Ocean Terminal

Ocean Terminal is a large shopping centre in Leith. Over the years, it has gotten a bit run down but it is slowly getting better. A big branch of H&M has just opened on the ground floor and I noticed quite a few shops under construction. On the second floor, there are restaurants including Pizza Express, Frankie’s & Benny’s, Bella Italia and the Debenhams restaurant with a view of the Royal Yacht Britannia, where I am currently writing this review. There are toilets on every level which are very clean and tidy but if the escalator breaks down, the only lifts are at the opposite ends of the centre. On the first and second floors, there is an open plan foodcourt with Zizzi, Ocean Bar and more. There is a Vue cinema on the second floor which I find quieter and more manageable than the Odeon at Fort Kinnaird. Another cool gimmick is free parking at two multi storey car parks. My recommendation is to take the lift at the back of Debenhams all the way to the top floor of the car park and you can see out over the sea. Shops include BHS, Debenhams, H&M, Waterstones, Fatface, etc.

The Ocean Terminal shopping centre is located directly at the sea front. From the third floor of the building you can also access the Royal Yacht Britannia.
Plenty of parking available in a multi storey car park that is annexed. Bus connections are very convenient and buses arrive every 5 – 10 min. Bus 22 is most frequent and stops just outside the main entrance.
You will get the main shops there like; Gap. Boots, Waterstones, Debenham, BHS, White stuff, Fat Face, Ness, Trespass, Crew, SuperDry, M&S, Clinton Cards, jewellers, New Look, H&M, Body Shop, Costa, Starbucks. Just to name a few.
On the last floor are lots of various restaurants. A cinema and even a Spa.
Lots to do for old and young!

Ocean Terminal never «feels» very busy and that’s why it’s my fave shopping centre in Edinburgh. You can pretty much stroll around and take your time unlike The Gyle for example which is like walking into a vortex of busy shoppers at the weekend.
I always get a seat in Starbucks, F&B’s or the excellent Handmade Burger Co no matter what time of day or week it is.
Really like it here.

Now I know it’s just another shopping centre but A) it’s got free parking B) has a big cinema and C) lots of shops and places to eat.
Ok a lot of places to eat are chain, in fact most of them are. My favourite chain has to be Zizzi’s, as they always have an offer on and it’s tasty (but the place always feels cold, perhaps the air con). You have The Handmade Burger Co, Bella Italia, Pizza Express, A chinese, a coffee bar and the main eating area.
Free Parking is good because the Omni Complex is expensive. Plus there is plenty of spaces too.
Ocean terminal is set on three floors all of which are accesible by moving stairs and lifts. Most of the shops are on the ground and first floor with the eating places on the third. Frankie and Benny’s are the lastest chain to be installed here. You have Sbux and Costa for coffee addicts like myself.

It has a Vue Cinema, the entrance to Britannia, Starbucks, Bear Company, M&S Food-​Court, H&M, Superdry, Fat Face, HMV, Boots, FCUK, Baxter, GAP, Debenhams and a beautiful laid out Food Court — with Zizzi, Burger Company etc.
I do like the food-​court, with its view over Fife and new developments of Newhaven. (I compare those views with Blade Runner scenes.)
Not my favourite shopping centre — as it is more like an main street shopping missing the charity shops (apart from the Superdry Store)
I go shopping here when I have a few hours to spare on a Sunday.
It is clean building in and out and has got a straightforward layout rectangular and 3 stories high.
There is a car park and a bus terminus for Lothian buses 22, 35, 34, 36, 11
Also the tourist buses stop here.
There are (still) plans to extend the (in)famous tram line to here but those are currently shelved