Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe

If a tourist is lucky enough to visit our fine Scottish capital anywhere from late October to early February, they'll quickly learn how seriously we take the Christmas period over here. We take it seriously enough to host an annual festive German market. We take it seriously enough to incorporate several fairground rides into the gothic cityscape. We take it seriously enough to brace the bite of Scottish winds and get our skates on at the pop-up ice rink. 

We take it so seriously, in fact, that we even home a shop entirely dedicated to crimbo madness, which opens all year long. Seasons may change, and sure, the festive season may come and go, but Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe is here to stay – every month of the year. That's right – situated on the Canongate, the Christmas Shoppe is a haven of year-long yuletide, so never again will you be subject to that certain sinking feeling, mid-August when you realise you're understocked in the bauble department. We've all been there. [Kate Pasola]