Portobello Promenade Project

Portobello Promenade is one of Edinburgh's most loved seaside spots, and we want to help make it even better.

We are developing plans to improve the Promenade from Kings Place to Joppa.

This project is funded by the Transient Visitor Levy (TVL) investment programme. Find out more about the Visitor Levy and what it means.

This work will explore improving the public space, including

• a new modern and accessible public toilet with changing places and showers
• street furniture including benches
• signage and interpretation boards
• bin provision.

We also plan to make Straiton Place Park and Towerbank Playground more inclusive for young people of all ages and abilities.

We will develop a masterplan to guide the future preservation and improvement of the Promenade.

Check back for the latest news and ways to get involved.

A bit of history

Portobello has always had its own character. In the 1700s, it started out as a small industrial village, known for its brickworks, potteries and glassmaking. You can still see this history today in the surviving Portobello Kilns.

By the 1800s, Portobello had become a busy Victorian seaside resort, with pleasure gardens, a pier and bathing machines on the beach. The Promenade itself was laid out in the 1870s and quickly became the heart of seaside life, linking the beach to cafés, amusements and the local parks. In 1936, Portobello added the open-air pool, once one of the largest outdoor swimming pools in the UK.

The history is part of what makes Portobello special, and it's something we want to celebrate as we improve the Promenade for the future.

What we want to achieve

We want the seafront to be welcoming, accessible and comfortable for everyone, all year round.

Previous consultations in the area, and early work on this project, has already shown a need for improvements along the Promenade. As part of this, we will deliver:

• a site-wide masterplan to guide future investment and a framework beyond current funding timeframe
• a new public toilet that meets modern accessibility standards
• better, accessible and inclusive play spaces for all ages and abilities
• bin provision, benches and signage
• nature-friendly and coastal-appropriate design

This project will create new opportunities for local businesses and wellness uses, and new ways to celebrate the legacy of Portobello's pottery and industrial heritage.

Get involved

We'll be running engagement activities as the project develops.

In the meantime, you can contact the project team directly at porty@edinburgh.gov.uk.