South Bridge

South Bridge is a stone arch bridge in central Edinburgh that connects High Street to Nicolson Street, supported by nineteen arches beneath street level. Commercial buildings and shops line the roadway today, creating a continuous elevated passage through the city center.

Construction took place between 1785 and 1788, designed by Robert Kay to connect Edinburgh's Old Town with areas to the south. The project grew from James Hunter Blair's idea to improve access across different parts of the city.

The hidden vaults beneath the bridge tell stories of how Edinburgh transformed over time, shifting from merchant spaces to homes for poorer residents. These underground chambers remain accessible today and offer glimpses into the daily lives of past inhabitants.

As a main traffic route through the city center, the bridge is usually busy and best explored outside peak hours. Most of the underground vaults below require a guided tour to visit, so plan ahead if interested.

Only one of the nineteen arches is visible at street level, while the others remain hidden beneath or enclosed by buildings built on top of the bridge. This concealed structure makes it difficult to appreciate the true scale of the original construction.