Grafton Street

Grafton Street

South end of Grafton Street
Native name	Sráid Grafton (Irish)
Namesake	Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton
Length	500 m (1,600 ft)[1]
Width	12 metres (39 ft)
Location	Dublin, Ireland
Postal code	D02
Coordinates	53°20′29″N 6°15′37″W / 53.34139°N 6.26028°W / 53.34139; -6.26028
north end	College Green
south end	St. Stephen's Green (northwest corner)
Other
Known for	Shops, Bewley's Oriental Café, busking

Grafton Street (Irish: Sráid Grafton) is one of the two principal shopping streets in Dublin city centre — the other being Henry Street. It runs from St Stephen's Green in the south (at the highest point of the street) to College Green in the north (the lowest point).

The street, on the Southside of the city, was developed from a laneway in the early 1700s, and its line was shaped by the now-culverted River Steyne. Initially, a fashionable residential street with some commercial activity, the character of Grafton Street changed after it was connected to Carlisle Bridge and came to form part of a cross-city route. It suffered from dilapidation and prostitution through the 19th century, with several run-down buildings. During the 20th century, it became known for the coffee house Bewley's, mid- and up-market shopping, and as a popular spot for buskers. It has been assessed as one of the most expensive main retail streets in the world on which to rent.