To ask you what you love about Edinburgh

[Moanaohnana]

DP is being relocated to Edinburgh for work and I am currently a somewhat reluctant follower. I don't know Edinburgh at all and the only time I went I was very cold and there was a strong smell I think from a brewery.

I really want to be positive and on board with this move so please tell me all the great things about Edinburgh so that I can get excited about it and start looking forward to it. I'm desperate to fall in love with it. Literally anything please - what's great about living there?

I'm actually pretty jealous! It's a small city with a lot going on. I love seeing the mountains in the background from the city centre. Shops are nice. Architecture is stunning.

Nice to visit but I wouldn’t want to live there. Feels too much like a big town rather than an actual city to me.

which mountains can you see from the city centre?

this reminds me of a tourist I overheard by the Palace (which is next to Holyrood Park) looking over at Arthur's Seat and saying "Gee isn't it brilliant they put the Highlands so close to Edinburgh"

EDINBURGH HAS A FUCKING EXTINCT VOLCANO IN THE CITY CENTRE FFS!

I grew up in Edinburgh. It is wonderful. I remember when I left for uni and came back and saw the view after leaving Waverley station again. Bill Bryson says it beautifully.

Downsides - cold and dark winters. The wind in January in Edinburgh is like nothing else! It's so so much busier now than when I grew up. Even traffic in the suburbs is horrendous. There is an increasing population so schools are packed.

I would choose to live a little further out I I was you for the best of all worlds.

You've got Arthur's Seat and beautiful views of the Pentlands. It's easy to be an outdoorsy family even though you've got all the city amenities- Edinburgh really has the best of both worlds.

Another edinburgh girl born and bread, I keep moving away and coming back. You might have a heart attack when you see the price of property (depending on where you come from) but I can recommend the east of the city , doesn’t have the same popularity at Morningside and Crammond but the schools are great, there’s plenty outside space, transport is top notch and property cheaper. I grew up about a mile from where I live now and honestly it had everything I needed.
Also Edinburgh hasnt ever suffered as badly from property busts. Slow growth yes, but never crashing prices (and now I’ve jinxed it and will be in negative equity for ever)

katy yes Lupe Pintos is still there!! i live close to it and pop in often

I haven't read the whole thread so maybe repeating BUT the many swimming pools! If you go exercise there about a billion gyms / pools / sports you can do under one membership fee: Edinburgh Leisure. Or there was when I was there. It's fab!

Positive- my dd is in it.

Negative- wherever you go is always uphill. Even if you went uphill to get there, and you're going back the way you came.

can i just say, there are soo many better places than george st etc to eat & drink!

although im sure they are lovely places, people who recommend to others (mostly IRL) to go to le monde/the dome/tigerlily etc for food/drink or michelin star places are missing out on sooo much more.

there are so many great places in stockbridge/tollcross/bruntsfield etc. great little cocktail bars down little side streets, and trenchtown on Gilmore Place is the best food i have ever eaten.

you really will find unlimited number of hidden gems just wondering out away from rose st/george st etc

squoosh

Nice to visit but I wouldn’t want to live there. Feels too much like a big town rather than an actual city to me.

Really? I wonder what you make of a “ city”

squoosh

Nice to visit but I wouldn’t want to live there. Feels too much like a big town rather than an actual city to me

Really? I wonder what you make of a “city” like Brighton or Inverness or Perth!? They are considerably smaller...

BertrandRussell

Positive- my dd is in it.

Negative- wherever you go is always uphill. Even if you went uphill to get there, and you're going back the way you came.

A bit like Lisbon, then?

*wandering

I don't live there, but I love going to visit. Huge pluses

• one of the most architecturally beautiful cities in the world
• loads of art, music and culture - the festival will be amazing
• some stunning countryside on your doorstep!
• great restaurants and bars, great shops
• if the snootiness gets too much, Glasgow is just up the road

Edinburgh may be small in terms of square mileage but it's got more going on culturally and historically than most other cities in the UK put together!

And it IS amazing that the train station brings you out right in the middle of the action.

I live here and love it! Lived in London for years too but feel like Edinburgh is now my home. It's a very easy-going city that feels more like a village (in a good way).

The people are friendly and there are always loads of things happening, even in winter. Great markets, shows/live music, museums, galleries, cafe's... Also very quick and easy to get out of the city to the countryside/seaside. Good schools if you've got kids etc. I just love it. Yes, there are still lots of Scots around fortunately.

Good luck with the move!

Really? I wonder what you make of a “city” like Brighton or Inverness or Perth!? They are considerably smaller...

Never been to Brighton so can't say for certain. Familiar with Perth and Inverness. Nice places but definitely wouldn't want to live in either. I prefer a more urban vibe and funnily enough I don't get that in Edinburgh, Perth, or Inverness.

It’s okay to not want to live in Edinburgh y’know…

Can confirm it is always uphill and the wind is always in your face. You get used to it though.

I agree, one of the best cities in Europe you ever go to.

I was going to say that you can get to Glasgow quickly and easily but someone beat me to it How very true
Any way the tone of the place doesn't suit me but I'm West Coaster.
The University of Glasgow is the 4th oldest university in the UK after Oxbridge and St Andrews. I do believe there is a university in Edinburgh but it's one of the newer seats of learning.

Uni of Edinburgh is 6th oldest... so hardly a modern poly...

All this chat of Edinburgh is making me a bit nostalgic.

So how about we get 50 mumsnetters and split a bolt-hole? Something like this:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-48030651.html

Yes it’s not cheap. But for a mere (ahem) £10k ish each we could have a week in Edinburgh every year... forever. And when you wanted out you just sell up!
Weeks divvied on a strictly random allocation.

It's a great city, as good as any other for raising children. Some decent schools and things to do. It is massively expensive to live in though so having a look outside the city for property is a good idea. The price we paid for our big 4 bed house, 20 miles out of the city would get us maybe a 2 bed flat in the City Centre. Moving further out we could get a 2 or 3 bed detached, 4 beds if we lived somewhere iffy. You really do have to go quite far out to get something of a decent size. There are some nice commuter towns nearby, but even they can be pricey too. The one piece of advice I was given when looking outwith the City was, avoid anywhere with the word "burn" in its name.

It is a beautiful city, the weather is decent, most of the time. Traffic is a nightmare for commuting but there is a pretty good public transport network. It's fairly good for shopping too.

I don't know where you are moving from, but I can't think of many places in the UK I'd be happy to be transferred to from here!

if I could be equidistant between Edinburgh and Glasgow, I would be.

I am, its fabulous

I'm just being goady Jeremy