Our guide to Edinburgh: the compact city with huge appeal
The stunning Scottish city is culturally and historically rich, attracts global visitors and offers a superb quality of life. We explain why it punches above its weight.
With majestic architecture, copious green spaces and an actual volcano at its centre, Edinburgh’s often cited as one of the best places to live. As you walk around this fine city, you can’t fail to notice remnants of Scottish history. There’s a beautiful castle and royal palace in the middle of the city for starters, but you’ll also encounter cobbled streets, medieval buildings and gorgeous Georgian crescents. The city has two designated UNESCO world heritage sites.
“The quality of life here really appeals,” says Edward Douglas-Home, Head of Scotland Residential at Knight Frank. “It’s a smaller, more manageable city, but it punches well above its weight from a cultural point of view, shopping and then, of course, there’s the Edinburgh Festival.”
Cultural offering
Edinburgh positively teems with culture, creativity and history. Simply walking around, you’re aware of the city’s abundance of art and fascinating heritage. The West End is the cultural centre of the city. Here, you can partake in theatre, opera, art galleries and museums including the Scottish National Gallery and the Museum of Edinburgh.
Wander along the cobblestones of the Royal Mile and drink in history. With the magnificent Edinburgh Castle perched on top of a hill at one end, and the majestic Holyrood Palace at the other, this is the historic centre of the city. But it’s the attractive courtyards and side streets that really must be explored.
Festival fun
It’s the annual Edinburgh International Festival that draws a global audience. For three weeks in August, the city’s taken over by performance artists spanning theatre, dance, opera and music. Then there’s the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, too, which is the world’s largest arts festival providing a platform for a wide array of talent.
During this time, you’ll spot performers everywhere. Even small hotel lobbies become venues for acts. Walk along the Royal Mile and you’ll encounter an endless variety of performers. There’s an amazing atmosphere. You can be entertained by well-known, established entertainers alongside emerging talent and even school groups.
There are festivals and events throughout the year celebrating arts, books, film and the legendary Military Tattoo. And at the end of the year, the Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh are simply spectacular.
City life
Edinburgh has excellent shopping. Amongst the high end and high street brands, you’ll find interesting boutiques. There’s a wonderful Harvey Nichols, a British institution. You’ll also find independent cheesemongers, whiskey stores and cashmere shops. Head to Stockbridge or Bruntsfield for more independent shops and cafes.
There’s a fantastic food scene here. Local produce like seafood and game takes centre stage. There are six amazing Michelin starred restaurants including The Kitchin by chef, Tom Kitchin and Restaurant Martin Wishart in Leith. For a more relaxed restaurant, try The Witchery in New Town or Rollo in Stockbridge. There’s also a great cafe culture here and you can easily find artisan, locally-brewed coffee or a decent cuppa.
Green space
An appealing aspect of Edinburgh city life is that you don’t feel hemmed in. There’s plenty of green space around, even in the heart of the city. The Royal Botanic Gardens provide a peaceful sanctuary. Adjacent to Holyrood Palace is Holyrood Park, a 640 acre green space just off the Royal Mile. The park’s highest point is Arthur’s Seat - an ancient volcano 251 metres above sea level. The breathtaking view from the top is worth the climb.
“When you stand in George Street in the middle of Edinburgh, you can see right out across the Forth Estuary. I love that sense of space,” says Douglas-Home.
That proximity to rural and coastal Scotland is a real benefit as well. “People like the access to green space and how easy it is to get out of Edinburgh. Within an hour, you can be on an amazing beach or at the closest part of the Highlands, or the Borders,” says Douglas-Home. He continues, “It’s great for combining city life with an easy ability to escape. It creates a nice balance.”
Family life
Did you know that Edinburgh’s the largest financial centre in the UK, outside of London? It’s home to several world-class universities. It’s a vibrant business hub bringing together people from all around the world. The expansion of the airport to include new airlines and increased direct routes to international destinations has amplified the city’s global connectivity.
It has an excellent academic offering, which is an important factor for families relocating to the area. Fettes College is a leading independent school, as is Mary Erskine’s and Stewarts Melvill. On the south side of the city, George Heriot’s, George Watson’s and Merchiston Castle School are popular options.
Active families don’t have to leave Edinburgh for their sporting pursuits. Whether you’re a fan of rugby (Murrayfield is its home after all), golf or football, there’s ample opportunity to play. There are reservoirs for paddle boarding and canoeing. Disused railways have been transformed into off-road cycle paths or you can cycle the scenic route along the Water of Leith walkway. There’s even a dry ski slope within easy reach.
Where to live in Edinburgh
The ironically named New Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with attractive Georgian and neo-classical architecture. It’s a super central location with a wealth of bars, restaurants, cafes and shops on the doorstep. With such amazing architecture, New Town and West End are seen as quintessential Edinburgh.
This exceptional Georgian townhouse is a wonderful example of New Town architecture. The stunning family home spans five storeys and comprises seven bedrooms and four bathrooms. With a prestigious address in a prime location, this beautifully renovated period home has a landscaped garden and an asking price of £3,350,000.
Stockbridge, to the north of the city, has more of a village feel about it. The area’s particularly popular amongst families and first time buyers. It has a lovely buzz about it, with plenty of local artisan shops, cafes and restaurants. You still get attractive Georgian properties, but you’re away from the busiest parts of the city.
On the city’s south side, popular residential areas like Murrayfield, Morningside and The Grange offer families a bit more space than their more central counterparts as well as great schools. You’ll find detached Victorian houses with big gardens and tree-lined streets. Some of Edinburgh’s most appealing properties lie within the conservation area here.
Take for example this impressive five bedroom semi-detached home in the desirable Grange area on the southside. It has charming period features like high ceilings, bay windows and generous sized rooms. The private and sizable rear garden means that there’s ample space indoors and out for family life and entertaining. With a prime location in a sought after area, the asking price is for offers in excess of £1,290,000.
Edinburgh offers everything you want from a city and more. And beyond that, it’s so easy to access spectacular coastline and countryside. So whether you crave culture, gourmet experiences, history or outdoor activity, it’s all on offer in this spectacular Scottish city.
