Westside Plaza — Attraction in City of Edinburgh

I love museums, and especially ones with live actors that bring the place to life. That's why I love Westside Plaza - Edinburgh's premier Soviet-era market museum. Resplendent with closed down units and a palpable sense of pessimism, it really gives a sense of what life must have been like in 1980s Moscow!

Westside Plaza's dedication to recreating the authentic atmosphere of a Soviet market is truly commendable. As you navigate through the rows of barren units, the attention to detail becomes evident, transporting visitors to a different time and place. The use of live actors also adds a dynamic touch to the experience, as they skilfully replicate the lack of optimism prevalent during the Soviet era - truly masters of their craft!

At the same time however, it is a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by individuals living in that period, and one can only imagine the struggles endured by people if these are the conditions they had to live with. All in all, Westside Plaza masterfully captures the essence of a Soviet market. It is truly eye opening and a must see on your trip...

Hate going here as although there are great shops like peacocks, lidl, semi chem, money spinners, Lloyd chemist, Polish shop, 2 charity shops, iceland, farmfoods, greggs, post office, bank, dentist and optician, hairdressers, cafe, a general sells everything from shopping trolleys to king size beds, 2 pawn shops and a brighthouse shop. There's a gym and toilet facilities for able bodied and disabled. Car parks are big and you have a home bargains store and cinema just outside on one side and chippy and wine shop with the Gala bingo on the other. There are security guards always walking round keeping an eye on things as there are a lot of people hang around outside who I hate passing. Apart from that the bus service is good. The train station is just across the car park and there's a medical clinic just past...

It's an oddity. In a little door next to the Odeon you get whisked away to a world where somehow farmfoods and a gym sit next door to each other. A place where a bank and gambling machines are in eye contact. The whole thing is a creepy contradiction with its massage chairs in front of the toilets. It almost feels like something out of a futuristic utopian nightmare with a shop called "Sleeping In" and the "Embassy Of The Word Of God" seems permanently closed. Well at least Brighthouse is too I guess. I'd say it was my least favourite mall in Edinburgh but that's now "Princes Mall" after they removed the amazing water features and replaced them with that poor man's karaoke bar where...