Princes Street Gardens run along the south side of Princes Street in the valley between the Old and New Towns, with the castle on its volcanic rock above. The gardens are the lungs of central Edinburgh — a long strip of grass, flowerbeds, paths and benches that fills with office workers at lunchtime and tourists throughout the day. The Victorian bandstand is still used for summer concerts.
The west end of the gardens contains the Ross Bandstand (a major outdoor venue during the festivals and Hogmanay) and the Christmas market in December. The east end is quieter. The Scott Monument overlooks the east gardens from Princes Street. In summer the gardens are at their best when the flower displays are in full colour; in winter the skating rink and market stalls transform the west end into a festive scene.