What Is Living In Edinburgh Like? A Guide To Edinburgh

Last Updated November 2022

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and is located in the central Eastern part of the country along the Firth of Forth which leads out into the North Sea. Edinburgh is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe due to its rich heritage and natural landscaping. There is evidence that Edinburgh dates back as early as 8500 BC!

It takes around 7 hours to reach Edinburgh from London by car but only around 5 hours by train or just over an hour by plane!

Is Edinburgh a Nice Place to Live?

The city is packed full of beautiful architecture and history. The castle sits proudly upon the hill looking over the Gothic and Georgian architecture in the city, the meadows and the far reaching sea views.

Edinburgh was also the first city in the world to attain the prestigious UNESCO City of Literature title in 2004. Many famous writers and poets were born here including the famous JK Rowling who imagined up the fantasy world of Harry Potter and if you’ve read any of the books or seen any of the films you can tell her birthplace was truly an inspiration! The city continues to inspire many more minds as it is home to two top universities!

Insider reports that Edinburgh ranked 11^th out of the worlds happiest cities, that’s some feat! But surely there must be a catch with everything that Edinburgh has to offer? Indeed, although Edinburgh’s employment rate and average wage remain high, Edinburgh is a very expensive place to live in comparison to the rest of Scotland!

Edinburgh’s Population

According to World Population Review the population of Edinburgh in 2022 is 548,206 which has dramatically increased over the last 10 years, they have stated that Edinburgh is growing in population by 1.16% every year. The density of Edinburgh is 1,830 people per square kilometer, 20% of the population in Edinburgh are in their 20s and 15% are in their 30s, this young population reflects the young, vibrant culture within the city.

Is Edinburgh a Safe Place to Live?

Edinburgh has the second highest crime rate in Scotland at 499 crimes reported per 10,000. It’s also has the second highest reports of violence and sexual crimes, first being Glasgow. However, the total crime recorded over the last year has been reducing, and has reduced by 24%.

Average House Price in Edinburgh

The average house cost over the past year for Edinburgh is around £323,087. The following shows the average property cost in Edinburgh:

House Pricing by Property Type

Detached- £628,328

Semi-detached- £408,948

Terraced- £405,488

Flats- £256,954

Renting in Edinburgh

The following shows how much a rental property costs in Edinburgh:

Room – £689

Flat – £2,436

House – £1,992

Average Property Rental Cost Per Room (PCM):

1 bed –  £1,520

2 beds – £2,186

3 beds – £3,326

4 beds – £3,613

What are the Best Neighbourhoods in Edinburgh

Some of the best neighbourhoods to live in, in Edinburgh are:

Leith

Leith, Edinburgh is an upcoming district and named one of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods on the Visit Scotland blog. The area is set around the historic dockyard and boasts many attractive restaurants and cafes as well as a yearly Leith festival, theatre, yachts and workshops. Property prices here start from around £120,000 for a 1 bed flat to £600,000 4 bed houses. (July 2020).

Stockbridge

Stockbridge, Edinburgh is one of the pricier places to live in Edinburgh as it resides along the Water of Leith and is close to many of Edinburgh’s green spaces including the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. You’ll also find many of Edinburgh’s galleries and cosy eateries here. Property prices start from £189,995 for a 1 bed flat all the way to £1,350,000 for a 7 bed apartment in a listed Georgian townhouse.

Old Town

You sure are going to want a window seat if buying a property in Edinburgh’s Old Town which dates back to the medieval times. The quaint, cobbled streets entangle themselves around each other and are abundant in history and magnificent architecture as they lead up and down from Edinburgh castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Every August the Old Town lights up the city with sights and sounds of the Edinburgh Fringe and Festival. Prices start from £165,000 to £775,000 (July 2020).

Travelling in Edinburgh

Travelling around Edinburgh is best explored by foot but if the hilly terrain is too much there are plenty of other options.

Buses in Edinburgh

There are plenty of buses to get you in and around Edinburgh, the routes are served by Lothian buses.

Trams in Edinburgh

The tram runs from Edinburgh Airport to the east end of the city centre at York Place. You can buy your tickets from vending machines on the tram platforms or by downloading the Transport for Edinburgh mobile app.

Train Station in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Waverley serves as the principal station in Edinburgh and is the second busiest station in Scotland after Glasgow Central. The train station is located in the heart of the hustle and bustle of the city with many of Edinburgh’s top attractions a short walk away. It takes around 50 minutes to get to Glasgow and around 5 hours from London via train!

Boats in Edinburgh

Fancy exploring Edinburgh at a gentle pace and enjoy bobbing along the sea? Why not take a sightseeing cruise? We’ve found this cruise with prices starting from £20 that even includes a cream tea!

Where is the Closest Airport to Edinburgh?

Edinburgh Airport is located in the Islington area of the city, with flights to over 150 destinations worldwide!

Where is Edinburgh’s Closest Hospital?

There are three main NHS hospitals in Edinburgh; they are Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital and Western General Hospital.

What are the Schools Like in Edinburgh?

