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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask you what you love about Edinburgh

206 replies

Moanaohnana · 12/12/2017 23:00

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?

OP posts:
Originalfoogirl · 13/12/2017 16:48

newmumwithquestions

Oh come on! Aim big! www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53636797.html

Originalfoogirl · 13/12/2017 16:49

derxa

Aye, you'll be telling us you don't have sauce with your chips either. Weirdo Grin

FilthyforFirth · 13/12/2017 16:50

I love Edinburgh, my husband, boyfriend at the time, lived there so I got to visit for weekends. There is an amazing basement gin bar called Bramble. So if you like gin, you're in for a treat! There is also a brilliant vegetarian restaurant called David Banner, just off the Royal Mile. Lovely food. Best pf luck with the move.

Spudlet · 13/12/2017 16:54

I’ve visited for work a few times and really liked it. There’s just a really nice atmosphere, IMO. And I actually really like the Scottish Parliament (where I was working) - I think it’s a great building.

Good luck with the move!

derxa · 13/12/2017 16:55

Aye, you'll be telling us you don't have sauce with your chips either. Weirdo Grin I love a good East/West barney. It was too sickly sweet on here.

amusedbush · 13/12/2017 17:18

When I first moved to Glasgow and asked for salt and brown sauce on my chips, the woman made a quip about how they have "proper" brown sauce in the west and how it's much better than Chippy Sauce.

I nearly launched over the counter and throttled her Grin

Overthehillsandfaraway8 · 13/12/2017 17:28

I love it. It is small enough that you can get to know it well and walk to a lot of things, but large enough that there is loads to do. Great architecture and history. There is a fantastic dry ski slope, great Botannical gardens, lots of good shopping. A great Museum, good art galleries, great restaurants. The Festival brings so many wonderful cultural events , though the tourists do drive you mad. Portobello and Cramond foreshores great for a walk. Access to the coast in Fife and East Lothian, or St Andrews/ You can be in the Borders in about an hour with more delights in store. Glasgow and Perth are easy to get to. I could go on. Housing is unfortunately very expensive and it's a nightmare to drive anywhere, but there are the trams now, and good bus routes everywhere. The weather can be depressing - there is a wind a lot of the time or the Haar coming in, but this is the price you pay for living in a wonderful city full of culture.

Overthehillsandfaraway8 · 13/12/2017 17:31

Also got a great airport, good train station and a great zoo.

BrokenHollandaise · 13/12/2017 17:32

I love Edinburgh. Dp is from there and I'm jealous.

We are taking dd there next week to go to the Christmas markets. Even though she won't have a clue.

yummyeclair · 13/12/2017 17:35

My husband proposed to me in Edinburgh - very romantic city and the people are extremely friendly & welcoming. My parents had friends there and we went every summer - great weather!

afrikat · 13/12/2017 17:40

I lived in Edinburgh for 11 years and I miss it every day now I've moved away. Despite being happy where we are I worry regularly that we made the wrong decision moving I honestly love that city so much.
We lived down in Leith near The Shore which is a fab area of bars, restaurants and shops plus close to a small shopping mall (Ocean Terminal) which is fab if you don't feel like venturing to Princes St for clothes shops.
August is the most amazing time of year - the various festivals make it seem like a month long party and the atmosphere is electric.
I'm so jealous and you will have an amazing time!

newmumwithquestions · 13/12/2017 18:04

originalfoogirl

That place is amazing!!! I’m in. We’ll need a bit more cash though....

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 13/12/2017 18:13

Ah c'mon OP, come back and give us a budget! I love house hunting for random MNers....

SenecaFalls · 13/12/2017 18:28

One of the fantasy games that DH and I play is to go on Rightmove and pick out properties in Edinburgh that we would want to buy if we win the lottery. We argue constantly about which neighborhood we would want to be in. I'm for the New Town; he wants to be in Bruntsfield because it is walking distance from his favorite Edinburgh bar.

GrouchyKiwi · 13/12/2017 18:35

I lived in Edinburgh for nearly 10 years. We're now just outside it in East Lothian (which is magnificent) but have a view of Arthur's Seat from our living room.

Edinburgh is amazing. I do miss living in the city. It is wonderful to walk along Princes Street with the castle standing proud above and the beautiful Gardens beside you.

Agree that you'd be better looking just outside the city for a good sized house that's not too expensive. There are loads of new builds going up all around the outskirts.

