Review: Born in Scotland, a gift shop in Waverly Market

I was on a mission. Despatched to the area around Waverley Station, I was in search of presents for friends and family, and I am rubbish at shopping for them. A friend had recommended Born in Scotland as a place for quirky and distinctly Scottish gifts, assuring me they had managed to get all their family presents in a single visit.

My fear was that it would be another tourist trap, packed to the rafters with tartan tat. While it is ideally placed for tourists arriving in the city, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a bright, modern and welcoming shop that manages to be fun without feeling cheap.

The Gifts

Born in Scotland is absolutely Scottish-themed, and you can certainly buy tartan items there. However, the key difference is the quality. This isn’t the place for flimsy souvenirs that fall apart on the plane home; the store stocks high to medium quality gifts at perfectly reasonable prices.

The selection is broad and has a sense of humour. You’ll find the expected tins of shortbread alongside more unusual treats like Irn-Bru flavoured sweets. I picked up a bar of “Bucky” flavoured chocolate, a novelty nod to Scotland’s other famous tonic wine. It’s a shop that knows its audience well.

While I didn’t personally buy any of the calendars featuring handsome men in kilts, nor a Gruffalo kids outfit, I could see the appeal. This is a store that caters for everyone, from those wanting a silly “I Love Scotland” t-shirt to someone looking for a genuinely nice keepsake.

The Gift Shop

Born in Scotland is a shiny destination in the long-in-the-tooth but still much-loved shopping centre on Princes Street, right next to the train station. Waverley Market has a “train convenient” location, which makes it the perfect first or last stop for anyone travelling through Edinburgh.

The brand also has a modern online presence at borninscotland.online. The quirky domain works, and I noticed they offer 10% off your first purchase if you sign up for their newsletter. For a discount on quality gifts, I don’t mind a few commercial emails that I can easily unsubscribe from later.

Things to do in the City Centre

The shop is located at the east end of Princes Street, making it a fantastic base for exploring the city. You are moments away from both the Old and New Towns. Transport is easy, with Edinburgh Waverley railway station right on your doorstep and frequent buses and trams running along Princes Street, connecting you to Edinburgh Airport. If you arrive with bags, services like Radical Storage can look after them for you.

For sightseeing, the Scott Monument and Princes Street Gardens are directly opposite. A short walk takes you to the Scottish National Gallery, the spooky thrills of The Edinburgh Dungeon, or the grand theatrical productions at the Edinburgh Playhouse. For a dram, you could book a tasting at the nearby Scotch Malt Whisky Society on Queen Street. Accommodation options are plentiful, with everything from budget to luxury hotels searchable on sites like Hotels.com and Expedia.

Overall

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed my visit. Born in Scotland does exactly what it says on the tin, offering a fantastic range of Scottish gifts that are good enough for people you actually care about. It successfully avoids the tourist-trap clichés and provides a genuinely pleasant shopping experience for locals and visitors alike.