The 10 best streets to open a tattoo or piercing studio in Edinburgh (2026 data)
Tattoo studios are destination businesses that still feed on scene density: young residents, nightlife gravity and creative neighbours. These ten streets scored highest.
OBSERVED measured at the street or station · AREA CONTEXT residents or borough statistics around it · MODELLED transparent estimates we compute, with the rule shown. Nothing is presented as more precise than its source.
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1
Curriehill station area
City of Edinburgh · 8-15 km from centre · transport hub2,382 weekly station entries and exits (entries + exits at named stations) pass the pitch, with 0 recorded tattoo and piercing studios competing within 500 m. Typical spend nearby is £28 per person and modelled rent is £263 per m².
Fit score 67/100MODELLED Est. revenue £47,515/mo (range £26,133-£76,024)MODELLED Weekly station flow 2,382OBSERVED Competitors within 500 m 0 (0 chain)OBSERVED Est. rent £263/m²/yrMODELLED Residents nearby 3,321AREA CONTEXT -
2
St James Crescent (St James Quarter)
City of Edinburgh · City centre · high street126,026 weekly station entries and exits (entries + exits at named stations) pass the pitch, with 44 recorded tattoo and piercing studios competing within 500 m. Typical spend nearby is £35 per person and modelled rent is £290 per m².
Fit score 66/100MODELLED Est. revenue £11,905/mo (range £6,548-£19,048)MODELLED Weekly station flow 126,026MODELLED Competitors within 500 m 44 (2 chain)OBSERVED Est. rent £290/m²/yrMODELLED Residents nearby 770AREA CONTEXT -
3
St James Quarter
City of Edinburgh · City centre · managed estate436,424 weekly station entries and exits (entries + exits at named stations) pass the pitch, with 43 recorded tattoo and piercing studios competing within 500 m. Typical spend nearby is £33 per person and modelled rent is £347 per m².
Fit score 66/100MODELLED Est. revenue £35,793/mo (range £19,686-£57,269)MODELLED Weekly station flow 436,424OBSERVED Competitors within 500 m 43 (2 chain)OBSERVED Est. rent £347/m²/yrMODELLED Residents nearby 770AREA CONTEXT -
4
Multrees Walk (St James Quarter)
City of Edinburgh · City centre · side street49,010 weekly station entries and exits (entries + exits at named stations) pass the pitch, with 41 recorded tattoo and piercing studios competing within 500 m. Typical spend nearby is £35 per person and modelled rent is £237 per m².
Fit score 65/100MODELLED Est. revenue £5,948/mo (range £3,272-£9,517)MODELLED Weekly station flow 49,010MODELLED Competitors within 500 m 41 (2 chain)OBSERVED Est. rent £237/m²/yrMODELLED Residents nearby 770AREA CONTEXT -
5
Canongate (St James Quarter)
City of Edinburgh · City centre · side street13,093 weekly station entries and exits (entries + exits at named stations) pass the pitch, with 16 recorded tattoo and piercing studios competing within 500 m. Typical spend nearby is £31 per person and modelled rent is £232 per m².
Fit score 63/100MODELLED Est. revenue £5,530/mo (range £3,042-£8,849)MODELLED Weekly station flow 13,093MODELLED Competitors within 500 m 16 (0 chain)OBSERVED Est. rent £232/m²/yrMODELLED Residents nearby 770AREA CONTEXT -
6
West Bow (St James Quarter)
City of Edinburgh · City centre · side street13,093 weekly station entries and exits (entries + exits at named stations) pass the pitch, with 27 recorded tattoo and piercing studios competing within 500 m. Typical spend nearby is £31 per person and modelled rent is £232 per m².
Fit score 63/100MODELLED Est. revenue £3,745/mo (range £2,060-£5,993)MODELLED Weekly station flow 13,093MODELLED Competitors within 500 m 27 (0 chain)OBSERVED Est. rent £232/m²/yrMODELLED Residents nearby 770AREA CONTEXT -
7
Lawnmarket (St James Quarter)
City of Edinburgh · City centre · side street13,093 weekly station entries and exits (entries + exits at named stations) pass the pitch, with 29 recorded tattoo and piercing studios competing within 500 m. Typical spend nearby is £31 per person and modelled rent is £232 per m².
Fit score 63/100MODELLED Est. revenue £3,564/mo (range £1,960-£5,703)MODELLED Weekly station flow 13,093MODELLED Competitors within 500 m 29 (0 chain)OBSERVED Est. rent £232/m²/yrMODELLED Residents nearby 770AREA CONTEXT -
8
Haymarket station area
City of Edinburgh · 1.5-4 km from centre · transport hub63,951 weekly station entries and exits (entries + exits at named stations) pass the pitch, with 57 recorded tattoo and piercing studios competing within 500 m. Typical spend nearby is £32 per person and modelled rent is £275 per m².
Fit score 62/100MODELLED Est. revenue £5,333/mo (range £2,933-£8,532)MODELLED Weekly station flow 63,951OBSERVED Competitors within 500 m 57 (2 chain)OBSERVED Est. rent £275/m²/yrMODELLED Residents nearby 922AREA CONTEXT -
9
High Street (City Centre)
City of Edinburgh · City centre · side street13,093 weekly station entries and exits (entries + exits at named stations) pass the pitch, with 35 recorded tattoo and piercing studios competing within 500 m. Typical spend nearby is £31 per person and modelled rent is £232 per m².
Fit score 62/100MODELLED Est. revenue £3,053/mo (range £1,679-£4,884)MODELLED Weekly station flow 13,093MODELLED Competitors within 500 m 35 (0 chain)OBSERVED Est. rent £232/m²/yrMODELLED Residents nearby 770AREA CONTEXT -
10
Inverkeithing station area
Fife · 15+ km from centre · transport hub18,281 weekly station entries and exits (entries + exits at named stations) pass the pitch, with 5 recorded tattoo and piercing studios competing within 500 m. Typical spend nearby is £25 per person and modelled rent is £207 per m².
Fit score 62/100MODELLED Est. revenue £7,998/mo (range £4,399-£12,797)MODELLED Weekly station flow 18,281OBSERVED Competitors within 500 m 5 (0 chain)OBSERVED Est. rent £207/m²/yrMODELLED Residents nearby 578AREA CONTEXT
How this ranking works
One fixed concept is scored against every one of the 249 Edinburgh street segments in the Location Potential dataset: station entries and exits (National Rail: ORR Estimates of Station Usage 2024-25 (annual; day-of-week split modelled)), recorded venues within the concept's competition radius (400 m to 1 km by type) from OpenStreetMap, Census 2022 (Scotland) residents for the local Data Zone, and rent context from the Scottish Assessors valuation roll. Scores and revenue figures are MODELLED planning estimates with fixed, published rules, not observed takings. The full method, sources and limits are on the Method page.
Use this ranking to shortlist, then verify with on-street counts, agent enquiries and a licensing check before signing anything. A specialist can help you.
Change the ticket, hours, audience and priorities and the whole of Edinburgh re-ranks live.