The schools in Edinburgh are some of the best in Scotland along with one of the best universities in the whole of the UK. The schools are governed by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIe) who inspect the quality of public and independent schools, including primary, secondary and further education colleges.

Universities in Edinburgh

Edinburgh boasts six diverse universities within the borders. Discover the six universities below:

Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt University has an impressive five campuses around the world including Malaysia and Dubai! It specialises in areas of science, engineering, design, business and languages.

Edinburgh Napier University

Offering courses from design, sustainable construction and cyber-security Edinburgh Napier University has something for all of their 20,000 students across their multi-campus who voted them #1 in Edinburgh in the student satisfaction surveys.

Queen Margaret University

Offering vocational courses in healthcare social sciences, drama and creative courses the university specialises in research that enhance others lives. The university is the smallest in the city region so class sizes are smaller and benefit from closer contact between students and staff.

Eating and Drinking in Edinburgh

These are the top three restaurants in Edinburgh according to TripAdvisor are as follows:

1. One20 Wine Cafe

Claiming the top spot out of 1,706 restaurants in Edinburgh, this family-run restaurant boasts an elegant and relaxed meeting place; the perfect spot to enjoy Italian based light bites accompanied by delicious wine!

2. Condita

Number two on the list is this contemporary Scottish restaurant. The menu moves with the seasons and offers a surprise tasting menu in their intimate dining room. The dishes follow the contemporary interior design with beautifully decorated plates.

3. Makars Gourmet Mash Bar

Boasting locally produced, healthy, traditional Scottish food just like granny cooked it. The Mash Bar enjoys good food, good beer in a friendly home from home atmosphere.

Top 3 Pubs and Bars in Edinburgh

The following include the top three pubs in Edinburgh according to TripAdvisor:

1. Veeno Edinburgh

Experience the taste of Sicily at this Italian bar in Edinburgh. The wines are sourced from the owners very own family-run vineyard in Sicily and offer tempting Italian food.

2. The George IV Bar

Located on the bridge in the heart of the old town this traditional Scottish public house is bursting with charm and character. It offers a wide range of craft ales, whiskies and good quality pub grub!

3. Brewhemia

Born from the love of adventure is Brewhemia. Boasting fresh beer, artisan coffee, fresh Scottish scran, cocktails and fine wine! Don’t forget to put on your glad rags here as the dress code is as dapper as the interior.

Shopping in Edinburgh

You’ll be in your element if shopping is your favourite past time as Edinburgh has plenty of shopping options to choose from, the main shopping areas are as follows:

1. Princes Street

You’ll find high street shops along Princes Street as well as seasonal markets such as a traditional German Christmas market and Edinburgh Farmers’ Market. Princes street also boasts a fantastic view of the castle!

2. George Street

George Street runs parallel to Princes Street and includes designer shops and hotels as well as historical buildings including the famous Assembly Rooms.

3. Multrees Walk

If luxury stores are your thing head to Multrees Walk where you will find brands such as Louis Vuitton, Stella McCartney and Michael Kors.

There are many more shopping streets and shopping centres to explore in Edinburgh take a look through Edinburgh.org to find out more…

Hotel’s in Edinburgh

The top three hotels according to TripAdvisor are:

1. Fingal

Picking the post to the top spot is Fingal, a ship located in the historic Port of Leith. The ship is the former Northern Lighthouse Board ship which went under a £5 million development to offer 23 luxury cabins inspired by its rich maritime heritage and Stevenson Lighthouses.

2. The Raeburn

This elegant Georgian home was built in 1832 and has been transformed into a boutique hotel with 10 rooms, a restaurant, bar, library and outdoor terraces. You’ll sleep well here in Egyptian cotton sheets, fluffy towels and soft dressing gowns.

3. The Chester Residence

5 Georgian buildings make up this hotel that offer stylish suites a stone throw away from Princes Street. Your suite offers a home away from home feel with plenty of DVDs to watch on the flat screen TV and a fully equipped kitchen to cook up a storm!

Top 10 Things to do in Edinburgh

1. Edinburgh Castle
2. Arthurs Seat
3. Place of Holyroodhouse
4. Royal Mile
5. Princes Street
6. Scott Monument
7. National Museum Scotland
8. Calton Hill
9. Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
10. Edinburgh Old Town

Need a Locksmith in Edinburgh?

When moving into a new home changing the locks is vital as you never know how many keys are out there and risk the keys falling into the wrong hands. Arrange for a Edinburgh Locksmith to come and fit a new lock the day you get your keys to provide you with peace of mind. We at Keytek^® Locksmiths Edinburgh provide a professional local mobile Locksmith service complying with British Standard and Home Insurance policies to ensure your home is as secure as can be! What’s more is all our customers benefit from a FREE home security check on site to ensure your home is as secure as can be!

There are many other things you need to consider when moving home so check out our Moving Home Checklist to help you along the way! Once your in consider improving the security of your home further still by checking out our Ultimate Guide to Home Security here!

View our Keytek^® Locksmiths Edinburgh page to find your local Locksmith today or call us on 0131 297 2081!