Waverley (St Andrew Square)
- Lothian Buses between the West End and Newhaven
For anyone arriving at the airport, this gives you a workable backup, although not a particularly elegant one. If you have luggage and were counting on a single tram ride into the middle of town, build in extra time. Anyone heading for Waverley with bags may also want a look at Edinburgh luggage storage near Waverley if a delayed check-in or awkward connection turns a simple arrival into a half-day shuffle.
Lothian Buses Diversions Affect 35 Services
Lothian Buses says 35 services are affected by the closure.
The diversions were introduced from 7pm on July 9 and remain in place until further notice.
That is a wide enough spread to catch plenty of people out, not just commuters. Day-trippers, festival planners, and anyone trying to reach central stops without checking live updates first could end up walking farther than expected.
If you are moving around Edinburgh on a budget, the simplest move is to check live service updates before leaving. A short detour on paper can turn into a longer walk once streets are cordoned off and normal stop patterns disappear. In the city centre, a route that normally takes 10 minutes can easily stretch once everyone is funneled onto the same handful of open streets.
Why The Area Is Still Shut
Police said firefighters and officers were unable to enter the building because it was considered unsafe.
Work is continuing to make the site safe, and the investigation is still at an early stage.
A joint investigation is under way to establish what caused the fire.
That helps explain why closures have stretched into a second day. When a building has lost its roof and upper floors, reopening the street below is not just a matter of clearing smoke and moving on. Debris risk, structural checks, and access for emergency crews all slow things down, particularly on a dense city-centre block with tram lines, bus stops, shops, and pedestrian traffic all packed into the same space.
What Happened To The Building
The fire gutted a historic B-listed building at the former Debenhams site.
Officials said the property suffered significant damage. The roof and top floors were destroyed, while the rest of the structure was left heavily fire-damaged inside.
For anyone who knows central Edinburgh, this is a prominent stretch of Princes Street. Disruption here tends to ripple out quickly because so many bus routes, walking connections, and city centre errands pass through the same area. It also sits close to the usual path for people fitting one day in Edinburgh around the castle, gardens, New Town, and Waverley.
Advice For Anyone Heading Into Edinburgh City Centre
Members of the public have been advised to avoid the area for now.
Police also said people nearby should keep windows and doors closed where possible.
If you already have plans in central Edinburgh, a bit of flexibility will save time and hassle. A few practical options:
- Use Waverley as your rail anchor if you can and walk around the closure zone from there
- Expect extra walking time between the West End and the east side of the centre
- Check bus diversions before each journey, not just once in the morning
- Do not rely on the tram beyond the West End until full service resumes
- Avoid cutting through Princes Street if you are on a tight schedule
Edinburgh is compact enough that walking can still be the easiest option for shorter city-centre trips, but only if you are prepared for barriers and rerouted foot traffic. If your afternoon plan was mainly shopping and a wander, shifting it toward Stockbridge, Leith, or a few indoor stops from the wider list of things to do in Edinburgh may save a lot of aimless doubling back.
What This Means For Airport Arrivals And Day Trips
The tram cutback matters most for people coming in from Edinburgh Airport and expecting the usual simple route into town.
Right now, the tram gets you to the West End only. After that, you will need to continue by rail, bus, or on foot depending on where you are staying.
Anyone arriving for a quick overnight, a theatre booking, or a day out in the New Town should leave more breathing room than usual. Edinburgh city centre can absorb disruption fairly well, but Princes Street is one of those places where everything feels slightly less smooth once it is partly shut.
If you are just passing through for the day, it may be worth planning your route around George Street, Queen Street, or Waverley rather than assuming your normal stop or crossing point is available. People with fixed bookings in the Old Town will usually find rail into Waverley less fiddly than trying to improvise from the tram at the last minute.
Current Edinburgh Fire Disruption Snapshot
- Location: Former Debenhams building on Princes Street
- Damage: Roof and top floors destroyed, extensive internal fire damage
- Princes Street status: Surrounding area still closed
- Other closures: Rose Street and Rose Street South Lane
- Reopened roads: Castle Street, Frederick Street, Rose Street North Lane
- Trams: Running only between Edinburgh Airport and the West End
- Buses: 35 Lothian services affected by diversions
- Rail ticket acceptance: Between Edinburgh Gateway and Edinburgh Waverley (St Andrew Square)
- Public advice: Avoid the area and keep windows and doors closed where possible
- Cause: Under joint investigation
For now, central Edinburgh is still workable, just slower and messier than usual. If your plans involve Princes Street, the West End, or airport-to-centre tram travel, check live transport updates before you set off. A city-centre pint or dinner is still perfectly doable, just give yourself longer to reach it than you normally would.
