The first New Town: George Street and the Georgian grid
James Craig's grid, the cross-streets dropping to the Forth, and a square at each end. This is a Claude-drafted route awaiting the editor's walk.

1. St Andrew Square
The east end of Craig's grid and its quieter civic anchor. The Melville Monument spikes up from the middle; the old banking halls round the edge are now bars and a department store. Start here, with the column at your back.

2. St Andrew's and St George's West Church
The oval kirk that broke the plan — Craig wanted a church to close the square's vista, but a banker built his house on the spot, so it ended up on George Street instead. Step inside for the elliptical ceiling if the door's open.

3. George Street itself
Walk the central spine slowly and keep glancing right and left: every cross-street is a framed slot of sky, and on the north side the slot drops away to the Forth and the hills of Fife beyond. The pavements are wide on purpose.

4. Statue of William Pitt
One of three statues planted at the George Street junctions to give the eye something to land on. Pitt the Younger stands at Frederick Street; the symmetry of the grid means you can sight straight down to the next one.

5. Charlotte Square (east side)
Robert Adam's set-piece, the grand full stop at the west end of the grid. You don't have to circle it now — that's a walk of its own — but stand on the east side and read the palace-fronted terrace as one designed face, not eleven houses.

6. West Register House
The domed former church (St George's) closing Charlotte Square's west side, mirroring the square's symmetry. From the corner here the grid is behind you and the West End trams are a two-minute walk down. A clean place to end.

The first New Town: George Street and the Georgian grid