Original poster
Moanaohnana · 13/12/2017 18:38

Sorry for the delay! I didn't want to post from work about the move I have not yet told my boss about... Grin

I'm so so glad I started this thread, it's really lifted my spirits and made me feel a whole lot better.

The plan would be to rent at first and then buy once we're sure about the area. Not sure what area but the job is in North West of the city. As for budget, that's a tricky one too as our current job is a live-in job so we haven't got a rental budget as such. I think we can afford up to 1K a month and need 3+ bedrooms, so it looks like living in the city is out. We currently live-in at DP's job way way out in the middle of the countryside so I worry about the kids and city living. We are all used to lots of outdoor space (trying not to be too outing about our situation). Buying, we could probably afford up to 220K conservative estimate, just depending on how soon and what work I can find in the city as I'll be leaving a job behind. We don't own any property so no chain.

Commuter town wise - I like the look of South Queensferry. Can't afford to live in Crammond from the looks of things. I love the idea of living by the coast but that might be a dream. Where's best to commute to the north west of the city? Must admit I'm a bit shocked by the prices as I thought things would be better since we are moving North (not from London) but its' quite pricey. Gorgeous - but pricey!

OP posts:
ImperfectTents · 13/12/2017 18:47

Davidson mains is more affordable than cramond but v close. The noise from aircraft is unreal in crammond

flippinada · 13/12/2017 19:02

Davidsons Mains is a nice area, although I don't know it very well.

If you aren't reliant on public transport and could go a bit further out then Balerno/Currie/Juniper Green (in the South West) are also nice and in your price range.

Bonus, they are also close to some lovely countryside - if you like that sort of thing. Good local schools too, although they are under review at the moment.

hooochycoo · 13/12/2017 19:09

Just to say, I wouldn't necessary choose to live where your husband works. My husband works North West near the airport and we live in East , but his commute is only 50 mins door to door on the train ( which he says he enjoys as he gets to sit and chill) and in the summer he can cycle it in an hour pretty much all on cycle paths.

Seniorcitizen1 · 13/12/2017 19:46

Best thing about Edinburgh - the M8 to Glasgow

hooochycoo · 13/12/2017 19:48

Although it ofcourse completely depends on what you are like and want.

For 220k

With a job in north west edinburgh and an hours commute you could live in rural Perthshire or fife and have the space and out door living

Or you could live in any of the wee towns around Falkirk/ Linlithgow / Stirling and for a shorter commute like so many do who want a bigger house.

Or you could have a smaller house and live in any number of great places in and around edinburgh and use public transport!

HungerOfThePine · 13/12/2017 19:51

Glad to see you are feeling more positive about it op, with your relative budgets you have some potential to work with.
I live about 15 or so miles out in Midlothian, a commuter town and only takes 30 mins max to drive into the city centre.
My db bought his 3 bed semi around 135k Mark and private rents here although still expensive you still get your bang for your buck for under £1000pm.
Not saying move where I live but it gives an idea of what's around.
There are plenty of nice places to live with the centre conveniently close enough not to be a trek by car or public transport.

I grew up in Edinburgh and I do love it for all the reasons pp have mentioned.

gunsandbanjos · 13/12/2017 20:17

Will he be working in Edinburgh business park?

hooochycoo · 13/12/2017 20:30

Or gogarburn maybe. Or the Gyle

Originalfoogirl · 13/12/2017 20:36

more urban vibe and funnily enough I don't get that in Edinburgh, Perth, or Inverness.
I get this. You are right. It is one of the things I like about the City, but it does lack the sprawl and buzz of the likes or London or Manchester. So if that’s your thing, Edinburgh would seem almost parochial.

220K conservative estimate

Won’t get much in South Queensferry for 220k. It’s really sought after. Same with Kirliston. Dunfermline area is cheaper, over the bridge. Or look up the M9 towards Falkirk. It’s only 40 minutes by car from Edinburgh (a bit longer in rush hour). It’s quite an easy commute. Obviously prices are cheaper the further you go. Out west on the M8 towards Livingston might be an option too.

The “no chain” thing doesn’t apply the same in Scotland but you do need to be aware of how houses are sold. You’ll see some properties which are “fixed price” which is pretty much the price you’ll pay. It’s not common for properties to be sold that way and it’s usually because they want a quick sale. More common is the “offers over” scenario. What happens there is, you go to a closing date where bids are made and the highest gets the property. It isn’t uncommon for properties to go 10% or more above the asking price so when looking, look for ones at offers over 200k rather than at your top budget. And try not to fall in love with a place as you might not get it!